The U.S. objective to impose secondary tariffs on all countries purchasing Venezuelan oil and gas has stalled President Petro’s plans for greater energy integration. Petro has urged Ecopetrol to explore Qatari gas imports amid rising domestic shortages and potential trade tensions with Washington.
Seventy-five foreign tourists have been rescued in two separate maritime accidents near Cartagena’s Barú Peninsula. A boat carrying 38 Europeans capsized Thursday, following a similar March 2 incident. Authorities cite rough seas and stress stricter maritime safety measures.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro faced backlash for mocking Casanare Senator Alirio Barrera’s grief over his horse’s death. Critics condemned Petro’s remark as cruel and a deflection from his labor reform’s failure, highlighting his tendency to replace debate with personal attacks on social media.
Thousands marched in Bogotá on Petro’s “Civic Day” to pressure Congress into passing his labor reform, but the Senate rejected the bill. Petro condemned lawmakers, warning of a referendum push as political tensions between his administration and Congress escalate.
Colombia’s Gustavo Petro has declared March 18 a “Civic Day” to rally support for his social reforms, bypassing Congress. By pressuring workers to march, Petro risks deepening political divides and setting a dangerous precedent of governance through mass mobilization over the due legislative process.
A grenade explosion in Bogotá’s San Bernardo neighborhood on March 12 has killed three and injured nine. District authorities link the attack to ongoing turf wars between criminal groups over control of the micro-trafficking drugs trade.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for a national referendum on his unpopular reforms after lawmakers shelved the labor reform in the Senate. Critics claim the move undermines democracy and the autonomy of Congress, with concerns a referendum sets a dangerous precedent for governing by a populist decree.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for diversifying natural gas imports, ordering state-owned Ecopetrol to source from Qatar in order to reduce costs and end reliance on the U.S. His proposal comes with rising gas prices, inflation concerns, and a significant new gas discovery off Colombia’s coast.
A long-lost Spanish fort, San Matías, has been rediscovered submerged in Cartagena Bay, Colombia. Built in 1567 to defend the city, the fort was dismantled in 1626. The discovery opens new insights into the region’s colonial defense system.
The Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro has banned prominent Colombian Grammy-winning artists, including Juanes, Carlos Vives, Maluma, and Silvestre Dangond, from entering the country. The ba announced by Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s Minister of the Interior, accuses the artists of supporting the opposition and inciting political instability.
U.S. tariffs on Colombian agricultural exports, including coffee and flowers, threaten thousands of jobs, particularly for women in rural areas. The peso faces devaluation, and China may seize the opportunity to expand its influence as Colombia seeks alternative trade partners.
Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) gave the Attorney General’s Office 45 days to provide information on 546 disappeared members of the armed forces, aiming to advance their identification and ensure victims’ rights to truth and justice.
Bogotá’s insecurity crisis worsens as masked attackers vandalize the historic Tren de la Sabana near Corferias. Mayor Galán implements new security measures, but rising homicides and gang violence fuel public concern. Authorities debate reinstating motorcycle passenger restrictions to curb crime.
Colombia’s National Police, backed with U.S. and U.K. intelligence, killed Gulf Clan leader Oliverio Isaza Gómez, alias “Terror,” in Antioquia. The raid dealt a major blow to drug trafficking and organized crime, disrupting the clan’s expansion in Magdalena Medio.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán cautioned that water rationing in the Colombian capital could end in April as the Chingaza reservoir system continues to recover. Water rationing was implemented in April, 2024, as the city experienced a severe drought.
The Colombian government of President Petro has launched peace talks with the Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), aiming to dismantle the group’s criminal activities in the world’s highest coastal mountain range and reintegrate its members, amid escalating violence and territorial disputes with armed groups.