Uruguay president’s wealth: ’87 Beetle

Uruguay president’s wealth: ’87 Beetle

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay

Uruguay’s new president may be one of the world’s poorest sitting leaders: Jose Mujica formally declared that his entire wealth amounts to a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.

The 23-year-old car is valued at about $1,900. Since the former leftist guerrilla leader has no bank accounts or other assets and put his small flower farm in his wife’s name, the car is all he owns, according to his sworn declaration, which appeared in Thursday’s official bulletin.

Mujica’s only reported income is his presidential salary, about $11,000 a month. He gives 20 percent of this to his political movement.

Students to be punished for game

LOS ANGELES

Seven seniors at a Southern California high school were facing disciplinary action for participating in a game called “Beat the Jew” in which losers were subjected to “incineration” or “enslavement,” a school administrator said Friday.

The game involved some students playing the role of Nazis who blindfolded and dropped off other students playing Jews who must find their way back to the campus, said Sherry Johnstone, assistant superintendent of personnel for Desert Sands Unified School District.

Seven seniors at La Quinta High School could be suspended or barred from graduation, among other measures, Johnstone said.

“This is appalling to us,” she said. “We want our students to understand the horror of a title like this.”

US soldier charged with murdering 3

FORT LEWIS, Wash.

The Army said Friday a soldier has been charged with the murders of three Afghan civilians.

A statement from the Army said Spc. Jeremy Morlock had been charged with three counts of premeditated murder and one count of assault.

Morlock, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska, is an infantryman assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

S. Korea seeks UN action against North

UNITED NATIONS

South Korea officially referred North Korea to the U.N. Security Council on Friday over the sinking of a navy ship that killed 46 sailors, taking its strongest step ever toward making the communist North face international punishment.

South Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Park In-kook handed over a letter to Mexico’s U.N. Ambassador Claude Heller, the current Security Council president, asking for a response from the U.N.’s most powerful body to deter “any further provocations.”

North Korea has steadfastly denied responsibility for the sinking of the Cheonan, and naval spokesman Col. Pak In Ho warned last month in comments to broadcaster AP Television News that any move to retaliate or punish Pyongyang would mean war.

Source: Obama to tap official for post

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama intends to nominate the Pentagon’s top intelligence official, James Clapper, as the next national intelligence director, a senior administration official said Friday, despite some objections from Capitol Hill.

Obama will announce his nomination of Clapper, a retired Air Force general, in a Rose Garden ceremony this morning, said the official, who would speak only on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

Clapper would replace retired Adm. Dennis Blair, who resigned last month after frequent clashes with the White House.

Associated Press