■ Colombia
Hiccups lead to two deaths
A man accidentally shot his nephew to death while trying to cure his hiccups by pointing a revolver at him to scare him, police in the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla said on Tuesday. After shooting 21-year-old university student David Galvan in the neck, his uncle, Rafael Vargas, 35, was so distraught he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, police said. The incident took place on Sunday night while the two were having drinks with neighbors. Galvan started to hiccup and Vargas, who worked as a security guard, said he would use the home remedy for hiccups of scaring him. He pulled out his gun, pointed it at Galvan and it accidentally went off, witnesses told local TV.
■ Libya
Rights record praised
Tripoli won praise on Wednesday for taking "important steps" to improve human rights but was warned it will have to do more to meet international standards. Despite improvements, including the release of 14 political prisoners, Libya continues to hold other political prisoners, conducts unfair trials and restricts free speech, Human Rights Watch said. Monitors from the New York-based body were allowed to visit Libya for the first time last year, a move it welcomed as a step towards greater transparency. Libyan authorities provided access to top officials as well as police stations, an immigrant detention centre and five prisons, where 32 prisoners were interviewed in private, the report said.
■ Bolivia
Sister appointed first lady
Bolivian President Evo Morales' sister will give up her butcher shop to become Bolivia's first lady, filling the role because the new leader is single, his office said on Wednesday. Esther Morales, 54, is married with three children and owns a grocery shop that sells beef and llama meat in the small town of Oruro. Esther Morales, who raised her younger brother after their mother died, has refused to be referred to as first lady, saying it was contrary to her humble social class.
RSS