Philippine imposes public smoking ban
AFP, Manila
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order that will impose a wide-ranging ban on smoking in public, reinforcing some of the toughest anti-tobacco measures in Asia.
Smoking cigarettes will be banned in many public places, while selling tobacco within 100 metres (330 feet) of schools and other areas where children gather could attract jail terms, according to the order published late Thursday.
Chinese jets intercept US aircraft
AFP, Washington
Two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American military plane over the East China Sea, media in the United States have reported, citing US officials.
NBC News said the US aircraft, a WC-135 Constant Phoenix, was conducting a routine mission in international airspace Wednesday when it was intercepted over the East China Sea by two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft.
The WC-135 is a so-called “sniffer plane” designed to scan the atmosphere for signs of nuclear activity.
India, S’pore begin naval exercise in
South China Sea
AP, New Delhi
Anti-submarine warfare is the focus of a week-long joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore in the South China Sea from Thursday, the Indian Navy said.
This comes as India has repeatedly expressed concern over the presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean, and on the growing presence of China in the international waters.
German Parliament passes tougher migrant measures
AP, Berlin
Germany’s Parliament has passed new measures making it easier to deport migrants whose asylum applications have been denied, and monitor and control those deemed dangerous.
In a law passed late Thursday night, Germany’s migration agency will be allowed to evaluate cellphone data of migrants who arrive without proper documents, and permitted to share data with other authorities in situations considered dangerous.
