■ NEPAL
Ex-rebels issue warning
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala summoned the leaders of the eight parties in the ruling coalition to emergency talks yesterday to discuss election dates after former rebels warned they would have no reason to stay in the government if elections are not held by the deadline set in a peace deal. On Friday, the Election Commission said it would not be ready to hold polls by the deadline. "The basis for the eight-party coalition government was to conduct the election in June, and if we don't conduct the election on schedule that would end the basis for this unity," former rebel leader Prachanda told supporters.
■ VIETNAM
Tornado injures 21
A strong tornado swept through three mountainous villages in the center of the country on Saturday, injuring 21 people and damaging hundreds of homes, an official said yesterday. The tornado collapsed 13 houses and left 400 others without roofs. It also knocked down scores of trees and electrical poles, the vice chairman of Dai Loc District in Quang Nam Province said. "This area is prone to natural disasters including tornadoes, but this was the strongest one we have ever seen," the official said. Hundreds of soldiers have been mobilized to help clean up the area and rebuild homes for the villagers.
■ PHILIPPINES
Marines attack rebels
Hundreds of Marines yesterday attacked a camp on belonging to a Muslim rebel group accused of firing mortars at a military camp and detachment on southern Jolo island, officials said. The assault was aimed at capturing Muslim rebel commander Habier Malik.
■ AUSTRALIA
Sea lion attacks girl
A sea lion leaped out of the sea and attacked a 13-year-old girl as she surfed behind a speedboat off the west coast, a witness told a newspaper. A marine scientist said the attack was bizarre and unheard of. Sea lions can grow to more than 400kg in weight but usually stay away from humans. Ella Murphy had her jaw broken and lost three teeth after the attack on Friday as she was being towed on a surfboard behind a speedboat near Lancelin, 125km north of Perth, the Sunday Times reported.
■ AUSTRALIA
Cave-in survivors get song
Two miners who captured world attention by surviving for 14 days deep underground after a cave-in at a gold mine will commemorate their rescue in a rock song. Todd Russell and Brant Webb and their wives will sing with an Australian rock band in a song called 321 Hours -- the length of time the men were trapped almost a kilometer underground at the Beaconsfield mine in Tasmania. They will perform the song as part of an event marking the first anniversary of their rescue on May 9. "It should be a great night and will give us a chance to thank the people for all their support over the last 12 months," Webb said.
■ MALAYSIA
Military fights bear problem
The military has a new enemy: sun bears, who are attacking the camps in search of food. At night soldiers at a camp in the northern part of the country keep a vigil for the intruders, who driven from their habitats, come in groups and feast on rice, sugar, biscuits and bread, the New Sunday Times said. Sun bears, who live in the rain forests of Southeast Asia, are getting displaced from their habitat because of logging. A wildlife official said the animals were also tempted by the easy availability of food at the camps. Sun bears, who have orange-yellow markings on their chests, are hunted for their gall bladders and paws which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
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