According to Peruvian newspaper El Comercio, Colombian superstar Shakira will be performing at President Elect Barack Obama’s inaugural celebration to be held in Washington D.C. January 20th, 2009. Linda Douglas, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee has refused to confirm or deny reports, saying only that announcements on official performers for Obama's Inauguration are "way down the road."

Ingrid Betancourt has returned to her native Colombia for the first time since her release from captivity in July. Betancourt was kidnapped back in 2002 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and held for six years deep in the Colombian jungle.