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"Priceless" Treasures Returning To Colombia

Spanish police provided images of the looted treasures
Spanish police provided images of the looted treasures

Anthropomorphic containers, ancient ceramic bowls, mysterious instruments, jewelry and delicate painting tools belonging to the native Colombian cultures that collapsed in the 16th century, before the onslaught of Spanish invaders.

These were some of almost 700 items Spanish police confiscated from traffickers, which authorities in Madrid formally handed over to Colombia's ambassador this week, a decade after they were found. The items were given a pricetag of $7 million, but said to be of "incalculable worth,"El Espectador and agencies reported.

Ambassador Fernando Carrillo Flórez told the Spanish agency EFE that "the arrival of almost 700 pieces to Colombia is one of the most important cultural events of recent times." They would, he said, have a "place of honor" in one of the country's museums, perhaps the National Museum or the Archaeology Museum in Bogotá.

Some of the items were found in 2003 in a Madrid flat belonging to one of 29 suspected traffickers detained at the time. An adventure fit for Tintin — though the heroes in this case were the police, who found the treasures during the Operación Florencia targetting drug trafficking and money laundering.

In all, authorities found more than 880 items from various Latin American countries. An official of the Spanish Culture Ministry, Jesús Prieto, called the find "a small Colombian museum of archaeology," for the breadth of periods and cultures concerned. It included items from the Quimbaya, Sinú and Nariño cultures.

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Murdoch's Resignation Adds To Biden Good Luck With The Media — A Repeat Of FDR?

Robert Murdoch's resignation from Fox News Corp. so soon before the next U.S. presidential elections begs the question of how directly media coverage has impacted Joe Biden as a figure, and what this new shift in power will mean for the current President.

Close up photograph of a opy of The Independent features Rupert Murdoch striking a pensive countenance as his 'News of the World' tabloid newspaper announced its last edition will run

July 7, 2011 - London, England: A copy of The Independent features Rupert Murdoch striking a pensive countenance as his 'News of the World' tabloid newspaper announced its last edition will run July 11, 2011 amid a torrid scandal involving phone hacking.

Mark Makela/ZUMA
Michael J. Socolow

Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States of America on Jan. 20, 2021.

Imagine if someone could go back in time and inform him and his communications team that a few pivotal changes in the media would occur during his first three years in office.

There’s the latest news that Rubert Murdoch, 92, stepped down as the chairperson of Fox Corp. and News Corp. on Sept. 21, 2023. Since the 1980s, Murdoch, who will be replaced by his son Lachlan, has been the most powerful right-wing media executivein the U.S.

While it’s not clear whether Fox will be any tamer under Lachlan, Murdoch’s departure is likely good news for Biden, who reportedly despises the media baron.

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