The country colombia

Hi y'all, I'm trying to decide where to stop in for about 4-6 weeks before returning to the US, after initially spending some time in Chile (potentially with a brief return stop in Argentina). Initially I was hoping to go to Peru, but it appears that is not an option due to work constraints.
However, each of the countries above (plus Colombia) are countries that have nomad visas, and therefore my company will allow me to go there and sponsor me in that regard. I'm looking for a place that is at least more affordable than the US in terms of housing, ideally with decent nightlife, with at least one legit city to base myself in. If there is decent public transit/walkability, food, nature/parks, and not very hot weather (my standard is don't be 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day) even better. My favorite cities I've been to so far in my travels are Mexico City and Buenos Aires, for reference.
On paper, Colombia would be the pick if I weren't scared off by the stories of scopolamine, rampant sex tourism, and general violence against tourists. It seems like there is ample coworking/coliving spaces there, great nightlife, and a few different cities that are worth checking out. I've heard good stories in addition to the bad. However, reading about the problems with both scopolamine and child sex tourism in particular disgusted me, I have no desire to be around that. Additionally, I am a young single guy, and while I do not travel to countries purely to date/hookup, it is something I tend to do while I'm there. Given that, and the fact I like to go out at night to bars/clubs, it seems like it's a no go due to fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or around the wrong people, but if someone wants to try and change my mind go for it.
Costa Rica seems like a beautiful country but I feel like it doesn't fit because it's too expensive and doesn't really have a decent size city to base itself out of outside of San Jose, which I have yet to read a good thing about for whatever reason. I'd love to know why it's bad frankly, though I get that it's not on the beach which is the main thing there. For someone like me who wants nightlife and more things to do, it seems like a beautiful country to visit briefly, not base yourself in. Again, I'd welcome someone trying to change my mind.
Given that, Panama seems like a better version of CR because of having a legit city (and also having great connectivity to the rest of LatAm for weekend trips), supposedly better nightlife, but I know very little about it outside of that. Uruguay I hear is boring and expensive - I don't know what they're using as a frame of reference there - though it also apparently is safe with great beaches, solid food (I tried a Chivito sandwich in Argentina and loved it) and I like that it's close to Buenos Aires if I ever did want to pop over for a weekend.
Anyways, I know very little about these countries, but want to make the most of my time before having to return to the US, so I'd welcome any recs or knowledge here! If you have recs for accommodations or coliving those would also be much appreciated

What’s up guys! Gonna share some insights, especially for the younger guys.
Stats: 20y- 6’0 - Handsome/Cute (6-7/10) - Nice Build Mediterranean looking + Mixes (🇻🇪 fam)
Context: Well travelled since youth, not rich but was a family thing to do. By default became a passport bro haha. Difficult kid, intelligent odd ball, not bad with girls but bad with girls lmao. Good but weird upbringing. Chaotic and a bit of a demon, impulsive, low self control. (Much more mature now)
Mexico 🇲🇽 Ok let’s get into it. My first real experience and love was at 19. I was in a bad place for many years prior and didn’t let people in. Anyways so yeah I met a 🇲🇽 girl who I found really cute through mutuals in the capital. I rarely found any Mexicans cute, so she was special in that point of view. We also had many similarities and I loved how feminine she was compared to girls back home. Beautiful country and culture I thoroughly recommend CDMX as a beginner location. I quickly began solo traveling to 🇲🇽 to see my “friend” and it quickly got out of hand and ended abruptly in a moment of my immaturity. I learned many things though: Long distance is not my style- too complicated and heart wrenching- I quickly made a mental note to not take any relationships serious. Also noted to be weary of girls who approach you haha. Here is where I noticed how insane I pulled outside of the country. I live in a city which has the most hyper-competitive sexual market in the United States (world) and I still do surprisingly well (especially at night lol). But nothing compares. Also I’m a Latino by blood so the dating culture just feels better.
Venezuela 🇻🇪 Anyways after the Mexico era I went on a family trip to Venezuela which I basically haven’t been there since my balls dropped. Wow. The natural beauty of Venezuelans is striking. Beautiful girls everywhere. The country itself is a mess. Everything is slow, expensive, and inconvenient. Had some fun there with a local girl but was not able to enjoy as much as I wanted to as I was with family the entire time. I don’t use tinder- all IRL into instagram as a funnel. Maybe I’ll explore more with dating apps as I get many matches especially overseas but the quality seems shitty and it can be a waste of time also a lame way to meet people. Never got to go out or party solo-dolo so that was a bummer. Will be back soon enough though so I’ll update you guys on Venezuela Nightlife experience. All I can say is it’s the second most beautiful place when it comes women I’ve been to. The country itself is by far the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Terrible government- felt surprisingly safe though.
Europe 🇪🇺 Ok here’s were it gets weird haha. So Europe is definitely a place with more nuance. With that said I went to both western and eastern locations. It’s much easier to have casual sex in Western Europe due to the culture. Many American and European solo traveling girls as well… they are rather promiscuous. Eastern Europe was by far a beauty haven. From Romania to Russia you will find some of the most beautiful women on earth just walking on the street. The culture shock is large though and dating becomes a bit more “serious” which for me doesn’t work. I would recommend Europe as a traveling destination if you think you’re up for it. I did well and met, partied with, and traveled with girls but I felt like it the more east I went it just wasn’t the right vibe for that. Which is a bummer because Western European girls don’t compare to for example Ukrainians and Moldova. The farthest east I went was Turkey and the girl I was with had to sneak out everyday out of fear of being basically ostracized. Turkish people are very nice though. Spain was the most degenerate place I was in, if I wanted to party everyday I pretty much could. Great food, pricing varies widely based on economy, girls get hotter the more you go east but also more tricky. Great location to party hard, techno, etc.
So when it comes to Europe results may vary on many things. Your relative attractiveness, your ability to adapt and be outgoing even in “colder” nations, and how you carry yourself + where you stay. Staying in good locations is key. As an American you either get a buff or a de-buff and “wealth” is the main factor. European girls are very direct. Which I found off putting. Latin culture can be hyper sexual but I find it more classy.
Pro tips 🧠: - Don’t drink too much- you’ll get robbed or worse - Don’t get attached to anyone if you’re solo traveling it’s “solo” for a reason. Explore man. - Have travel cards with 0 international/atm fees - Learn how to say “hi” “nice to meet you” “my name is” “you’re gorgeous” in whatever language it shows you’re somewhat cultured. - If you’re young fuck the clubs! Go to raves, underground events, concerts, festivals. The young person and pretty girl ratio is 100x better. - Party hostels are a great way to meet “fun” people - Be careful with drug use, have been fine but honestly most of it is just unnecessary lmao. - Pub crawls are the easiest way to get laid in Europe lmao. Everyone is there for a reason. Just don’t do it if the ratio is completely busted as it’s not good for meeting local girls and stay away from the girl guides- trust.
Future travels 🌎 Peru 🇵🇪 - Machu Pichu + Lima Brazil 🇧🇷 - 🤤 nuff said Colombia 🇨🇴 - Venezuela lite more dangerous imo Argentina 🇦🇷 - seems fun
Asia as well- China 🇨🇳 would be crazy. Rarely find Asians cute but some are gorgeous.
Please share your thoughts / tips on these locations as I will be there shortly.

I got back from Colombia recently and I made a lot of friends both Colombian, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian. The latter two were largely immigrants. Every once in a while they'd vaguely reference adapting to Colombia being interesting because of cultural differences but rarely would they elaborate on it besides mentioning xenophobia. I personally cannot see much difference between the three countries probably because I'm American. I wanna say Ecuadorian culture feels a bit more Indigenous and similar to Peruvians. Most Venezuelans I've met remind me of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans and they sound VERY similar to me. I have a hard time when I'm in the interior of Colombia because the accent throws me, I learned Puerto Rican Spanish first, but Venezuelans sound very familiar to me and that's usually how I can pick them out. Most of them apparently live on the coast which makes sense. But outside of that and Venezuelans being taller on average from what I've seen, I can't think of any major differences.
What are some differences you can think of?

I feel like most Latin American countries tend to be Pro Israel, even my own Latin American country is Pro Israel, but Colombia seems to be different, btw this is just one picture I took, there are many pro palestine graffiti around the city

I'm making an art piece and I wanted to include the names of a bunch of countries that have been exploited/harmed by modern capitalistic imperialism, the countries I have rn are: Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, East Timor, Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Hawai'i, Turtle Island, Cuba, Haiti, Guam, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Africa, Libya (I wanted to make sure to include Colombia and Argentina bc they're rly battling it through with neoliberal dicks rn)
If you guys could give me some more countries you can think of and a short description of what happened/is happening to them that would be awesome

My partner will apply and arrive to the UK with a fiancé visa.
We have a new born son together who is automatically British as first descent of me (the father) however we don’t have his British passport yet as he’s 11 days old and was born in Colombia (mums home country).
The current waiting time for a British overseas passport is more than six months so we would prefer to not use this option, rather get his Colombian passport as it’s much easier to obtain. Then apply for his British passport as soon as he arrives in England.
I’ve been told by one lawyer that my son must be applied as a dependant of my partners fiancé visa. However a different lawyer has told me he doesn’t need to be a dependent as he is already British even if he doesn’t have a British passport? (The first lawyer wants to charge a further £650 for a dependent so I guess that’s why they would say it’s needed)
We will have his Colombian birth certificate which shows my information (shows dad is British).
*** So our current plan is for my fiancé to have a fiancé visa with a Colombian passport. My son to have a Colombian passport and enter as a tourist I guess? Then my son to get his British passport as soon as possible after entering the UK (within the 6 months) of myself and my fiancé being married and my partner getting her spouse visa.
I just want to confirm this works and is correct as having spoken with numerous lawyers they all say different routes and sometimes the ‘experts’ are wrong!😑

hi all ! bit of a silly one, directed especially at people from Colombia but open for people from other Latin-American countries as well.
i recently met a Colombian guy who's in his 40s (maybe age is an influence in this case, idk), and he keeps referring to me as "mi vida" whenever he talks to me. i find it a bit weird, because i'm from Venezuela (país hermano) and as far as i know we don't refer to people we only recently met/coworkers/not even friends as "mi vida". but this guy is using it almost as we Venezuelans use "marico/a" for greetings lol. so i was wondering if that's a thing over there ?
thanks ! i'm very curious to know how y'all would naturally perceive that.
edit: forgot the '?' at the end of the post title lol oh well

Hello everyone, just wanted to get some knowledge, in my country (Colombia) there is a tax advantage in using the local stock market over international brokers, basically you get 0% tax on any gains when selling certain ETF or stocks. Now, one of those certain ETF is CSPX (the reason why VOO doesn’t have this tax advantage is because of something to do with how it was founded or something like that) so I’m wondering what’s better, VOO on an international broker without tax advantage or CPSX with tax advantage (I can only buy complete shares not fractional shares, which I can only buy 1 per month)
Thank you all

Hi! My name is Estevan and I live in France. For my end-of-studies project, I wrote a small article about the situation of women in Colombia. My mother is Colombian and I felt it was important to discuss this in various places like Reddit.
This text has been translated using the internet, so there is a good chance of language mistakes. Sorry about that!
Colombia, a dynamic nation in South America, has been at the forefront of significant changes in women's political participation in recent years. However, behind these advancements, deeply rooted challenges persist that threaten to compromise gender equality in the political sphere and society at large. In this exploration, we will examine the progress made and the obstacles Colombian women face in their quest for equal political participation, while also analyzing the complexities of the struggle for gender equality in everyday life. From combating forced marriages to the persistent threat of femicides, this journey will lead us to understand the complex intersection between politics, culture, and gender justice in Colombia in a condensed manner.
The Fight Against Femicides
Femicides remain an alarming issue in Colombia, with a significant number of women and girls falling victim to gender-based violence. Although measures have been taken to strengthen legislation and increase penalties for perpetrators of these crimes, the culture of machismo and impunity remain major obstacles in the fight against this extreme form of gender-based violence. It is essential to address sexist attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate this violence, as well as to ensure women's access to resources and support services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. In 2023, there were 401 femicides in Colombia, compared to 103 femicides in France. This abnormally high number proves the sad and significant presence of persecution against women in Colombia.
Advances and Challenges in Women's Political Participation in Colombia
In recent years, Colombia has seen a significant increase in women's political participation. Various measures have been implemented, such as gender quotas and incentive programs, aimed at increasing their representation in political positions, which has allowed the number of women in politics to rise to 30% compared to 11.5% in 1991. However, significant challenges persist, hindering their full participation in the political sphere. Among these challenges are gender stereotypes entrenched in Colombian society and cultural barriers that hinder women's access to decision-making spaces. Additionally, the lack of institutional support and resistance from certain political sectors remain significant obstacles to gender equality in Colombian politics.
The Fight for Gender Equality in Colombia: Beyond Wage Inequalities
Gender equality remains a priority on the Colombian agenda, and significant progress has been made in areas such as education and employment, where women earn 5% less than men for the same position. However, entrenched challenges persist in sexist practices that affect women's daily lives. In many cases, these practices are perpetrated by men and manifest through discriminatory behaviors and patriarchal attitudes. From condescending comments to the unequal distribution of domestic tasks, these actions reflect the persistence of gender inequalities in Colombian society.
To complement this article, I was able to discuss with a Colombian woman about some social aspects of the situation of women in Colombia;
How would you describe the participation of women in current Colombian society?
The participation of women in Colombian society has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. They hold increasingly prominent positions in various sectors, especially in politics, like Marta Ruiz, Vice President of Colombia, but also in the economy, education, and culture. However, challenges persist in our quest for gender equality and full participation at all levels of society.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing women in Colombia today?
The main challenges facing women in Colombia include gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, lack of access to education and health, which are complex issues for both women and men. We also face cultural and social barriers that perpetuate gender inequality, but lack of respect for women is the most common. For example, when I tried to build a house and reported defects in the workers' work, I was told that I couldn't understand because it was a man's job. Although this has improved over time and young people understand feminist causes better, there is still much to be done if we want to live without discrimination.
How has gender equality evolved in your personal experience and in your environment?
In my personal experience and in my environment, I have seen significant advances in gender equality, especially in the fields of education and employment. However, there is still much to be done to combat gender-based violence and disparities in terms of power and political representation. The situation has improved over time, but it is still difficult for every woman. It is necessary to understand that the street is like a jungle and that these behaviors must be faced to improve the situation and educate young people.
What is your opinion on the representation of women in Colombian politics?
Although there has been progress in the representation of women in Colombian politics, we are still far from achieving gender parity. Women face additional obstacles, such as lack of funding and entrenched sexism in political culture. It is crucial to take concrete measures to promote women's participation in politics and ensure that our voices are heard and respected. In addition to the role of Marta Ruiz as Vice President of Colombia, Colombian women are increasingly standing out on the national and local political scene. Figures such as Claudia López, the first woman elected mayor of Bogotá in 2019, illustrate this empowerment. López, formerly a senator and recognized activist for transparency and the fight against corruption, embodies a significant change in Colombian politics.
How does gender-based violence affect women in Colombia and what measures do you believe are necessary to address this issue?
Gender-based violence is a serious problem affecting many women in Colombia. It is necessary to implement effective measures to prevent and combat gender-based violence, including effectively enforcing existing laws, strengthening support services for victims, and promoting gender equality at all levels of society. Authorities should be firmer against these behaviors, but the Colombian police is sorely lacking in awareness in this area and here the state has a role to play in this fight also in terms of education on future generations.
How do cultural expectations and traditions influence the lives of Colombian women in terms of marriage, motherhood, and family roles?
Things like traditions and social expectations can really impact our lives, especially when it comes to marriage, motherhood, and family roles. Often, women are expected to take on the bulk of the work at home and with children, which can really hinder our opportunities in terms of education and career. We really need to question these preconceived ideas about gender and push for equal rights and opportunities for everyone, men and women. We need to make people understand that there are other ways to do things, other possibilities to explore.
What is your perception of the accessibility of education for women in Colombia and its impact on personal and professional development?
Access to education for women in Colombia has improved in recent years, but there are still hurdles, especially in remote areas. Education is super important for women to fully develop, professionally and personally, and contribute to the country. But the cost of school is a real concern for many kids, girls, and boys, and it deprives them of a complete and satisfactory education.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article!

I was wondering which states in the US and what countries are on WaterlooWorks for SWE roles.
Just tell me the states in the US and countries around the world that you remember seeing.
Ones I particularly care about knowing if you've seen but would want to hear about any of them:
States:
Wisconsin, Texas, California, New York, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, Utah
Countries: China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Colombia, Italy, France
Thank you

Hi,
In October I'll be 3 weeks with a friend in Peru. After that he will leave for Europe and I have two more weeks to spend in South America.
Initially I was planning to visit Colombia, however now I started to think that the country is too big and I'll be too tiered to deeply enjoy. The 3 weeks in Peru will be quite intense. My fear is that if I go to Colombia I have to spend too much mental energy with internal flights etc.
Thus, I started to consider Guatemala. 2 weeks sound a good time to visit the country without rush.
What would you recommend me?
I like hiking and I'm a sporty person.

I am from Europe but I really like the modern high-rise type cities in the US that have warm climate like Miami, Houston, San Diego. I would add New York here but it is too cold during the winter. I would like to spend a few months in a city like this with Uber, swimming pools, modern comfortable high-rise apartments, warm climate but I don’t want to bother with strict US visa requirements and US prices. Where can one find similar living style in Central and South America and Asia? Here are the ones I know about: certain parts of Jalisco, Guadalajara in Mexico (Andares Shopping Center area), Bocagrande area in Cartagena, Colombia. KLCC area in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia (although it is a bit too rainy). I don’t consider Singapore or Australia as those are very expensive for me. Europe does not interest me. So any country outside of US, Australia and Europe. Obviously none of these are anything like the US but they have some neighbourhoods with visual similarities. For example certain parts of Cartagena is (Bocagrande neighbourhood) called “Little Miami”. Any suggestions? I work remotely so I am flexible. I speak Spanish and English. What do you all think?

I'm from canada and flights are really cheap and the same price almost for me to either go to Ecuador (quito or cuenca), Chile (Santiago), or Colombia (Bogota). Which country should I travel to (in August)? I've solo traveled a bunch in Europe and Australia but this time my boyfriend and I are planning on traveling somewhere in latin America. I'd appreciate any suggestions / advice :)

hi! i'm 25f from the uk and am planning some (mostly) solo travel in south america (+ mexico) besides from the occasional group tour and when my bf will hopefully be joining me for three weeks. i'm planning on going september-december this year.
my current itinerary is looking like mexico, colombia, peru, bolivia and argentina/chile. i think the flights will be the bulk of my costs and am looking to fly from london to mexico city and back from buenos aires. i'm hoping my budget will be around 4-7k? but i am flexible, although would like to remain on the cheaper side eg staying in hostels when possible. if anyone has done a similar trip and has a vague idea of what this budget would look like i'd be very happy to hear.
i'm planning on going to key places such as mexico city, medellin, lima, group tours in machu picchu and the salt flats etc but again, very open to hearing additional suggestions of places to visit.
i'm also a bit wary as i am a small blonde female (i have been told this may make me stand out) and would like to know how i could take additional precautions. i have been learning spanish for the past year for the purpose of this trip, so hopefully that would help, but again am aware that dialects range in different countries so this may limit my understanding. i am also a vegetarian, so understand this may impact my ability to eat at some places which may be off the beaten track.
sorry all of this is a bit vague as i'm still planning things out, but as i don't know many people who have travelled to south america extensively, i am very open to hearing people's responses and getting some guidance. thanks!

I’m 20M from South Africa and I’m planning on backpacking through 2 countries for about 30-40 days from dec2024-jan2025. I should be going with one or two friends with the slim chance of going alone but either way it shouldn’t change my plan. My friends and I have little to no backpacking experience.
At the moment we’re stuck between Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru and would like to choose 2 of these countries. Our budget should be about $1000-$1500 USD excluding flights to and from South Africa. We would like a balance between exploring nature and enjoying the local social life.
Any advice on which of these 2 countries would fit us best would be much appreciated.

Optimus Prime (Bayverse), Superman (DCAU), Captain America (MCU)
Which one of these, if brought into reality via however means (reverse isekai, dimensional rift, etc.) would do the best job at running these countries as an appointed leader?
How well does each candidate do per country, and how would said countries and world in general be affected?
R1: North America
R2: Brazil
R3: Colombia
R4: Venezuela
R5: North Korea
R6: Somalia
Bonus Round: Each participant is replaced with their mainline counterparts, (G1 Optimus, New Earth* Superman, 616 Comics Captain America) How do things go from here?
Sudden Death: Dr. Doom instead is summoned. How do the countries and the world fare?
*By new earth I generally mean the continuity before N52, but if there's a better definitive version for Superman like there's 616 Marvel for Cap, use that and I'll just change the note

On October 31, 2020, former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon—who had left Trump’s administration in 2017—explained to a group of people that, knowing that votes for Biden would accumulate throughout the evening as mail-in ballots were counted, Trump planned simply to declare victory on election night, seizing the presidency and claiming that any results to the contrary were an attempt to steal the election from him. “[A]t 10 or 11 o’clock Trump’s gonna walk in the Oval, tweet out, ‘I’m the winner. Game over. Suck on that,’” Bannon was recorded as saying.
That prediction was pretty much what happened, but Trump did not succeed in seizing the presidency. Next came plans to overturn the election results, and Bannon was also involved in those. Then, famously, on January 5, 2021, he predicted on his podcast that the next day, “all hell is going to break loose.”
Not surprisingly, the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol wanted to talk to Bannon. It subpoenaed him in September 2021 for testimony and documents. When he refused to comply, a jury found him guilty of contempt of Congress in October 2022. A judge sentenced him to four months in jail but allowed him to stay out of jail while he appealed.
Today a three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld his conviction. He will not be jailed immediately; he can still appeal to a higher court.
Another White House advisor, Peter Navarro, appealed all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn his own conviction for contempt of Congress after he, too, refused to answer a House subpoena for testimony and documents. The Supreme Court denied his appeal, and Navarro reported to prison on March 19, 2024. He has asked a federal judge to let him serve the remainder of his sentence on supervised release, so far without luck.
Former federal prosecutor and legal analyst Joyce White Vance wrote: “Bannon is effectively out of appeals. He can delay a little bit longer, asking for the full court to review the decision en banc & asking SCOTUS to hear his case on cert, but neither one of those things will happen. Bannon is going to prison.”
Lack of information was at the heart of Bannon and Navarro’s cases; it was also at the heart of the State Department’s report to Congress about whether Israel’s strikes on Gaza have complied with international and U.S. law. National Security Memorandum (NSM)-20, which Biden signed on February 8, 2024, was designed to make sure that there are adequate safeguards and accountability when countries who have access to U.S. weapons use them. The memo required the secretary of state “to obtain certain credible and reliable written assurances from foreign governments receiving defense articles” and transmit that information to Congress.
Issued today, the report covered seven countries in “active conflict”—Colombia, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Ukraine—and explored whether they were using U.S. government-funded defense articles in accordance with international humanitarian law, and whether they were not “arbitrarily” denying, restricting, or otherwise impeding U.S.-backed humanitarian assistance in any areas where the country was using those U.S. defense articles.
The report noted that it’s hard to collect accurate information in a war zone. Often, the information has to come from participants or third parties, and sometimes that information comes only from the country the U.S. is supplying with weapons. It also noted that the human-rights-based Leahy Laws prohibit the U.S. from supplying weapons to a foreign military unit if the departments of state or defense have credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights, including torture, rape, extrajudicial killing, or enforced disappearance.
The report concluded that Colombia appears to be in compliance. Iraqi security forces have been credibly alleged to be violating international law, but the U.S. does not supply those units. Those it does supply have received U.S. training on compliance with international humanitarian law, and Iraqi leadership is working closely with the U.S. to professionalize. It has not restricted humanitarian aid.
Kenya has repeatedly violated international human rights law, but it is working to come into compliance and has not misused U.S. weapons. Nigerian forces routinely use excessive force and torture. They are expanding the legal advice in the professionalizing army, and there are no credible reports of U.S. matériel used in ways that are inconsistent with international law.
Somalia has violated humanitarian law and human rights law, arbitrarily killing and torturing people and committing sexual violence. The U.S. supplies the counterterrorism Danab Brigade of the Somali National Army and works closely with it. The State Department assesses that the brigade has not used U.S. weapons in any violations of humanitarian or human rights law.
That leaves Israel and Ukraine.
The report begins by noting that in the October 7 attack on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists killed an estimated 1,200 individuals, wounded more than 5,400, and took 253 hostages, including U.S. citizens. Hamas, it notes, “does not follow any portion of and consistently violates” international humanitarian law.
Then it takes on the numbers of Palestinians killed and injured, saying that the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, “which international organizations generally deem credible,” estimates that 34,700 Palestinians have been killed. Another 78,200 have been wounded, “a significant percentage of whom are reported to be women and children.” The Gaza Ministry of Health does not differentiate between Hamas fighters and civilians, but Israel says that about half the 34,700 killed were Hamas fighters. The State Department says that “we do not have the ability to verify this estimate.” It also notes that “[t]he conflict has displaced the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza and resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.”
The State Department notes that the U.S. government has emphasized Israeli compliance with international humanitarian law and that Israel has “institutions and processes charged with upholding” those laws. Israel has been conducting assessments, including criminal investigations, into alleged violations of international humanitarian law.
The next paragraph, though, says that when asked, Israel shared some information that gave insight into Israel’s procedures and rules, but that information was incomplete. Among other things, “Israel has not shared complete information to verify whether U.S. defense articles covered under NSM-20 were specifically used in actions that have been alleged as violations of [international humanitarian law or international human rights law] in Gaza, or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the period of the report.” However, the authors concluded, because “certain Israeli-operated systems are entirely U.S.-origin (e.g., crewed attack aircraft),” they “are likely to have been involved in incidents that raise concerns about Israel’s [international humanitarian law] compliance.”
The report goes on to say that while it is difficult to determine whether specific U.S. weapons have been used improperly, “there have been sufficient reported incidents to raise serious concerns…. Given the nature of the conflict in Gaza, with Hamas seeking to hide behind civilian populations and infrastructure and expose them to Israeli military action, as well as the lack of [U.S. government] personnel on the ground in Gaza, it is difficult to assess or reach conclusive findings on individual incidents. Nevertheless, given Israel’s significant reliance on U.S.-made defense articles, it is reasonable to assess that defense articles covered under NSM-20 have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its [international humanitarian law] obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm.”
The State Department says it is “not aware” of U.S. weaponry being misused. It also said that it “has had deep concerns…about action and inaction by Israel” that hampered humanitarian aid efforts and that, while that aid still is insufficient, “we do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance.”
The report also assessed that Ukraine had occasionally violated international humanitarian law and international human rights law, torturing those suspected of collaborating with Russia, for example. The Ukraine government has committed to adhere to the rule of law. It has apparently not used U.S. weapons in those violations and has facilitated U.S. humanitarian assistance.
—
Notes:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pstephen-k-bannon-sentenced-four-months-prison-two-counts-contempt-congress
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/10/1250504958/steve-bannon-contempt-upheld
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.39203/gov.uscourts.cadc.39203.1208621523.0.pdf
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/07/leaked-audio-steve-bannon-trump-2020-election-declare-victory/
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/politics/peter-navarro-jail-contempt-of-congress/index.html
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/too-notorious-pointing-to-a-free-steve-bannon-imprisoned-peter-navarro-asks-court-for-supervised-release/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/02/08/national-security-memorandum-on-safeguards-and-accountability-with-respect-to-transferred-defense-articles-and-defense-services/
https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Report-to-Congress-under-Section-2-of-the-National-Security-Memorandum-on-Safeguards-and-Accountability-with-Respect-to-Transferred-Defense.pdf
Twitter (X):
JoyceWhiteVance/status/1788946765355348418
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-10-2024

Unlike most doctors there must be a reason why this one barely has any websites where he allows his patients to share their experience.
No Google reviews, no Realself, no Yelp...
Well, he is not the kindest person and at least to me I felt like he was really dishonest. I scheduled my rhinoplasty with him almost 1 year ago and the whole process was REALLY NEGATIVE, after waiting all this time to talk about my final results I can now say that they're not favorable, I have SO MUCH trouble breathing and my nose has collapsed from one side...this has truly had a bad impact in my life so that's why I decided to share this post.
After talking to many other professionals I believe I was victim of something called "ghost surgery"
Due to his perfectly looking Instagram page and the large amount of marketing I decided to have my surgery with this doctor, initially I paid 150 USD (and unlike what's advertised) there was not really a real consultation, all they ask you to do is sent pictures and in response all you get is a price estimate.
Obviously I found this really sketchy since I wanted to have a proper diagnosis, but his assistant refused saying that all consultations are done one day before to the surgery, so basically you have to commit and pay for the procedure in advance without ever meeting the doctor priorly.
Probably the first red flag, but unfortunately I got carried away by his social media and all these "influencers/models" that promote him and I scheduled surgery regardless...
Consultation
Since you barely have direct contact with the doctor, all the communications you have are just with his staff and oh boy, they are really good at promising and telling you everything you want to hear so that way you proceed and pay for the procedure (BTW I PAID 13,000 USD).
Reality kicked in once I traveled to Colombia, many more irregularities and things that I didn't expect came up, of course at this point I've already invested 7000 USD (everything you pay in NON REFUNDABLE) so I couldn't really say anything or change my mind.
Consultation with Dr. Paez was quick, It was the first and only time I would see him during the whole process and just like every surgeon he persuades you and tells you everything is going to be okay, although I wanted to address my symptoms by bringing different nasal exams he told me it wasn't necessary.
Day of Surgery
Once at the hospital, they make me sign a few waivers, nurses get me ready and take me to my operating room, at this point i'm expecting to see Dr. Paez at any minute but this would never happen, next thing I know, i'm already in a recovery room.
I'm discharged and they sent me home.
After becoming a little suspicious by the high number of people being operated the same day I start doing some research...and to my surprise I find on on social media videos of ANOTHER DOCTOR doing my nose surgery, all while Dr. Paez wasn't even in my operating room.
This other doctor was there as a student and is someone who I NEVER authorized.
https://twitter.com/joelval24657885/status/1717374925021794444
I posted the footage and proof of surgery on this website, you can clearly see how they run 2 operating rooms at the same time.
So what was their response?
I already did my research, what happened here is considered really unethical but highly profitable for the surgeons, I was used for some type of medical course and this was never disclosed in my informed consent.
At first when I asked for an explanation his staff downplayed everything, saying things like "this other doctor is part of the team" and "he only performed the first half of your surgery".
I looked into this other doctor and he doesn't have any type of affiliation with Dr. Paez since he works as a plastic surgeon in Brazil.
Besides the fact that I now have so many breathing problems, I feel completely cheated, it is nearly impossible to get in contact with Dr. Paez so I flew back to Colombia just to confront him...and unsurprisingly he refused to watch the footage of my surgery and prefered to stayed silent.
Final thoughts.
Since I have evidence of what im talking about I decided to file a formal complaint to the medical board in that country, although they took my case months ago, judging how things run in Colombia I highly doubt any disciplinary action will be taken.
I want to clarify that I am by no way the only person who has raised complaints about this doctor, If you want some more unbiased opinions I advice to do your research on Twitter.
Lastly, for reference I'll attach the odd documents he makes you sign where you surrender many rights if things go wrong. I'm fully aware that any surgery has risks but I find it extremely unfair how they show you this only after you have paid.
https://twitter.com/joelval24657885/status/1789497378849816825
My advice?
Avoid Instagram at ALL COSTS when choosing a surgeon, there is absolutely ZERO transparency on that website.

Me male 27 from Sweden will be going to South America between the end of October up until almost Christmas. So far I have decided to go to: Rio de Janeiro, Colombia ( medellin) and El Salvador. However I don’t really know much about any of these countries so I am turning to Reddit for help. Although I speak an okay amount of Spanish I am worried that communication in Rio will be hard. I speak zero Portuguese although I will try and learn some before I go it is well below my level of English and Spanish. Can you get by on basic Portuguese, English and Spanish?
Safety is obviously a question , I am not to worried about this. I think that I have a common sense and have no plans of walking drunk home or flashing money. There are a lot of norms that I will not be an aware of, is there anything I should keep and eye out for? Also El- Salvador is obviously a country in transition, are there any travellers here who have been and would like to share their experiences? As I have understood you can get by on about 50$ a day again any recent travelers who would like to give some advice on money sharing tips/ scams to avoid?
Finally any and all tips/ recommendations are humbley welcome and would be much appreciated.
Thank you all