BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The Egmont Group, an international organization created to combat money laundering, said Monday that it has suspended Colombia's access to its global information sharing platform, after President Gustavo Petro shared confidential information that Colombian officials had obtained from the group.
The Egmont Group said in a statement that Colombia's government will no longer have access to a secure web used by the group to share data on financial crimes and that can be accessed by 177 member countries. The group said the measure will remain in effect while it further investigates the situation.
Earlier this month, Petro read out information from a document obtained through the Egmont Group suggesting that in 2021, Colombia's government, which was then headed by conservative President Iván Duque, paid an Israeli company $11 million in cash to acquire Pegasus spyware.
Petro made the revelation during a nationally televised speech, where many expected him to discuss a truckers' strike instead.
The president said that the spyware was used by Duque's conservative administration to spy on activists and members of left-wing parties that opposed his government, including Petro himself. Duque administration officials have denied the charges.
Pegasus is able to gather information from cellphones undetected and control a cellphone's camera and microphones. The software was developed by an Israeli company and has been used to target more than 50,000 politicians, journalists and human rights activists by at least a dozen governments, according to a report published by Amnesty International and 18 media organizations in 2021.
Security analysts have said Colombia's suspension from the Egmont Group's information sharing platform weakens the nation's capabilities to detect illegal transactions made by drug trafficking groups, and other criminal organizations.
Petro on Monday defended his decision to declassify confidential information, arguing he did so to defend the nation's interests.
“This is the price of truth," Petro wrote in a message on X, adding that Colombians now know how his predecessor “paid” for Pegasus.
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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro Urrego addresses the the Summit of the Future, in the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Last season: 47-20-15, lost to Florida in second round of playoffs.
COACH: Jim Montgomery (278-172-75 over 5 seasons with 2 teams).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 8 at Florida.
DEPARTURES: G Linus Ullmark, F Jakub Lauko, F Oskar Steen, F Danton Heinen, D Derek Forbort, F Pat Maroon, F James van Riemsdyk, F Jake DeBrusk, D Kevin Shattenkirk.
ADDITIONS: G Joonas Korpisalo, F Elias Lindholm, D Nikita Zadorov, F Max Jones, F Riley Tufte.
GOALIES: Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage), Korpisalo (21-26-4, 3.27, .890).
BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 20-1.
The Bruins followed their record-setting, 135-point season in 2022-23 with a more pedestrian 109 points last year and a second-round exit to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After topping 100 points in six straight (non-pandemic shortened) seasons, the focus this year will be on an extended playoff run. That hasn’t happened since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. It will largely depend on whether the team re-signs Swayman, a restricted free agent. Having traded away 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, the Bruins may have to rely on Korpisalo at least until Dec. 1.
The good: Swayman was an All-Star in 2024, finishing in the top five of GAA and save percentage. He was good enough to wrest the starting job away from Ullmark during the playoffs last year, which persuaded the Bruins to trade Ullmark in the summer. With the departures of Maroon, van Riemsdyk, Shattenkirk and Milan Lucic (who played in just four games last season), the Bruins shed four of their five oldest players. And the other, captain Brad Marchand, is still going strong.
The not-so-good: The Bruins' need to sign Swayman by Dec. 1 or he cannot play this season. With Korpisalo as a No. 1, goaltending turns from a strength to a weakness – especially with 26-year-old Brandon Bussi, who played 41 games for Providence of the AHL last season, as the backup.
F Fabian Lysell has a chance to make the team after tallying 50 points in 57 games for AHL Providence last season. F Matt Poitras made the team out of training camp last year at 19 years old, scoring five goals with 10 assists in 33 games before a season-ending shoulder injury in February.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Boston Bruins president Cam Neely answers a reporter's question during a media availability, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery answers a reporter's question during a media availability, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins chief executive officer Charlie Jacobs listens to a reporter's question during a media availability, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, right, arrives for a media availability with team president Cam Neely, left, and general manager Don Sweeney, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak skates during a team practice, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
