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John Otis

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Friday

Facing death threats, a Colombian mayor makes a daring visit to the town he runs

Mayor Edilberto Molina (right), alongside Lt. Col. Óscar Usme aboard a well-armed Colombian Navy boat, tour the Caguán River which flows past Cartagena del Chairá. Carlos Saavedra for NPR hide caption

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Carlos Saavedra for NPR

World

Facing death threats, a Colombian mayor makes a daring visit to the town he runs

Mayor Edilberto Molina relocated to a nearby town last year after drug-trafficking guerrillas threatened to kill him. He's not the only Colombian politician forced away by threats from criminal gangs.

Facing death threats, a Colombian mayor makes a daring visit to the town he runs

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Tuesday

Latin America

A rapid transit system is finally being built in the Colombian capital Bogotá

When you're stuck in the traffic, think of Bogotá. One study claims the Colombian capital has the world's worst rush-hour traffic. After more than 80 years of vacillating, Bogotá is getting a metro.

A rapid transit system is finally being built in the Colombian capital Bogotá

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Friday

Fernando Botero, Colombian artist famous for rotund and oversize figures, dies at 91

Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero poses inside the "Tren de La Cultura" ("Train of Culture"), during a news conference for the exhibition "Fernando Botero: The Circus," in Medellín, Colombia, Jan. 30, 2015. Fredy Builes/Reuters hide caption

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Fredy Builes/Reuters

Obituaries

Fernando Botero, Colombian artist famous for rotund and oversize figures, dies at 91

Colombian artist Fernando Botero has died at the age of 91. "I don't paint fat women," he once told Spain's El Mundo newspaper, "I am interested in volume, the sensuality of the form."

Saturday

Friday

Latin America

Many ancient ruins in Peru's capital of Lima are falling into disrepair

The top tourist destination in Peru is the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Not so well known is that the capital Lima also holds many ancient ruins — so many that that they can't all be taken care of.

Many ancient ruins in Peru's capital of Lima are falling into disrepair

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Sunday

Latin America

Venezuela's opposition is preparing for next year's general election

After years of political gridlock, Venezuela's opposition is coming together ahead of next year's general election to try to defeat the country's authoritarian leader.

Venezuela's opposition is preparing for next year's general election

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Sunday

All the prison's presidents: Peru's special jail for ex-leaders is all full up

Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, waits at the Barbadillo prison in Lima, Peru, on March 30, 2022. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Bloomberg via Getty Images

Latin America

All the prison's presidents: Peru's special jail for ex-leaders is all full up

In Peru, so many former leaders have been accused of crimes that the country has designated a small prison specifically to house them. It's a symbol of corruption, but also of political dysfunction.

All the prison's presidents: Peru's special jail for ex-leaders is all full up

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Saturday

Latin America

Peru's special jail for ex-leaders is all full up

In Peru, so many ex-presidents have been accused of crimes that the country has designated a small prison specifically to house them. It's a symbol of corruption, but also of political dysfunction.

Peru's special jail for ex-leaders is all full up

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Friday

Latin America

In Peru, President Boluarte's government is blamed for human rights abuses

President Dina Boluarte took over from her impeached predecessor, and now she herself is under fire for alleged human rights abuses.

In Peru, President Boluarte's government is blamed for human rights abuses

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Saturday

How Indigenous kids survived 40 days in Colombia's jungle after a plane crash

Soldiers of the Colombian Air Force give medical attention inside a plane to the children who survived a Cessna 206 plane crash in the thick jungle, while they are transferred to Bogotá by air in San José del Guaviare, Colombia, June 9. Colombian Air Force via Reuters hide caption

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Colombian Air Force via Reuters

World

How Indigenous kids survived 40 days in Colombia's jungle after a plane crash

Led by their eldest sibling, who is 13, they managed to find food and shelter. All four, including a year-old baby, stayed safe until Colombian special forces and Indigenous guides rescued them.

How Indigenous kids survived 40 days in Colombia's jungle after a plane crash

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Friday

Latin America

How 4 children lost in the Amazon jungle for 40 days were able to stay alive

It's an incredible tale of terror, hardship and endurance. Four Colombian children survived a plane crash and 40 days in the Amazon rainforest before being found alive.

How 4 children lost in the Amazon jungle for 40 days were able to stay alive

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Monday

Latin America

4 children are hospitalized after surviving 40 days in the Colombian jungle

The children are recovering at a hospital in Colombia after being found alive in the Amazon — 40 days after the plane they were on crashed. Questions remain over how they managed to survive.

4 children are hospitalized after surviving 40 days in the Colombian jungle

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Friday

Here's one route where immigration has slowed since Biden's new U.S. border rules

A Venezuelan migrant watches the boat he hopes to take across the Gulf of Urabá once he gets enough money together for the trip. Carlos Villalon for NPR hide caption

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Carlos Villalon for NPR

World

Here's one route where immigration has slowed since Biden's new U.S. border rules

A popular immigration passageway saw a drop right when the U.S. passed new rules imposing criminal prosecution and requiring proof an asylum-seeker was previously denied in another country.

Here's one route where immigration has slowed since Biden's new U.S. border rules

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Wednesday

Latin America

Why migrant traffic through a dangerous jungle passageway is slowing down

A Colombian town at the start of the Darien Gap, one of the most treacherous migrant routes in the world, has seen a drop in migrants after the U.S. recently implemented the new immigration rules.

Why migrant traffic through a dangerous jungle passageway is slowing down

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Monday

Strange News

How a drugs lord's 'cocaine hippos' got out of control in Colombia

A drugs lord's exotic pets got out of control in Colombia — it's the tale of the so-called "cocaine hippos."

How a drugs lord's 'cocaine hippos' got out of control in Colombia

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Saturday

Latin America

At a summit aimed at restoring democracy in Venezuela, an opposition leader was missing

We'll take a look a the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela - its effects in the region but also, in the U.S., with more Venezuelans trying to migrate.

At a summit aimed at restoring democracy in Venezuela, an opposition leader was missing

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Tuesday

Venezuela sees some perks of renewed ties with Colombia after years of disputes

Workers unload boxes of mayonnaise for inspection by customs officials at a warehouse in the Venezuelan border town of San Antonio del Táchira. John Otis for NPR hide caption

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John Otis for NPR

Latin America

Venezuela sees some perks of renewed ties with Colombia after years of disputes

Cross-border trade between Colombia and Venezuela has slowly opened up after the countries reengaged following years of bad relations.

Venezuela sees some perks of renewed ties with Colombia after years of disputes

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Saturday

Inside the emerald mines that make Colombia a global giant of the green gem

Rocks retrieved from a mine in Muzo, Colombia, show some of what makes the country the biggest producer of high-value emeralds. Carlos Saavedra for NPR hide caption

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Carlos Saavedra for NPR

Latin America

Inside the emerald mines that make Colombia a global giant of the green gem

NPR ventures into a Colombian emerald mine — which used to be more dangerous, with potential explosions inside and gunfights outside. The CEO, a former U.S. diplomat, says he wanted to change that.

Inside the emerald mines that make Colombia a global giant of the green gem

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Wednesday

Rare good news from the Amazon: Gigantic fish are thriving again

A riverside fisherman pulls a captured pirarucu into his canoe in Lake Amanã on Nov. 15. Bruno Kelly for NPR hide caption

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Bruno Kelly for NPR

Latin America

Rare good news from the Amazon: Gigantic fish are thriving again

Conservationists say a sustainable fishing program has helped the recovery of the local pirarucu — which can be up to 10-feet long and weigh 450 pounds.

Rare good news from the Amazon: Gigantic fish are thriving again

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Saturday

Environment

Conservation efforts have brought back an endangered species of fish in the Amazon

The pirarucu, the giant fish of the Amazon, was an endangered species. Due to conservation efforts, it's making a comeback.

Conservation efforts have brought back an endangered species of fish in the Amazon

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Sunday

Climate

Brazil's President-elect Lula will address protection of the Amazon rainforest at COP27

Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is heading to the COP27 summit this week, to reassure the world that Amazon rainforest is in safe hands.

Brazil's President-elect Lula will address protection of the Amazon rainforest at COP27

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Friday

Latin America

Russia's invasion has prompted Biden to offer reconciliation to Venezuela's president

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted the Biden administration to extend an olive branch to Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro.

Russia's invasion has prompted Biden to offer reconciliation to Venezuela's president

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Thursday

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil

The José Antonio Anzoátegui industrial park for crude oil and petrochemicals in Anzoátegui state, Venezuela, on March 17. DPA / Picture Alliance / Getty Images hide caption

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DPA / Picture Alliance / Getty Images

World

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil

The Biden administration has extended olive branches to Venezuela. It might sway Caracas to stick with talks with the opposition, and eventually let Venezuelan oil back on the world market.

Monday

How an ex-president who had been jailed rose back to power over Brazil's far right

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva speaks after winning the presidential runoff election in São Paulo on Sunday. Nelson Almeida/AFP / Getty Images hide caption

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Nelson Almeida/AFP / Getty Images

Analysis

World

How an ex-president who had been jailed rose back to power over Brazil's far right

President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a stunning political comeback by defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. But he could face a short honeymoon — and a long four years in office.

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