Shortest man

Shortest man

BOGOTA, Colombia

Edward Nino Hernandez is in many ways a typical 24-year-old Colombian male. He loves to dance reggaeton, dreams of owning a car — preferably a Mercedes— and wants to see the world.

Top on his list of people he would like to meet are Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

What sets Nino apart is his size.

He is slightly taller than a piece of carry-on luggage and weighs just 22 pounds.

Nino has just been officially certified as the world’s shortest living man by Guinness World Records, measuring 27 inches.

70 dead, 200 missing in 2 boat accidents

KINSHASA, Congo

Two boats capsized over the weekend in separate incidents on Congo’s vast rivers, leaving 70 people dead and 200 others feared dead, and both vessels were heavily loaded and operating with few safety measures, officials said Sunday.

Early on Saturday, a boat on a river in northwest Equateur Province hit a rock and capsized, provincial spokeswoman Ebale Engumba said Sunday. She said more than 70 people are believed dead among 100 estimated passengers. She said officials are investigating why the boat was traveling through the darkness without a light.

Six earthquakes shake Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY

For the second time in less than a week, six small earthquakes have been recorded in a single day in central Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey said the six earthquakes Saturday ranged from preliminary magnitudes of 1.5 to 3.3.

On Wednesday in the same area about 30 miles from Oklahoma City, geologists also recorded six earthquakes that ranged from a preliminary 1.8 magnitude to 3.1. Another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 2.7 was recorded Friday about 10 miles east of the Saturday temblors.

No injuries or damage was reported from any of the earthquakes.

Quakes of magnitude 2.5 to 3 are generally the smallest felt by people.

Crisis looms over settlements

RAMALLAH, West Bank

Just days after Mideast peace talks began in Washington, the first major crisis is already looming: Israel hinted Sunday it will ease restrictions on building in West Bank settlements, while the Palestinian president warned he’ll quit the talks if Israel resumes construction.

Israel’s 10-month-old slowdown on new building in settlements expires Sept. 26, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a tough choice.

If he extends the freeze, he risks breaking up his hard-line coalition. If he lifts the restrictions, he risks getting blamed for derailing negotiations and disrupting President Barack Obama’s Mideast peace efforts soon after they began.

Attorney: Flight attendant resigned

NEW YORK

A flight attendant who captured America’s attention when he told off a plane full of passengers and then slid down an emergency chute resigned from his job last week and wasn’t fired, his lawyer said Sunday.

Steven Slater left the job at JetBlue Airways Corp. on Wednesday, after he had been suspended following the on-board antics he was charged with committing last month, attorney Daniel J. Horwitz said. JetBlue had said Saturday that Slater was no longer an employee but didn’t give any details, which prompted online speculation he had been fired.

Associated Press