■MEXICO
Tijuana death toll hits 39
Residents of the Mexican border city of Tijuana found five bodies, with their hands and feet tied and heads wrapped in tape, on Friday, police said, bringing the total to 39 killed there this week. Police recovered the bodies, in the Mesa de Otay sector of the city bordering the US, after calls from residents. Gangland-style murders have escalated in the past week in the city across the border from San Diego, including the discovery of eight bodies on Thursday, and a pile of 12 bodies found nearby on Monday, local officials said.
■COLOMBIA
Strike frees 2,000 suspects
More than 2,000 people who had been arrested over the past month in Colombia walked free due to a strike by employees of the country’s court system, justice authorities confirmed on Friday. Workers went on strike on Sept. 3 demanding a pay rise, a review of the process through which judges and public prosecutors are selected and an increase in the numbers of court workers. Justice authorities said 2,017 people have been freed because the relevant proceedings could not be carried out as the law requires. While many suspects in crimes have walked free, many people remain in jail despite having served their terms, because they are waiting for a judge to sign their release.
■UNITED STATES
Elvis is Alive to die
The Elvis is Alive Museum will not live, at least not for now. Andy Key tried to sell the museum in Wright City, Missouri, twice on eBay. He received no bids by the time the auction ended on Friday. He did get one bid at his first asking price of US$15,000, but it turned out to be from a child playing on a computer, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Key bought the museum on eBay last year for more than US$8,000. He says military duties will keep him away from home and he can’t operate it. The collection includes photos, books, FBI files, DNA reports and other memorabilia that aim to support the theory that Elvis Presley never died. Bill Beeny, a Baptist minister who started the museum in 1990, says he has no plans to buy it back.
■UNITED STATES
Atheists slam prayer day
The largest group of atheists and agnostics in the US is suing US President George W. Bush, the governor of Wisconsin and other officials over a federal law designating a National Day of Prayer. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sued on Friday in US district court, arguing that the president’s mandated proclamations calling on Americans to pray violates a constitutional ban on government officials endorsing religion. The day of prayer, held each year on the first Thursday of May, creates a “hostile environment for nonbelievers” the lawsuit said.
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