Instead of the island earning a reputation for its nightlife scene, it became know for its kidnapping scene.
A few short weeks ago, the North came clean about its kidnapping of Japanese nationals and apologised, knowing that otherwise it could not hope to win the generous Japanese aid it needs for its clapped-out economy.
The Mekdad family promised to cease its kidnapping spree.
A.I.G. requires people in Mexico City who buy its kidnapping insurance to take these classes within 60 days or lose the coverage.
Such actions include a FARC mortar attack on the day of Mr Uribe's inauguration in August, and its kidnapping of a dozen regional councillors in Cali, the third city, in April.
Nothing typifies the homicidal sadism and spite of Islamic State quite as much as its kidnapping and public murder in 2014 of James Foley, an American journalist covering the war in Syria.
"Lost" continued its kidnapping plot arc in Wednesday's episode, and Charlie -- played by the former "Lord of the Rings" Hobbit Dominic Monaghan, below -- nearly met his maker, presumably at the hand of the evil Ethan.
Nine's 60 Minutes might have hogged the headlines with its kidnapping antics in Beirut this year but in Australian TV current affairs it was the ABC's Four Corners that made its presence felt.
