Asia Briefs: Taiwan banning single use plastic items

Taiwan banning single use plastic items

TAIPEI • Taiwan is planning a blanket ban on single-use plastic items including straws, cups and shopping bags by 2030, said authorities yesterday. Major chain restaurants must stop providing plastic straws for in-store use from next year, a requirement that will expand to all dining outlets in 2020. Consumers will have to pay extra for all straws, plastic shopping bags, disposable utensils and beverage cups from 2025, ahead of a full ban on the single-use items five years later.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

More nations may face Filipino worker ban

MANILA • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he would extend his ban on sending workers to Kuwait to include other countries if investigations showed Filipinos were being seriously abused by employers elsewhere.

The country has suspended deployment of workers to the Gulf state since last month, after Mr Duterte said unchecked abuse had driven several Filipino domestic helpers there to suicide.

REUTERS

Malaysian rapper arrested over video

PETALING JAYA • Rapper Namewee was yesterday arrested amid investigations into his controversial Like A Dog video, which was accused of insulting Islam.

In an earlier Facebook post, he said he was at the police headquarters, adding: "I am not afraid as I believe in the country's justice system."

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Indian surgeons take out 2kg brain tumour

MUMBAI • Indian surgeons who removed a massive brain tumour in a marathon seven-hour procedure believe it could be the heaviest ever recorded.

31-year-old shopkeeper Santlal Pal had been carrying around a tumour weighing nearly two kilos before the surgery on Feb 14, affecting his vision and causing constant headaches.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 23, 2018, with the headline Asia Briefs: Taiwan banning single use plastic items. Subscribe