Colombia's acting Defense Minister Gen. Freddy Padilla, back to camera, greets military and police officers, who were held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, during a meeting marking the first anniversary of their release, in Bogota, Saturday, June 20, 2009. The officials and Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt were rescued by Colombia's military during the same operation. AP Photo logo AP Photo 4 months ago

Colombia's acting Defense Minister Gen. Freddy Padilla, back to camera, greets military and police officers, who were held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, during a meeting marking the first anniversary of their release, in Bogota, Saturday, June 20, 2009. The officials and Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt were rescued by Colombia's military during the same operation.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Ingrid Betancourt (C), a Franco-Columbian politician and former hostage, is applauded as she receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Montreal's rector Luc Vinet (L) and chancellor Louise Roy (R) in Montreal, September 26, 2009.
  2. Ingrid Betancourt, a Franco-Columbian politician and former hostage, receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Montreal in Montreal, September 26, 2009.
  3. Ingrid Betancourt, a Franco-Columbian politician and former hostage, adjusts her cap as she receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Montreal in Montreal, September 26, 2009.
  4. Ingrid Betancourt (L), a Franco-Columbian politician and former hostage walks with University of Montreal's rector Luc Vinet (R) and chancellor Louise Roy (C) prior to receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Montreal, September 26, 2009.
  5. Ingrid Betancourt (C), a Franco-Columbian politician and former hostage, receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Montreal's rector Luc Vinet (L) and chancellor Louise Roy (R) in Montreal, September 26, 2009.
  6. Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean greets Ingrid Betancourt at Rideau Hall in Ottawa September 25, 2009. Betancourt, a Columbian-French politician, received the first International Prize for Women of Courage at the Women of Courage gala in Montreal last night.
  7. Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean meets with Ingrid Betancourt at Rideau Hall in Ottawa September 25, 2009. Betancourt, a Columbian-French politician, received the first International Prize for Women of Courage at the Women of Courage gala in Montreal last night.
  8. Governor General Michaelle Jean, right, poses for a photo with former Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday Sept. 25, 2009.
  9. Governor General Michaelle Jean, left, greets former Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Sept. 25, 2009.
  10. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt speaks after receiving the medal of honor at the National Assembly in Quebec City September 23, 2009.
  11. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt gestures as she speaks after receiving the medal of honor at the National Assembly in Quebec City September 23, 2009.
  12. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt looks up as she speaks after receiving the medal of honor at the National Assembly in Quebec City September 23, 2009.
  13. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt wipes tears as she speaks after receiving the medal of honor at the National Assembly in Quebec City September 23, 2009.
  14. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt (L) receives the medal of honor from the President of the National Assembly Yvon Vallieres during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Quebec City September 23, 2009.
  15. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt (2nd L) receives the medal of honor from the President of the National Assembly, Yvon Valliere (2nd R), during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Quebec City, September 23, 2009. Also seen are Quebec's Premier Jean Charest (L) and Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois.
  16. Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt looks on as she speaks after receiving the medal of honor at the National Assembly in Quebec City, September 23, 2009.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Residents remove ruins from houses damaged by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in the town of Bima, on Indonesia's Sumbawa island, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009. The strong undersea earthquake killed at least two people, while injuring dozens and damaged buildings on the remote island in central Indonesia, officials said Monday.
  2. Residents ride a motorcycle passing a damaged building of a 6.7 magnitude in the town of Bima, on Indonesia's Sumbawa island, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009. The strong undersea earthquake killed at least two people, while injuring dozens and damaged buildings on the remote island in central Indonesia, officials said Monday.
  3. Thousands of Buddhist devotees listen to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama during a preaching session in Tawang, in the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 . Clearly uneasy about the Dalai Lama's weeklong visit to Arunachal Pradesh state, at the heart of a border dispute with neighboring China, Indian officials on Monday clamped down on journalists covering the Dalai Lama's visit.
  4. A young Buddhist volunteer looks on as she waits for Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's preaching session to begin in Tawang, in the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 . Clearly uneasy about the Dalai Lama's weeklong visit to Arunachal Pradesh state, at the heart of a border dispute with neighboring China, Indian officials on Monday clamped down on journalists covering the Dalai Lama's visit.
  5. A young Buddhist nun looks back as she waits for Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's preaching session to begin in Tawang, in the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 . Clearly uneasy about the Dalai Lama's weeklong visit to Arunachal Pradesh state, at the heart of a border dispute with neighboring China, Indian officials on Monday clamped down on journalists covering the Dalai Lama's visit.
  6. Thousands of Buddhist devotees attend Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's preaching session in Tawang, in the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 . Clearly uneasy about the Dalai Lama's weeklong visit to Arunachal Pradesh state, at the heart of a border dispute with neighboring China, Indian officials on Monday clamped down on journalists covering the Dalai Lama's visit.
  7. A man walks past a military barbed wire fence on which reunification banners are hung, at Imjingak pavilion near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 52 km (32 miles) north of Seoul, November 9, 2009. As a united Germany marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall on Monday, about 1 million soldiers face off across the Cold War's last great divide -- the DMZ separating the two Koreas.
  8. A visitor looks north through a barbed wire fence on which South Korean flags and reunification banners are hung, on Freedom Bridge at Imjingak pavilion near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 52 km (32 miles) north of Seoul, November 9, 2009. As a united Germany marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall on Monday, about 1 million soldiers face off across the Cold War's last great divide -- the DMZ separating the two Koreas.
  9. Tourists look at South Korean flags and reunification banners hung on a barbed wire fence, on Freedom Bridge at Imjingak pavilion near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 52 km (32 miles) north of Seoul, November 9, 2009. As a united Germany marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall on Monday, about 1 million soldiers face off across the Cold War's last great divide -- the DMZ separating the two Koreas.
  10. Sean Chen, head of Taiwan's financial regulator Financial Supervisory Commission, is surrounded by reporters at parliament in Taipei on November 9, 2009. Taiwan is expected to forge an agreement on financial cooperation with China 'soon', in yet another sign of evolving ties between the two former bitter rivals, officials said.
  11. A monk looks back as their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers Buddhist teachings at Tawang in the northeastern Indian state of Arunchal Pradesh November 9, 2009. Thousands of Buddhist monks and supporters welcomed Tibet's exiled spiritual leader on Sunday to a remote Indian region also claimed by China, a trip that has renewed tensions between the Asian giants. The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the world's two most populous nations, whose relations remain hostage to mutual suspicion lingering from a brief 1962 border war.
  12. This courtroom sketch shows Japanese pop star Noriko Sakai who was handed a suspended jail term of 18 months for illegal drug at the Tokyo District Court on November 9, 2009. Sakai was caught in August, a week after the arrest of her surfer-husband on drugs charges, in possession of 0.008 grams of an unidentified illegal stimulant and later pleaded guilty to drug use and possession. Under Japan's strict drug laws, prosecutors demanded 18 months' prison, but the court suspended the jail term for three years.
  13. Sean Chen, head of Taiwan's financial regulator Financial Supervisory Commission, listens while a legislator raises a query at parliament in Taipei on November 9, 2009. Taiwan is expected to forge an agreement on financial cooperation with China 'soon', in yet another sign of evolving ties between the two former bitter rivals, officials said.
  14. Taiwan's former vice president Lien Chan speaks to reporters in Taipei on November 9,2009 ahead of his departure for Singapore where he will attend the leaders meeting of the Asia Pacific Econonic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Taiwanese presidents are barred from attending APEC summits due to objections from China, which regards the island as part of its territory, and are usually represented by senior economic advisers or business leaders.
  15. Taiwan's former vice president Lien Chan speaks to reporters in Taipei on November 9,2009 ahead of his departure for Singapore where he will attend the leaders meeting of the Asia Pacific Econonic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Taiwanese presidents are barred from attending APEC summits due to objections from China, which regards the island as part of its territory, and are usually represented by senior economic advisers or business leaders.
  16. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 09: Music star MC Hammer launches the new Xbox karaoke title 'Lips: Number One Hits' which includes his song 'U Can't Touch This', and demonstrates Xbox's Twitter feature, at the Sofitel Melbourne on November 9, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.