CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The governments of Venezuela and Colombia on Thursday announced the cancellation of a highly anticipated meeting between their presidents planned for the following day at their shared border.
The talks were to be Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s first official meeting with a Latin American leader since she was sworn in January following the U.S. military operation to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez and Colombian President Gustavo Petro were expected to address shared interests in border security, due to the presence of illegal armed groups associated with drug trafficking and the potential for Colombia to import Venezuelan natural gas.
In a joint statement released by Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the governments attributed the cancellation to “force majeure,” which they did not explain, and said the meeting would take place at a later time.
The statement added that Petro maintains his invitation to Rodríguez to hold the presidential meeting and indicated that both governments remain committed “to strengthening trust, cooperation and bilateral relations.”
Shortly before Thursday’s announcement, Petro’s office said the Colombian leader had a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump in which he wished him “success” in his meeting with Rodríguez.
Workers dismantle a stage where Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez were going to meet, after the event was canceled due to security concerns, at the Atanasio Girardot Binational Bridge in Villa del Rosario, Colombia, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks after voting during legislative elections in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
ÅRE, Sweden (AP) — Austrian skier Julia Scheib locked up the women’s World Cup giant slalom title Saturday, winning the penultimate race of the season after first-run leader Camille Rast skied out.
The victory gave Scheib an insurmountable lead of 189 points over her Swiss rival in the GS standings.
“It feels very special, winning the giant slalom globe has been a goal of mine for many years. To achieve it today means a lot to me, said Scheib, the ninth Austrian winner of this globe but the first since Eva-Maria Brem took it in 2016.
Scheib denied Paula Moltzan a first career victory, finishing 0.36 seconds ahead of the American. Alice Robinson of New Zealand was 0.75 behind in third.
Mikaela Shiffrin improved from 12th following a costly mistake in the opening run to finish fifth and protect her lead in the overall standings.
Shiffrin lost just five points on Germany's Emma Aicher, who finished the race in a career-best fourth, and won 55 points on Rast.
Shiffrin now leads Aicher by 120 points and Rast by 223 and could increase her lead in Sunday’s slalom, which is the American star’s strongest event.
After this weekend, only the World Cup Finals with four races remain.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
Austria's Julia Scheib celebrates winning a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
United States' Paula Moltzan speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Austria's Julia Scheib speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Switzerland's Camille Rast speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
