Inside Drug Lord's Estate Nov 5, 2009
All the while, Pablo Escobar was building himself a Shangri-La outside of the city of Medellin, funded by near global control of the cocaine trade. Now that estate, known as Hacienda Napoles, has become a theme park where 50,000 people a year come to see what is left of "El Patron.". (Fox News)
Local briefs: Fighters win titles Jul 21, 2009
Jorge Ruiz, 8, beat Giovanni Santillan of Tulare at 60 pounds, and 10-year-old Isaiah Medellin topped Jose Cardenas of Tulare at 81 pounds. In the 171-pound main event, 19-year-old John Watts of Aleman Boxing lost a split decision to Salinas' Arturo Castro. (Fresno Bee)
The hacienda cocaine built Jul 14, 2009
a 1800-hectare property bought in 1978 by Pablo Escobar the then head of the Medellin drug cartel still lay in ruin five years ago. The small twin-engined airplane which, according to legend, carried the first load of cocaine sent by Escobar to the United States had disappeared, but luxury vehicles lay rusting around the vast property. (iAfrica.com)
Colombia captures top drug lord "Don Mario" Apr 17, 2009
His ruthless style recalled that of Colombia's most infamous drug baron Pablo Escobar, who waged an all-out war against the state in the 1980s until he was gunned down by security forces on a Medellin rooftop in 1993. Don Mario was the most important drug trafficker out there, but someone will take his place very quickly and it will be business as usual, said Bogota-based security consultant Pablo Casas. (Globe and Mail -- International)
Colombia nabs kingpin Apr 16, 2009
Rendon was captured near the town of Necocli, in the northwestern department of Antioquia, whose capital Medellin has long been a key center of the Colombian drug trade and was believed to be the base of Rendon's operations. Police indicated the operation was set in motion by the arrest on 6 April of 18 members of Rendon's organisation, including a man close to the drug lord. (iAfrica.com)
Cuba Should Be Readmitted to Organization of American States, Insulza Says Apr 1, 2009
Insulza, in an interview in Medellin, Colombia, said the 1962 OAS resolution that banned Cuba from the Washington-based assembly because of its links to communism, China and the Soviet Union no longer makes sense. One of the countries has disappeared and the other is buying a lot of U.S. Treasuries, Insulza said at the Inter- American Development Banks annual meeting. (Bloomberg -- Latin America)
Bill Clinton on crisis Mar 29, 2009
Clinton, the guest of honor at the IDB's 50th anniversary celebrations in the northwestern Colombian city of Medellin, backed President Barack Obama's plans to revive the battered US economy and chart new rules for financial oversight. "I believe that President Obama's approach has been basically correct. I support his economic stimulus package, even though he has had to borrow money. I hate that," Clinton said. (iAfrica.com)
Intel still open to acquisitions amid slowdown: Chairman Mar 28, 2009
MEDELLIN: Intel is open to making acquisitions with weakening markets making prices more palatable, and sees technology's key growth areas in healthcare and visual media, outgoing chairman Craig Barrett said on Friday. Barrett, who steps down in May after 35 years at the company, thinks healthcare should follow the lead of financial services companies, offering access to medical records any time or place around the globe. (India Times)
The War on Drugs Mar 25, 2009
Nicknamed the "Medellin Massacre" after the city at the center of Colombia's drug trade, the murders ignited years of raids, kidnappings, and assassinations (a 1985 Medellin cartel "hit list" even included names of U.S. businessmen, embassy members and journalists). During a 1984 appearance at an Oakland, Calif. (Time.com)
Everton, Chile, pushes Lanus of Argentina toward elimination Mar 19, 2009
The day's third match saw the all-Colombian meeting between hosts Independiente Medellin and America de Cali end in a disappointing 0-0 draw in Group 4 ... Goal scorers were in short supply in Group 4 as the two Colombian clubs, Independiente Medellin and America de Cali, followed last weeks 1-1 draw with a 0-0 draw Tuesday ... Medellin is tied at the top of the group with four points, but Uruguay's Defensor Sporting and Brazilian champion Sao Paulo have two games in hand. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Libertadores: Defensor happy to tie Medellin 0-0 Feb 25, 2009
Defensor ties Medellin 0-0, builds lead in Libertadores group - Soccer - SI.com ... Defensor ties Medellin 0-0, solidifies Libertadores Group 4 lead ... MEDELLIN, Colombia (AP) -- Defensor Sporting of Uruguay claimed a valuable scoreless draw against Independiente Medellin on Tuesday to lead Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Soccer)
Libertadores: Sao Paulo battles to tie Medellin Feb 19, 2009
Sao Paulo earns 1-1 draw vs. Medellin - Soccer - SI.com ... Sao Paulo earns 1-1 draw vs. Medellin ... SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Striker Borges scored in stoppage time to earn Brazilian champion Sao Paulo a last minute 1-1 draw with Colombian club Independiente Medellin in Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Soccer)
Medellin: From slumdog barrio to beacon on the hill Feb 8, 2009
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA, AND CARACAS, VENEZUELA Here is a tale of two cities ... I must insist on this surreal description, as the experience of hovering in a ski-lift-style gondola over what used to be a crime-infested slum in Medellin, Colombia, is, indeed, charged with absurdity and a touch of Disneyland detachment ... The Santa Domingo Savio shantytown is located on one of Medellin's mountainsides in a deforested zone jammed with rough housing, and too steep to allow for regular roads. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Dollar-friendly destinations Feb 7, 2009
Only a five-hour flight from New York City, up-and-coming Colombia reinvented itself as a varied Caribbean-meets-South-America destination with world-class dining in Bogota, splashy beaches in Cartagena and emerging cities like Medellin which (like much of the country) has seen a drastic drop in crime rates. . (MSNBC -- Travel)
