Colombia

Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes Colombia

May 14 (Reuters) - A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Villavicencio in Colombia on Sunday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) said. The EMSC initially pegged the earthquake at a magnitude of 5.5.…

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Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes northern Colombia

March 10 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 hit northern Colombia on Friday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. The quake was at a depth of 90 km (56…

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Two dead, dozens of police held hostage in Colombia in protest against oil company

BOGOTA, (Reuters) - A police officer and civilian were killed during violent protests in Colombia's Caqueta province, and 79 officers and nine oilfield workers were taken hostage by members of…

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UPDATED: China says balloon sighted in Latin America for ‘civilian purpose’

BEIJING, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The balloon sighted in Latin America is from China and is for civilian purposes, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. The balloon…

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Two bodies found in undercarriage of Avianca airplane in Bogota

BOGOTA (Reuters) - The bodies of two young men, who were possibly from the Dominican Republic, were found in the undercarriage of an Avianca airplane during maintenance in Colombian capital…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Christmas illuminations and decorations are on display at a roadside in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Approximately 1.4 million Catholics in Sri Lanka, representing about 7.1 percent of the total population, celebrate…

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Photo story: Bogota lights up for Christmas

Artists participate in the assembly 'The Tree of Abundance' in the central Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia. The large-format show affirms the need to protect the environment and brings…

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Colombia president’s move to label protesters ‘peace managers’ sparks controversy

Opponents of Colombia President Gustavo Petro on Monday insisted that people jailed for participating in anti-government protests in 2021 were in prison for breaking the law, not demonstrating, after Petro…

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Colombia will not extradite criminals who negotiate government deals – Petro

Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed that drug traffickers who comply with government surrender conditions and abandon the trade will not be extradited to face charges abroad. Petro, who was sworn…

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Colombia to suspend air strikes on armed groups

BOGOTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Colombia will suspend aerial bombings targeting illegal armed groups in a bid to avoid collateral damage to civilians and deaths of minors who have been…

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Colombia suspends ELN rebel arrest warrants, extradition orders to restart peace talks

Colombia's new president said he was suspending arrest warrants and extradition requests for members of the left-wing guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) in an effort to restart peace…

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Colombia detects $20 billion likely tied to money laundering

BOGOTA, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Colombia's financial crimes unit, intensifying efforts to catch fraud, has detected some $20 billion in financial operations potentially tied to money laundering over the last 3-1/2 years,…

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Leftist Petro takes office in Colombia amid economic, social challenges

BOGOTA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Gustavo Petro will on Sunday become Colombia's first leftist president, elected by voters who hope he can carry out ambitious social and economic reforms meant…

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Colombians cautiously optimistic ahead of leftist Petro’s inauguration

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombians are expressing cautious optimism about the government of incoming leftist President Gustavo Petro, days before he takes office on promises to reshape the polarized country with a raft…

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Four killed, 70 injured in partial collapse of bullring in Colombia

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Four people were killed and about 70 injured on Sunday when part of a stand collapsed at a bullring in the town of El Espinal, Colombia, provincial officials…

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Colombia elects former guerrilla Petro as first leftist president

BOGOTA/BUCARAMANGA, June 20 (Reuters) - Leftist Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, who has vowed profound social and economic change, won Colombia's presidency on Sunday, the first progressive…

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Colombians to choose between leftist and eccentric businessman in Sunday vote

BOGOTA, Colombians will vote on Sunday for their next president, choosing between leftist Gustavo Petro, who promises profound social reforms, and eccentric business magnate Rodolfo Hernandez, who has found fertile…

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Colombia’s police on highest alert over election violence

Colombia's police are on maximum alert after detecting plans by radical groups to reject the results of a second presidential election vote on Sunday and commit violence across the country,…

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Colombia leftist Petro goes to second round with businessman Hernandez

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian leftist Gustavo Petro came out on top in the first round of the Andean country's presidential election on Sunday and will face a surprise contender - businessman Rodolfo…

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Colombia election on Sunday sees leftist Petro in pole position

BOGOTA, May 27 (Reuters) - Colombians will choose among a leftist promising change, a center-right candidate seen as the natural successor to the incumbent leader, and an eccentric business magnate in a…

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Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor killed on honeymoon in Colombia

Marcelo Pecci, a Paraguayan prosecutor known for his work in fighting organized crime, was killed on the Colombian tourism island of Baru on Tuesday, authorities from both countries said. Pecci…

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Photo Story: Medellin celebrates the 90th birthday of Fernando Botero

Visitors appreciate some of the works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero during a commemorative act for the celebration of his 90 years, at the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia.…

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Colombians vote in presidential primaries, legislative contest

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombians were voting on Sunday to elect members of congress and participate in one of three presidential primaries for candidates from right, left and centrist coalitions. Seats in…

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Top Colombia court decriminalizes abortion until 24 weeks of gestation

Judges on Colombia's constitutional court voted on Monday to decriminalize abortion until 24 weeks of gestation, the court said in a statement, in a victory for abortion rights groups which…

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Ecuador and Colombia to open shared border from Dec. 1

Ecuador and Colombia agreed to the bilateral reopening of their shared border from the start of December after it was closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, and pledged to work together…

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Colombia’s most wanted drug trafficker captured

Al Jazeera - Security forces in Colombia have captured Dairo Antonio Usuga, the country’s most wanted drug trafficker. Better known as Otoniel, the leader of the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia…

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Photo Story: The Silleteritos Parade of Santa Elena in Colombia

Silleteros children attend the 23rd Silleteritos Parade of Santa Elena, Antioquia, Colombia. This parade precedes the Medellin Flower Fair which will take place from 12 to 22 August. EPA- Photo:…

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Why were Colombian ex-soldiers in Haiti? Experts say they are popular mercenaries

Highly-trained Colombian soldiers left at a loose end after retirement have frequently been tempted by opportunities to ply their trade abroad as private military contractors from Iraq to Yemen, military…

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Helicopter carrying Colombia’s President Duque struck by bullets in attack

A helicopter carrying Colombia's President Ivan Duque and others was struck by multiple bullets in an attack on Friday, he said in a video message. The incident took place while…

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Colombia becomes tenth country in the world to reach 100,000 covid deaths

The South American nation has been registering a growing number of daily cases since April. Over the past seven days, it had the world’s third-highest per capita death rate from…

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Colombia protests lose steam, but their economic toll rises

Anti-government protests in Colombia were sparsely attended this week, but the economic fall-out of the six-week-old demonstrations is far from over, officials said. Road blockades associated with protests have caused…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Guaviare, Colombia

The Chiribiquete mountain range, in the Guaviare, Colombia. Photo: EPA-EFE/Mauricio Duenas Castaneda

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Photo Story – Anti-government protest in Bogota, Colombia

A motorcycle is set on fire during a new day of protests in Bogota, Colombia, 05 May 2021. A week into the protests, thousands continued to take to the streets…

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Colombians hold eighth day of protests after overnight violence

BOGOTA, May 5 (Reuters) - Colombians staged mass marches around the country on Wednesday to mark an eighth day of anti-government protests with a laundry list of demands, after violence…

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UN, EU call for calm at Colombia protests, warn of excessive force

The United Nations and European Union on Tuesday called for calm and warned of the use of excessive force at protests against the administration of Colombian President Ivan Duque, as…

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Photo Story – Protests in the Colombian city of Cali against the tax reform

Protesters knock down the statue of the founder of the city, Spanish conqueror Sebastian de Belalcazar, during the protests against the tax reform called by the workers' centrals in Cali,…

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Earthquake shakes southern Colombia; no damage reported

BOGOTA (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck southern Colombia on Saturday, the Colombian Geological Service said, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage. The epicenter…

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Photo Story: Bogota lights up for Christmas

People visit a Christmas lighting display at Monserrate hill in Bogota, Colombia. Via EPA-EFE/Carlos Ortega

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Photo Story: Flowers via robot for Medellin Flower Fair

People look at a robot that distributes flowers during a flower fair in Medellin, Colombia. The robots are one of the novelties of the 2020 Medellin Flower Fair and were…

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Colombia to gradually reopen international flights from September 21

Colombia will gradually reopen international flights from Sept. 21, following a six-month period during which they were suspended to contain the spread of coronavirus, Minister of Transport Angela Maria Orozco…

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Colombia confirmed COVID-19 deaths top 20,000

Confirmed deaths in Colombia due to COVID-19 topped 20,000 as cases surpassed 624,000, the health ministry said in its daily update. The Andean country has so far reported 20,052 deaths…

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Colombia passes half a million coronavirus cases as deaths approach 16,000

Coronavirus cases in Colombia surpassed 500,000 on Wednesday as deaths from the virus approach 16,000 and the country nears the end of five months of lockdown. The Andean country has…

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Colombia tops 400,000 coronavirus cases, deaths close to 13,500

Colombia topped 400,000 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as deaths climb toward 13,500 and intensive care units in the capital Bogota remain near capacity. The Andean country has 410,453 confirmed…

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Colombia cases top 50,000

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Colombia have risen to over 50,000, the country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, while neighbouring Ecuador approached the same milestone. Colombia has reported 50,939 cases of…

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Colombian airline Avianca files for bankruptcy

Colombia's national airline, Avianca, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court. The carrier is the second-largest in Latin America, but its passenger operations have been grounded since March…

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Photo Story: The new normal of Colombian workers

A group of workers from the Wastewater Treatment Plant, PTAR Salitre, move on a bus with separate posts and their protective elements to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in Bogota,…

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Colombia bans entry of non-residents, expels foreigners who break quarantine rules

Colombian President Ivan Duque announced strict measures Sunday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, including blocking entry to the country to all except citizens and residents and shutting…

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Photo Story: Bullfighting season opens in Bogota

Colombian Clovis Velasquez falls from his horse during the fight of the second bull of the afternoon named 'devotee' in the 2020 bullfighting season, which takes place in the bullring…

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Drug lord Escobar’s hitman Jhon Velásquez dies in Colombia

A notorious murderer who worked for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar has died of stomach cancer, Colombian officials say. Jhon Jairo Velásquez, who boasted of killing 300 people for Escobar,…

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Photo Story: Eros Ramazotti live in Bogota

Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti performs at the Movistar Arena in Bogota, Colombia, 02 February 2020. This was the singer's first live performance in Colombia since 1994. Photo: EPA-EFE/CARLOS…

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Photo Story: Christmas lights in Cartagena, Colombia

Dozens of people gather to watch Christmas lights in the old town of Cartagena, Colombia. Photo: EPA-EFE/RICARDO MALDONADO ROZO

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Photo Story: The Brilla Colombia festival in Bogota

Revellers enter the mouth of a giant whale sculpture filled with lights during the Brilla Colombia (Shine Colombia) festival in Bogota, Colombia. The festival, held at the botanical gardens of…

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Photo Story: Bicentenary celebrations of Colombia’s Independence

Artists from French company La Maison Production perform El Sueno de Isidro (Isidro's Dream) as a tribute to the bicentenary of the Colombia's Independence, at the Bolivar Square in…

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Curfew ordered in Bogota amid protests

Colombia's president, Ivan Duque, ordered a curfew in the nation's capital Friday night as unrest continues following a massive march Thursday that brought an estimated 250,000 people into the…

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Colombia rocked by anti-government protests

Hundreds of thousands of Colombians took to the streets on Thursday amid a general strike over rumoured economic reforms and increasing discontent with the government of President Ivan Duque. Protest…

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Protests in the streets of Bogota

Colombian students shout slogans in front of a riot police officer during a clash with students in Bogota, Colombia. Students took the streets of Bogota to protest the alleged use…

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Colombia’s armed forces on alert over Venezuela military exercises

The Colombian military is on alert in response to Venezuelan armed forces exercises along the two nations’ border that Colombia considers an open threat, a senior military commander said on…

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