Thousands of people in Nicaragua have been evacuated from their homes as Hurricane Beta neared Central America’s Caribbean coast early today, pounding the mainland with heavy rains and high winds.

Tropical Storm Beta is now a Category One hurricane.

TROPICAL Storm Beta was last night heading toward an archipelago off the coast of Nicaragua, forcing the evacuations of hundreds of tourists and residents in its path.

Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet has been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke. It comes as an appeals court is determining whether to uphold his indictment and house arrest on human rights charges.

Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet suffered a stroke, but is in a stable condition at Santiago’s Army Hospital today, hospital officials said.