The world at a glance . . . the Americas

Richmond, Va.

Vick sentenced: A federal judge this week sentenced former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to 23 months in prison for sponsoring a dogfighting ring. When Vick, 27, agreed to plead guilty to the charges in August, prosecutors recommended an 18-month sentence. But Judge Henry Hudson imposed a longer sentence because, he told Vick, “I’m not convinced you’ve fully accepted responsibility.” Prosecutors alleged that Vick’s 15-acre property in rural Surry County was the site of a dogfighting operation, that Vick financed a related gambling ring, and that he helped kill several dogs that didn’t fight well. Even after his plea, Vick denied having a direct hand in killing any dogs. Vick has been suspended by the NFL, though it’s not clear how long the suspension will last.

Colorado Springs

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Gunman kills four: A lone gunman, angry that he’d been kicked out of a training program for Christian missionaries, killed four people and wounded five others at two separate locations this week before killing himself. Matthew Murray, 24, first opened fire at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colo., killing two staff members and wounding two others. Murray had been dismissed from the organization’s training program in 2002. About 12 hours later, Murray killed two teenage girls and wounded three others at the New Life megachurch in Colorado Springs, which is affiliated with the missionary center. A church security guard shot Murray several times before he shot himself in the head. “It seemed that it was me, the gunman, and God,” said the guard, Jeanne Assam, a member of the church. “I was given the assignment to end this.”

Little Rock, Ark.

Huckabee gets a closer look: With Mike Huckabee surging in the polls, his record as Arkansas governor is coming under closer scrutiny. Huckabee’s rivals for the GOP presidential nomination are now questioning his role in paroling a convicted rapist, Wayne DuMond, who after his release in 1996 sexually assaulted and murdered another woman. Huckabee claims he played no part in DuMond’s parole, but four members of the parole board said Huckabee lobbied them to release him. Huckabee has also been forced to defend a comment he made in 1992 that people with AIDS be “isolated” from the general population. Huckabee says he would now phrase his comment differently, and that he was acting out of concern for public health, not suggesting quarantine.

Caracas, Venezuela

Fall back: Venezuela this week created a new time zone for itself, as President Hugo Chavez ordered that all clocks in the country be set back a half-hour. Chavez said an earlier dawn would improve the performance of the country, since more people would wake up in daylight. “I don’t care if they call me crazy,” said the Socialist leader. “I see it as a very positive thing that while there is light, we can be in it.” Critics, though, say it will be confusing for Venezuela to be out of sync with its neighbors, and that the move was motivated by Chavez’s desire to be in a different time zone from his archrival, the United States.

New York City

Protecting Rudy’s girlfriend: Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s then-mistress Judith Nathan was assigned a police escort well before the period he had previously acknowledged, the New York Daily News reported last week. Quoting witnesses and police sources, the newspaper said police escorts for Nathan, now Giuliani’s wife, began in 1999. The Republican presidential contender had earlier said Nathan’s protection began in December 2000, only after their extramarital affair became known. But neighbors told the Daily News that police officers often accompanied Nathan in early 2000, while she shopped and walked her dog. Giuliani aides now say Nathan was guarded “sporadically” before December 2000 because she had received unspecified threats even before the affair became public.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mrs. Kirchner ascends: In a rare transfer of power from husband to wife, Cristina Kirchner was sworn in as president of Argentina this week, succeeding her husband, Néstor. In a ceremony attended by many female political figures, including Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa and U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Cristina Kirchner said her husband’s public life was not at an end. “For me and for all Argentines, he will also continue being president,” she said. She is expected to continue policies initiated by her husband, including strengthening the South American regional trade alliance.