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EFE News Briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 5(EFE Ingles Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Mexico has line on suspects in rape of Spanish tourists Mexico City (EFE).- Authorities have "firm signs to find those responsible" for the rape of six Spanish tourists on the outskirts of the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, the attorney general of the southern Mexican state of Guerrero said. Though unwilling to go into detail, Martha Elva Garzon told Radio Formula investigators have made "important advances" toward solving the case. The sexual assaults occurred around 3:00 a.m. Monday in Playa Bonfil, located in the eastern section of Acapulco, one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations. The victims and several male companions were outside their bungalow when five masked assailants armed with handguns accosted the group. After gagging the men, the attackers forced the group inside the bungalow and assaulted the six Spanish women, though they spared a Mexican woman who was with them, the state attorney general said. --- Picasso painting sells for $44.9 mn in London London (EFE).- Pablo Picasso's 1932 painting of his mistress Marie-Therese Walter sold at Sotheby's of London for 28.6 million pounds ($44.9 million). The work, "Femme assise pres d'une fenetre," was the star of a session dedicated to impressionist and modern art that opened the auction season in the British capital. Before the bidding opened, the work had been valued at between 25 million and 35 million pounds ($39.2 million to $55 million). The "Femme assise" sold for $7.5 million the last time it was on the market, in 1997. --- Dell going private in $24.4 bn buyout New York (EFE).- Computer maker Dell Inc. announced its exit from the stock market in a $24.4 billion buyout led by company founder and CEO Michael Dell. Dell shareholders will receive $13.65 per share, which represents a 25 percent premium over the shares' market price on Jan. 11, before rumors began circulating about the buyout. Software giant Microsoft, whose software is used in the Texas company's PCs, will loan the buyers' consortium $2 billion, Dell said in a communique. The rest of the financing will come mainly from a combination of cash and shares owned by Michael Dell and funds coming from the Silver Lake investment firm. --- Life of Gloria and Emilio Estefan goes to Broadway Miami (EFE).- The life of Gloria and Emilio Estefan will hit the boards on Broadway in a musical spotlighting the most exciting moments the two artists ever lived, the producers announced. Nederlander Organization and Estefan Enterprises said in a communique that they are in "the process of developing and producing a new Broadway show inspired by the music made famous by international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, musician/producer and entrepreneur Emilio Estefan." The musical will chronicle the life of the artists from their days in their native Cuba to reaching the heights of Latin music. --- Explosion at Pemex HQ caused by accumulation of gas Mexico City (EFE).- The explosion that killed 37 people and injured more than 100 others last week at the Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, headquarters in Mexico City was caused by an accumulation of gas, officials said. "The cause is clear. It was a gas explosion," Attorney General Jesus Murillo said, citing investigators' conclusions. The blast was not caused by a bomb because laboratory tests found no traces of explosives, the AG said. The explosion was likely caused by an accumulation of methane gas ignited by a spark, Murillo said. --- Moscow having snowiest winter in 100 years Moscow (EFE).- The Russian capital is experiencing its snowiest winter in a century, the municipal government's head of community services said. "There hasn't been a winter like this one for 100 years. This year, the amount of snow exceeds the norm by more than 50 percent," said Piotr Biriukov. The Moscow municipal official said that 216 centimeters (85 inches) of snow have fallen since the start of winter, even though the average for the coldest months is around 152 cm (60 inches). Since the beginning of February, the Russian capital has been completely covered by a blanket of snow 36 cm (14 inches) deep. --- Death toll in Brazil fire rises to 238 Rio de Janeiro (EFE).- The number of fatalities from the discotheque fire in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria rose to 238 with the death in hospital of a 20-year-old man, authorities said. The latest fatality, who was admitted to Santa Casa de la Misericordia Hospital in Porto Alegre, was identified with the initials P.A., since his family asked that his name not be revealed. At the moment, 81 patients remain in hospital, of whom 23 are in critical condition, according to the latest bulletin. The blaze occurred during a university party at the Kiss discotheque on the night of Jan. 27, apparently due to the use of fireworks during a concert. --- France's spiderman climbs Cuba's Habana Libre Hotel Havana (EFE).- Alain Robert, known as the French spiderman, once again defied the danger of the heights by scaling the front of the Cuban capital's iconic Habana Libre Hotel, one of the tallest buildings on the island. With agility, skill, fearlessness and humor, the French climber took just 30 minutes on Monday to achieve his goal of climbing 22 stories or a total of 70 meters (230 feet) to the top of the hotel. Dressed in black tights, a white T-shirt and sports shoes, the 50-year-old Robert, not very tall and weighing some 50 kilos (110 pounds), moved easily from one balcony to another from the fourth floor, with brief stops to enjoy the applause and cheers from the crowd watching his ascent to the 26th floor balcony. EFE bp (c) 2013 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc. |