MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday warned Western countries not to treat the Philippines as their trash bin. "I’d like to say to the Western countries, do not make us a garbage dump," he said during the inauguration of a solar power project in Romblon. "You might be more powerful, more and more developed and rich. But your wealth does not translate into something like making other nations . . . api-api." The Philippines recently returned a shipload of garbage illegally exported to the country by Canada, a few years after the shipment arrived in Manila. The Canadian waste, marked as recyclable scrap, consisted of household trash, plastic bottles and bags, newspapers and used adult diapers. "We had that experience of Canada and the rest of the industrialized countries exporting their garbage in the guise of ‘yung magamit mo pa," he said. "Kaya ‘yung Canada nagpadala ng basura about so many years ago at ayaw kunin. Kaya sinabi ko, 'P***** i** mo, … [Read more...] about Duterte to Western countries: ‘Do not make us a garbage dump’
Bail denied for protester in journalist assault case
HONG KONG • A 19-year-old part-time hotel waiter was denied bail by a Hong Kong court on Monday for allegedly being involved in beating a journalist from China at Hong Kong International Airport. The suspect, Lai Yun-long, was accused of wounding Mr Fu Guohao, a reporter from China's nationalist tabloid Global Times. Lai also faces one count of assault causing bodily harm, and another of taking part in an unlawful assembly. No plea was entered on Monday at the Eastern Magistrates' Court. The case was adjourned to Oct 28 to allow police more time to investigate closed-circuit television footage to ascertain whether other people were involved in the assault as well. Despite wearing a reflective press vest, Mr Fu had his hands tied up behind his head by a group of masked protesters, who then assaulted him for about an hour. The incident happened when Mr Fu was covering a protest at the airport on the evening of Aug 13. He was later taken to hospital for treatment and was discharged … [Read more...] about Bail denied for protester in journalist assault case
China envoy blasts ‘ignorant’ critics of aid for Pacific isles
WELLINGTON • China's ambassador to Samoa yesterday labelled the critics of Beijing's activities in the Pacific islands as "ignorant" and "prejudiced", in the latest testy public missive from the Chinese diplomatic corps. Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific islands was a major theme at a tense regional summit in Tuvalu last week, where Australia tried to reassert leadership in an area it traditionally regards as its sphere of influence. Instead, Canberra faced criticism over its lack of action on climate change, with leaders like Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama saying they preferred China's brand of diplomacy to "condescending" Australia. Ambassador Chao Xiaoliang tried to seize the moment, dismissing Western charges that China's foreign-aid programme creates client states as inaccurate "Cold War" thinking. "Rather than pointing fingers at China's good deeds, those who keep on making groundless accusations and speculations might as well do more themselves to provide … [Read more...] about China envoy blasts ‘ignorant’ critics of aid for Pacific isles
Surbana staff to get boost in digital skills
As the construction industry moves to embrace technology, infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong will work with a union to help its employees boost their digital skills. A total of 630 of its 3,900 consultancy staff in Singapore will be trained over the next year in technology tools relevant to their jobs - such as drones, advanced building information modelling (BIM) and Audiance, a tool that facilitates data collection and site inspections. Surbana Jurong signed an agreement yesterday with the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union (Batu) to form a company training committee to drive several initiatives. National Trades Union Congress secretary-general Ng Chee Meng witnessed the signing. The new initiatives include identifying the relevant adaptive and technological skill sets for workers, developing mentorship programmes to help mentors learn how to guide employees, and ensuring all new and existing relevant technical staff are trained in three-dimensional … [Read more...] about Surbana staff to get boost in digital skills
More than a hundred migrants feared dead off Libya coast
CAIRO (REUTERS) - Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Tuesday (Aug 20) it fears that a boat packed with migrants sunk off the Libyan coast with more than a hundred people dead. "We have every reason to fear the worst - that over 100 lives were lost and nobody will ever know for sure," MSF said in a statement on Twitter. The Libyan coast guard was not immediately available for comment. Libya is a hub for migrants and refugees, many of whom try to reach Europe in unseaworthy boats. A boat carrying about 250 people, mainly from Eritrea and other sub-Saharan Africa and Arab countries, capsized last month off the coast near Komas, east of the capital Tripoli. Libyan coast guards and local fishermen rescued 134 people while about 115 were missing, bringing the death toll of Mediterranean migrants to over 600 this year. That put 2019 on course to be the sixth year in a row with more than 1,000 deaths, UNHCR spokesman Charlie Yaxley said at the time. … [Read more...] about More than a hundred migrants feared dead off Libya coast