Slain Colombian activist becomes icon of resistance as protests, deaths mount [Los Angeles Times :: BC-COLOMBIA-ACTIVIST-KILLED:LA]
BOGOTA, Colombia – On the morning of May 5, Lucas Villa sent an audio message to a fellow student before heading off to another day of anti-government protests in Pereira, a coffee-growing hub in the Andean foothills of western Colombia.
“It is a difficult, ugly and tough moment, in which the worst can happen to anyone,” Villa told his friend, according to El Espectador newspaper. “Many of us may die, because in Colombia just to be young and be in the streets is to risk one’s life. We can all die.”
Colombian lawmakers introduce a plan calling for the government to take control of the cocaine market, buying harvests and regulating sales.
The protests’ initial impetus was a government tax-increase plan that opponents said would disproportionately hurt low-income Colombians, already reeling in a pandemic-battered economy that has plunged multitudes into poverty. Duque, who had said the tax hike was needed to stabilize national finances, scrapped the proposal just a few days after the unrest on the streets began April 28 and accepted the resignation of his finance minister.
But the demonstrations quickly morphed into broader calls for improved healthcare, education, security and other demands. Colombia saw similar protests in 2019-20, but those lost momentum when the pandemic hit. This time, marches are pressing ahead despite a third coronavirus wave in a nation with one of the world’s highest per capita COVID-19 death rates.
Argentina abortion: Senate votes in favour of legalisation 30th Dec 2020 | Source: BBC
The vote had been predicted to be close and there was a tense wait in both camps for the outcome
Argentina s Congress has legalised abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy, a ground-breaking law for a region that has some of the world s most restrictive termination laws.
Senators voted in favour of the bill after a marathon session with 38 in favour, 29 against and one abstention.
Until now, abortions were only permitted in cases of rape or when the mother s health was at risk.
The bill had been approved by the Chamber of Deputies earlier this month.