A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least two people and causing significant damage across the country, with buildings collapsing in several cities and a tower of the historic cathedral in Manizales partially collapsing. The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicenter near San José del […]
Latest News
Colombia Denies Entry to Nearly 19,000 Foreigners Since 2022
Colombia’s immigration authority has denied entry to nearly 19,000 foreign nationals since President Gustavo Petro took office in August 2022, citing national security concerns, immigration violations, fraudulent documentation and other legal grounds, according to figures released Monday by Migración Colombia. The government said 18,994 foreigners were refused entry between August 2022 and June 2026 under […]
Colombia’s Mayors back De la Espriella’s anti-crime crackdown
Colombia’s President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella said he will sign a decree on Aug. 7, the day he is sworn into office, creating special “Urban Security Defense Blocs” in the country’s largest cities as part of a sweeping security crackdown and a broader shift away from the outgoing government’s security strategy. De la Espriella, who […]
Medellín Cartel’s Fabio Ochoa Vasco Returns to Colombia After U.S. Prison Term
Fabio Enrique Ochoa Vasco, a former insider of the defunct Medellín Cartel, and once accused by Pablo Escobar of betrayal and marked for death, has quietly returned to Colombia after serving a prison sentence in the United States, drawing renewed attention to the discreet return of aging narcotics operatives to the country. Ochoa Vasco, known […]
American Airlines flight attendant missing in Medellín prompts cross-border search
The disappearance of a U.S. flight attendant during a brief layover in Medellín has sparked an urgent search involving Colombian authorities, airline officials and U.S. representatives, as questions mount over his final hours in the city. Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, an American Airlines crew member based in Dallas-Fort Worth, arrived in Colombia’s second-largest city […]
Colombia bars 10 foreigners in single-day crackdown on suspected sex tourism
Colombia’s migration authority Migración Colombia denied entry last week to 10 foreign nationals suspected of seeking sex tourism, marking the largest single-day refusal of its kind at Medellín’s main international gateway, officials said. The individuals — nine from the United States and one from Anguilla — were stopped at José María Córdova International Airport on […]
Suspected drone attack disrupts high-level visit to Colombia’s Hidroituango
Colombia’s security forces alerted late Sunday Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón to cancel a planned visit to the Hidroituango hydroelectric complex for Monday, March 2, after intelligence warnings of a possible drone attack and credible terrorist threat. The visit, which included a press conference expected to draw around 100 journalists, […]
Fernando Botero Takes on Singapore with Landmark Exhibition
Singapore has never been shy about scale. But this season, the city’s appetite for monumentality takes on a distinctly Latin American accent. For the first time, the work of Colombian master Fernando Botero makes his Singapore debut with the largest exhibition of his work ever showcased in Asia. Spanning galleries, inter-active theatres and extensive public […]
Bogotá: “Criminal structures” behind Congress of the Peoples protest
A wave of coordinated protests and building occupations by the social movement known as the “Congress of the Peoples” has raised alarms in Bogotá this week, after Interior Minister Armando Benedetti claimed that “criminal structures” are behind the unrest, pointing to alleged infiltration by armed groups, most notably the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla. The […]
Medellín’s Gutiérrez clamps down on transnational mafias, bolsters U.S. ties
Medellín mayor Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez launched a crackdown on transnational mafias operating in Parque Lleras, vowing the city “will not be a refuge” for crime. He also met U.S. envoy John McNamara, strengthening security and trade ties as Colombia’s national government faces strained relations with Washington.
Colombian Mayors Demand More Protection After Petro invites Crime Bosses to Medellín Rally
President Gustavo Petro sparked national outrage after sharing a stage with jailed crim bosses during a rally in Medellín, just weeks after an assassination attempt on opposition candidate Miguel Uribe. Mayors across Colombia are demanding protection amid rising threats ahead of a potentially dangerous election season.
Artist of Earth and Time: Colombian artist Hugo Zapata dies at 80
Hugo Zapata (1945–2025), renowned Colombian sculptor, passed away at 80 in El Retiro. Known for monumental black stone works evoking earth and ancestral memory, Zapata transformed Colombia’s public art landscape. His elemental forms bridged nature and spirit, leaving behind a legacy carved in stone and rooted in timeless reflection.
Heavy rainfall in Antioquia triggers emergencies and Red Alerts across department
Heavy rains across Colombia’s Antioquia department have triggered over 1,000 emergencies, with 87 municipalities under red or orange alert. Medellín and surrounding areas face flooding, landslides, and hospital overcrowding, as La Niña conditions continue to worsen throughout May.
Carlos Lehder’s sudden return to Colombia revives legacy of Medellin Cartel
Carlos Lehder, one of the founding leaders of the Medellín Cartel and a key figure in the history of cocaine trafficking, was arrested by Colombian authorities upon his arrival from Germany on Friday, March 28.
SER: The Hat Couture of Medellín designer Andrea Agudelo
Designer Andrea Agudelo launches SER, a hat couture brand blending fashion, art, and mindfulness. Her debut collection, Born from Light, features handcrafted headwear symbolizing identity and transformation. SER will expand globally through gallery installations and a bespoke atelier in Medellín.
Medellín’s Comuna 13 rejects Pablo Escobar memorabilia
Medellín’s Comuna 13 attracts nearly 900,000 visitors annually, blending vibrant art with community-focused tourism. The merchandise and tours glorifying Pablo Escobar have overshadowed the identity of a city rooted in culture and innovation.