U.S.-Colombia Diplomacy: Incoming Vice President-elect Jose Manuel Restrepo met Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to set up a bilateral agenda on cooperation, trade, investment, and regional priorities. Peace & Security: A UN envoy urged Colombia’s incoming government to speed up the 2016 peace accord, warning that violence, polarization, and weak state presence still threaten stability in conflict-affected regions. Disaster Preparedness: Venezuela’s back-to-back earthquakes spotlighted gaps in resilience; a new clean-energy “hydrogen-on-demand” concept is being pitched to help recovery when power and infrastructure fail. Urban Nature & Climate Resilience: Barranquilla’s Mallorquin wetland restoration is highlighted by the World Economic Forum as a nature-based model for coastal cities, boosting flood protection and carbon storage. Waste & Circular Economy: A scrap metal recycling market forecast points to rapid growth through 2033, underscoring momentum for recycling-driven materials recovery. Food Safety for Farmers: Research in Santander explores bacteria that can reduce cadmium uptake in cocoa—aimed at helping Colombian producers meet stricter international rules. Heat & Health: Colombia faces extreme heat wave concerns, with older adults returning to classrooms to challenge misinformation as climate risks rise.