Brazilian police say they negotiated an end Tuesday to a hostage situation with armed men onboard a bus in downtown Rio de Janeiro. Authorities say at least three hostages received gunshot wounds. There were no reported fatalities. Rio police could not confirm the number of gunmen involved in the standoff. A police officer said the […]
Chile’s President Proposes Civil Unions Legislation
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 8:45 pm (UTC-5)
Chile’s conservative president is proposing legislation that would give unmarried partners, including members of the same sex, some of the same rights now enjoyed by married couples. President Sebastian Pinera Tuesday signed the proposal and sent it to the Chilean Congress. Some political opponents of the measure refused to attend the signing event. President Pinera […]
Street Clashes in Chile During Student Protests
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 7:35 pm (UTC-5)
Violence erupted on the streets of Chile’s capital Tuesday as tens of thousands of students staged another protest to demand education reform. Riot police used tear gas and water cannon in Santiago as masked demonstrators hurled objects at them and set vehicles on fire. Police estimated that at least 60,000 people massed in the streets […]
Street Clashes in Chile During Student Protests
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 5:10 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands of students have clashed with police in Chile during protests over President Sebastian Pinera’s education policies. Authorities used tear gas and water cannon Tuesday in Santiago to disperse the demonstrators, who are demanding education reform. Many students have complained about prohibitively expensive education and difficult university entrance requirements. They also say the system is […]
Nyad Ends Cuba to US Swim
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. endurance swimmer Diana Nyad has ended her second attempt in 33 years to swim from Havana, Cuba to the Florida Keys. After nearly 30 hours in the water, the 61-year-old athlete abandoned her effort Tuesday because of asthma, shoulder pain and battering wind and waves. The swim was expected to take 60 hours and […]
US Polygamist Sentenced to Life for Sexual Abuse of Children
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
A U.S. jury has sentenced polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs to life in prison for sexually assaulting two children he claimed were his “spiritual” brides. The jury in the southwestern state of Texas deliberated for less than an hour before delivering its verdict Tuesday. The sentence was the maximum allowed. He received life in prison […]
Canada Orders Libyan Diplomats Out
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
Canada has ordered all remaining Libyan diplomats at the embassy in Ottawa to leave the country, in an effort to “isolate and delegitimize” the government of Moammar Gadhafi. Foreign Minister John Baird called the Libyan diplomats persona non grata . He said they have five days to vacate the embassy and leave the country. He […]
US State Department Urges Citizens to be Cautious Visiting Haiti
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. State Department is strongly urging U.S. citizens to consider carefully all visits to Haiti. A travel warning issued Monday cites a “critical crime level,” a cholera outbreak and inadequate infrastructure. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti says there are reports of demonstrations in downtown Port-au-Prince and all trips to the capital should be postponed […]
Guatemala’s Former First Lady Denied Presidential Bid
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 4:20 am (UTC-5)
Guatemala’s former first lady Sandra Torres has been barred from seeking the presidency in the upcoming September 11 election. The constitutional court’s president Alejandro Maldonado explained the tribunal’s decision Monday, saying Torres was married to President Alvaro Colom most of his term before their divorce earlier this year. Guatemala’s constitution prohibits family members from succeeding […]
US Swimmer Ends Cuba to US Swim
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
Sixty-one-year-old American swimmer Diana Nyad ended her bid Tuesday to swim the Florida Straits from Cuba to the United States. Nyad was attempting to become the first person to make the 165-kilometer crossing without the benefit of a shark cage. According to her Twitter account, Nyad was forced to end her attempt at the record-setting […]
