Latest news with #Leyva
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S., Colombia withdraw ambassadors amid accusations of coup plotting
The United States and Colombia have recalled their respective ambassadors amid tensions surrounding an alleged plot to oust President Gustavo Petro in which two Florida congressmen were implicated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he ordered the recall of John T. McNamara, the acting ambassador in Bogotá, on Thursday 'following baseless and reprehensible statements from senior Colombian government officials.' The State Department also called Colombia an 'essential strategic partner' but said it would pursue 'other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship.' In response, Petro said he would call back Ambassador Daniel García-Peña from Washington in order to 'brief us on the progress of the bilateral agenda to which I committed myself from the beginning of my government.' Although Rubio did not elaborate on the alleged 'reprehensible' statements, Colombian newspaper El Tiempo on Thursday published a letter allegedly sent to the U.S. House Committee on Ethics calling for an investigation into House Republicans, including Florida lawmakers Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. María Elvira Salazar, and Rep. Carlos Antonio Gimenez. The letter was signed by 30 Colombian representatives. In it, the congressmen expressed 'deep concern' about the lawmakers' conduct and said that 'any unjustified interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country undermines' the principles of mutual respect between nations. Representatives Díaz-Balart and Gimenez were mentioned alongside Trump advisors including Rubio in recordings leaked to the Spanish newspaper El País that purport to show Petro's former Foreign Minister, Álvaro Leyva, seeking U.S. pressure to oust his old boss. 'I was in the United States with a top-tier figure: Mario Díaz-Balart. The Díaz-Balarts are the ones behind the Secretary of State,' Leyva allegedly told an unknown person in the recording. (Rep. Salazar was not mentioned in the recording but Colombian lawmakers accused her of making public comments aimed at delegitimizing Petro). According to El País, the White House never considered Leyva's proposal, and Díaz-Balart dismissed the claims, saying he meets with all kinds of groups including officials in Colombia's current government. 'I laugh at so many fabrications, nonsense, and hypocrisy. It reminds me of the saying 'every fool with his own agenda'', he said. Gimenez sloughed off the accusations as a 'media circus by Gustavo Petro and his henchmen' and said they shouldn't complain if the U.S. denies later denies them visas. Concrete evidence of an actual coup plot remains elusive and analysts see the rhetoric from Colombia's government as problematic. 'The only proof that we have [of a coup plot] are Leyva's recordings… We do not even have real evidence of this happening from Leyva associates, which is problematic because it is not clear if these individuals were actively conspiring, especially as many of them have strongly denied these allegations,' said Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, a consultancy. 'The U.S. Congress doesn't want to remain silent nor let this slide,' he added. The recall of ambassadors is the most severe escalation yet in the tense relationship between Trump and Petro that has been brewing for months. Guzmán points to a number of factors deteriorating the relationship including Petro's treatment of the opposition; lack of political protection for presidential candidates; Colombia joining the BRICS development bank, and rising coca cultivation which could lead to U.S. aid cuts to combat drug trafficking. The analyst said that Petro's impulsive foreign policy has made 'Colombia increasingly isolated and less credible' with its ally the United States. His current Foreign Minister, Laura Sarabia, also announced her resignation on Thursday. Senator Paola Holguín from the opposition Democratic Center party told the Miami Herald that Petro's 'repeated disrespectful statements, lack of commitment to fighting drug dealing and terrorism, and the alignment of our country with anti-democratic regimes and U.S. rivals are creating growing hardships' between the two countries. Meanwhile, Petro's supporters demand U.S. politicians respect Colombia's sovereignty and its democratically elected president. 'Calling him a narco-terrorist and drug addict is more than an insult; it's also an unacceptable fallacy; it's an affront to our nation and its sovereignty,' wrote Senator María José Pizarro Rodríguez of Petro's Historic Pact for Colombia political party on X. Colombia and the U.S. have built strong bonds over two centuries but the relationship has been strained in the past — namely over Cold War politics and the war on drugs. This latest diplomatic row, however, is disconcerting for those who study the relationship. 'We are very worried over the current state of the diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Colombia,' said Holguín. 'The U.S. has been our main commercial partner, a great ally in our fight against narcotrafficking and terrorism, and an important humanitarian supporter.' Benjamin Gedan, Director of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program, echoed the concerns, stating, 'For decades, Colombia has been the most strategic U.S. partner in the region, so it is troubling to see yet another diplomatic crisis.'
Miami Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Former Colombian diplomat sought help from U.S. in plot to oust Petro, report says
Colombia is reeling from a high-stakes political scandal after explosive audio leaks revealed a secret plot —allegedly orchestrated by former foreign minister and once-trusted ally Álvaro Leyva— to remove President Gustavo Petro from power, supposedly with help from U.S. allies. According to an investigation published by the Spanish newspaper El País, Leyva, 82, secretly met with Republican operatives in the United States earlier this year, including advisers with ties to Donald Trump's political circle. In those meetings, Leyva allegedly sought support for a strategy to pressure Petro from office—potentially even involving armed criminal groups inside Colombia. There's no indication that Leyva succeeded in directly meeting with high-ranking U.S. leaders. The revelation has prompted outrage in Colombia and concern abroad, especially given the apparent overtures to foreign politicians and the suggestion that criminal networks could play a role in the country's leadership transition. Leyva served as Petro's foreign minister from 2022-24, overseeing key diplomatic efforts and peace negotiations with armed groups. But after being suspended over irregularities in a government passport contract, he fell out with the administration and began publicly accusing Petro of erratic behavior and substance abuse. Now, it appears those accusations were part of a broader plan. According to El País, Leyva traveled to the U.S. in April and tried to arrange meetings with high-profile Republicans including Florida U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In private conversations, Leyva reportedly told associates he had 'all the tools' to remove Petro and install Vice President Francia Márquez in his place. Sources quoted in the El País report say Leyva claimed he possessed 'evidence' that Petro was unfit for office, describing the president as a man suffering from serious drug problems. But the White House never took the request seriously, according to officials familiar with the situation. The most alarming detail from the leaked audio recordings is Leyva's alleged suggestion that Colombia's powerful drug cartels and guerrilla groups could help broker a transition. 'There has to be a national agreement,' Leyva says in one recording. 'The ELN, the Gulf Clan... they all have to be part of it.' The Gulf Clan is Colombia's largest drug-trafficking organization and has been responsible for widespread violence, extortion and assassinations across the country. The idea that a former foreign minister would involve them in a political plot has stunned Colombians and raised alarms about democratic backsliding. Leyva also claimed to have backing from major business leaders and lobbied for international pressure, saying that the U.S. needed to play a key role in the transition. The scandal has also engulfed Vice President Márquez, who is named several times in the recordings. Leyva implies that Márquez was aware of and even sympathetic to the plan, citing text messages in which the two expressed mutual support. After reviewing the tapes, Petro reportedly confronted Márquez and asked her to publicly deny any involvement. She refused, according to sources close to the president, and their working relationship has since collapsed. The vice president has not spoken publicly about the controversy, but allies insist she played no role in any attempt to undermine the administration. Petro, who has had a turbulent relationship with Colombia's political establishment since taking office, has described Leyva's actions as a 'coup attempt' against a democratically elected government. During a speech earlier this month, he accused unnamed individuals of trying to remove him through illicit means, though he offered few details at the time. Privately, Petro is said to have been furious when he heard the recordings, which were provided to Colombian intelligence officials. Days later, Leyva reportedly fled to Madrid, citing concerns for his personal safety. The president's critics, meanwhile, accuse him of using the scandal to distract from stalled reforms and growing public dissatisfaction. Violence has increased in some regions, and Petro's ambitious legislative agenda remains bogged down in Congress. With a year left in his term, Petro faces mounting challenges, not just from his political opponents, but from within his own coalition. The Leyva scandal highlights growing fractures in the government and raises questions about the future of Márquez, once seen as a rising political star. Leyva's political journey is marked by paradoxes. A longtime conservative, he was tapped by Petro—a leftist former guerrilla—as foreign minister in a surprising gesture of national unity. He played a key role in 'Total Peace,' Petro's effort to negotiate with all of Colombia's armed groups. But that cooperation broke down following Leyva's suspension in late 2024. Sources say Leyva expected to return to a position of influence, possibly as a mediator in a proposed 'national agreement' that Petro hoped would unite political forces behind his reforms. When that didn't happen, Leyva went public with accusations about Petro's alleged drug use and claimed the president had disappeared for two days during an official trip to France. Petro denied those claims and mocked Leyva in a series of social media posts, saying Paris was full of museums and bookstores 'far more interesting' than the former minister.
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
KABC's Ellen Leyva signs off after 30 years in moving final broadcast: ‘I'm really lucky'
News anchor Ellen Leyva's decades-long tenure with KABC has officially come to an end. During her final broadcast this week, she said 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday to the KABC newsroom and the viewers she helped inform and entertain during her send-off. She announced her decision to retire in February, telling the audience at the time, 'I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life.' During the broadcast, Leyva became a story subject herself, inspiring a tender segment that walked viewers down the memory lane of her tenure. Her retirement also prompted a sit-down conversation with her longtime co-anchor David Ono. Leyva, an Arizona native, came to the Glendale-based station in 1995 as a health reporter and later joined the anchor desk, moving from morning news to the evening news post, where she remained for 25 years. 'I didn't know what to expect, I just knew that I couldn't believe I was working at KABC,' she recalled to Ono. 'My biggest fear was I would not make it and I wouldn't be good enough to stay on the air.' Leyva, despite her concerns, managed to do just that and more. Over the years, she has co-hosted Oscars red carpet arrivals, flown with the Blue Angels and provided Angelenos with a steady on-air presence. Earlier this year, Leyva kept viewers informed during the destructive wildfires that ripped through the region, including the Eaton fire. She said Wednesday that she was displaced from her Altadena home during the blaze. Beyond the desk, Leyva represented the KABC newsroom at several Los Angeles parades, was a team leader for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and advocated for mental health services for underserved communities. 'I'm really lucky,' she said during the segment. The final moments of Leyva's bow at KABC saw her behind the desk, surrounded by newsroom staff, friends and family who applauded her. 'This place has been the most incredible place to work,' she said. 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva turned her attention to her viewers: 'It has been an honor and a privilege to be welcomed into your living rooms every afternoon. You always made me feel like a welcomed guest.' As she begins her retirement, Leyva said she is looking forward to being on the other side of the screen as a supporter and viewer of KABC. For Leyva, it seems breaking news is not her problem anymore — at least that's according to a cheeky retirement gift candle the anchor posted to Instagram. Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Riley Co. Health Department talks measles
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Dr. Jacob Clarke, the supervisor for the Riley County Health Department (RCHD) Public Health Clinic, joined the 27 News morning newscast to discuss measles. This interview comes as measles cases in Kansas are on the rise. According to information shared by Vivienne Leyva with Riley County, as of May 16, there are no confirmed cases in Riley County. However, Kansas has reported multiple cases, and neighboring states like Texas and New Mexico are experiencing significant outbreaks, with over 700 cases in Texas alone. Leyva said Riley County is being proactive to educate and protect the community. Kansas gov. calls measles outbreak 'serious,' urges parents to vaccinate children 'Measles is a highly contagious viral disease,' Dr. Clarke said. 'It's spread through the air. So it's respiratory transmission. So it is in fact, you can spread it by talking, coughing, breathing in an area so again it's highly transmissible.' Dr. Clarke emphasized that prevention is going to be key. 'Yes, the prevention,' Dr. Clarke said. 'I think it's definitely the name of the game when it comes to measles. Measles is highly preventable with a vaccine called MMR. It has a basically an attenuated or like kind of a weakened version of the virus. And it really, what it does is it helps train the immune system. It gives it the opportunity to learn measles in a controlled environment so that when we do encounter measles in public, our immune system is well equipped to fight that measles.' 27 News obtained information from Riley County about a vaccination timeline: 12 to 15 months old Babies as young as six months old can get an early dose of the MMR vaccine. 4 to 6 years old, second dose Adults If an adult is not considered immune a dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended If you're not sure of your status, contact a healthcare provider The US has 1,001 measles cases and 11 states with active outbreaks Dr. Clarke discussed the importance of talking about the disease. 'Cases are up,' Dr. Clarke said. 'So Kansas especially is seeing a rise in our case count as well. I think the latest data I saw from KDHE was around in the mid-fifties that I believe 56 cases here in the state of Kansas. So it's more than we're accustomed to seeing, especially for several years.' Leyva told us symptoms typically include: High fever Cough Runny nose Red, watery eyes A rash (large flat spots and small raised bumps) can appear 3 to 5 days after symptoms begin To hear more about what Dr. Clarke had to say about treatment, symptoms, how to keep you and your family safe and more you can watch the interview above. Walk-in immunizations are available at the Public Health Clinic at 2030 Tecumseh Road. Patients can call ahead to schedule an appointment at (785) 776-4779 through extension 7675. More information on measles can be found by clicking here. You can learn more about the 2025 Kansas measles outbreak by checking the KDHE's website by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Korea Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Colombia president warns of plot to remove him as former ally calls him drug 'addict'
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday that an 'international plot' to oust him from office is underway after his former foreign minister accused him of being a drug 'addict' for the second time in three weeks. Alvaro Leyva published a seven-page letter on the social platform X calling for Petro's resignation and alleging that he is 'dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium.' Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has a year left in office, vehemently denied the accusation during a speech in Bogota, saying he is a 'revolutionary' who will not be 'enslaved' by drugs. Leyva, a seasoned politician and former presidential candidate, first leveled the accusation against Petro in a letter published April 22, in which he said the president 'went missing' for two days during a state visit to Paris and attributed that to purported drug use. Petro replied that he had taken time off to visit relatives in France. Leyva doubled down Tuesday, saying Petro also failed to show up at meetings during a 2023 visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as well as a high-profile visit to Chile's Supreme Court while on an official trip to that country. 'You must recognize, President, that your disappearances and inexplicable behaviors are the result of your sickly condition' Leyva said in the new letter. 'The president of Colombia, the country of coca, has fallen into the trap of vice.' Petro's unpredictable schedule and unexplained absences from official events have long been a source of debate, with the Colombian opposition accusing him of being erratic and unreliable. On multiple occasions lawmakers have urged Petro, who once said in a televised Cabinet meeting that cocaine 'is no worse than whiskey,' to undergo medical examination to prove he is not consuming illegal substances. Also Tuesday, Sen. Miguel Uribe drafted a petition calling on the Senate to create a commission of three medical specialists who can investigate Petro's health and help determine whether he 'has a permanent physical incapacity,' a move that could eventually lead to his removal from office. The petition has not been discussed on the Senate floor so far. Petro said the opposition and Leyva, a former ally, are out to oust him and called it 'an attempt to undermine Colombia's sovereignty, its democracy and the freedom of Colombians.' The president also accused United States Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, of being a leader of the purported plot, but without providing evidence. 'Don't try to overthrow the President of Colombia' Petro said in a message on X. 'Or you will unleash the Colombian revolution.' Diaz-Balart replied on the same platform, writing in Spanish that Petro is 'an embarrassment.' "I hope that with professional help you can fight your addiction and get better,' Diaz-Balart said. Leyva, who long worked to facilitate negotiations between the Colombian government and rebel groups, supported Petro during his presidential campaign and became foreign minister in August 2022. He was removed from his position in February 2024 after the Inspector General's office found him guilty of illegally interfering with a contract for a company to print passports. Petro said Tuesday that Leyva is 'bitter' about his ouster. 'The Inspector General removed him,' he said. 'But he is trying to take it out on me.'
