■ Singapore
Protest packs a punch
A 74-year-old former taxi driver who punched a member of parliament in the face has been released on bail, news reports said yesterday. Parliamentarian Seng Han Thong was in the middle of a meet-and- greet gathering on Thursday night when the assailant -- angry with the MP for not helping him get a revoked license reinstated -- attacked. The man, who has not been identified, punched Seng in the face before being held back by the crowd. Police detained the driver, who was brought to court on Friday. "I've been voting for you all these years and this is the way I've been treated," the Straits Times quoted the assailant as shouting, as Seng left the building covering his mouth with his hand.
■ Hong Kong
Silver found in truck axles
Silver bars worth HK$2.16 million (US$270,000) were recovered by Hong Kong customs officers from inside three hollowed-out axles of a China-bound container truck, a media report said yesterday. The trailer's brake system had been disabled and other parts removed to make room for the 42 bars, which weighed 600kg, the South China Morning Post reported. Officers, who arrested the 50-year-old truck driver, became suspicious when the trailer's brake lights failed to work during a routine inspection at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary crossing.
■ Japan
More AEGIS ships planned
Japan plans to deploy two more AEGIS warships armed with advanced missiles, including one that can intercept ballistic missiles, a news report said yesterday, as the country tries to bolster its defenses in the wake of North Korea's missiles launches. Japan currently has four AEGIS destroyers operating with SM-2 missiles -- designed mainly to intercept aircraft -- including two at Sasebo base near the East China Sea, one at Maizuru base near Kyoto, along the Sea of Japan, and another at Yokosuka on the country's east coast. A fifth AEGIS vessel, to be commissioned next spring, will be deployed also at Maizuru, Kyodo News Agency said, citing unnamed defense officials. The navy is expected to deploy a sixth warship at Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture in the spring of 2008, the report said.
■ China
New outbreak reported
The nation yesterday reported a new outbreak of bird flu among poultry in a town in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. The national avian influenza laboratory tested samples and confirmed the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, stemming from an outbreak that began on July 14 near the town of Aksu, the agriculture ministry said. A total of 3,045 chickens died in the outbreak, and workers culled another 356,976 birds to prevent the virus' spread. Agriculture and health officials set up emergency vaccination and quarantine procedures and had controlled the outbreak in Aksu, the ministry said in its Web site.
■ Philippines
Six killed in rebel attack
Six people were killed when communist rebels attacked and destroyed the police headquarters of an eastern Philippine town yesterday morning, officials said. Fighting erupted when up to 100 rebels attacked the police headquarters in Matnog town in Sorsogon Province, 390km southeast of Manila, said Matnog police chief Jesus Callada. Callada said among the fatalities in the fighting were five communist rebels and a maritime police officer. He added that five other policemen and a civilian were wounded in the attack.
RSS