In Brief: Christians shot dead in Nigeria

Gunmen attacked worship services at a university campus and a church in northern Nigeria, killing at least 21.

The deadlier attack targeted an old section of Bayero University's campus in Kano, with gunmen killing at least 16 people and wounding at least 22 others, according to the Nigerian Red Cross.

A later attack in the northeast city of Maiduguri saw gunmen open fire at a Church of Christ in Nigeria chapel, killing five people, including a pastor.

No group claimed responsibility, but the attacks bore similarities to others carried by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

Panama hunts ex-US Marine

Panamanian police named an American ex-Marine as a person of interest in the disappearance of a 42-year-old California woman last seen on an archipelago near the Costa Rica border.

Police in Panama and the US haven't identified Brian Brimager as a suspect as they investigate the case of Yvonne Baldelli, who was reportedly dating Brimager.

Later, Baldelli's mother, Lillian Faust begged Brimager to tell what he knows about what happened to her.

Mystery death of pelicans

Peru's oceanographic agency is to investigate the deaths of hundreds of pelicans on northern beaches where nearly 900 dolphins were recently found dead.

The Puerto Eten fisherman's association found about 1,200 dead pelicans along a 105-mile stretch of coastline.

Peru's Institute of the Sea found nearly 600 dead birds, mostly pelicans, along a 43-mile stretch.

Drugs reporter found dead

MEXICO'S human rights commission is probing the apparent murder of a correspondent for Proceso news magazine who often wrote about drug trafficking.

Police found the body of Regina Martinez inside the bathroom of her home in Veracruz's state capital, Xalapa. There were signs of heavy "blows to her face and body".

Ms Martinez wrote about drug cartels in Veracruz, which has seen escalating violence by warring gangs.