International
An attack with explosives leaves five injured and destroys a toll booth on the border of Colombia and Venezuela
A terrorist wave shook Colombia’s border with Venezuela in recent hours where unknown persons destroyed with explosives the toll located on the international highway that connects Cúcuta with San Antonio del Táchira and shot police posts, leaving at least five people injured by the attack, the authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The injured are three workers of the National Institute of Roads (Invías) and two guards of the toll that suffered the attack, located in Villa del Rosario, a municipality of the metropolitan area of Cúcuta, capital of the department of Norte de Santander and the main border crossing of Colombia with Venezuela.
“The toll was completely destroyed,” said the Secretary of Citizen Security of Norte de Santander, George Quintero, on Thursday, who offered a reward of “up to one hundred million pesos (about 25,000 dollars) to find those responsible for the violent events of the last few hours.”
Almost simultaneously this morning they attacked with shots a police post located in the Historical Temple, in front of the Home of General Francisco de Paula Santander, one of the heroes of Independence, also in Villa del Rosario, and the La Parada Police station, currently under construction.
No authority has confirmed the authorship of these attacks, although it is suspected that they may have been perpetrated by the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN), which operates in the region and which in recent days has placed bomb cylinders on some roads in Norte de Santander.
The wave of violence occurs a day after several governors claimed the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, for the aggravation of the armed conflict in several parts of the country, during a meeting of the president with regional authorities.
“There is a very complicated perception in the country regarding security,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, where the Catatumbo region is located, hit for a month by the ELN’s onslaut against a FARC disssency that has left at least 63 dead and more than 50,000 displaced.
Villamizar, who spoke as a spokesman for his colleagues from the 32 Colombian departments, made a call to “strengthen the intelligence and work of the Military Forces” with an increase in the strength in several regions.
The same concern was expressed by the governor of Chocó, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, since in her department the ELN fights with the Gulf Clan, the main Colombian criminal gang, which until last week had left some 3,600 displaced and more than 12,000 people confined.
“I have raised my voice in recent days on behalf of the department of Chocó and on behalf of the communities of the department of Chocó because it is a real humanitarian crisis and international humanitarian law (IHL),” said Córdoba.
On the other hand, material damage to homes and shops left an attack with explosives launched on Wednesday night against a temporary detention center in Popayán, capital of the convulsive department of Cauca, in southwestern Colombia.
The commander of the Metropolitan Police of Popayán, Colonel Jhon Fredy Zambrano, told reporters that “no effects were presented to people who remain deprived of liberty, nor to our personnel.”
Likewise, he assured that the possible use of drones in the attack is being investigated and that surveillance was reinforced in the area and a sweep was also carried out to rule out that there were other explosives.
International
Iran Rejects Negotiations With U.S. as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Amid New Attack
Tensions remained high in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after a vessel was hit by a projectile, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that negotiations with Iran were moving forward and that the strategic maritime route could reopen as early as Tuesday.
Tehran denied that direct talks were taking place, but Trump insisted that discussions were underway and described the situation as a final opportunity for Iran to reach an agreement.
“This is the last chance they have to sign a good document,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could happen “literally tomorrow” Tuesday.
The comments came after another escalation in rhetoric from Washington. Last week, Trump threatened Iran with military strikes before unexpectedly changing course on Sunday and announcing that negotiations with Tehran would resume.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai rejected the U.S. president’s version of events, stating that Tehran was not holding negotiations with Washington.
“At this moment, we are not negotiating with the United States. We are negotiating with Oman to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baqai said.
Earlier, the Iranian official said that Tehran was close to reaching an agreement with Oman, which lies across the Strait of Hormuz, to reopen the crucial waterway that plays a key role in global energy trade.
The maritime route has remained blocked by Iran since the outbreak of hostilities following U.S. and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced Tuesday that they had launched an attack against an airport in Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed group had previously disrupted the passage of Saudi vessels through the Red Sea, an alternative route used for crude exports by the world’s largest oil producer.
The continued instability in the region has raised concerns over global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important chokepoints for international oil shipments.
International
Lula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to be officially nominated for re-election by his Workers’ Party (PT), marking the start of his campaign for a fourth presidential term.
The nomination takes place during the party’s national convention in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic hub, where around 3,000 supporters gathered to back the veteran leftist leader.
“Today I’m here because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we finally own a home after eight generations without one,” said Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker attending the event dressed in the PT’s signature red.
Seeking the presidency for the seventh time in his political career, Lula is expected to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in next year’s election.
The 45-year-old senator is the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been jailed over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 election.
The party convention opened with videos highlighting Lula’s social initiatives and speeches by four women praising his leadership, while supporters waved PT flags and held signs reading “We Want Lula as President” and “Brazil Is Not for Sale.”
The campaign begins amid growing tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump, a close ally of the Bolsonaro family who has openly backed several conservative candidates across Latin America.
Last week, Lula warned against foreign interference, declaring, “In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products, accusing the country of unfair trade practices. The measures followed earlier restrictions introduced in 2025, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, in response to legal proceedings against the former president.
Lula has vowed to wage what he called a “war of truth against lies” in response to Washington’s pressure and accused Flávio Bolsonaro of undermining Brazil’s interests by allegedly helping the United States damage the country’s economy. The senator has denied the accusations.
The Brazilian president also claims Washington is attempting to influence the country’s political landscape in an effort to prevent his re-election.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
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