Colombian

Colombian Attorney Arrested with 1,000+ Real Estate Records, Sparking Political Controversy in Medellin

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Medellín, Colombia — Authorities in Medellín have taken a significant step in their fight against organized crime by apprehending an attorney allegedly linked to an extensive network of real estate purportedly associated with drug trafficking. Enrique Leon Machado, the attorney in question, was arrested by police after a raid uncovered more than 1,000 properties he supposedly managed for the Special Assets Society (SAE), the agency responsible for overseeing confiscated assets from drug traffickers. The SAE reported that Machado resided in a luxury home previously registered to a front man connected to the paramilitary group EGC. … Read more

Colombian Gem ‘A Poet’ Triumphs with Bright Horizons Award at Melbourne International Film Festival

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Melbourne, Australia — Colombian filmmaker Simón Mesa Soto’s latest film, “A Poet,” has garnered the prestigious Bright Horizons Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). The award, valued at $140,000, recognizes outstanding contributions to contemporary cinema, marking a significant achievement for the director as well as this year’s festival, which showcased numerous innovative films. A panel of industry experts, led by filmmaker Charlotte Wells, chose “A Poet” for the award. The jury included notable figures such as Australian actress Tamala, American filmmaker Alex Ross Perry, Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, IMDb founder Col Needham, … Read more

Colombian Judiciary Transforms with AI, Quadrupling Judge’s Efficiency and Pioneering Digital Advances in Latin America

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Bogotá, Colombia — In a bustling judiciary where the backlog of cases often spells years of waiting for many citizens, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is reshaping the landscape of Colombian justice. Enhanced by technology, Judge María Victoria Quiñones proudly reports a significant boost in her productivity, now capable of issuing up to 20 rulings weekly, a substantial leap from her previous four. Daily, Quiñones employs an AI assistant named Copilot for various functions including transcriptions, summarizing hearings, and drafting judicial documents. Copilot assists further by refining grammar, comparing drafts, and managing the … Read more

Chiquita Brands International Faces $38.3 Million Verdict for Allegedly Financing Colombian Paramilitaries

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Apartado, Colombia — A Florida federal jury has found Chiquita Brands International liable for its financial backing of a notorious Colombian paramilitary group implicated in countless killings, marking a historic judgment against the global fruit conglomerate. The jury awarded approximately $38.3 million to the families of eight men killed by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, or AUC, which received millions of dollars from Chiquita even after being designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2001. This landmark decision arrives nearly two decades after Chiquita admitted to making payments to the AUC and agreed to … Read more