■ JapanN Korean ferry detained
A North Korean ferry accused of smuggling missile parts, drugs and illicit funds was detained yesterday while Japanese authorities investigated whether it carried more than its passenger capacity on its previous trip. The Mangyongbong-92 arrived in Japan's northern port of Niigata on Tuesday for its third visit since late last month. It brought to Japan 200 passengers and was to pick up 218 passengers for the trip back. The vessel was to depart for the North Korean port of Wonsan yesterday morning. But Coast Guard officials forced a delay so they could investigate whether the ferry carried home 255 passengers on Sept. 4, 35 more than its maximum capacity of 220, said regional Coast Guard spokesman Kiyomatsu Isobe.
■ China
Bomb-threat man detained
Police have arrested a disgruntled man who threatened to set off explosives around Shanghai ahead of the start of a local tourism festival. Xu Jun, 25, was detained early on Saturday on charges of making "false terrorist threats," the Shanghai Daily said. Police were alerted last Friday when they found a computer disk in a police station mailbox near Xintiandi, an upmarket dining and entertainment area. The disk contained a document saying explosives had been hidden at various points around the city that would be detonated if police didn't meet a list of demands, the newspaper said.
■ Hong Kong
SARS alert raised
Hong Kong health authorities raised a SARS alert yesterday and isolated seven male patients who had developed symptoms of the deadly virus. The alert, the first stage of a new three-tier SARS warning, was issued after patients at the territory's Castle Peak hospital were moved to an isolation ward at Tuen Mun hospital with high fever and upper respiratory tract infections, a Hospital Authority spokeswoman said. Initial tests and X-rays showed their lungs were normal and their conditions were stable, she said. "Further tests for all viruses, including SARS, are being undertaken," the spokeswoman said.
■ Afghanistan
Rebel leader killed
A top commander for the former Taliban regime who was allegedly leading rebel fighters in southern Afghanistan has been killed in a shootout with Afghan forces, government and security officials said on Tuesday. The commander, identified as Hafiz Abdul Rahim, was killed late Sunday in the Maruf district of Kandahar province along with 14 other fighters, Malim Syed Ali Khan, the head of the local administration in Maruf, told reporters. Khan Mohammed Khan, the military chief of Kandahar province, and Haji Grani, the commander of Kandahar's 7th Corps military unit, both confirmed Rahim's death in satellite phone calls.
■ Australia
Honda withdraws advert
The Australian arm of Japanese car company Honda has withdrawn a television commercial that showed a car plunging off a cliff amid criticism it was insensitive and traded on suicide. The ad shows the owner of an old Honda Accord model admiring the car's latest version. In response, the old car locks its doors, revs its engine and speeds off the cliff. National depression body "beyondblue" said yesterday the company had demonstrated gross insensitivity to depression and suicide. Honda Australia director Lindsay Smalley said the ad was a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun.
■ United StatesClark throws his hat in
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