Bogotá Metro Probe: Colombian prosecutors are investigating claims that executives of China Harbour Engineering Company demanded 60 million pesos in cash from a local subcontractor, with a 26-minute video allegedly showing the handover—while the consortium denies wrongdoing and says it was a retention payment tied to a quality dispute. Energy & Mining: Petrobras says it discovered a natural gas well off Colombia’s coast in the Guajira basin (Sandia-1), reinforcing offshore gas potential; Hitachi Energy also announced Americas leadership changes, naming Andy Goggin to lead the region as electrification and AI-driven data centers accelerate. Cybersecurity: INC Ransomware is flagged as the most active threat group exploiting SonicWall SMA 1000 VPN flaws (CVE-2026-15409/15410), with reports of credential theft and moves toward internal networks. Trade Policy: The US issued a tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products, with exclusions that include Colombia, setting a four-year framework starting Aug. 15, 2026. Packaging & Industry Services: AeroFlexx and Plastic Films Internacional SA plan to expand liquid packaging adoption across Colombia, Venezuela, and Central America, targeting faster commercialization for consumer and industrial clients. Agribusiness Watch: US corn futures rose modestly as export inspections showed shipments to Colombia among top destinations, while crop progress data points to a slightly ahead-of-normal development pace.