■PHILIPPINES
Arroyo vows easy transition
President Gloria Arroyo yesterday sought to calm fears that she was secretly plotting to hold on to power, promising a smooth transition when her term ends in June. In a speech to the military, Arroyo said she would respect the nation’s democratic process, which requires her to make way for a new president who is due to be elected on May 10. “The people come first. Our accomplishments and progress to date must be passed on to new leaders to continue the forward march of progress,” she said.
■CHINA
Landslide kills three
Three people were killed and 20 reported missing when the side of a mountain in Shaanxi Province came tumbling down shortly after midnight yesterday, burying more than 10 homes, state press reported. Rescuers have dug out about 20 survivors and were continuing to search for the missing, Xinhua news agency said.
■AUSTRALIA
Cancer-free devils found
Scientists said yesterday that the discovery of a genetically distinct colony of Tasmanian devils may save the species from being wiped out by a contagious cancer that has decimated the population. So far, the colony in northwestern Tasmania has proven immune to the face cancer that has ravaged the iconic animal. The furry black animals spread the cancer when they bite each other’s faces. It causes grotesque facial tumors that eventually prevent them from feeding and can affect their internal organs. Devil Facial Tumor Disease was discovered in 1996. Since then, the numbers of Tasmanian devils have plummeted by 70 percent. The government has listed the devils as an endangered species and current estimates suggest the Tasmanian devil could be extinct within 25 years. Researchers said the new findings buy more time for managing the disease and developing a vaccine.
■HONG KONG
Repeat murderer convicted
An air conditioner repairman who stabbed and suffocated a 40-year-old Thai visitor and stuffed her body in an air duct five years ago has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. It was the second straight life sentence for 27-year-old So Kam-tong, who was jailed last March for killing an airline counter worker in 2008. So abducted Charitar Kamolnoranath at knifepoint in an elevator in a government office building on Oct. 12, 2005, dragged her into a utility room, stabbed her and suffocated her with a red plastic bag, according to court testimony, the South China Morning Post reported yesterday. He took his victim’s credit cards, diamond ring and cellphone, the Chinese-languange Apple Daily said.
■SOUTH KOREA
Kimchi center opens
The Agriculture Ministry opened a kimchi research center yesterday to raise global demand for its iconic dish and for Korean cuisine in general. The ministry said the laboratory — located at the Korea Food Research Institute in Bundang — would undertake research into lactic acids created by fermentation and operate a pilot plant to make prototype foods.
■SRI LANKA
China loans US$290m
China has agreed to lend US$290 million to Colombo for a new airport and to revive the country’s railway network, the foreign ministry said yesterday. Beijing will provide a US$190 million loan through its Exim Bank. China was the largest foreign funding source for Colombo last year with US$1.2 billion.
■UNITED KINGDOM
Man guilty in scam
A court on Tuesday found a man guilty of defrauding thousands of investors out of £34 million (US$51 million) through a series of pyramid scams. Kevin Foster, 51, who promoted his “KF Concept” collection of schemes by holding lively roadshows at hotels across Britain, used investors’ funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle for his family, buying a £600,000 farm and fitting it with a swimming pool, hot tub and exotic animals. Foster told investors he was making £28.50 from every £1 invested. However, his largest scheme “Planline,” into which £12 million was paid, only returned £1,703.
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