■UNITED STATES
Jackson was basically OK
Michael Jackson was in mostly fine physical shape for a 50-year-old man when he died, the Los Angeles County coroner’s report shows. Jackson’s weight of 62kg was in the acceptable range for a 1.75m man. His heart was strong, with no sign of plaque buildup. His kidneys and most other major organs were normal. He did have arthritis in the lower spine and some fingers, and mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. The report said his lungs were chronically inflamed and had reduced capacity that might have left him short of breath. But the lung condition was not serious enough to be a direct or contributing cause of death, the document said.
■MEXICO
Ciudad Juarez deadlier
The number of murders in Ciudad Juarez reached 1,801 in the first nine months of the year, topping last year’s record, a tally of daily police reports shows. Last month was the most violent month yet, with 311 people killed. Ciudad Juarez is the epicenter of a bloody drug war between rival cartels for control of lucrative routes into the US. Last year, 1,653 people were murdered in the city.
■CANADA
Moroccan convicted
Said Nomad, a Moroccan citizen who has lived in Quebec since 2003, was convicted on Thursday of four terrorism-related charges for plotting attacks in Germany and Austria in order to get the NATO nations to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Nomad, 36, was found guilty of one count of plotting to set off a bomb in Vienna, participating in a terrorist act, facilitating an act and committing extortion for a terrorist group. He faces life in prison. Royal Canadian Mounted Police found evidence on Namouh’s computer of dozens of videos and other propaganda materials, as well as thousands of pages of transcripts from online discussions revealing he was an active member on jihad forums and message boards.
■UNITED STATES
Speeding driver was 11
Police say an 11-year-old boy led law enforcement on a high-speed chase reaching up to 160kph early Wednesday morning in central Wyoming. The chase ended after 80km near Crowheart on the Wind River Reservation, where police managed to corner the car. The driver then tried to flee on foot, but was caught.
■HONDURAS
Brazil wins assurances
A Brazilian delegation won assurances on Thursday that the military will not attack the Brazilian embassy where ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya is holed up. The delegation met with Zelaya as well as Supreme Court President Jorge Rivera. The interim government had said it would not raid the embassy but Brazil began expressing concern after tear gas was fired nearby and loudspeakers used to harass Zelaya and about 60 supporters who are staying with him.
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