■ AustraliaAnimal body rejects soldiers
Six Australian soldiers who were found guilty of cruelty in a Queensland court earlier this week after they admitted to dragging one kitten behind a motorcycle and setting three others alight were told yesterday they could not fulfil their 100 hours of community service at animal welfare body RSPCA. The six pleaded guilty and were fined A$2,000 (US$1,400) each and obliged to do 100 hours of voluntary work at an animal welfare body. But the RSPCA turned them down and criticized the Townsville magistrates court for an inadequate sentence for such cruel deeds. "I think these guys need a lot of other help before they can turn up and help with animals at the RSPCA," RSPCA Queensland chief executive officer Mark Townend said.
■ Australia
Inmate to sue prison
An inmate crippled when he overdosed on drugs smuggled into an Australian prison is suing the New South Wales state government for a compensation payment of A$4 million (US$2.8 million) alleging it failed in its duty of care, news reports said yesterday. James Steward, 28, was released into the care of his parents after the 1999 mishap. The state government has pledged to fight the case, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. It will argue that Steward, who was imprisoned for armed robbery, had broken prison rules and that brain damage was the result of taking illegal drugs.
■ Singapore
Man jumps off plane
A Swiss national jumped off a stationary Singapore Airlines aircraft after opening a cabin door and punching a flight attendant who tried to stop him, police said yesterday. The 22-year-old male student, who apparently had too much to drink, leapt off the Zurich-bound plane while it was awaiting clearance for take-off at Changi Airport, officials said. The student, a transit passenger from Bangkok, jumped from the plane at midnight on Sunday. He landed on the tarmac unhurt and was detained by the ground staff. He was allowed to leave for Zurich on Monday night after receiving a stern warning, police said.
■ Hong Kong
Ancient artifacts found
Hong Kong archaeologists were continuing to search for artefacts dating back thousands of years yesterday after pots and an ancient lime kiln were found at a construction site. Kevin Sun, acting curator at the antiquities office, said the discoveries were a treasure from the "urban city heart." Workers building new drainage pipes in the Mong Kok district first unearthed relics, including four pots dating back 2,000 years to the Jin Dynasty, last week. Construction stopped to let archaeologists from the Antiquities and Monuments Office to make a more detailed probe of the site. So far, they have unearthed fragments of a centuries-old kiln and broken pieces of other pots about two metres below the surface.
■ New Zealand
Bees attack rescuers
Swarms of angry bees stung rescuers at a road accident in the center of New Zealand's North Island on Monday. The bees came from hives loaded on a truck that was struck by a car as it turned into a farm gateway, police said. Constable Geoff Bradly said the bees attacked rescuers as they worked to free the woman driver who was trapped in the car. They also attacked paramedics tending to a seriously injured passenger. Fortunately the drivers of two other hive-carrying trucks were able to divert their angry charges before helicopters arrived to take the injured to hospital.
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