Briefs package

Investigators continued to recover and examine the wreckage Sunday of a police helicopter that plunged through the roof of a crowded pub in Glasgow late Friday, killing eight people and injuring many others. The eight dead included all three aboard the helicopter and five people inside the pub, where a band was performing about 10:30 p.m. when the helicopter, carrying two police officers and a civilian pilot, spun down into the building. Police said emergency workers were still trying to recover bodies from the site. Twelve of the injured remained hospitalized Sunday, police said.

NEW MEXICO

Freight train accident kills three

Authorities are investigating the cause of a freight train derailment in southern New Mexico that killed three railroad employees when the train’s locomotive plunged 40 feet down a ravine. Police on Sunday identified the three as 38-year-old Donald White, 60-year-old Steven Corse and 50-year-old Ann Thompson. White lived in Silver City, N.M., and Corse and Thompson lived in the northern Arizona community of Paulden. No other people were on the train. State Police spokesman Emmanuel T. Gutierrez said it was unknown what caused Saturday afternoon’s derailment near the community of Bayard.

ITALY

Seven killed in Chinese-run factory

A fire early Sunday swept through an illegal, makeshift dormitory in a Chinese-run garment factory in Tuscany, killing seven, firefighters said. The blaze, which partially collapsed the factory’s roof, broke out in a loft where 11 people were sleeping, said fire inspector Stefano Giannelli. The cause was under investigation. Two people remained hospitalized, while two were treated and released, Giannelli said.

MINNESOTA

Man cited after tossing cash at mall

A man who said he was trying to spread holiday cheer by tossing 1,000 one-dollar bills over an upper floor railing at the Mall of America was cited for disorderly conduct. Serge Vorobyov, of Apple Valley, admitted throwing his “last $1,000” from the fourth floor on Friday as a choir performed “Let it Snow.” Vorobyov said he’s going through a divorce. He was cited by Bloomington police and released at the scene. He also was ordered not to go into the mall for a year. Vorobyov stamped the bills with his YouTube address and on his Facebook page he called the event a publicity stunt. When asked why he wanted the publicity, he said he wanted his cat back from his estranged wife.

IRAN

Official seeks more power plants

Iran’s nuclear chief said Sunday that the Islamic Republic needs more nuclear power plants, the country’s official news agency reported, just after it struck a deal regarding its contested nuclear program with world powers. Ali Akbar Salehi said the additional nuclear power would help the country reduce its carbon emissions and its consumption of oil, IRNA reported. He said Iran should produce 150 tons of nuclear fuel to supply five nuclear power plants. The comments come after Iran agreed to freeze part of its nuclear program in return for Western powers easing crippling economic sanctions.

CANADA

Officials thwart information sale

Police said Sunday that a Canadian man has been arrested for allegedly trying to sell classified information to the Chinese government about Canada’s warship building procurement strategy. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that Qing Quentin Huang, 53, of Burlington, Ontario, was arrested Saturday and appeared in court Sunday. RCMP Chief Supt. Jennifer Strachan said the suspect is charged with communicating with a foreign entity under the Security of Information Act.

WASHINGTON

National Zoo names panda

The most popular giant panda in U.S.-China relations finally was given an identity Sunday as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo named its female 100-day-old cub Bao Bao after receiving more than 123,000 votes online from the public. Bao Bao, which means “treasure” or “precious,” is only the second surviving cub born at the National Zoo since the first pandas arrived in 1972 to commemorate President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. Pandas have remained a happy symbol of diplomacy between the two countries. Panda mother Mei Xiang has been caring for her cub in the panda den since she was born Aug. 23.