COLOMBIA

At least seven dead in Colombia military helicopter crash

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

At least seven people were killed when a military helicopter crashed in a rural area of northwestern Colombia on Tuesday, the military said. Ten people were traveling aboard the helicopter when it came down, the military said in a statement. "Unfortunately seven of the occupants have died, and the search for the other three continues," it said. Source: AFPRead more

Colombia president suspends ceasefire talks

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced that he had suspended peace talks with National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels in response to what he said were guerrilla attacks earlier Wednesday. "I have talked with the head of the government delegation in Quito to tell him to return immediately to assess the future of the process," Santos said in a televised address. PeaceRead more

ELN rebels say Colombia ceasefire to end, but can be extended

Quito - Muslimchronicle

Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas said their 101-day ceasefire ends at midnight, but there is a "consensus" on the need to extend it, its leader Pablo Beltran announced. The ceasefire's expiration comes as rebel and Colombian government negotiators resume peace talks in neighboring Ecuador. "Today Tuesday at 2400 hours the cessation, which lasted 101 days, comes to an end,"Read more

Colombia ships 50 tonnes of holiday ham

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Colombia has shipped around 50 tonnes (55 tons) of ham to Venezuela after protests broke out over shortages of the traditional holiday staple, an official said Saturday. The first two trucks of ham arrived in Venezuela on Friday night, a source from Colombia's national tax and customs office told AFP. On Saturday, there were "two other trucks ready to go," but awaitingRead more

13 dead in clashes between rival Colombian rebels: official

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Thirteen people were killed in Colombia in a clash between National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels and FARC dissidents, the country's ombudsman said Tuesday. The firefight, which comes as the ELN is observing a three-month ceasefire with the government in Bogota, happened last week in a remote area of the country's southwest, the official, Carlos Negret, told reporters.Read more

South Africa's new export is Miss Universe

Las Vegas - Muslimchronicle

Beauties from across the globe converged in Las Vegas Sunday, where Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 22, edged out her rivals from Colombia and Jamaica to take the crown. Nel-Peters, a graduate in business management, said her disabled half-sister has been among her great inspirations. In the pageant's 66th year, nearly 100 women from aroundRead more

Two suspects charged over France theft of Botero statue

Paris - Muslimchronicle

Two suspects have been charged in an investigation into the theft within yards of the presidential palace in Paris of a bronze sculpture by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, a judicial source said Saturday. One is a man in his 50s, currently in detention, who has been charged with aggravated theft for taking the sculpture of a mother and aRead more