John Otis

In recent weeks, fighting has broken out between Venezuelan forces and guerrilla fighters from neighboring Colombia. The fighters have long used Venezuela as a base, but Venezuela is now pushing back.

The global fight against COVID-19 is in very different stages country to country. Reporters on three continents explain the status of the pandemic in Germany, Kenya and Colombia.

U.S. sanctions for Venezuela's crackdown on democracy are making the country's economic crisis worse. Authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro is seeking sanctions relief from the Biden administration.

In Colombia, deadly anti-government protests are now in their third week. Protesters are taking to the streets over police violence, economic inequity and health reform amid the pandemic.

The proposed tax reform that sparked protests has been withdrawn. But Colombians are now demanding actions to tackle poverty, inequality and school reform. At least 24 people have died.

Protesters are taking to the streets of Colombia demonstrating against the government's mishandling of the pandemic, and its proposal to raise taxes at a time of deep economic pain.

"We want to demonstrate that although we're not a rich country, we can do something that is humanitarian ... but at the same time is an intelligent and sound migration policy," Iván Duque tells NPR.

More than 5 million Venezuelans have fled their country, many of them to neighboring Colombia, whose president is winning praise for his open-door policy toward Venezuelans.

More than 5 million Venezuelans have fled their country, many of them to neighboring Colombia, whose president is winning praise for his open-door policy toward Venezuelans.

Human rights activists have reported a sharp increase in sexual assaults and human trafficking involving Venezuelan women and girls trying to reach Colombia since the border closed amid the pandemic.