■ Cambodia
`King of dog thieves' killed
A dog thief who gave up his family rather than stop stealing dogs was beaten to death by a mob of angry neighbors. Bun Rin, 35, had become famous in the area as a serial dognapper. He had failed to change his ways even after 10 arrests and separation from his wife, a dog meat vendor, the original market for his victims. "He stole chickens, pigs and dogs, but he stole dogs, in particular, day and night, and it seems his neighbors lost patience and a mob beat him to death," the police chief said. Police cannot name the exact killer because "there were so many people in the mob." "Even his parents were tired of him," the police chief said. "He stole dogs not to be rich, but for money to buy drink and to feed lady friends."
■ Thailand
Plowing ritual held
Thousands gathered at a field next to Bangkok's Grand Palace to watch officials in traditional costumes lead the bulls as they plowed in a circle nine times. The beasts were then offered bowls of rice, maize, green beans, sesame seeds, alcohol, water and grass. The royal bulls ate grass and maize, indicating that water will be plenty in the coming year, according to the astrologer. Lowland rice crops would face difficulties but highland rice fields would flourish and food, vegetables and livestock will be plentiful, he said. However, international trade may be lackluster because the bulls avoided whiskey, which represents foreign trade and communication. The royal plowing ceremony is an ancient Brahman ritual that was reintroduced in 1960 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
■ India
Mine blasts kill six
Two powerful land mines exploded in a crowded residential area in the Indian portion of Kashmir yesterday, killing six and wounding 40 others. The land mines were planted by suspected Islamic militants in the Jawahar Nagar district of Srinagar. An additional 30 civilians and 10 soldiers were wounded in the nearly simultaneous explosions, which also damaged several vehicles. No one claimed responsibility.
■ North Korea
Reactor's spent rods taken
Pyongyang announced it had completed removing spent fuel rods from a nuclear reactor in a key step towards the manufacture of more atomic bombs. Some 8,000 spent fuel rods had been removed from a five-megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, a foreign ministry spokesman said. The announcement sent alarm bells ringing amid speculation that the North is on the verge of carrying out a nuclear test. According to US officials cited in recent media reports, North Korea has been preparing to launch an underground nuclear test since March and might conduct one as early as next month.
■ Philippines
Bus crash kills 26
A bus negotiating a steep downhill road lost its brakes and crashed into roadside boulders yesterday, killing 26 people, including the driver. Eighteen others were injured. The bus with 44 people on board was traveling along the Marcos Highway from the mountain city of Baguio. TV footage showed bodies lying on the roadside as ambulances rushed to the scene to attend to the injured. The bus was almost completely destroyed. Most of the fatalities suffered massive head fractures. The police chief Domingo Pulig of Tuba municipality said the vehicle rolled over as it was negotiating a steep downhill section of the highway.
RSS