Police take over town
Hundreds of law enforcement officials fired tear gas and crashed through human barricades to take control of a rebellious town outside Mexico City on Thursday, hours after protesters released six badly beaten police hostages. President Vicente Fox condemned the violent uprising by residents of San Salvador Atenco, which erupted Wednesday when inhabitants attacked police in response to the arrest of several of their companions.
Miners may soon be free
Trapped nearly 3,000 feet underground in Beaconsfield, Australia, two gold miners have been stuck for more than a week after an earthquake pinned the cage they were working in under tons of rock. Rescuers have already sent down an air mattress and iPods. They said the two men would probably be free by the weekend.
Chip comment causes stir
Comments attributed to Colombia’s president that microchip implants could be used to track Colombians working temporarily in the U.S. drew attention–and criticism–Thursday. The alleged statement by President Alvaro Uribe (the name as published has been corrected in this text) dismayed Colombians after it appeared in newspapers.
Vatican rips into China
The Vatican lashed out Thursday at Beijing, announcing the excommunication of two bishops who were ordained by China’s state-controlled church without Pope Benedict XVI’s consent. Benedict’s first major political clash since his election as pontiff dimmed hopes for any re-establishment soon of official ties between the Holy See and Beijing that ended after communists took control of China in 1949.
AND FINALLY
Extra! Extra! All this news is for kids!
Britain’s newsstands will get a little more crowded on Friday with the launch of a new newspaper for kids, which will compete for attention alongside the nation’s notorious tabloids and serious broadsheets. First News, a national weekly aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, says it is Britain’s first newspaper for children.
