■ MEXICO
Bill on clergy delayed
A government official has ruled out the immediate approval of constitutional reforms that would allow Mexico's Roman Catholic Church to get involved in politics. Florencio Salazar, deputy secretary of religious affairs for the Interior Department, said on Wednesday that the government was too busy to consider a proposal by the Archdiocese of Mexico to give the clergy "total" freedom of expression in political affairs and to let public schools offer religious education. Salazar's comments are the first official reaction to the proposal by the conservative government, which is often allied with the Church.
■ UNITED STATES
Man poses as police officer
There were flashing lights atop his sports utility vehicle (SUV) and what appeared to be a police badge in his hand, but it was the man he tried to pull over who was the real police detective. Robert Lane, 25, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of criminal impersonation and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Suffolk County police said. Lane was driving an SUV fitted with flashing lights when he tried to stop the off-duty New York police detective on a highway on Long Island, Suffolk police said. They said Lane told investigators the detective had cut him off. The detective got suspicious when Lane drove up alongside him, identified himself as an officer and flashed a small police badge, Suffolk police said.
■ UNITED STATES
Flight diverted after scare
An American Airlines flight was diverted to New York early yesterday after the crew reported a suspicious passenger in what the homeland security chief later said may have been a misunderstanding. The Transportation Security Administration said American Flight 136 from Los Angeles to London made an emergency landing at JFK Airport. The decision to divert was made after a flight attendant became suspicious about the behavior of one of the passengers. The Airline said the passenger has been handed over to the FBI. It offered no further details. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had received a report the man in question was an employee.
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