TIJUANA, Mexico
3 U.S. aid volunteers killed in plane crash
A small-plane crash near the U.S.-Mexico border killed three American medical volunteers, authorities said Saturday.
The Beach Bonanza B36 aircraft left Brownfield, Calif., shortly after noon Friday and was attempting to land less than an hour later at a military airport near Ensenada, south of the Mexican border city of Tijuana, when it hit a factory wall, said Jaime Nieto, director of civil protection for Ensenada.
Dentist Merlin James Larson, 76, of Palm Desert, Calif.; nurse Brianne Nicole Shelton, 25, of San Marcos, Calif.; and pilot Robert McEneany, 57, of Las Vegas were killed, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
VENICE, Italy
Chinese movie wins top honor at festival
The Chinese movie “Still Life,” a surprise entry set against the backdrop of China’s gigantic Three Gorges Dam project, on Saturday won this year’s Golden Lion – the top award at the Venice Film Festival.
Helen Mirren and Ben Affleck took the top acting awards.
Mirren was named best actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frear’s “The Queen.” Affleck won best actor for his role in Allen Coulter’s “Hollywoodland,” which dramatizes an investigation into the death of George Reeves, star of the 1950s TV show “Adventures of Superman.”
KHARTOUM, Sudan
Reporter held as spy released from prison
American journalist Paul Salopek was released Saturday from a prison in the war-torn Darfur region where he was held for more than a month on espionage charges.
A judge in the North Darfur capital of el-Fasher released the Chicago Tribune journalist and his Chadian driver and interpreter after a 13-minute hearing.
Speaking at a news conference after arriving in Khartoum, Salopek, 44, thanked the Sudanese president and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for their help in securing his release, and he said his “treatment was excellent” while in detention.
JERUSALEM
Israeli premier plans talks with Palestinian
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Saturday that he would meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and work closely with him to advance peace efforts.
Olmert, who spoke after meeting with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair, did not say when he would meet Abbas.
Olmert said a meeting with Abbas was not conditional on the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier being held captive by militants with links to the ruling Hamas party, but Olmert said no progress would be made in the peace process until the soldier is released, indicating talks with Abbas could help gain Shalit’s freedom.
KARBALA, Iraq
Sunnis urged to join reconciliation effort
Iraq’s Sunni Arab vice president renewed his call for Sunni insurgents to quickly join the Shiite prime minister’s national reconciliation effort, while a Shiite festival that drew millions of pilgrims was held without bloodshed Saturday.
Attacks across Iraq killed at least 12 people, including two gunmen and two would-be bombers. Seven apparent victims of sectarian killings, their bodies all showing signs of torture, also were found dumped on city streets and in a river.
PODGORICA, Montenegro
Parliament elections hold little suspense
Montenegrins vote in parliamentary elections today, and few have any doubts who will be the winner: For 15 years, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, the longest-serving political leader in the Balkans, has dominated Montenegrin politics and is likely to continue to do so after the votes are counted late tonight.
