Latest Colombia government News
Colombia's president signs bill to ban bullfighting in the South American country
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday signed a bill that bans bullfights in the South American country, further reducing the short list of nations around the world where the centuries-old tradition is still legal. Petro signed it in front of hundreds...
Colombia's president pushes for health and labor changes as he opens new session of congress
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's government will propose legislation aimed at overhauling the health sector and will pursue changes to labor laws, President Gustavo Petro said Saturday as he inaugurated a new session of congress. Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president,...
Colombia ends cease-fire with largest faction of FARC rebel holdout group
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government on Tuesday said it will end a cease-fire with the largest faction of the FARC-EMC, a holdout rebel group that refused to sign a 2016 peace deal but which had been involved in peace talks with President Gustavo Petro's administration until March. ...
A warlord involved in hundreds of murders is released from a Colombian prison
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian warlord Salvatore Mancuso on Wednesday was released from prison in the South American country after repeatedly asking the courts to approve his freedom and promising to collaborate in the government’s rapprochement with illegal armed groups. ...
Deforestation in Colombia fell to historic lows in 2023, environment minister says
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Deforestation in Colombia fell 36% in 2023 versus the previous year, the government said Monday, marking the lowest level since records began. The decline was driven by a drop in environmental destruction in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest,...
Colombia captures one of the founders of the Tren de Aragua gang, wanted in Venezuela and Chile
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian police arrested one of the founders of Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang that was founded in a Venezuelan prison and is now involved in multiple criminal enterprises throughout Latin America, authorities said Monday. Larry Álvarez was arrested...
Spain arrests four Colombians rescued from submarine suspected of transporting drugs
MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities intercepted another submarine suspected of transporting drugs to Europe from South America and arrested four Colombian nationals who were crewing the vessel, officials said Thursday. Police rescued the occupants after they had scuttled the 20-meter...
Colombia launches talks with rebel group led by fighters who returned to arms after 2016 peace deal
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia launched peace talks with the Second Marquetalia rebel group on Monday as the administration of leftist President Gustavo Petro tries to pacify rural areas of the country that have seen rising violence despite efforts to broker ceasefires with various armed...
3 Columbia University administrators put on leave over alleged text exchange at antisemitism panel
NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University said it has placed three administrators on leave while it investigates allegations that they exchanged unprofessional text messages while attending a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus. The university said the administrators work for...
Colombia plans to provide medical treatment to Palestinian children injured in Israel-Hamas war
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A Colombian military hospital would provide medical treatment to Palestinian children injured in the Israel-Hamas war under a plan announced Thursday by the country’s Foreign Ministry. Colombia's Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs Elizabeth Taylor Jay...
