Latest from Colombia

The dark rain clouds that have shrouded Bogotá in mist and drizzle have not been in vain, and because of the inclement weather across the Eastern Andes, one of the most severe water crises in Bogotá’s recent history officially comes to an end this Saturday.

In kitchens across Colombia and the coastal towns of the Basque Country, a quiet revolution is simmering. Eight chefs – four Colombian, four Basque – are reshaping the culinary landscape, blending tradition with innovation, and turning their restaurants into platforms for cultural expression and social change.

The international scientific community is in mourning following the brutal murder of Italian molecular biologist Alessandro Coatti, whose dismembered remains were discovered near Santa Marta, Colombia. Coatti, 42, had recently resigned from his position at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in the UK to volunteer in Ecuador and travel across South America.

The Colombian peso began stumbling hours before the anticipated Wall Street sell-off, which many analysts dubbed a new “Black Monday.” While U.S. stocks pared early losses by the afternoon, the broader sell-off, coupled with another sharp drop in oil prices, triggered renewed volatility across emerging markets – and Colombia was no exception.

What appeared to be the perfect photo-op for President Petro and the culmination of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s first visit to Colombia can now be summarized – to use Noem’s words – as “contentious.” Noem’s comments were given during a U.S. media interview with NEWSMAX and have reached the highest political circles within the Petro government.

Despite the turbulent global economy, and modest growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide, Bogotá has emerged as one of Latin America’s most dynamic and resilient investment destinations. In 2024, the Bogotá Region registered 105 new and expansion FDI projects, an 11.7% increase compared to 2023. These initiatives generated an estimated US$2.4 billion in capital inflows, and are projected to create over 12,000 jobs, according to Invest in Bogotá, the city’s investment promotion agency.

Colombia has announced plans to purchase between 16 and 24 Saab Gripen fighter jets from Sweden, marking a important step in modernizing the country’s aging combat fleet. The decision was confirmed by the commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force, General Carlos Fernando Silva, who stated that the new aircraft would replace the Israeli-made Kfir jets that have been in service since the late 1980s.

Bogotá, and much of Colombia, are set to experience extended and intensified rainfall in the coming months, as the first major rainy season of the year shows no sign of easing. The Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) has forecast that the heavy rains, which began in mid-March, will persist until at least mid-June, affecting large parts of the Andean and Caribbean regions.

Carlos Lehder, one of the founding members of the Medellín Cartel, and a key figure in the history of cocaine trafficking, was arrested by Colombian authorities upon his arrival from Germany last Friday.

Bogotá’s LT Projects, the experimental space of the New York-based León Tovar Gallery, presents a captivating exhibition by Juliana Ríos Martínez, an artist whose work intertwines memory, nature, and identity. Titled “Encuentros y Nuevos Caminos” (Encounters and New Paths) Riós presents pieces from her 15-year artistic career and most acclaimed series, including ‘La cosecha’, ‘Paisajes conocidos’, ‘lugares lejanos’, and ‘Peregrinaciones’.