Colombia News Headlines

PS News reports that a Cape York man has been arrested in Colombia. The individual, in his 50s and employed by a council contractor, was allegedly caught with 3.5 kilograms of cocaine while attempting to depart the country. Authorities believe the man has made multiple trips between Colombia and Dubai in recent months. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance, though further detail...

Colombian senators are proposing new regulations for the cryptocurrency industry, aiming to protect users and foster investment. The proposed bill seeks to establish a VASP operating permit system to ensure compliance with AML/CFT protocols. Lawmakers believe current lack of regulation creates risks for consumers and enables misuse of cryptoassets. They want to create a more reliable environment with guarantees for t...

Chinese state-backed companies have significantly increased investments in Colombian infrastructure projects since trade deals were established between 2008 and 2019. These investments encompass critical sectors, including ports, highways, mining, energy, and public transportation systems like metro lines and light rail. Concerns arise from the secretive nature of these deals, the potential for Chinese companies to c...

Colombia's war crimes tribunal (JEP) has indicted 39 army officials, including four generals, for their involvement in the extrajudicial killings of 442 civilians in Antioquia between 2004 and 2007. These killings were driven by a "body count policy" that incentivised soldiers to present civilians as guerrillas killed in combat. Commanders allegedly dismissed complaints about the killings, attributing them to guerrilla ta...

We examine Colombia's neutral stance three years into the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite officially remaining neutral under President Petro, the piece highlights the historical context of initial condemnation under previous leadership. It notes that approximately 2,000 Colombian mercenaries are fighting for Ukraine, often driven by economic hardship. The article acknowledges Petro's call for peaceful resolution but also...

The trial of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has resumed after a court rejected a defence request to remove the judge. Uribe is accused of fabricating charges against individuals who linked him to the AUC paramilitary group, allegedly using bribed witnesses. Evidence suggests Uribe's defence team attempted to delay proceedings and were held in contempt of court. Testimony includes claims that Uribe and his br...

Feb 10, 2025: Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, has created upheaval within his government by requesting the resignation of his entire cabinet. This request follows public criticism of his ministers' performance and disagreements over recent appointments, including Laura Sarabia as foreign minister. Tensions were already high due to Petro's standoff with US President Donald Trump regarding migrant deportations, an...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Monday April 10, 2023

The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia, responsible for one of the largest disasters in the Western Hemisphere, is showing signs of increased activity. Experts have detected an earthquake swarm not seen since the eruption in the 1980s that killed at least 25,000 people. The Colombian government has issued evacuations in the potential impact zone and raised ...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Saturday April 8, 2023

Protests at a coal mine in Colombia's La Guajira province have ended after four days, allowing the mine to resume operations. The blockade was led by residents from three communities in Media Luna and had affected the rail line and entrance to the export terminal used by coal miner Cerrejon. The company, owned by Anglo-Swiss commodities giant Glencore, has ...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Thursday April 6, 2023

Operations at Colombia's Cerrejon coal mine have been affected by a blockade of a rail line and export terminal used by the company, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The blockade, led by residents of three communities in Media Luna, La Guajira province, is an effort to obtain a "disproportionate agreement" following a court order for Cerrejon...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Wednesday April 5, 2023

Brazilian gangs are believed to be behind the surging violence in the Colombia-Brazil-Peru tri-border area, as they fight for control of the key drug trafficking corridor. Local news outlet La Silla Vacía reported that two people were killed and two others wounded in Leticia, the capital city of Colombia’s Amazonas department, between March 24 and March 26...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Tuesday April 4, 2023

Residents living on the upper slopes of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia are being evacuated due to an increase in seismic activity. Colombia's Geological Service has raised the alert level from yellow to orange, warning that a major eruption could occur in the coming days or weeks.

This is a worrying development as the volcano caused Colombia's deadl...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Friday March 31, 2023

Colombia is making progress in removing 70 hippos left behind by the late druglord Pablo Escobar, but the task comes with a hefty price tag of $3.5 million. These African beasts were brought to Colombia in the late 1980s and have since multiplied to 150 animals, causing havoc in their environment. The authorities plan to capture and move nearly half of them,...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Thursday March 30, 2023

Nine soldiers have been killed and nine others wounded in an attack on a military unit in Colombia. The attack took place in El Carmen, in Norte de Santander state, and the attackers used long-range weapons and improvised explosive devices. The National Liberation Army, or ELN, is suspected to be behind the attack. President Gustavo Petro condemned the att...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Wednesday March 29, 2023

The Colombian Navy has rescued five Venezuelan migrants, including a pregnant woman and a minor, who were stranded on a small Caribbean island after being abandoned by human traffickers en route to the United States. The group paid $1,200 to the traffickers and departed from the San Andres archipelago in Colombian waters, with plans to continue their jour...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Tuesday March 28, 2023

Colombia could become the latest country to ban bullfighting as the nation's House of Representatives considers legislation introduced by Senator Andrea Padilla, a long-time animal rights activist. The Senate has already approved the measure that would ban the practice within three years and impose immediate reforms on bullfighting shows. The legislation ba...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Monday March 27, 2023

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has admitted that his country shares the blame for the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Moise was killed by a group of Colombian mercenaries, which worsened Haiti's already dire political and economic crises. Petro said that Colombia has a co-responsibility because Haiti helped it become a count...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Thursday March 16, 2023

In central Colombia, rescuers and miners worked against the clock to save ten workers trapped in a coal mine after an explosion killed at least 11 people. With oxygen running low, family members of the trapped miners waited outside the mine, hoping for good news. Over 100 rescuers were involved in the search, with Governor Nicolas Garcia calling it a "diff...

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Tuesday March 14, 2023

The Gulf Clan criminal group has been accused by President Gustavo Petro of violating a ceasefire agreement by attacking an aqueduct during protests by illegal gold miners. The protests resulted in roadblocks that affected up to 300,000 people across 12 municipalities in Colombia’s Antioquia and Cordoba provinces, causing shortages of fuel, food, and medici...