World Affairs Overview

Man in Malaysia bitten by crocodile during toilet break

MALAYSIA: A construction worker was bitten by a crocodile during a toilet break in a river in Malaysian Borneo, but fought off the huge reptile and escaped with his life.

Pai punched the two-metre (6.5-foot) crocodile in the eye after it bit him just above his right buttock, and despite being in incredible pain and soaked in blood managed to summon help, reports said Saturday. The attack happened early Friday, when the 32-year-old decided to take his chances in the river in Sarawak state despite knowing it was infested with crocodiles.The labourer, an Indonesian who works at a nearby construction site, had just finished relieving himself under a bridge when the animal bit him from behind.

“Fortune favoured me when the crocodile let go after I punched it in the eye,” he was quoted by Malay tabloid Harian Metro as saying.

AFP

Five killed in new unrest in NE India

INDIA: Five Muslims were murdered in northeast India by an armed gang from the ethnic Bodo community in fresh violence, after more than a month of clashes, police said Sunday.

“A group of seven Muslim villagers in two vehicles were returning home from a relief camp when they came under attack,” said Sanjit Krishna, police chief of the western Chirang district, in Assam state.

Five were found dead near Choudhurypara village, about 220 kilometres (130 miles) from Assam’s main city of Guwahati, while police are trying to trace the other two.

The party had apparently been trying to reach their village after a few days of calm in the area and had dared to venture out on Saturday from their guarded government relief camp.

AFP

Typhoon may bring record rain to Japan

JAPAN: One of the most powerful typhoons in many years was on course to hit Japan’s Okinawa on Sunday, with meteorologists warning it could bring record rain and wind to the southern region.

Typhoon Bolaven, packing winds of up to 252 kilometres (157 miles) per hour, was east-southeast of Okinawa’s capital Naha, moving at a speed of 15 kilometres per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

“As the typhoon is moving slowly, turbulence in the sea is expected to continue for many hours,” the agency said, warning of strong winds and high waves of up to 13 metres (43 feet) through Monday.

The traffic system has been paralysed, with all flights to and from Naha airport and ships linking the main island with other places already cancelled, Kyodo News said.

AFP