Author: Lucy Feickert
Venezuela. Miami Herald journalist Jim Wyss was released from the detention center where he was held in Caracas, Venezuela. He was in Venezuela reporting on municipal elections in San Cristobal when he was detained Venezuelan authorities never stated the reason for Wyss’ detention or if charges had been brought against him when they handed him over to the United States Embassy. The Herald’s World Editor traveled to Venezuala to accompany Wyss out of the country on Saturday, Nov. 9. Wyss worked for The Herald in Bogota, Columbia but had traveled many times to Venezuela without incident in the past. Aljazeera America
France. Despite complaints from unions, a court in Paris recently upheld a ban on Sunday workdays. For years, the Sunday holiday has been a day of rest across the country, allowing workers time for family lunches and leisure. Workers at a Parisian home improvement store, Bricorama, complained about the hours and wages they have lost without work on Sundays. Stores that do remain open are fined. However, supporters of the holiday tradition say the day off is important now more than ever, as family ties and personal schedules are strained. National Public Radio
Spokane, Wash. Students Erick Fagan and Daniel McIntosh at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. face possible suspension or expulsion after using a handgun in defense of their university-owned apartment against an intruder. McIntosh used a handgun to threaten an intruder, who immediately ran away. According to a university official, the use of the weapon was against the school’s weapons policy, which prohibits firearms on campus or within university residences. CNN
New Delhi. The launch of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission last week generated criticism from civic groups, who claimed the cost of the mission was too high. Opponents argued that while many people in India are going hungry and dying from curable illnesses, the government should not spend resources on space exploration. Supporters of the mission stated the project only cost six cents per capita and served to increase national pride. The Los Angeles Times
Beijing. Figures recently published by the state-run Xinhua News Agency reveal an increase in the number of lung cancer cases in the China’s capital, Beijing. Health officials still point to smoking as the primary cause for lung cancer but concede that air pollution is also a factor. Chinese citizens have become increasingly worried about the pollution levels resulting from rapid economic expansion and minimally-enforced environmental protection laws. BBC News
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