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Model's murder, just days after influencer shot, sparks condemnation of femicide in Latin America

Model's murder, just days after influencer shot, sparks condemnation of femicide in Latin America

9 News19-05-2025
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' cancer The murder of a 22-year-old model and influencer in Colombia has sent shock waves through the country and drawn parallels to the killing of a Mexican influencer last week, highlighting the high rates of femicide in Latin America. Maria Jose Estupinan, a university student in Colombia's northeastern city of Cucuta, close to the Venezuela border, was killed on May 15, according to Magda Victoria Acosta, president of the National Gender Commission of the Colombian Judiciary. Speaking at a news conference, Acosta said the suspect, disguised as a delivery man, shot Estupinan in her home when she opened the door. Maria Jose Estupinan, who was killed in Colombia on May 14, in a photo posted on her Facebook page. (Facebook) "She was a young, enterprising woman with a whole life ahead of her, but those dreams are cut short like the dreams of many women in this country," Acosta said. Estupinan had been the victim of a domestic violence case and was about to receive compensation for it, Acosta added. She said the commission "very strongly" condemned the crime and would work to deliver justice. Authorities are investigating the killing. CNN has reached out to the Colombian National Police and prosecutor's office for more information. Estupinan's Facebook page showed photos of her travels and daily life, including trips to New York and California, and of her posing by the pool or at the gym. The case has been covered widely by local media and spread on social media, with many comparing it to the May 13 shooting of 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Marquez in Mexico. TikTok beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was shot dead during live stream in Mexico. (CNN) Just days before Estupinan's death, Marquez was killed during a live stream at a salon by a male intruder. Officials in Mexico's Jalisco state said they are investigating Marquez's death as a suspected femicide – the killing of a woman or girl for gender-based reasons. While not all homicides involving women are femicides, many are. In 2020, a quarter of female killings in Mexico were investigated as femicides, with cases reported in each one of the country's 32 states, according to Amnesty International. Acosta did not say whether Estupinan's death was a suspected femicide – but her killing has highlighted the sheer scale of violence against women in Colombia. Gender-based violence in the country is widespread, including by armed groups, according to non-profit organisation Human Rights Watch. Survivors face many obstacles in seeking care or justice, and perpetrators are rarely held accountable, the group noted in its World Report 2024. Colombia's National Gender Commission has logged thousands of cases of gender and domestic violence, including high rates of sexual violence, neglect, abandonment and psychological violence, Acosta said. Some 41 women were reported missing in Colombia between January and August last year – with 34 cases in Cucuta, where Estupinan lived, Acosta said. Many of the women were minors. Northeast Colombia has been particularly volatile in recent months, with a sharp rise in fighting between militant factions. Escalating violence in the Catatumbo region displaced tens of thousands of people in January, many of whom flocked to Cucuta, where Colombia's military deployed thousands of soldiers and special forces. Colombia
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Needles reportedly spotted at Horseshoe beach amid ongoing clean-up
Needles reportedly spotted at Horseshoe beach amid ongoing clean-up

The Advertiser

time18 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Needles reportedly spotted at Horseshoe beach amid ongoing clean-up

Needles have been spotted on Horseshoe beach amid the ongoing clean-up of the surrounding area. Novocastrians reportedly stumbled upon what looked like discarded needles along the waterfront last week. While Transport for NSW said they weren't aware of needle waste specifically, they were working with Maritime Environmental Services to arrange a clean-up of the beach and surrounding waterfront areas around Newcastle Harbour as soon as possible. A spokesperson for TfNSW said they planned to alert the appropriate authorities about needle wastage in the area. "The amenity and cleanliness of Transport assets is a top priority," the spokesperson said. "Horseshoe beach was impacted by recent severe weather, resulting in debris, such as logs and sticks, washing up on the sand," they said. "Members of the public are reminded not to touch or pick up needles." TfNSW has been cleaning up the beach car park and nearby dunes after the area had become overrun with "vagrants", littered with needles and drug paraphernalia and was apparently so unsafe that the council's own regulatory staff have been told not to go there. Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said he was aware of the community's concerns and was pushing for the clean-up of the area to be expedited. "TfNSW have been conducting a progressive clean of this area, with officers making multiple trips to the site this week and very regularly over the last few months," Mr Crakanthorp said. Following the removal of some vans and the relocation of others who have been long-term in the car park, TfNSW has completed a clean-up in the car park and is progressively working through adjacent spaces," he said. In a Facebook post last week, Mr Crakanthorp said the issue was complex, as many of the people occupying Horseshoe beach were homeless. "Police and Homes NSW have been working to move on vans and rehouse rough sleepers at Horseshoe Beach with appropriate housing," he said. The federal MP encouraged people to report all needle waste to the Needle Clean up Hotline at 1800 633 353. Needles have been spotted on Horseshoe beach amid the ongoing clean-up of the surrounding area. Novocastrians reportedly stumbled upon what looked like discarded needles along the waterfront last week. While Transport for NSW said they weren't aware of needle waste specifically, they were working with Maritime Environmental Services to arrange a clean-up of the beach and surrounding waterfront areas around Newcastle Harbour as soon as possible. A spokesperson for TfNSW said they planned to alert the appropriate authorities about needle wastage in the area. "The amenity and cleanliness of Transport assets is a top priority," the spokesperson said. "Horseshoe beach was impacted by recent severe weather, resulting in debris, such as logs and sticks, washing up on the sand," they said. "Members of the public are reminded not to touch or pick up needles." TfNSW has been cleaning up the beach car park and nearby dunes after the area had become overrun with "vagrants", littered with needles and drug paraphernalia and was apparently so unsafe that the council's own regulatory staff have been told not to go there. Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said he was aware of the community's concerns and was pushing for the clean-up of the area to be expedited. "TfNSW have been conducting a progressive clean of this area, with officers making multiple trips to the site this week and very regularly over the last few months," Mr Crakanthorp said. Following the removal of some vans and the relocation of others who have been long-term in the car park, TfNSW has completed a clean-up in the car park and is progressively working through adjacent spaces," he said. In a Facebook post last week, Mr Crakanthorp said the issue was complex, as many of the people occupying Horseshoe beach were homeless. "Police and Homes NSW have been working to move on vans and rehouse rough sleepers at Horseshoe Beach with appropriate housing," he said. The federal MP encouraged people to report all needle waste to the Needle Clean up Hotline at 1800 633 353. Needles have been spotted on Horseshoe beach amid the ongoing clean-up of the surrounding area. Novocastrians reportedly stumbled upon what looked like discarded needles along the waterfront last week. While Transport for NSW said they weren't aware of needle waste specifically, they were working with Maritime Environmental Services to arrange a clean-up of the beach and surrounding waterfront areas around Newcastle Harbour as soon as possible. A spokesperson for TfNSW said they planned to alert the appropriate authorities about needle wastage in the area. "The amenity and cleanliness of Transport assets is a top priority," the spokesperson said. "Horseshoe beach was impacted by recent severe weather, resulting in debris, such as logs and sticks, washing up on the sand," they said. "Members of the public are reminded not to touch or pick up needles." TfNSW has been cleaning up the beach car park and nearby dunes after the area had become overrun with "vagrants", littered with needles and drug paraphernalia and was apparently so unsafe that the council's own regulatory staff have been told not to go there. Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said he was aware of the community's concerns and was pushing for the clean-up of the area to be expedited. "TfNSW have been conducting a progressive clean of this area, with officers making multiple trips to the site this week and very regularly over the last few months," Mr Crakanthorp said. Following the removal of some vans and the relocation of others who have been long-term in the car park, TfNSW has completed a clean-up in the car park and is progressively working through adjacent spaces," he said. In a Facebook post last week, Mr Crakanthorp said the issue was complex, as many of the people occupying Horseshoe beach were homeless. "Police and Homes NSW have been working to move on vans and rehouse rough sleepers at Horseshoe Beach with appropriate housing," he said. The federal MP encouraged people to report all needle waste to the Needle Clean up Hotline at 1800 633 353. Needles have been spotted on Horseshoe beach amid the ongoing clean-up of the surrounding area. Novocastrians reportedly stumbled upon what looked like discarded needles along the waterfront last week. While Transport for NSW said they weren't aware of needle waste specifically, they were working with Maritime Environmental Services to arrange a clean-up of the beach and surrounding waterfront areas around Newcastle Harbour as soon as possible. A spokesperson for TfNSW said they planned to alert the appropriate authorities about needle wastage in the area. "The amenity and cleanliness of Transport assets is a top priority," the spokesperson said. "Horseshoe beach was impacted by recent severe weather, resulting in debris, such as logs and sticks, washing up on the sand," they said. "Members of the public are reminded not to touch or pick up needles." TfNSW has been cleaning up the beach car park and nearby dunes after the area had become overrun with "vagrants", littered with needles and drug paraphernalia and was apparently so unsafe that the council's own regulatory staff have been told not to go there. Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said he was aware of the community's concerns and was pushing for the clean-up of the area to be expedited. "TfNSW have been conducting a progressive clean of this area, with officers making multiple trips to the site this week and very regularly over the last few months," Mr Crakanthorp said. Following the removal of some vans and the relocation of others who have been long-term in the car park, TfNSW has completed a clean-up in the car park and is progressively working through adjacent spaces," he said. In a Facebook post last week, Mr Crakanthorp said the issue was complex, as many of the people occupying Horseshoe beach were homeless. "Police and Homes NSW have been working to move on vans and rehouse rough sleepers at Horseshoe Beach with appropriate housing," he said. The federal MP encouraged people to report all needle waste to the Needle Clean up Hotline at 1800 633 353.

Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship Handala
Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship Handala

9 News

time20 hours ago

  • 9 News

Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship Handala

Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Israeli forces intercepted the Handala, a Gaza -bound ship carrying aid and activists, within 70 nautical miles of its intended destination on Saturday night. "The occupation has disabled our cameras and all communication has been lost," a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) told CNN in a message. A YouTube livestream showed armed personnel boarding the ship, while the activists on the deck, all wearing life jackets, held their hands in the air in surrender. A still from a YouTube livestream shows armed Israeli personnel intercepting the Handala aid ship en route to Gaza. (CNN) One of the helmeted personnel appears to manipulate the camera streaming on the deck, turning it around. The stream ended soon after that. Israel's foreign ministry confirmed in a statement on X that the "Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza," using the Handala's original name. "The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe," the statement continued. "Unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts. The Handala, named for a famous Palestinian cartoon character, is part of the FFC, which has attempted numerous times to break Israel's blockade on Gaza via sea and deliver aid to Palestinians there. Two members of the French and European parliaments are aboard, according to FFC, as well as Christian Small, a US trade unionist. "The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized," the FFC said in a statement issued soon after the live stream ended. The statement added that the supplies included "baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine." A few hours before the ship was intercepted, the FFC released a statement saying that the Handala was steering towards Egypt in an effort to avoid being boarded. That ship, crewed by a group that included climate activist Greta Thunberg, was also laden with aid. Israeli authorities towed their ship to Ashdod, and all aboard were deported from Israel afterwards. Earlier on Saturday evening, crew members on the deck of the Handala were seen donning reflective life jackets after Australian volunteer Tania Safi told CNN in a voice note the ship was being "circled by Israeli Heron drones." CNN is unable to verify the claim and has reached out to Israeli authorities for comment. "Everyone here has prepared for almost every possible scenario that Israel could put us through," Safi said on Saturday afternoon. "If they intercept us, it would be a violation of international maritime law." According to the FFC, four aboard the Handala are US citizens. CNN has reached out to the US state department for comment. On Thursday, a state department spokesperson called the activist aid ship a "selfie flotilla", dismissing the endeavor as a stunt. "The latest 'selfie flotilla' should end the stunts," the spokesperson said. "The real story is the serious people who put their lives on the line to get food and aid to the people of Gaza without it falling into the hands of terrorists." The spokesperson added that the state department has "no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens" and referred to the government of Israel for more information. CONTACT US Auto news: BYD speaks out about their ongoing battle with Tesla.

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