■ Afghanistan
UN convoy ambushed
A UN convoy was ambushed in southern Afghanistan, the latest violence ahead of next month's parliamentary elections, and two people were injured. A driver for the UN Population Fund and a policeman guarding the convoy were hurt in the attack. There were no more details about who may have carried out the attack in Sangin district of Helmand province, which is infested with drug runners, disgruntled militia commanders and Taliban insurgents. But Afghan officials said the ambush was set by Taliban guerrillas, who have declared a holy war against government and foreign forces and aid workers. Dozens of aid workers, including some foreigners, have been killed in Taliban-linked raids since the US-led forces arrived in 2001.
■ Hong Kong
Dead birds investigated
Officials found a cluster of more than 170 dead birds at a Hong Kong park and were testing them for bird flu, the government said yesterday. The small song birds were Japanese white-eyes, and officials thought they might have died because they were raised as pets and set free but couldn't survive in the wild. The Oriental Daily News published a picture showing stacks of abandoned bird cages near where the birds were found. The birds were being tested for bird flu as a precaution.
■ Hong Kong
Lifeguards go on strike
Hundreds of Hong Kong lifeguards went on strike yesterday to protest government outsourcing of lifeguard services to private contractors, leaving 10 beaches unstaffed and forcing 23 public pools to partially close or shut entirely. Hong Kong has so far outsourced lifeguard services at four of the Chinese territory's 36 public swimming facilities and 32 public beaches. "When you make money the priority, the quality is bound to decline," lifeguard union official Alex Kwok said. Yesterday, about 300 lifeguards at Repulse Bay beach held signs reading, "How can you take people's lives lightly?" and "Outsourcing lifeguard services threatens swimmers' safety."
■ Australia
Ali G to tie the knot
The love interest in the box-office bombshell Wedding Crashers, Isla Fisher, said yesterday she was likely to marry British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in her native Australia. Fisher, a former staple of the Home and Away soap opera television series, has been engaged to Cohen, better known as Ali G, for about a year. Fisher, 29, is in Australia to promote the romantic comedy Wedding Crashers that stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn and which is her breakthrough Hollywood film. Cohen has achieved worldwide success with "gangsta rapper" Ali G and other creations, including silly Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev.
■ Singapore
Smoking rules changed
Smokers will be allowed to light up only in designated areas at pubs, discotheques and outdoor food outlets starting next July, in the city-state's latest move to crack down on tobacco use. The move comes after the city-state passed a ban on smoking at bus stops, public swimming pools, toilets and open-air stadiums that will take effect in October. Singapore already bans the habit in many public areas and fines are levied for offenders. Under the plan, smokers at food and entertainment establishments may only smoke in designated areas. Also, separate ventilation systems must be installed in indoor smoking areas. Since last year, cigarettes packs have been plastered with pictures of sick babies, bleeding brains and other grisly images that the country hopes will persuade smokers to kick the habit.
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