Around the world: Briton killed as nine die in plane crash in New Zealand

A Briton was among nine people who died when a light aircraft belonging to a skydiving company crashed and burst into flames near a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps today.

The plane caught fire shortly after take-off from an airstrip at Fox Glacier on the country's South Island, said Ian Henderson, a spokesman for local ambulance services.

Police said four tourists from Ireland, England, Germany and Australia, and five New Zealanders, including the pilot, were killed in the crash. Next of kin were being contacted and the victims' identities were due to be released later today.

The cause of the early-afternoon accident was not immediately known.

Witnesses said the plane had just lifted off from the small airstrip when it appeared to begin spiralling.

"It was like a fireball, and then there was big puffs of smoke going up. (The plane) was engulfed in flames immediately," one told the New Zealand Herald.

Police said the aircraft was a Fletcher fixed-wing plane of a type designed and built in New Zealand. The planes are popularly used for scenic flights and skydiving in the area.

Clinton in Middle East warning

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has said that the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks may be "the last chance for a very long time" to reach an agreement.

Mrs Clinton said the rise of Iranian-backed extremism in the Middle East was a major reason why time was short.

Nasa helping trapped men

EXPERTS from Nasa have told Chilean authorities they should regulate the day-and-night sleep patterns of 33 trapped miners, boost their Vitamin D intake and phase in an exercise programme as their nutrition improves.

The men have been trapped since on August 5.

Gently does it for BP mission

The blowout preventer that failed to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico is expected to surface today, BP said.

The process of raising the preventer, which was removed from the company's well yesterday, will be painstaking because engineers want to make sure they do not damage or drop it.

Once the 300-ton device has been brought to the surface, US government investigators will take possession of it.

Hilton accused pleads not guilty

A MAN accused of showing up at Paris Hilton's house wielding two knives pleaded not guilty to attempted burglary.

Nathan Parada, who entered the plea in a Los Angeles court yesterday, was arrested on August 24 outside the socialite's house.

ONLOOKERS survey the damage after Christchurch in New Zealand was hit by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake. Buildings were wrecked and at least two people were hurt.

Seven found guilty after child sex trial

Portugal: Six men and a woman were convicted of child sex abuse in a major trial that has lasted nearly six years and shocked the country.

They were convicted of the sexual abuse and rape of children, and of running a paedophile ring at a state-run children's home in Lisbon.South Korea: Foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan has offered to resign over the hiring by his department of his daughter, it was reported today.