Argentina: Flu fatality

BUENOS AIRES — Millions of Argentines stayed home from work, churches in Bolivia canceled Mass, and Ecuador announced its first fatalities from swine flu on Friday, as the virus continues its spread during the South American winter season.

Businesses including banks, exchange houses, courts and even the stock exchange were shuttered for 24 hours across Argentina.

China: Rio Tinto accused

BEIJING — Four detained Rio Tinto Ltd. employees are accused of paying bribes for secret information about China's stance in iron-ore price talks, state media said Friday in a case that highlights the volatile Chinese mix of business and politics.

The four employees, including an Australian, were detained Sunday as Rio, the world's third-largest mining company, negotiated on behalf of global iron-ore suppliers with Chinese steel mills. The government says it has proof they stole state secrets.

Colombia: Fugitive hippos

BOGOTA — One fugitive hippo down, two to go.

Colombian bounty hunters with orders to kill are seeking the two remaining hippopotamuses that escaped from the famous menagerie of fallen Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar. The three mammals busted loose from the zoo two years ago and have survived on the lush vegetation of the steamy Magdalena valley. Colombian wildlife authorities say the decision to order the animals killed was made after locals complained they were damaging crops and livestock.

The first hippo — a 10-ton male — was killed by two hunters near a river in Antioquia province on June 18, but the news was first reported on Friday.

Costa Rica: Hondurus

SAN JOSE — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced a U.S.-backed effort to ease Honduras' coup crisis on Friday, as a second day of negotiations ended without a deal between rival contenders for the presidency.

Chavez objected to the very idea of giving those who ousted President Manuel Zelaya the same treatment as the leader himself. The talks mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias "became a trap that set a very grave precedent," Chavez said.

Indonesia: Miner killed

JAKARTA — A 29-year-old Australian working for mining giant Freeport in Indonesia was shot and killed at dawn Saturday by unknown assailants in restive Papua province.

It was the latest incident at the Grasberg site, one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, where two Americans were killed in an ambush in 2002. Papua is home to separatist rebels who denounce PT Freeport as a symbol of Jakarta's rule.

Mexico: Storm Carlos

MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Carlos has strengthened far off Mexico's Pacific coast Friday and is expected to reach hurricane strength today as it moves farther out to sea.

As of Friday evening, the storm was about 925 miles south-southwest of the tip of the Baja California peninsula.