Chile
Michelle Bachelet’s name will be on the ballot for next month’s Chilean runoff elections, after the socialist candidate won the first round of presidential elections Sunday. Bachelet, who became Chile’s first female president in 2006, garnered 47 percent of the votes, with conservative candidate Evelyn Matthei trailing at 25 percent. If Bachelet wins next month, she will replace current conservative president Sebatian Pinera for second nonconsecutive presidential term, according to Agence France-Presse.
Mexico
A family of eight was killed in their home in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez. The victims, which included three women and three children, were shot and stabbed in the incident, authorities reported. Police also found that a two-month-old baby who neighbors say should have lived in the house was not found dead in the scene. Since former Mexican president Felipe Calderon launched an anti-drug cartel movement in the city in 2006, 80,000 have died because of cartel-related violence, according to Reuters.
Nigeria
A French citizen who was abducted by Islamist militants in the northern Nigerian province of Katsina last year was able to finally escape, authorities announced Sunday. Francis Collomp, 63, slipped out of his cell Saturday in the city of Zaria and took a taxi to the police station. Police said the militants kept Collomp hostage in the city of Kano before moving him to Zaria two months ago. On Sunday, Collomp, who reportedly lost 30 kilos, left Nigeria for Paris, according to AFP.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is attempting to crack down on undocumented workers, according to National Public Radio. There are about 27 million foreign workers in the country right now, most of whom are low paid and come from Africa or Asia. Ellen Knickmeyer, Saudi Arabia correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, said there has been violence in the country involving undocumented workers, including a riot that left one Saudi and other undocumented workers dead.
