International

Colombia verifying dissident FARC leader’s death: Bogota

AFP/Editor

Colombia’s government was on Wednesday verifying intelligence that a wanted dissident leader of the FARC ex-guerilla group had been killed in Venezuela.

Defense Minister Diego Molano said on Twitter late Tuesday that intelligence suggested Jesus Santrich had died in “confrontations that occurred yesterday in Venezuela” along with “other criminals”.

Santrich, a former leader of the FARC, had initially joined an historic 2016 peace accord that turned the Marxist rebel group into a political party and ended decades of civil war.

Citing breaches of the peace deal, he joined the ranks of FARC dissidents in 2019, taking up arms anew.

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Santrich is wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, which offers a reward for his capture.

“Information being verified,” tweeted Molano of Santrich’s reported demise. If confirmed, he added, Santrich’s death would mean that “narco-criminals are hiding in Venezuela.”

Approached by AFP, the government of President Nicolas Maduro has not commented.

Bogota has long accused Venezuela of shielding members of the FARC and armed rebel group ELN on its soil — a charge Maduro denies.

Since March 21, Venezuela’s armed forces have engaged in clashes with Colombian armed groups along the border, seizing weapons, explosives and drugs and making several arrests, according to Caracas.

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Venezuela blames “terrorists” and drug gangs for the border unrest. Colombian security sources say they are likely FARC dissidents.

Some FARC fighters who refused to join the peace process have continued their struggle, while also mixing with and battling drug-traffickers in lawless areas of Colombia.

Venezuela and Colombia, which share a 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border, severed diplomatic ties in January 2019, after Bogota recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the leader of Venezuela over Maduro following a disputed election.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.