WORLD NEWS BRIEFS

TIBET / One victim dead in plague

Chinese authorities say five people have been sickened with pneumonic plague in Tibet and that the deadly disease has killed one of them. The Tibetan regional health department says the cases were reported in Laduo, a village in Lang county in the remote region. The department said Sunday that the first case was found Sept. 23 and that the patient died of a severe lung infection. The remaining four are quarantined. The disease can kill within hours if untreated.

HONDURAS / Massacre suspect killed

Authorities in Honduras say the chief suspect in the massacre of 18 workers at a shoe factory earlier this month has been killed in a shootout with police. Assistant Security Minister Armando Calidonio said Sunday that police were chasing suspected street-gang leader Jesus Santos when he opened fire. Calidonio says officers shot back and killed Santos late Saturday near San Pedro Sula, where the shoe factory employees were mowed down by gunmen.

MEXICO / Matthew drenches region

The remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew drenched parts of Central America and southern Mexico on Sunday, a day after it weakened to a tropical depression. The storm's forward movement slowed to a crawl and top wind speeds fell to about 25 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm's slow movement could mean rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches over parts of Mexico and Guatemala, threatening deadly flash floods and mudslides.

BRITAIN / Man faces terror charges

Police in Northern Ireland say a man has been charged with terrorism offenses after police uncovered a suspected dissident Irish Republican Army weapons cache. Officers said Sunday the 54-year-old was arrested Friday near the Irish border. He will appear in court Monday charged with six offenses, including preparation of terrorist acts. The charges follow MI5's decision to raise the threat level of attacks by Irish dissidents.