Mexico: Cash limits
MEXICO CITY — Limiting cash transactions to $100,000 and requiring vendors to monitor suspicious activity are among the suggestions contained in a new package of measures Mexican President Felipe Calderon is introducing to combat money laundering. Calderon has been under intense pressure from the opposition to propose new ways to fight drug cartels dominating the country. More than 28,000 people have died in drug-related violence since he launched a military-led offensive in late 2006. In the package presented Thursday, Calderon also proposes improving Mexico's intelligence services.
Guinea: Son buried
CONAKRY — The dead son of Guinea's exiled strongman was buried on the grounds of his father's villa Thursday in the presence of the leader's closest associates at a funeral marked by the absence of members of the current administration. Moriba "Junior" Dadis Camara, the 25-year-old son of Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara was found at the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal last week. His body was flown first to Burkina Faso, where his father was allowed to pray over the casket before being repatriated to neighboring Guinea. Camara's family did not say whether or not they believe that death was due to foul play.
Spain: Sailor arrives
MADRID — A 14-year-old Dutch sailor aiming to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world says she has reached Spain's Canary Islands off northwest Africa and plans to stay there for a while. The message appeared on Laura Dekker's website and was dated Wednesday, but it gave no details as to where on the seven-island archipelago she was. She is expected to stay in the Canary Islands while waiting for the Atlantic storm season to abate. During her stay she will be able to catch up on her schoolwork, receive family visits and install cameras on her yacht for a film to be made of the voyage.
Korea: American freed
SEOUL — Former President Jimmy Carter flew out of North Korea on a private jet today after securing a special pardon for an American who had been jailed in the communist country since January. Carter and Aijalon Gomes, 31, were expected to arrive in Boston later today, Carter Center spokeswoman Deanna Congileo said in Atlanta late Thursday. North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Carter's departure, saying the ex-leader apologized for Gomes' actions.
Yemen: Terror threat
SAN'A — A former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden warned of an escalation in fighting between al-Qaida and Yemeni authorities and predicted the government would need outside intervention to stay in power. Nasser Ahmed al-Bahri told the Associated Press late Wednesday that recent attacks by al-Qaida in southern Yemen was an indication of its increasing strength. U.S. officials have said that the CIA now sees al-Qaida's branch in Yemen as a greater threat to the United States than its parent organization hiding out in Pakistan.
Cuba: N.M. guv visits
HAVANA — The governor of New Mexico said Thursday that he and Cuba's foreign minister discussed the plight of a U.S. government contract worker jailed in Havana for nearly nine months on suspicions of spying. Alan P. Gross, a 60-year-old native of Potomac, Md., was working for a firm contracted by USAID when he was arrested Dec. 3 and sent to Cuba's high-security Villa Marista prison. In Cuba to promote exporting New Mexico green chiles, nuts and salsa, Gov. Bill Richardson said he was asked by the White House to press for Gross' release. But he stressed he is not an official negotiator.