■ United States
Military translator indicted
A former civilian translator at the Guantanamo Bay naval base was indicted by a US federal grand jury on Wednesday on charges of improperly gathering military information and lying to the FBI. The case against the Arabic-language translator, Ahmed Mehalba, has attracted wide attention since his arrest at Logan Airport in Boston on Sept. 29 because he was the third person linked to security breaches at Guantanamo prison. Mehalba's lawyer said his client would plead not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a US$250,000 fine.
■ United States
Ex-boxer sues Stallone
Chuck Wepner, the former heavyweight who rose from boxing obscurity to a 1975 title match against Muhammad Ali and inspired the movie Rocky, filed suit in Newark, New Jersey on Wednesday against Sylvester Stallone, over the actor's continuing use of his name in promoting the film and related enterprises. Wepner, 65, said that throughout his life, he never tired of the adulation he received for inspiring the film and its sequels. But lately, he said, he became concerned as he heard about yet another sequel, reports of a Broadway show based on the movie and other enterprises. The suit contends that Stallone, by his frequent references to Wepner as the real-life counterpart of the fictional Rocky Balboa, was usurping Wepner's "right of publicity."
■ Colombia
Military commander resigns
The commander of Colombia's US-backed armed forces, who insisted the country's guerrilla war could be won on the battlefield, resigned on Wednesday, the latest in a string of senior officials to leave or be forced out of President Alvaro Uribe's government. Blunt-speaking army General Jorge Enrique Mora said he had decided to retire a month ago and would formally give up his post on Nov. 20. Mora, who oversaw a large troop buildup, gave no reason for the move and wished Uribe well.
■ Chile
Sex offered as prize
A Chilean radio station has set off a scandal by offering its male listeners one hour of free sex with a prostitute as a prize in a raffle. Press reports said Wednesday that the Radio Paulina station in Iquique Province in northern Chile came up with the idea for its early talk show, broadcast from midnight to 3am. The host early Tuesday asked listeners to sign up for the competition for "an hour of pleasure" at a local motel. In less than 10 minutes, the station had received 70 phone calls, and a 23-year-old man was declared the winner.
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