International Briefs

Rape accused dies after beating in Trinidad jail

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Police are investigating a case in which a 47-year-old accused died after being beaten while in custody on Monday.

Prison officials confirmed that Aimard Placid Lima, who was charged with rape, was found unconscious in a cell at the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca, east of here. He was later pronounced dead at hospital.

US gov't complies with order to make contraceptives available to all girls

The Obama administration said it will comply with a judge's order to allow girls of any age to buy emergency contraception without prescriptions. The decision ends a long fight between President Barack Obama's administration, which had argued that age limits for the morning-after pill are common sense, and women's rights groups, which insisted the drug should be made as freely available as aspirin.

Appeals court hears arguments on New York City's big-soda ban

NEW YORK (AP):

A state appeals court panel had few sweet words yesterday for a New York City health regulation that would fight diabetes and obesity by setting a size limit on sugary beverages sold in restaurants.

The four justices peppered a city lawyer with tough questions during a Manhattan court session aimed at determining whether health officials exceeded their authority in placing a 16-ounce limit on most sweetened beverages at city-licensed eateries.