IN BRIEF

Russia

At least 11 die in bus crash, 40 injured

At least 11 people died and 40 were injured in a bus crash on Sunday in Zabaykalsky Krai, southeastern Russia, the region's investigation commission said on Monday. The bus with 51 passengers on board crashed into the roadbed and overturned on a highway, the commission said. Among the injured, 34 are in serious condition. The commission is investigating the causes of the incident.

Germany

British trio released after terror scare

Three British men overheard talking about "terrorist" activities on a London-bound easyJet flight were released on Sunday after being questioned by German police, the airline said. The Airbus A319 flying from the Slovenian capital Ljubljana was diverted to Germany's Cologne-Bonn airport on Saturday, causing a major police operation and hours of air traffic chaos. Passengers on the plane were evacuated using the emergency slides.

United States

Puerto Rico upholds statehood demand

Puerto Rico's governor is vowing to turn the US territory into the 51st state after statehood won in a nonbinding referendum hit by a boycott and low turnout that raised questions about the vote's legitimacy. Ricardo Rossello said on Sunday that he will soon create a commission to appoint two senators and five representatives to demand statehood from the US Congress, which has to approve any changes to the island's political status.

Winner of $447m can claim prize

The holder of the sole winning Powerball ticket worth $447.8 million can claim the prize as early as Monday morning, lottery officials said. The ticket matching all six numbers was sold in Southern California, and whoever owns it will claim the 10th largest lottery prize in US history, the California Lottery said. Lottery officials said the earliest the ticket could be redeemed is 8 am, and the winner has one year to claim the prize.

Myanmar

More bodies found from crashed plane

Myanmar rescuers have recovered the bodies of about half of the 122 people who were on board a military plane that went missing after it crashed into the Andaman Sea last week, the army said on Monday. The transport plane crashed into the sea on Wednesday when it was carrying 122 soldiers, family members and crew on a weekly flight from several coastal towns to Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. The cause of the incident has yet to be confirmed.

Xinhua - AFP - Reuters