Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | Thirty women trafficked for sex — most from Colombia and Venezuela — were rescued in two raids in Mexico, police said Saturday. The biggest operation took place in Toluca, capital of Mexico state, the most populous and one of the most dangerous states in …
Read More »Colombian military seizes more than two tonnes of cocaine
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombian authorities have seized more than two tonnes of cocaine belonging to a splinter group from the now-disarmed FARC guerrilla organization, the military said Saturday. A coordinated operation of air and ground troops destroyed a coca laboratory in the restive border municipality of Tumaco, the …
Read More »Peace brings hope for Colombia’s biodiversity: Santos
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday hailed his country’s peace deal with the FARC guerrilla group as a chance to preserve his country’s biodiversity after decades of violence. “We need to reconcile also with the environment, which was a big victim of the armed …
Read More »Shakira cancels first week of concerts of her world tour
Paris, France | AFP | Pop star Shakira was forced to cancel the first swathe of concerts of her world tour Friday because of a problem with her vocal cords, the tour’s promoters said. The Colombian singer postponed two concerts this weekend in Paris and a Belgian date on Sunday …
Read More »Colombia mothers stage ‘nurse-in’ to defend breastfeeding
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Hundreds of mothers gathered to breastfeed their babies in a park in Bogota Friday, in a “nurse-in” demonstration aimed at raising acceptance of the practice and promoting its health benefits. Nearly 1,000 families met in the city’s Parque de Los Novios for the fourth event …
Read More »UN, Colombia sign key anti-cocaine pact
Vienna, Austria | AFP | The UN and Bogota signed a major pact Friday to uproot Colombia’s booming cocaine business, as part of ongoing peace efforts between the government and drug trade-controlling rebels. The deal worth $315 million dollars (270 million euros) aims to wean farmers off growing coca — …
Read More »Beyonce charity song finally dethrones ‘Despacito’
New York, United States | AFP | Beyonce’s Spanish-language remix of “Mi Gente” for hurricane relief opened Wednesday on top of the US Latin song chart, finally dethroning the global mega-hit “Despacito.” “Mi Gente,” which Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin created from the African dance rhythms of French DJ Willy William, …
Read More »Pope Francis’s Colombia visit in 5 numbers
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Pope Francis starts his fifth visit as pontiff to his native Latin America region on Wednesday with a trip to Colombia as it moves on from a half-century civil conflict. Here are five facts and figures about the 80-year-old Argentine-born pope’s trip from September 6-10. …
Read More »Pope Francis: 5 key causes in Latin America
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis visits Colombia next week on the latest in a series of emotionally charged trips to his home region of Latin America. Here are five key challenges that the Argentine pope has confronted in a continent stricken by poverty and crime: – Colombian …
Read More »Colombia FARC rebels reborn as ‘revolutionary force’ party
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombia’s FARC former guerrilla force on Thursday re baptized itself the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, as it transformed into a political party following its disarmament. In spite of earlier resistance from some members of the movement, the name retains the revolutionary spirit of the communist guerrilla group, which …
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