■ UNITED STATES
Man breaks in to use toilet
A Virginia woman who stepped out to buy a newspaper returned home to find that an intruder had made himself comfortable -- on her toilet. The man apparently cut a screen and unlocked a door Thursday while the woman, in her 80s, was out, police said. She had noticed the man outside when she went out and when she returned, noticed that the bathroom door was closed. When she opened the door, she saw him perched on the toilet. "How long are you going to be?" she asked, among other things. She told him she was calling police and he left quickly. The man is described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s.
■ UNITED STATES
Wasps bugging diplomats
As if the insurgency in Iraq and the fight against terrorism was not enough, US diplomats are now struggling with a new threat: Menacing "killer" wasps have infested areas around the State Department's headquarters. Large numbers of the fearsome looking insects, which can grow to about 5cm, are congregating in the vicinity of the Harry S. Truman building and causing distress to employees, according to an internal memorandum obtained by the press.
■ UNITED STATES
Soldier shot to avoid duty
A soldier who recently returned from Iraq has admitted he paid someone US$500 to shoot him in the leg so he could avoid returning for another tour. Jonathan Aponte, 20, claimed he had been robbed and shot but changed his story when police questioned him, authorities said. Aponte, who was facing another eight-month tour, had been scheduled to leave last Monday. Apone had joked with his wife about getting shot in the leg so he could avoid another tour, according to the complaint. His wife took the remark seriously, and said she knew a man named who could do the job. Aponte told an investigator that he smoked a cigarette and closed his eyes before he was shot.
■ PERU
Protesters free hostages
Nine police officers were released on Friday night after being held by angry protesters for six hours in southern Peru, a police chief said. Protesters voluntarily freed the officers after local authorities in the Arequipa region agreed to talk with their leaders, who demand the government of President Alan Garcia invest in social projects to bring prosperity to the area. Arequipa's police chief Hernan Tamayo said the hostages were freed after being held for six hours. According to the police, some 1,000 protesters had blocked the highway, some 1,100 km south of the capital Lima, to demand the government invest in the region and express support for a public teachers strike that started this week.
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