Government shutdown looms in Washington

Human rights activists on Monday (October 19) urged governments and athletes world-wide to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in China as Athens prepared to hand over the Olympic flame to Beijing in a ceremony in the capital, saying that anything less would make the world complicit in what they called 'genocide' by Beijing. China's treatment of minorities has come under increased scrutiny in the run-up to the games, scheduled from Feb. 4-20. Activists protested at Ancient Olympia on Monday, where the flame lighting ceremony was held.

Guatemalan riot police are deployed as former soldiers storm the rear area of Congress on and torch several vehicles in protest over unpaid compensation for their service during the country's civil war from 1960 to 1996.

"It's a day of triumph," says Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya, hailing the decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which ruled that the Colombian State was responsible for her kidnapping, rape and torture at the hands of paramilitaries in 2000.

"Big John," as the dinosaur was nicknamed, went for millions above the initial estimate from French auction house Druot.

Jineth Bedoya was kidnapped, tortured and raped by paramilitaries 21 years ago. After fighting for years, she has now finally found justice in the form of an international verdict.

It's the world's longest certified foot race: a 3,100-mile run that takes participants not across America but around the same New York block 5,649 times. Runners complete more than two marathons a day for almost two months, on less than five hours sleep a night.