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Fleeing Colombians using inland points

OTTAWA — Colombians desperate to leave their war-torn country are attempting to bypass stricter Canadian legislation by claiming refugee status at inland points rather than traditional U.S.-Canadian border crossings.

Figures show Colombian claims at airports and other inland points more than doubled from 2004 to 2005, jumping from 114 to 243. Border claims dropped by 75 percent during the same period.

Those making it to Canada are using a myriad of strategies, including fake Mexican passports, refugee advocates say. Mexicans are the only Latin Americans who don't need visas for Canada.

Dalai Lama's honor annoying to China

OTTAWA — China has complained to the Canadian government about its decision to bestow honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama, saying the gesture could harm relations.

Zang Weidong, minister-counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, said China has relayed its disapproval to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and its demand that Canada continue to recognize Tibet as a part of China.

Parliament adopted a motion June 22 conferring the honorary status on the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

Zang hinted that Parliament's decision could bring economic repercussions. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner.

Official is suspected in slaying of writer

SAO PAULO — Police said Thursday they were investigating a city councilman in Rio de Janeiro state in the death of a freelance journalist who had publicly accused the politician of corruption.

Ajuricaba Monassa de Paula, 73, died in a hospital after he was attacked in the town square of Guapirimim Monday.

Monassa de Paula's wife and other witnesses told police he was attacked by Oswaldo Vivas, a member of the Guapirimim City Council and a martial-arts expert.

President denounces Catholic leaders

LA PAZ — President Evo Morales lashed out at Catholic leaders in the country Thursday, accusing them of behaving like "an instrument of the oligarchs that have historically damaged the country."

Tensions between Morales and church officials rose after the Bolivian leader backed a proposal by his education minister to limit Catholic teachings in Bolivia's schools.

The Catholic Church has had an influential role in South America's poorest country, particularly as a mediator in frequent political and labor conflicts. Polls show that more than two-thirds of Bolivians, including Morales, consider themselves Catholic.

Pigs to power proves to be a wise decision

BUTTENWIESEN — This is shaping up as a thriving summer for Heiner Gaertner — vindicating his decision in 2003 to turn this 150-year-old pig farm into a small-scale electricity plant.

Switching from pigs to power saved his family's enterprise, which was teetering on the edge of economic ruin.

Here on Gaertner's 200-acre farm, the fields, which used to grow corn, wheat and barley, are covered with 10,050 solar panels for conversion into electricity.

In 2004, Germany passed a new law that guaranteed people who built solar parks a minimum price for each kilowatt of electricity that was two to three times the market price.

That prompted Gaertner's shift. When his panels run at full capacity, Gaertner figures the farm could supply power to all 7,000 residents of the village.