Correspondent
Languages
AFP / Alfredo Estrella

Three months with Chapo

Friday 22 February 2019

"This winter, I was lucky enough to attend the best show in New York, more captivating than a Broadway extravaganza or a Hollywood blockbuster," writes New York City-based correspondent Laura Bonilla.

"A theatrical marathon in 44 chapters, with a cast of characters who were as dazzling as they were macabre and who opened a window onto one of the deadliest and most lucrative businesses around the globe, the drug world. And all of it was true…"

Read more
AFP Photo / Christophe Simon

Rio, I wish you peace

Tuesday 2 June 2015

"It’s another sunny morning in the Flamengo park, a lush oasis of palm trees and talkative parrots opposite the Guanabara Bay – where the sailing races will be held during next year’s Olympic Games," writes AFP's Laura Bonilla. "Two friends bump into each other and stop for a chat. As they part I hear one say to the other: ‘Muito amor, muita saúde, muita paz’ – much love, much health, much peace. 'Peace?' But Brazil is not at war... Or is it?"

Read more
AFP Photo / Vanderlei Almeida

Thief! Liar! Nazi! Kisses dear, see you next week!

Friday 24 October 2014

"Along with 202 million Brazilians, I've spent the past weeks watching the most vitriolic election campaign in the country's recent history", writes Laura Bonilla, AFP deputy bureau chief in Rio de Janeiro. "The rivals on the ballot for Sunday's presidential run-off have torn into each other in a series of televised debates, accusing one another -- explicitly or by insinuation -- of corruption, nepotism, incompetence, drunk or drugged driving, beating women, and using Nazi propaganda tactics, among other things".

"Then, without fail, Dilma Rousseff, the leftist incumbent, and Aecio Neves, her center-right challenger, kiss each other on their sweaty, heavily made-up cheeks, smile and exchange congratulations."

Read more