Just three days after the release of the two women, six tourists, including one foreigner, were kidnapped near the Pacific town of Nuqui.

ECONOMIST: FARC rebels free two women hostages

In fact, knowing that I'd be spending two more months in America as a swarthy foreigner with an accent and a Middle Eastern passport, I was in almost desperate need of a break.

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Sands is the first casino to be opened by a foreigner, after a decision by the Macau government two years ago to end Mr Ho's 42-year-old gambling monopoly and to auction three new gaming licences.

ECONOMIST: Las Vegas comes to Macau