Shots fired at Colombian airliner

Shots were fired at a passenger plane carrying 18 people on Friday when the aircraft was landing at La Macarena in southeast Colombia, the Sabena airline said.

The aircraft, on a flight from the city of Villavicencio, was hit five times by bullets fired from the ground. There were no casualties among the 15 passengers and three crew, the airline said. >more

Full News index

Forgot Mother's Day? Send your Mother Flowers today! Click here  SPECIAL REPORTS: BARBADOS

Women selling themselves short
ALTHOUGH Barbadian women have made inroads into most areas of governance in the island, the arena of elective politics has not yet been frilly explored. Some of the reasons proffered include the prohibitive cost of electioneering: fear of character assassination and ridicule tile of natural emotional and physiological feminine functions on political platforms; and the conflict that might arise between domestic life and public service.

An aspiring female politico is however adamant that there is a more disturbing timbre to the situation. She insists that although a few women have penetrate the hermetic core of legislative representation, most female party “faithfuls” are still regarded as foot soldiers instead of serious contenders for parliamentary seats. “The old boys club is dying a slow death,” she mused. >more