■ United States
`Lord Ben' convicted
A former youth leader of a medieval history society was sentenced Wednesday to up to 62 1/2 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 children. Benjamin Schragger, 43, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in August to charges including two counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse and two counts of rape of a child. Schragger was known as "Lord Ben the Steward" to the dozens of children he mentored over the years as a local leader of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group with 90,000 participants worldwide that studies and re-enacts the Middle Ages.
■ Canada
Gay marriage debate begins
The Canadian House of Commons began Wednesday what promises to be a lengthy debate on legalizing same-sex marriages throughout the country. The planned legislation, a personal project of Prime Minister Paul Martin, is expected to pass with a narrow majority. Martin has told his back-bench members of parliament -- many of whom oppose same-sex marriages on religious grounds -- that they are free to vote against the bill, although government ministers will be expected to vote in in favor. The main opposition party -- the Conservatives -- have also promised a free vote.
■ Mexico
Butterflies disappearing
The Mexican government said that 75 percent fewer Monarch butterflies have appeared at wintering grounds here, largely blaming conditions in the US and Canada for the decline. The steep drop may have been due to cold weather and intensive farming practices -- including genetically modified crops -- in areas of the US and Canada where the butterflies spend the summer and reproduce, the Environment Department said Wednesday. The report marks the first time in recent years that Mexico has blamed other countries -- rather than its own continuing problems with illegal logging of central Mexico fir forests that make up the winter nesting grounds -- for declines in the butterfly population.
■ Guatemala
GM corn given as aid
Environmental groups said Wednesday they have discovered that genetically modified corn never approved for human consumption is being handed out as UN food aid to Guatemala. A study backed by the international group Friends of the Earth found that samples of World Food Program grain shipments included StarLink, a corn withdrawn from the market in the US because of concerns it could provoke allergic reactions. Discovery of StarLink corn in consumer products in the US prompted several high-profile supermarket recalls of cornmeal, corn dogs, taco shells, soup and chili mixes in 2000 and 2001. The grain sent to Guatemala was intended for human consumption.
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