World Tour: Assassination attempt in Colombia

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LINDAY MAST, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: WORLD Tour with our reporter in Nigeria, Onize Oduah.

SOUND: [Chanting supporters]

ONIZE ODUAH: Colombian shooting — We start today in Colombia with an assassination attempt during a campaign event in the capital city of Bogota.

Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was addressing supporters in a park on Saturday when he was shot three times.

Uribe has undergone an initial surgery, but doctors say he is still in critical condition.

Uribe’s wife, María Claudia Tarazona, thanked supporters for standing with her family.

MARIA CLAUDIA TARAZONA: [SPANISH] I ask each one of you to continue praying hard, not to give up, and that we are united in prayer. Thank you.

She asked for continued prayers for her husband’s recovery.

Authorities detained a 15-year-old suspect who was found with a 9-millimeter Glock-type firearm. Investigators are still working to uncover the motive behind the attack.

Laura Sarabia is Colombia’s foreign minister.

LAURA SARABIA: [SPANISH] Many of us have failed at this time. It must be a call to reflection, but above all to action. We have failed to provide security and peace for all Colombians.

She admitted that authorities failed to provide security and peace for all Colombians.

Uribe is a critic of Colombia’s leftist government. He also opposed the activities of drug cartels and guerrilla groups that still control parts of the country.

India-U.K. partnership — Next, to India, where British and Indian officials are discussing expanded counter-terrorism cooperation.

The move comes amid recent tensions between India and its neighbor, Pakistan. A ceasefire last month paused rising violence after 26 people were murdered in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir. Indian authorities blamed Pakistan for the killings and retaliated with targeted missile and air strikes.

Here’s British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

DAVID LAMMY: We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognise fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilise India, attack tourists going about their daily lives, and we are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.

Lammy said both sides also discussed boosting trade before he left India on Sunday.

SOUND: [Students]

DRC exams — Over in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tens of thousands of high school seniors have started their state-run final exams in the rebel-controlled eastern region.

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized control of the area’s two largest cities in fighting earlier this year.

Education officials had to escort the exam materials from the country’s capital of Kinshasa into the rebel-held cities. The tests are similar to the SAT’s for students hoping to get into college.

Mangala Lubunga is one of those students in Bukavu.

MANGALA LUBUNGA: [FRENCH] I feel happy, I feel at ease. With the war, our friends died, others fled to neighboring countries. But today, I was able to finish my exam in secure conditions.

He says some of his friends died while others fled to neighboring countries. But he’s happy he can take his exams safely.

Authorities waived exam fees for students in the region over the insecurity. The testing will continue through mid-June.

SOUND: [Cheering]

Uzbekistan soccer — We wrap up in the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan.

Soccer fans broke out in cheers as the country’s national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

It follows a goalless draw with the United Arab Emirates.

Otabek Khaydarov is one of the team’s supporters.

OTABEK KHAYDAROV: [UZBEK] If we are lucky, with Asian or South American teams, of course, the game will be better. Of course, with Europeans too, but their level is much higher than ours. But anyway, I am very happy that our team made it to the World Cup.

He says he’s happy about the team’s success, but knows they face a challenge ahead against European teams.

The World Cup is held every four years. North America will host the 2026 competition with games scheduled across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

That’s it for this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Oduah in Abuja, Nigeria.

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