Duterte open to peace talks with Abu Sayyaf

MANILA • Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte says he could be open to peace talks with the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and kidnapped seven more.

"The Abu Sayyaf is not my enemy. I know it is connected with the issue of Mindanao," Mr Duterte told supporters in a speech in the central city of Cebu on Saturday, referring to the rebellion-torn south of the country.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Myanmar cops destroy $81m worth of drugs

YANGON • Myanmar police yesterday torched drugs with a street value of nearly US$60 million (S$81 million) as authorities struggle to tackle the scourge of poppy cultivation and shut down pill laboratories in lawless border zones.

The impoverished nation remains the world's second biggest producer of opium from which heroin is made, according to the United Nations.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Kowloon building fire finally doused

HONG KONG • A deadly fire that engulfed an industrial building in Hong Kong's East Kowloon was "largely put out" on Saturday night after burning for over 100 hours and killing two firefighters.

The fire department said it had experienced difficulty controlling the fire, which broke out last Tuesday.

XINHUA