It looks like Juan Valdez, symbol of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, will have to make room for 20-somethings in green aprons with Starbucks opening in Colombia this month. The first of 50 planned locations in the South American country, it is a sign of a booming middle class in a nation on the rise. Oil production has nearly doubled over the past decade, and the economy has maintained consistent growth.

Scoop. Colombia’s economy "está en fuego." It’s growing at 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Impressive? So much so that it makes it the world’s second fastest growing economy behind China.

Colombia's central bank increased its main interest rates for a fourth straight month Thursday and raised its 2014 economic growth forecast, saying the better-than-expected economic activity seen between January and March will probably continue throughout the year.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos met Tuesday with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling for accelerated bilateral trade talks and more investment by the Asian economic powerhouse. Speaking after a meeting at the presidential palace, Santos noted that Japan was the biggest Asian investor in Colombia.

Moody's Investors Service MCO +1.40% on Monday upgraded Colombia's government bond rating one notch to Baa2, citing the country's robust growth rates and potential growth as the nation embarks on a $25 billion infrastructure plan.

Thousands of people draped in yellow danced to accordion-heavy tunes and savored plates of plantains, arepas and sausages. Chants of “Viva Colombia” rang throughout the 45th independence day festival hosted by Hackensack-based Club Colombia USA, from the morning Mass to the afternoon live performances held at Overpeck County Park.

After a stunning performance in the 2014 World Cup games, Colombia shot up to fourth place in the FIFA rankings, beating Brazil by three spots, local media reported on Thursday.

After a stunning performance in the 2014 World Cup games, Colombia shot up to fourth place in the FIFA rankings, beating Brazil by three spots, local media reported on Thursday.

The BRICS group of emerging powers met Wednesday with South American presidents as they justified the creation of a development bank seen as an alternative to Western-dominated global financial organizations. The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa held closed-door talks in Brasilia with counterparts from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and other Latin American nations.

Starbucks is opening its first Colombian store in Bogotá on Wednesday, a big foray into a nation that is one of the world’s top producers of quality coffee and has strong coffee retailers of its own.

Ever since opening its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1971, Starbucks has been serving Colombian coffee. And as the java giant’s green mermaid logo has become ubiquitous across the globe, Colombia’s coffee beans have always been part of the mix.

… Santos came to Miami with three key members of his economic team — Finance Minister Mauricio Cárdenas, Luis Fernando Andrade, president of the National Infrastructure Agency, and Clemente del Valle, president of the National Development Finance Co. — to take part in a private Goldman Sachs investor conference on Colombia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

… Santos came to Miami with three key members of his economic team — Finance Minister Mauricio Cárdenas, Luis Fernando Andrade, president of the National Infrastructure Agency, and Clemente del Valle, president of the National Development Finance Co. — to take part in a private Goldman Sachs investor conference on Colombia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez was always going to be remembered as a breakout star from the 2014 World Cup, but now he has some hardware to back up that claim. Rodriguez's six goals were enough to claim the World Cup's Golden Boot as top scorer, as he edged Germany's Thomas Muller, who scored five for a second straight World Cup. Neymar, Lionel Messi and Robin van Persie each scored four to tie for third in the race.

Colombia’s agricultural development body International Colombian Corporation (CCI) has joined forces will similar associations throughout South America in a bid to develop agro-industrial projects and increase international market access opportunities. 

When Richard Campbell and Noris Ledesma come back from a hunt, the fruits of their labor are usually ripe about one year later. The two travel around the world in search of rare and exotic fruits to bring home to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, where they graft their findings, usually small samples they’ve taken from the wild, onto mature trees at Fairchild’s farm in Homestead. From there, they and their staff care for the fragile cultivars until they are big enough to be planted and harvested. This year they are focusing on Colombia, the world’s third-largest mango pulp exporter.

The country's industry improvement is evident in agriculture, for example in the fruit and vegetables sector, which increased exports by 27.1 percent in the first four months of 2014 when compared to the same period last year. 

Juan Pablo Montoya felt at home among a throng of his Colombian countrymen in a very unique celebration spot. He detoured from the traditional Victory Lane party straight to the one thrown in his honor in the Pocono Raceway grandstands.

Flying a Colombian flag almost as tall as its three masts, the Colombian navy’s sailing ship ARC Gloria docked in downtown Miami Sunday for a four-day visit. Thousands of Colombians braved the heat and muggy weather, plus pushing, shoving, rains and not too far-off lightning, to tour the training vessel at the Museum Park’s pier.

Former world leaders Bill Clinton and Tony Blair attended a special summit on Tuesday in Colombia in support of the country's bid to forge peace with FARC rebels.