Tiger enclosure wall too low, says zoo chief

The director of the zoo where a teenager was killed by an escaped tiger has acknowledge that the wall around the animal's pen was well below the recommended height. According to the Us Association of Zoos, the wall of a tiger exhibit should be at least 5m high. But the wall was only 3.8m high. The animal went on a rampage on Christmas day, mauling three visitor before it was shot to death by police. A teenager was killed and two other injured badly.

Three killed in Orisa as Hindus fight Christians

Police in eastern India's Orissa state killed at least three people when they opened fire on a group of hardline Hindus who set clashes between Hindus and Christians. The killing occured on Thursday, when the Hindus attack a police station in protest against lack of protection after a group of christian burned down several Hindu homes in an apparent retaliation against attacks on churches. At least 25 people, have been areested for suspected involvement in the violence.

Patients dies after 30 hospitals rejected her

An 89-year-old woman died after an ambulance crew spent two hours trying t30 hospitals before finding one that would accept her for treatment. That was about 2hours after her family had called for an ambulance. The women's heart stopped when she was taken to Osaka Minami Medical Centre.The other hospital have rejected the woman, claiming that they were full. Last year, a pregnant woman died in western Japan after being refused admission by about 20 hospital that say they were full. Critics said that long working hours and a government policy change several years ago to keep number of doctors down are to blame.

Veg prices up in rain-soaked Malaysia

The heavy rains that flooded parts of Malaysia may have subsided, but the bad news remains-prices of vegetables are likely to stay high in the run-up to Chinese New Year. The reason: increased demand, along with a bad drop in supply due to bad weather and flooding. Mr Chay added that farmers also have to factor in recent increases in the cost of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds into their prices. Prices of vegetable are now between 40 per cent and 50 per cent higher than normal. In addition the production had dropped about 20 per cent.

Singapore Red Cross has given out $83m

Three years after the Boxing day tsunami, money donated by people in Singapore to the earthquake and tsunami survivors continues to bring cheer and fresh start to people in the region. Homes, fishing boats, schools and even brick making factories are among the projects that $88 million in donations have paid for, said the Singapore Red Cross on Thursday. The natural disater claimed some 250,000 lives in the region.

New Word
disbursed-> pay: to pay out money, especially from a fund