Recovered San Jose Shipwreck Worth $16 Billion Sparks Ownership Dispute

Colombia has witnessed a surge in violence following a series of coordinated bombings and gun attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals in the south-western region. According to national police chief Carlos Fernando Triana, 19 separate assaults targeted police stations, municipal buildings, and civilians in and around Cali, the country’s third-largest city. The violence included car and motorcycle bombs, gunfire, and a suspected drone strike. Among the casualties are two police officers and at least two civilians, with an additional 12 people injured. Eyewitnesses in affected areas reported extensive damage, including a destroyed bakery in Corinto, where a resident likened the explosion to an earthquake. Security experts attribute the attacks to a dissident faction of the former Farc guerrilla group known as the Central General Staff, which is believed to be retaliating against military operations targeting its leadership. This wave of violence follows the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe just days earlier, raising fears among Colombians of a return to the turbulent violence of the 1980s and 1990s.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck central Colombia early on Sunday, June 8, 2025, impacting the capital city, Bogotá. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated near Paratebueno, approximately 170 kilometers east of Bogotá. Social media footage showed residents fleeing buildings in their pajamas and gathering in parks. An eyewitness described the tremors as "very strong," highlighting the alarm felt by many. Scenes of dislocation and damage emerged, including a photo of an uplifted pedestrian walkway, illustrating the earthquake's impact on infrastructure. The Bogotá security department reported that emergency services were actively conducting damage assessments and providing assistance to affected residents. Parents were seen trying to soothe frightened children, while others searched for pets that had fled during the chaos. As reported by AFP, the tremors caused considerable disruption, prompting significant concern among the city's populace.

Miguel Uribe, a 39-year-old Colombian senator and presidential candidate, is in intensive care after being shot during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. Video footage shows Uribe delivering a speech when gunshots rang out, leading to chaos. Local media reported that he was struck at least once in the neck or head, as he was seen slumped against a car amidst a crowd trying to assist him. Authorities confirmed that a 15-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting. Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo stated to Caracol Radio that Uribe's condition remains serious. The leftist government of President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, stating that it threatens not only Uribe's life but also democracy in Colombia. Uribe, a member of the Democratic Center party and a prominent critic of Petro, plans to run in the 2026 presidential election. His political lineage includes connections to former President Julio Cesar Turbay. In a response to the incident, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a reward of approximately $700,000 for information leading to further details about the attack.