Bogota

 Former combat medic Hector Bernal trains soldiers in tactical medicine at his center outside Bogotá. Bernal says he’s trained more than 20 soldiers who have gone to Ukraine recently.

Colombian army veterans join Ukraine’s army — motivated by financial need

Hundreds of Colombians have recently enlisted in Ukraine’s military, as it tries to replenish its forces after months of heavy losses on the frontlines. But many are not going for ideological reasons.

Colombian army veterans join Ukraine’s army — motivated by financial need
sidewalk

Colombian activists try to shame city government into fixing broken sidewalks — by painting them pink

Colombian activists try to shame city government into fixing broken sidewalks — by painting them pink
protest

Colombia starts ceasefire with nation's oldest rebel group 

Colombia starts ceasefire with nation's oldest rebel group 
man with trash

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders
Bogota has trained more than 500 police officers to respond to cases of gender-based violence, known as the purple patrol.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses
people in line

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights 

​​​​​​​Thousands of passengers were stranded in airports in Colombia and several other Latin American countries this week following the collapse of the budget airline, Viva Air. It's the latest airline company to fold amid decreasing passenger demand and higher oil prices. 

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights 
people around a table

Colombia’s govt launches peace talks with the nation’s largest-remaining rebel group

Talks with the rebels started on Nov. 22 in the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas where delegates from both sides fielded questions from journalists. 

Colombia’s govt launches peace talks with the nation’s largest-remaining rebel group
At a job fair in Bogotá, psychologist Nicolas Londoño showed groups of young men how to change a baby's diapers.  Londoño works with Care School for Men, an educational program funded by the city government. 

‘We can all learn to care’: Colombia’s capital city wants men to do more chores at home

Bogotá's Care School for Men aims to battle centuries of living in a culture that teaches men to focus on breadwinning instead of caregiving.

‘We can all learn to care’: Colombia’s capital city wants men to do more chores at home
man with albums

Colombia’s Meridian Brothers breathe new life into salsa music with the help of a traditional record label 

Using a keyboard, a saxophone, a bass guitar and percussion, Eblis Alvarez is recreating the classical salsa sound developed by Latino immigrants in New York in the 1970s and giving it somewhat of a psychedelic twist.

Colombia’s Meridian Brothers breathe new life into salsa music with the help of a traditional record label 
Bulletproof gear made by the MC Armor company in Colombia, ready to be shipped to Ukraine.

Body armor factories in the Americas are sending gear to war-torn Ukraine

Over the past three decades, MC Armor has made various types of protective equipment, including bulletproof shirts and pants, for dozens of heads of state in the Americas. It has also supplied body armor to the military forces of many countries, including Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Qatar and Nigeria. Now, it's sending gear to protect people in Ukraine.

Body armor factories in the Americas are sending gear to war-torn Ukraine
Monsieur Perine's first album, "Hecho a Mano" was published in 2012. Since then the band has produced two more albums. 

TikTok fame allows Colombian band Monsieur Periné to do its own thing

Interest in the Colombian indie-pop band Monsieur Periné skyrocketed after one of its songs from 2015 went viral on TikTok. A video on the platform inspired thousands of TikTok users to record themselves at home dancing to the chorus of “Nuestra Canción.”

TikTok fame allows Colombian band Monsieur Periné to do its own thing
Hippos float in the lagoon at Hacienda Napoles Park,

Colombia to declare hippos an invasive species

With nice warm weather and no predators, the hippos have flourished. But they're seen as a threat to people and the environment.

Colombia to declare hippos an invasive species
At the La Perseverancia market in Bogotá, Colombia customers have noticed that prices for many foods are increasing. With the war in Ukraine, inflation could get worse.

For developing countries, the war in Ukraine means even higher food prices

African and Latin American countries have been struggling to control inflation rates during the pandemic. The war in Ukraine threatens to increase food prices even more and make hunger in some countries worse. 

For developing countries, the war in Ukraine means even higher food prices
An "Encanto" billboard stands at a movie theater in Bogotá, Colombia.

Disney’s ‘Encanto’ depicts Colombia as a magical place full of possibilities — a welcome change for local audiences

Over 1.6 million tickets were sold during its first week in Colombian movie theaters — a record for animated films in the country. The government plans to use the film to change the narrative about Colombia abroad.

Disney’s ‘Encanto’ depicts Colombia as a magical place full of possibilities — a welcome change for local audiences
Iselle Toledo waits for a medical appointment at Juntos Se Puede an organization that helps Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá, Colombia.

Many Venezuelan migrants in Latin America struggle to get vaccinated

Venezuelan migrants and refugees who have moved to different parts of South America have struggled to get shots because of legal requirements at vaccination centers. And that could slow down efforts to stamp out the coronavirus in the region. 

Many Venezuelan migrants in Latin America struggle to get vaccinated