■ New Zealand
Man breaks back undressing
A New Zealand hunter lay crippled in a forest hut for six days after breaking his back and shoulder while pulling his coat off, a newspaper reported yesterday. Brian Maude, 47, of Auckland, could not explain the bizarre accident but suspected he had aggravated an old injury, the Dominion Post reported. The accident happened soon after a helicopter dropped him and three friends in the Kaimanawa Range in the central North Island for a week's hunting. Unable to call for help, he had to lie on a hut bed gulping painkillers until the helicopter returned on schedule to pick them up six days later. The fractures were confirmed by X-rays in hospital, the paper said.
■ Hong Kong
Millions sought for dead dog
A couple is seeking US$2.5 million in damages after their pedigree pet was savaged by their neighbors' two mongrels, a newspaper report said yesterday. The couple claims they suffered post traumatic stress disorder after their beloved shih-tzu was attacked and killed by the two dogs almost five years ago. A report in the South China Morning Post said the dog, one of two shih-tzus owned by the couple, was dragged to its death after it broke free of its leash and ran towards the neighbors' house while being walked by the woman. The dog was rescued by another neighbor who beat the mongrels off with a spade, but it died shortly afterwards.
■ China
Foreigners obtain residency
Shanghai issued permanent residency permits to 18 foreigners yesterday, part of steps China's commercial hub is taking to deepen its integration with the world economy. "This is a major step for China's reform and opening and economic development, synchronizing with international practice," Shanghai Police Chief Wu Zhiming said at a ceremony. One of the recipients, Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai vice president Mark DeCocinis, said the permits were an important recognition of foreigners' contributions. The residency permits allow recipients to live and work in China for 10 years without a visa. Those who received them yesterday came from the US, Thailand, Britain, Germany, Canada, Singapore and France.
■ China
Shanghai charmed by pigs
These pigs run, jump, and swim -- almost anything but fly. Thousands of Shanghai residents have turned out to a city park to watch a herd of pigs compete in what organizers are calling the "Pig Olympics," the Shanghai Daily reported yesterday. They run over hurdles, jump through hoops, dive and swim in shows twice a day. The pigs, a midget species from Thailand, begin training soon after birth and can begin performing professionally from about one year of age, Yang Ying, a manager with promoters Bluesea Broadway Co Ltd, was quoted as saying.
■ China
Zoo tiger kills boy
An eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by a tiger at a zoo in central China after scaling a fence to get a better view, state media reported yesterday. Mei Changhua had climbed over a 1m-high barrier at the zoo in Changde, Hunan Province, on Sunday and was attacked by the tiger through the bars of its cage, the Xiaoxiang Morning Post said. His death sparked criticism both of the zoo for failing to protect visitors and of the boy's father who remained outside the zoo gates to avoid buying an admission ticket. The father only arrived on the scene after his 10-year-old nephew came to get him, following the tiger's attack on his son.
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