PORT-AU-PRINCE — About a thousand people in Haiti turned out Sunday to celebrate the 59th birthday of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The two-time president did not show up at a public event at the foundation named for him but his wife, Mildred, spoke briefly on his behalf.
The former first lady presented a new book of poetry written by Mr. Aristide in Haitian Creole that includes Swahili proverbs. The book is called, “Haiti — Haiti? Philosophical Poetry for Mental Decolonization.”
Mr. Aristide has remained in his compound on the northeastern edge of the capital since he returned last year following a seven-year exile.
The one-time Roman Catholic priest served two separate presidential terms and was ousted both times. He lived in South Africa after a rebellion toppled him in 2004.
CANADA
Body recovered after landslide hits town
JOHNSONS LANDING, British Columbia — Emergency crews found the body of one of four people missing after a massive landslide crushed several homes in a tiny western town.
British Columbia’s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said Sunday that a man’s body was recovered near a home swept away by the landslide in the small hamlet of Johnsons Landing.
She said crews will try to recover the three remaining bodies.
At least three homes were crushed when a wall of rock, mud and trees cascaded down the side of a mountain last week.
Two sisters, ages 17 and 22, and their father have been missing since the slide struck on Thursday.
Crews also were searching for a female German tourist who was believed to have been caught in the debris.
Turkey vulture suspect in crashthat grounds prime minister’s jet
OTTAWA — A jet used to ferry Canada’s prime minister and top government officials, as well as the British royal family on visits, was grounded after a mid-air collision possibly with a turkey vulture.
The Challenger jet was on approach to land at the MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on May 24 when it collided with a “very large bird,” a defense department official revealed Saturday.
It landed safely but was so badly damaged that it was grounded for several weeks until a temporary fix allowed it to return to Ottawa on July 10.
The bird strike caused damage to the radome and bulkhead, the official told Agence France-Presse, adding: “Due to the extent of the damage to the aircraft, a course of action for its repair has not yet been determined.”
The daily Ottawa Citizen cited an anonymous defense source saying the aircraft may not be returned to service.
There have been more than 50,000 collisions between birds and U.S. military aircraft in recent decades, according to Air Force statistics cited by the newspaper, costing some $30 million a year.
Turkey vultures, which can have a wingspan of nearly 6.5 feet and weigh more than 4.4 pounds, are said to be a leading cause of plane collision-related costs for the Air Force.
The Canadian jet reportedly was travelling to Florida to pick up the head of Canada’s special forces, Brig. Gen. Denis Thompson, as well as allied special forces officers and return them to Ottawa for a high-level meeting.
After the accident, a second government jet was sent to pick them up.
MEXICO
Authorities nab officersuspected in shooting
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities said they captured one of three rogue federal police officers sought in a June 25 shootout that killed three of their colleagues at Mexico City’s international airport.
Federal Police regional security Chief Luis Cardenas Palomino said Officer Bogard Felipe Lugo de Leon was caught at a Mexico City apartment after police received a tip.
Chief Cardenas Palomino said Officer Lugo de Leon confirmed that one of the two officers who opened fire on their colleagues was about to be handcuffed for purportedly trafficking drugs through the terminal.
He said the arrest was not pre-planned but occurred when one of the rogue officers was caught in the act.
Chief Cardenas Palomino said Sunday that the other two officers are still at large.
• From wire dispatches and staff reports
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