■ Hong Kong
Scouts offer IPR badge
Boy scouts typically prove their mettle with fishing and camping skills, but now they can win laurels by showing their awareness of copyright laws. The Hong Kong government has launched the "IPR [Intellectual Property Rights] Scout Badge" to promote respect of intellectual property among youngsters. Scouts qualify for the badge by attending seminars and other activities on the topic, the government said in a statement. "It is a long-term process which involves continuous training of scout members throughout their formative years," said Stephen Selby, director of the government's intellectual property department.
■ Thailand
Briton's body thought found
Thai police believe they have found the remains of a British national who disappeared at a beach resort two months ago and have detained his estranged Thai wife and two of her relatives on suspicion of murdering the man, police said yesterday. The British Embassy had urged police to search for Toby Leicester Charnaud, 41, who has been missing since early March from his residence in the resort town of Hua Hin, 230km south of Bangkok, said Police Colonel Amnuay Warayavisut. "We have found the burned remains and ashes on a plot of land that belongs to his ex-wife and we're detaining her and her relatives for questioning," Amnuay said.
■ Australia
Man killed over phone sex
A woman pleaded guilty in court yesterday to killing her boyfriend because he called a phone-sex hotline. Prosecutors told the Queensland Supreme Court that in October 2003, Amanda Jane Griffin woke at 2am to find her partner Michael Campbell on the phone. The court heard Campbell, 27, told Griffin he was speaking to a friend but she hit the redial button and was connected to a sex hotline. Shortly after, neighbors heard Campbell yelling "no Mandy" followed by a crashing sound. An ambulance called to the scene found Campbell with two stab wounds to the chest from a kitchen knife. Griffin pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the prosecution agreed to drop a murder charge due to lack of intent.
■ Philippines
Journalist shot, wounded
Gunmen shot and seriously wounded a radio journalist in the southern Philippines, police said Wednesday. Cline Cantoneros of DXAA radio was attacked by motorcycle-riding gunmen who pumped five bullets into his body in the town of Dipolog shortly after midnight Tuesday, regional police chief Vidal Querol said. Cantoneros was taken to hospital with serious wounds, Querol told reporters. It was not known if the attack was politically motivated. Three Filipino journalists have been murdered this year.
■ Thailand
Elephant beheads villager
Rescue teams yesterday retrieved the body of a villager decapitated by a wild elephant in western Thailand, police said. Prataun Rongpheng, 59, and his nephew were in the jungle of Kanchanaburi Province gathering wood on Tuesday when the elephant attacked them, severing Prataun's head and crushing his body, police lieutenant Yuthana Soiyara said. The nephew escaped unharmed. The Forestry Department estimates that of Thailand's once vast herds, only about 3,000 wild elephants survive. Deforestation has forced many to move into surrounding farming communities in search of food but attacks by the animals against humans are rare.
■ Switzerland
Nuclear scientist arrested
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