Bogotá, Oct 12 (Prensa Latina) Colombia's progressive Historical Pact party today condemned what it called a media campaign against former President Gustavo Petro and his family based on "accusations without evidentiary support and backed by anonymous sources."

In a statement released in this capital, the political group recalled that the former president does not face criminal charges in the United States and that no competent judicial authority has issued any charges, accusations, or convictions against him.

He then emphasized that the list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which includes the former ruler, his eldest son and his ex-wife Verónica Alcócer, are administrative sanction mechanisms that operate without trial, without conviction and without procedural guarantees.

"Former President Petro himself has denounced it: they are an instrument of political persecution, not of justice. The fact that the former president's inner circle remains on that list without a single criminal charge against them proves it," the group emphasized.

He then indicated that the objective is to open an investigation at all costs.

"The strategy is clear: to establish the narrative, erode the former president's image, and prepare the ground so that the Anti-Terrorism Statute—which creates the so-called 'Espriella List'—allows the government to point the finger at whomever it wants and hand those names directly to OFAC. It's not an investigation: it's a witch hunt," he said.

The Historical Pact described the above as an attack on democracy.

"When a government can compile lists without judicial oversight, freeze assets without a conviction, and hand over names to foreign powers without due process, no opponent is safe. What is being done today against Petro and his family can be done tomorrow against any social leader, union member, journalist, or citizen who dissents," he stated.

Following the presentation of their complaint, the party called for respect for due process and the presumption of innocence of former President Gustavo Petro and his family, and for the media to correct themselves when their accusations lack evidentiary support and firm judicial decisions.

He also demanded that the Government publicly explain why it insists on building accusations without judicial oversight, when the evidence itself demonstrates that there are no ongoing criminal proceedings, and that Congress shelve any initiative whose objective is to institutionalize political persecution through blacklists without guarantees.

Finally, the Historic Pact called on citizens, social organizations, unions, students and all democrats to reject what it called a disinformation campaign.

"There is no evidence. There are no charges. Only lies. And in the face of lies, we have truth and organization," he stated.

Santiago, Chile, Oct 12 (Prensa Latina) Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet today called a meeting with the top leaders of progressive and left-wing political parties.

The meeting would aim to discuss the current national situation and seek common ground to coordinate the actions of the opposition bloc to the government of José Antonio Kast.

Sources close to the two-time Chilean president (2006-2010 and 2014-2018) indicated that it will be a friendly gathering and an opportunity to express gratitude for the tribute she recently received in the capital city of La Pintana.

However, the meeting will take place just days after Bachelet hinted during an interview that she does not rule out the possibility of seeking a third candidacy for the La Moneda Palace.

This increases speculation that the issue could be addressed in some way during the meeting, scheduled for October 15 at the headquarters of the Citizen Horizon Foundation, which she created after the end of her second term.

According to Lautaro Carmona, president of the Communist Party of Chile, Bachelet can make a great contribution to the development, maturity and deepening that they as the opposition must maintain with respect to those who govern the country.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Party for Democracy, Sebastián Vergara, maintained that the former president is a figure capable of generating unity within the progressive movement.

Its availability is very good news, he told Radio Biobío, although he noted that 2029 is still a long way off.

According to the Cadem poll, 29 percent of those interviewed consider Michelle Bachelet to be the main leader of progressivism and the left, above former president Gabriel Boric (19).

Looking ahead to a possible presidential candidacy, she obtained 41 percent of preferences as the best opposition figure.

Brasilia, Oct 12 (Prensa Latina) Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin today called for the Electoral Court to act impartially and protect freedom of expression and politics, during a visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.

Alckmin made the remarks after attending a mass in honor of Brazil's patron saint in the city of Aparecida, São Paulo state, amid controversies over judicial decisions related to the presidential campaign.

According to press reports, such as the Brasil 247 portal, the vice president considered that electoral institutions must guarantee equitable conditions for candidates and preserve the political rights of citizens.

The most recent controversy involves the WhatsApp channel Lula's Army, created to spread content supporting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has Alckmin as his running mate in the runoff election on October 25.

Yesterday, the president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Minister Kassio Nunes Marques, ordered the suspension of that digital space, after attending to a request from the campaign of Flávio Bolsonaro, presidential candidate and rival of Lula in the upcoming contest at the polls.

Hours later, the general electoral magistrate, Minister Ricardo Villas Boas Cueva, revoked that decision and allowed the channel to resume operations.

Villas argued that the controversy was under his responsibility as the rapporteur of the process and considered it necessary for the full court to definitively resolve the case.

This Monday, news reports revealed that technicians from the Brazilian Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) found no false content on the channel.

During his visit to Aparecida, Alckmin also referred to religious freedom and respect for different beliefs, on a day marked by the Catholic celebrations of October 12.

The vice president was accompanied by his wife, Lu Alckmin; the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha; and the congresswoman Tabata Amaral, among other political figures.

The performance of electoral courts and the scope of freedom of expression on digital platforms remain among the central issues of the campaign leading up to the second round of the aforementioned elections.

RJ's reps tell TMZ ... "It is with profound sadness we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte." "RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter 'Flynn' White Jr. on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Breaking Bad. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," his reps continue, "Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s." RJ Mitte -- who played Walter White Jr. on "Breaking Bad" -- is dead ... TMZ has learned. A county official confirmed to TMZ that RJ died Monday in Texas. We're told he died by suicide.

Measures to prevent environmental damage were proposed in only 22 of 74 civil works projects the Corps submitted to Congress for approval from 2020 to 2025, according to a report published Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office. The Corps deemed that no such measures were needed for the remaining 52 projects and failed to provide detailed evidence as to why, the watchdog alleges. The agency regularly works to improve water navigation channels to prevent flooding and restore aquatic habitats around the country through its civil works program. It is required by statute to make detailed reports to Congress outlining whether its projects will require measures to prevent possible harm to fish, wildlife and the environment. The engineers are expected “to plan for environmental mitigation — that is, to take actions to avoid, minimize, or compensate for expected losses to fish and wildlife and damage to ecological resources,” which could include reinforcing riverbanks or restoring wetland areas to create new habitats for fish and wildlife, according to the report. The Corps of Engineers may decide not to undertake conservation measures if it deems certain projects will not cause harm. However, the Army is expected to provide Congress with clear explanations for those decisions.

A chart published by GAO shows a sharp decline in the Corps’ decisions to make mitigation plans for wildlife and habitat protection from 2022 to 2025. In 2024, for example, the agency decided that only one of 13 projects would require measures to safeguard the environment. The GAO’s chart shows zero mitigation plans made in 2025. In its findings, the GAO alleges that the Corps failed to provide necessary details to Congress demonstrating the reasons behind its decision-making in cases when it deemed no environmental protection measures were needed. The watchdog said the vast majority of documents sent to Congress during those five years contained broad and general language that failed to clarify how the Corps reached its decisions. The GAO recommended that the Army establish clear guidance for the Corps to document how it reaches decisions to keep Congress and the public better informed. The Army disputed the GAO’s recommendations in a Sept. 16 letter signed by D. Lee Forsgren, the senior official performing the duties of the Army’s assistant secretary for civil works. “We do not concur with the recommendation in the draft that we need to create more guidance about mitigation decision making on Civil Works projects,” Forsgren wrote. “The water resources project reports (including associated Chief’s Reports) produced by USACE have sufficient technical information for decision makers and the public and resource agencies to understand when habitat mitigation is or is not included in a final recommendation.”