Duterte bans foreign research ships
MANILA • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has banned all foreign scientific research off the country's Pacific coast and told the navy to chase away unauthorised vessels, despite earlier allowing Chinese oceanographers to operate there. There was no clear explanation for the about-face by Mr Duterte, who declared the move at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, according to a Facebook post by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol.
REUTERS
China confirms detention of bookseller
BEIJING • China confirmed yesterday that it had detained Swedish citizen and Hong Kong-based bookseller Gui Minhai, after his daughter said Chinese police had seized him from a train last month.
"Gui Minhai broke Chinese law and has already been subjected to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law by relevant Chinese authorities," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said in a statement on Monday that Gui's detention was a "very serious matter".
REUTERS
Japanese princess to postpone wedding
TOKYO • Japan's Princess Mako will postpone her wedding to commoner Kei Komuro to 2020, after her grandfather Emperor Akihito abdicates next year, public broadcaster NHK said yesterday.
The couple, who had been planning to marry this year, want more time to arrange their ceremony and prepare for married life, NHK said, citing the Imperial Household.
REUTERS
