Published: Sunday, February 8, 2009
World, Nation Briefs: Mexico boosts security after robberies at airport
MEXICO CITY -- Mexico has assigned 100 more federal police officers to the capital's airport following a series of assaults on travelers who exchanged money. Five of the victims have been foreigners, including a French scientist who was killed. A Federal Police official said the reinforcement brings to 500 the number of federal officers patrolling the airport. Prosecutors say at least 18 people who were recently robbed outside the airport were apparently followed after exchanging money inside.
Brazil: Four survive plane crash
A small plane headed to the jungle city of Manaus crashed Saturday in Brazil's Amazon with 20 people on board, officials said. Four survivors have been found. The plane was being used as an "air taxi" to ferry passengers between cities in the jungle when it crashed into the Manacapuru river about 50 miles southwest of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, a state government spokesman said. The plane reportedly was an Embraer EMB-110P1 model, a small twin turbo-prop plane that carries up to 21 people.
Pakistan: Hostage dead, Taliban say
Pakistani militants said they killed a kidnapped Polish geologist on Saturday, heightening fears for several foreigners abducted in the dangerous borderlands near Afghanistan, including an American U.N. worker. The Polish prime minister said Saturday he had received "informal" word that the kidnappers had killed Piotr Stanczak. A spokesman for Taliban militants operating around the town of Darra Adam Khel said Stanczak was "slaughtered" earlier in the day because the government had missed a deadline to release 26 prisoners. He said authorities had offered to free only four.
Cuba: Three die in train collision
Two passenger trains collided in central Cuba on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring 93 others, state media reported. Authorities were investigating why the eastbound and westbound trains hit as they were passing each other on parallel tracks at about 8:30 a.m., outside the city of Sibanicu in Camaguey province, reports said. The impact knocked some of the cars from the tracks, killing three passengers and injuring 93 others, two of whom were in serious condition, according to state television.
Ecuador: Diplomat ordered out
President Rafael Correa on Saturday ordered the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat he accused of suspending $340,000 in annual aid because Ecuador would not allow the U.S. to veto appointments to the anti-smuggling police. "Mr. Astorga, Keep your dirty money! We don't need it. Here there is sovereignty and dignity," Correa said during his weekly radio address. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said Armando Astorga, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement attache, left the country in early January, and that the aid suspension was a U.S. government decision.
D.C.: Sebelius in lead, source says
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was very near the top of President Barack Obama's list of candidates to head the Health and Human Services Department, a senior administration official said Saturday. The source said no decision was imminent. But the official said the former Kansas insurance commissioner was rising as Obama considers prospective candidates. Sebelius would be Obama's second choice for the slot. Former Sen. Tom Daschle had to withdraw his name amid an admission he had not paid taxes on a car and driver since leaving Congress as a Democratic leader.
Puerto Rico: 'Girls club' alleged
A former federal prosecutor in Puerto Rico is suing the island's female U.S. attorney for allegedly creating what he calls a "girls club" environment in the office. Juan Milanes said the U.S. attorney's office was a "hostile" workplace for men. He is seeking $300,000 in compensation. The Office of Equal Opportunities was expected to issue a ruling on Milanes' claim but never did, prompting him to file his lawsuit Friday.
California: Police report leaked
Authorities in Los Angeles said a confidential report on police misconduct that included the names of hundreds of officers was mistakenly posted on the Internet. The report included the names of about 250 officers that the internal affairs unit had investigated over allegations of racial profiling. The report was also e-mailed to the news media. A Police Commission director called it an "unfortunate mistake." The police union president called it "absolutely outrageous."
Band members' sex assault charges
The co-founder of the rock group Saving Abel and another employee of the band are facing charges after authorities say they forced a 17-year-old girl to perform a sex act after a concert in Oakland. Thirty-three-year-old Jason Null and 21-year-old Brandon Danger were arraigned Friday on charges of forced oral copulation and forced oral copulation on a minor. Null, a founder and lead guitarist with the group, pleaded not guilty. Danger has yet to enter a plea. Police said the girl was lured onto the band's tour bus Tuesday night.
From Herald news services
Brazil: Four survive plane crash
A small plane headed to the jungle city of Manaus crashed Saturday in Brazil's Amazon with 20 people on board, officials said. Four survivors have been found. The plane was being used as an "air taxi" to ferry passengers between cities in the jungle when it crashed into the Manacapuru river about 50 miles southwest of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, a state government spokesman said. The plane reportedly was an Embraer EMB-110P1 model, a small twin turbo-prop plane that carries up to 21 people.
Pakistan: Hostage dead, Taliban say
Pakistani militants said they killed a kidnapped Polish geologist on Saturday, heightening fears for several foreigners abducted in the dangerous borderlands near Afghanistan, including an American U.N. worker. The Polish prime minister said Saturday he had received "informal" word that the kidnappers had killed Piotr Stanczak. A spokesman for Taliban militants operating around the town of Darra Adam Khel said Stanczak was "slaughtered" earlier in the day because the government had missed a deadline to release 26 prisoners. He said authorities had offered to free only four.
Cuba: Three die in train collision
Two passenger trains collided in central Cuba on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring 93 others, state media reported. Authorities were investigating why the eastbound and westbound trains hit as they were passing each other on parallel tracks at about 8:30 a.m., outside the city of Sibanicu in Camaguey province, reports said. The impact knocked some of the cars from the tracks, killing three passengers and injuring 93 others, two of whom were in serious condition, according to state television.
Ecuador: Diplomat ordered out
President Rafael Correa on Saturday ordered the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat he accused of suspending $340,000 in annual aid because Ecuador would not allow the U.S. to veto appointments to the anti-smuggling police. "Mr. Astorga, Keep your dirty money! We don't need it. Here there is sovereignty and dignity," Correa said during his weekly radio address. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said Armando Astorga, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement attache, left the country in early January, and that the aid suspension was a U.S. government decision.
D.C.: Sebelius in lead, source says
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was very near the top of President Barack Obama's list of candidates to head the Health and Human Services Department, a senior administration official said Saturday. The source said no decision was imminent. But the official said the former Kansas insurance commissioner was rising as Obama considers prospective candidates. Sebelius would be Obama's second choice for the slot. Former Sen. Tom Daschle had to withdraw his name amid an admission he had not paid taxes on a car and driver since leaving Congress as a Democratic leader.
Puerto Rico: 'Girls club' alleged
A former federal prosecutor in Puerto Rico is suing the island's female U.S. attorney for allegedly creating what he calls a "girls club" environment in the office. Juan Milanes said the U.S. attorney's office was a "hostile" workplace for men. He is seeking $300,000 in compensation. The Office of Equal Opportunities was expected to issue a ruling on Milanes' claim but never did, prompting him to file his lawsuit Friday.
California: Police report leaked
Authorities in Los Angeles said a confidential report on police misconduct that included the names of hundreds of officers was mistakenly posted on the Internet. The report included the names of about 250 officers that the internal affairs unit had investigated over allegations of racial profiling. The report was also e-mailed to the news media. A Police Commission director called it an "unfortunate mistake." The police union president called it "absolutely outrageous."
Band members' sex assault charges
The co-founder of the rock group Saving Abel and another employee of the band are facing charges after authorities say they forced a 17-year-old girl to perform a sex act after a concert in Oakland. Thirty-three-year-old Jason Null and 21-year-old Brandon Danger were arraigned Friday on charges of forced oral copulation and forced oral copulation on a minor. Null, a founder and lead guitarist with the group, pleaded not guilty. Danger has yet to enter a plea. Police said the girl was lured onto the band's tour bus Tuesday night.
From Herald news services
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