■ JAPAN
Delayed ban for bombs
The government will back an international ban on cluster bombs but suggest delaying restrictions to allow countries to develop alternative weapons, a news report said yesterday. Officials are set to declare their support for a global ban at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva later this month, the Sankei Shimbun reported. Tokyo had earlier been reluctant to support a ban, saying it needed the bombs for self-defense. But Japan decided to back a delayed ban to pre-empt a push by some for an immediate curb, the Sankei said.
■ JAPAN
Troops may cull wildlife
Japan is preparing to mobilize troops to deal with wild animals such as boars, bears and monkeys. Having debated since March on how to stop the animals from attacking crops and entering residential areas, a group of ruling party politicians has agreed to call on the military for help, the Asahi Shimbun reported yesterday. Under the plan, local leaders would be able to request help from the country's Self Defense Forces to build fences and set traps. Some in the party are also calling for troops to use guns, the Asahi said.
■ JAPAN
Military spied on war critics
Opposition lawmakers and journalists yesterday slammed Japanese military intelligence for allegedly monitoring critics of the country's mission to Iraq, accusing the Defense Ministry of threatening freedom of speech. Internal army documents made public last week by the Japan Communist Party suggested that military intelligence collected information on groups and individuals opposed to the troop dispatch.
■ INDIA
Roof collapse kills two
At least two people were killed and dozens more feared trapped when a concrete roof collapsed yesterday in a busy market in the northern city of Chandigarh, police said. Two bodies were recovered from the debris in the main grain market in the city of Chandigarh, Deputy commissioner of police R.K. Rao said. At least seven other badly injured people were rescued, said Rao, who was leading rescue operations at the scene. The market was crowded when the heavy concrete roof came crashing down. Hundreds of people scrambled around, pulling at the large chunks of masonry with their hands, trying to free those trapped beneath.
■ CHINA
Tit for tat and rat
US fast food giant McDonald's was forced to pay 2,216 yuan (US$290) in compensation to a student who was bitten by a rat at one of its outlets in northeastern China, state press reported yesterday. The incident comes to light amid a growing dispute between China and the US over tainted food and health products.
■ THAILAND
Randy sniffer dogs fired
Two Thai street mutts who became ace sniffer dogs at an airport near the notorious "Golden Triangle" opium-producing region have been fired for urinating on luggage and sexually harassing female passengers. The pair, Mok and Lai, had been plucked from obscurity under a program initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to turn strays into police dogs. Although they did a good job sniffing out drugs at Chiang Rai airport, so many passengers complained about their behavior that they had to be fired. "He liked to pee on luggage while searching for drugs inside," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Jakapop Kamhon, Mok's former handler. "He also liked to hold on to women's legs." Mok and Lai now work on a farm, herding chickens and pigs.
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