Latin America

• Saturday, August 22nd 2026 - 08:47 UTC

  Colombia's earthquake toll rises to 329 dead and more than 300,000 affected

  

  The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western and central Colombia on August 10 has left 329 dead, 4,600 injured and 247 missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Management Unit's assessment as of Friday. The number of people affected stands at 314,751, from 154,014 families, across 481 municipalities in 16 of the country's 32 departments.

• Saturday, August 22nd 2026 - 08:40 UTC

  Colombia's government objects to the law barring lower requirements for senior posts

  

  Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella this week objected to the first bill sent to him for signature since he took office on August 7: legislation prohibiting any reduction in the minimum education and experience requirements for senior positions in the public sector and in companies with state participation.

• Saturday, August 22nd 2026 - 08:28 UTC

  Progressive leaders gathered in Uruguay denounce US interference and acknowledge their own mistakes

  

  The opening session of the third Pan-American Congress, held on Friday at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, combined criticism of United States policy towards Latin America with calls for self-criticism within progressive forces. More than 150 lawmakers, former presidents, ministers and political figures from fifteen countries are taking part, according to organisers.

• Friday, August 21st 2026 - 10:47 UTC

  ECLAC trims its 2026 forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.2%

  

  The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on Thursday lowered its regional growth projection for 2026 to 2.2%, one tenth below the estimate issued in December. The United Nations body expects a partial recovery to 2.5% in 2027 and warns that the current pace is insufficient to sustainably raise income per capita.

• Friday, August 21st 2026 - 10:12 UTC

  Montevideo hosts a progressive congress after three consecutive electoral defeats in the region

  

  More than a hundred lawmakers, former presidents, ministers and political figures from fifteen countries across the Americas gather from Friday at Uruguay's Legislative Palace in Montevideo for the third Pan-American Congress, a parliamentary forum of progressive forces running until Sunday. Organisers put attendance at more than 150 participants.

• Friday, August 21st 2026 - 10:10 UTC

  Bolivian prosecutors open a second case against the consultant who advised Milei and Paz

  

  Prosecutors in La Paz have opened an investigation on their own initiative into alleged illicit enrichment by Argentine political consultant Fernando Cerimedo, who was charged this week in Santa Cruz with attempted femicide following the shooting of his former partner, lawyer Nadia Beller.

• Wednesday, August 19th 2026 - 09:52 UTC

  An Argentine consultant who advised Milei's campaign detained in Bolivia after a shooting

  

  Bolivian police detained Argentine political consultant Fernando Cerimedo in the early hours of Tuesday at Viru Viru international airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, hours after his former partner, Bolivian lawyer Nadia Beller, was shot three times outside a hotel in the city. Cerimedo has not been formally charged and his involvement in the attack, which remains under investigation, has not been established.

• Tuesday, August 18th 2026 - 06:38 UTC

  Colombia's president hands out branded footballs in an earthquake-hit port city

  

  Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella was filmed on Sunday throwing footballs to children on a street in Buenaventura, the country's main Pacific port and one of the places worst affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake of August 10. The balls carried the logo of Defensores de la Patria, the political movement that brought him to the presidency eleven days ago.

• Monday, August 17th 2026 - 09:25 UTC

  Cali closes the rescue phase after 140 hours and moves to clearing rubble

  

  Authorities in Cali declared the search and rescue phase over a week after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia, following more than 140 hours of continuous operations. Teams deployed in the capital of Valle del Cauca department are now focused on recovering the last bodies located and on removing rubble.

• Sunday, August 16th 2026 - 07:40 UTC

  Colombia asks Washington to suspend 12.5% tariffs over the earthquake emergency

  

  Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on Saturday asked his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods, arguing this would give exporters relief as the country faces the economic consequences of Monday's magnitude 7.4 earthquake.