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Beijing hospital fire death toll rises to 29
Chinese authorities said on Wednesday they had detained a dozen people over a hospital fire in Beijing that left at least 29 dead and forced desperate survivors to jump out of windows to escape. The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday afternoon at the Changfeng Hospital in China's capital, killed mostly patients, and left scores of other people injured. Dramatic footage posted to social media showed people clinging to ropes and jumping from the building, while others perched on external air conditioning units in a desperate bid to shelter from the flames. The Fengtai district's deputy mayor expressed his "deep condolences" over the deaths of the 16 women and 13 men killed in the inferno, the deadliest in Beijing in over two decades. "We feel deep remorse and guilt," Li Zongrong told journalists as he announced the toll at a press conference on Wednesday. "I hereby express our deep condolences for the victims, and express our sincere respects to the victims' families, the injured and their relatives, and apologise to the people of the whole city," he said. Twelve people, including the hospital's director, have been detained in connection with the fire, said Sun Haitao from Beijing's public security bureau, adding that representatives from a company renovating the facility were among those being held. A preliminary probe revealed the blaze had been caused by "sparks generated during the internal renovation and construction of the inpatient department of the hospital", according to Zhao Yang from the city fire brigade. The sparks "ignited the volatile elements of the flammable paint on the site", Zhao said. 39 hospitalized State broadcaster CCTV reported that out of the dead, 26 were patients at the hospital, two were hospital staff and one was a patient's family member. State-run People's Daily reported that as of Wednesday morning 39 people were being treated in hospital with injuries, and another three had been discharged. Top city officials visited the hospital shortly after the fire, which broke out at around 1 pm on Tuesday and was extinguished half an hour later. Beijing party secretary Yin Li vowed to "quickly identify the cause of the accident and hold the relevant responsible persons accountable", according to the Beijing Daily. AFP journalists on Wednesday saw dozens of people outside the entrance to the hospital, where a large number of police officers were stationed. Some of the hospital's windows appeared blackened and at least one was broken. The facade of one of the hospital buildings was completely blackened by soot. AFP journalists saw people who appeared to be investigators taking photos from inside the blackened building, with the interior visibly damaged by the flames. Many family members lost contact with patients in the aftermath of the disaster, the China Youth Daily said in a separate report on Wednesday, adding that many of them were elderly people with mobility problems. A police officer on the scene on Wednesday told AFP the city "will probably make the appropriate arrangements" to take care of victims' relatives. The hospital is located in the capital's western urban area, about 25 minutes by car from Tiananmen Square. Deadly fires are common in China due to weak safety standards and lax enforcement. Tuesday's tragedy was the deadliest in the Chinese capital since a June 2002 fire at an internet cafe killed 25 students. Ten people died in an apartment block blaze in northwestern Xinjiang in November, sparking protests against Covid-19 lockdowns blamed for hindering rescue efforts. And 38 people were killed in a fire at a factory in central China, also in November, with authorities blaming workers for illegal welding. The post Beijing hospital fire death toll rises to 29 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pakistan police protect Chinese engineer accused of blasphemy
Pakistani police have taken a Chinese dam project supervisor into custody for protection after local workers accused him of blasphemy against Islam. A local administration official in Dasu in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province also said army and paramilitary troops were deployed “to ensure the safety of the engineers” at the hydropower construction project following the protest of 400 Muslim workers against the supervisor. “The Chinese national has been taken to a safe place as a precautionary measure,” Muhammad Nazir, a police official in Dasu, told Agence France-Presse. The official said the supervisor and workers exchanged heated words after the former accused the latter of slowing their pace of work during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. The workers denied the accusation and later accused the engineer of making blasphemous remarks sparking the protest. A written complaint filed with the police identified him only as a heavy transport supervisor by the name of “Mr Tian” and said that his remarks on Saturday “sparked tensions.” Nazir said “formal police action” has not yet started against the Chinese national in Dasu “as authorities are trying to solve this issue peacefully.” Another police official said that “local clerics and village elders are negotiating with the workers to solve this issue.” Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even rumors of sacrilegious remarks can incite lynch mobs and deadly violence. In December 2021, a Sri Lankan factory manager was beaten to death and set ablaze by a mob that accused him of blasphemy in the city of Sialkot in eastern Pakistan. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, though no executions have ever been carried out for the crime. The post Pakistan police protect Chinese engineer accused of blasphemy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP busts KFR group preying on POGO workers
BY AARON RECUENCO Police busted a foreigner-led kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group, which was tagged in the kidnap-slay of a Chinese whose cadaver was dumped in Talisay town of Batangas, during a raid in their lair in San Pedro, Laguna over the weekend. Nabbed were Qun Deng, reportedly the leader of the group; Kang […].....»»
332 illegal workers nabbed
Authorities have arrested 332 foreigners, mostly Chinese, for allegedly working without permits in Bamban, Tarlac......»»
2 Chinese POGO workers nabbed
Two Chinese men working for a Philippine offshore gaming operator in Makati were arrested on Thursday for allegedly illegally detaining a Chinese woman......»»
3 Chinese nationals nabbed for violating Davao City’s firecracker ban
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 February) – Three Chinese nationals who used pyrotechnics to welcome the Chinese New Year here are facing charges for violating City Ordinance 060-02 or the firecracker ban. Arrested by operatives of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for using pyrotechnics at the Royal Pines Subdivision along Shrine Hills in Matina […].....»»
5 foreigners nabbed in Albay
Four Chinese and a South African have been arrested in separate operations conducted by the Bureau of Immigration in Legazpi, Albay......»»
4 nabbed for kidnap try on Chinese trader
Four persons were arrested for the foiled kidnapping of a Chinese businesswoman in Pasay yesterday, according to the Southern Police District......»»
Over 123,000 Filipinos benefit from Taiwan wage hike — Meco chief
MANILA, Philippines — Over 123,000 Filipino factory workers in Taiwan are expected to benefit from the country’s landmark minimum wage law starting January 1, 2024, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) chairman Silvestre Bello III said on Sunday. Bello said out of the 151,562 OFWs in Taiwan, the new wage law is expected to benefit.....»»
To project power globally, China has become the superpower of seafood
A four-year investigation from The Outlaw Ocean Project shows that workers of a Chinese distant-water squid fleet are often held captive in inhumane conditions on Chinese fishing ships. Migrant workers from the Philippines and Indonesia comprise most of the crew aboard......»»
Lenovo treats Phl as top Southeast Asian market
Even if neighboring countries in the Southeast Asian region are advantageous in terms of being technology savvy, the Philippines remains an integral market according to an official of Lenovo, a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing consumer electronics, personal computers, software, business solutions, and related services. “We see strong demand for the Philippines, the only question is how the consumers get the technology. The pandemic has even made the demand for the Philippines surge because of the digital transformation, unlike pre-pandemic where everyone is scrambling. Right now, because of the transformation, growth is very evident. In other words, investments, including Lenovo technologies are still in demand in the market,” according to Giancarlo Nogales from the Infrastructure Solutions Services Sales of Lenovo Philippines at the sidelines of the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit at the Dusit Thani in Mactan Cebu. “In terms of devices, the Philippines is actually doing well,” he added. Last August, the company said that over the next three years, Lenovo is committing a further $1 billion in investment for artificial intelligence that will focus on providing AI devices, AI-ready, and AI-optimized computing infrastructure, and embedded AI-generated content into the intelligent solutions of vertical industries to help customers improve their productivity. Lenovo in September 2023 has unveiled new cutting-edge tech tools and essentials tailored to empower the dynamic, evolving needs of today’s business end-users. It said that the new monitor, software, and accessories are not only designed to boost the capabilities of today’s remote and hybrid workforces but also to address significant challenges faced by businesses as they digitize operations across departments. “Lenovo research shows that managing a remote workforce and global teams remain central tasks for CIOs.1. That is why the new offerings integrate impressive processing power, immersive 3D, and advanced security to create a unified, human-centered experience,” the company said. Further, Nogales added that sales for Lenovo in the Philippines will continue to soar as the country has a bigger population which connotes demand compared to other nations in SE Asia. What Lenovo can count on with the Philippines is the demand for laptops and tablets that are now being used by students, educators, workers, and even the government. “Actually, we have an ongoing engagement with the government sector. I was at an event with the DICT (Department of Information and Communications) and we had discussions with the Department of Education as well, but we still understand what they are looking for. Of course, with DepEd, it’s a big agency, and what I can say is we are working with them across whatever we can offer—cloud technologies, among others,” he told the DAILY TRIBUNE. Nogales said he sees an ongoing digital transformation within organizations and will continue over the coming years. Digital transformation is an ongoing journey Meanwhile, VST ECS president and CEO Jimmy Go stressed that in the ever-evolving world of technology, organizations are charting a course - through a landscape that has seen profound advancement in recent years. “It's important to understand that digital transformation is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey. Every day, we bear witness to the unveiling of new digital technologies. In this dynamic environment, the lines between the physical and digital worlds are blurring, creating a phenomenon known as phygital convergence," he said. He said organizations nowadays stand at the threshold of a remarkable technological revolution. “Generative AI is the talk of the town with Chat GPT and other AI, offering organizations the power to intelligently automate customer experiences and streamline internal operations. The implications of this technology are far-reaching. Microsoft is launching CoPilot and most software applications are incorporating AI in their applications. Gartner predicts that by 2030, a staggering 80 percent of people will interact with smart robots daily, and in just two years, these smart robots will become workforce partners for 90 percent of global companies,” he said. Further, Go stressed that AI and machine learning, once a novel concept, have become integral to the products and services offered by major companies. “A mere decade ago, we were learning to communicate with machines. Today, machines understand and adapt to our language, erasing the boundaries between humans and technology. While AI is currently the headline in the tech world, we must not lose sight of the critical need to modernize our IT infrastructure,” he stated. For organizations to embrace technology, he said it’s a pivotal step in allowing organizations to embrace the latest technology trends, including Multi Clouds, Quantum computing, Data explosion, RPA, Generative AI, and more. “Investments in Connectivity solutions, Digital Infrastructure, Cloud technologies, Cybersecurity, Big data, Storage, Automation, and Collaboration tools remain vital to prepare for the ever-evolving Tech landscape. In the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars, Technology plays a very important and critical role in their war strategies. Computers, AI, Starlink, and drones are heavily used in their strategies,” he said. The post Lenovo treats Phl as top Southeast Asian market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight
Once effectively banned, Chinese science fiction has exploded into the mainstream, embraced by the government and public alike –- inviting scrutiny of a genre that has become known for its expanding diversity and relative freedom. Its new status was epitomized by this week's Worldcon, the world's oldest and most influential sci-fi gathering, which closed Sunday after taking place in China for the first time. Held in the gleaming new Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the event's star was Liu Cixin, author of the international phenomenon "Three-Body" series and inspiration for the domestic blockbuster "Wandering Earth". But the wider science fiction fandom has become a rare space where diverse voices have flourished and a vast array of issues -- social, environmental, even sometimes political -- can be explored. "In its nature, part of sci-fi is talking about the present," award-winning author Chen Qiufan told AFP. "It takes advantage of talking about outer space, or being set in different times, but reflects the human condition right now." Chen's own novel "The Waste Tide" is set in a dystopian future in China, where migrant e-waste workers toil in hazardous conditions, exploited by corrupt conglomerates. He grew up near Guiyu, once one of the largest e-waste dumps in the world. Ecological destruction, urbanization, social inequality, gender, and corruption, to name just a few –- "these issues are intersectional and intertwined with each other", said Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's Liu Xi. Together, they "allow everyone to understand Chinese writers' exploration of Chinese society", she said. That can be rare to find in today's China, where the space for political and artistic expression has shrunk drastically over the last decade under President Xi Jinping. Spiritual pollution Historically, science fiction has had a turbulent relationship with Chinese authorities -– it effectively disappeared during the Cultural Revolution and then was banned as "spiritual pollution" in the 1980s. Though it returned, it remained relatively obscure. Writer Regina Kanyu Wang said it was only at university that she met other fans -- together they formed one of the smaller clubs on campus. Sci-fi was not taken seriously, and seen as something for children and young adults, Chen said. That had its advantages. "There was a lot of freedom... because nobody was reading science fiction, (authors) could just do whatever they wanted," the University of Zurich's Jessica Imbach told AFP. The global success of the "Three-Body" series changed everything, catapulting its epic themes of technological prowess and the fate of humanity into the public consciousness. "Whether you like science fiction or not, the social reality we are facing is becoming more and more like science fiction," said Yu Xuying from Hong Kong Metropolitan University. "We live in a high-tech era. And then your daily life is completely technological," she said. The pace of digital change in China, already fast, was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cash has all but disappeared, and stringent health regulations further enhanced the state's significant surveillance capacity. The international interest spike in Chinese sci-fi is also related to real-world concerns, Chen believes. "I think there are different layers of reasons for the phenomenon," he said. "But a major one is the rising economic and technological power of China on the world stage." A good vehicle China's government has been happy to capitalize on all this. "At a national level, science fiction is a good vehicle for conveying the country's discourse on its science and technology strength," said Yu. It can also help "highlight the relationship between the Chinese dream (a Xi-era aspirational slogan) and science", she said. Authorities have put their money where their mouth is. The nebula-shaped Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, was built at lightspeed in just a year to coincide with Worldcon. The event, historically fan-led and funded, this year was a "capitalistic initiative, coming top-down from the Chinese government", said Chen. "They want sci-fi to be the name card of the city, showing China's openness and inclusiveness to the world," he said. Government attention comes with potential risk. "The Three-Body Problem" has a different structure in English, with the narrative beginning with a violent Cultural Revolution scene. In the original Chinese, it was buried halfway through the book to make it less conspicuous, the translator Ken Liu was told. Liu told the New York Times in 2019 that increasingly, "it's gotten much harder for me to talk about the work of Chinese authors without... causing them trouble". Some works he has translated into English, deemed too sensitive, have never been published in Chinese at all. "If you're very marginal if you have low print numbers in China, then it's OK, you have more leeway. If you're doing a mega big-budget movie... it's much more complicated," said Imbach. "That's what's now also happening with science fiction," she said. "As it's becoming more mainstream, there is increased scrutiny." The post Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beer-peeing scandalizes China brewer Tsingtao
One of China’s biggest beermakers says it has opened an investigation after a video appearing to show a factory employee urinating on raw ingredients went viral this week. The clip, published online on Thursday, purportedly shows a male worker at a Tsingtao Brewery Co. warehouse clambering into a high-walled container and relieving himself onto its contents. The footage circulated widely on Chinese social media, racking up tens of millions of views on the popular platform Weibo. Tsingtao said on Friday that it had contacted the police over the incident and an investigation was ongoing. “Our company attaches high importance to the relevant video that emerged from Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on 19 October” the beermaker said in a statement. “We reported the incident to the police at the earliest opportunity, and public security organs are involved in the investigation,” it added. “At present, the batch of malt in question has been completely sealed. The company continues to strengthen its management procedures and ensure product quality.” Tsingtao, China’s second-largest brewer, is one of the country’s best-known beverage brands, and its tall bottles of crisp lager are a fixture of bars and restaurants across East Asia. In recent years, the Hong Kong-listed company has sought to capitalize on the changing tastes of younger Chinese drinkers by diversifying into craft ales and other products. WITH AFP The post Beer-peeing scandalizes China brewer Tsingtao appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Top China beermaker opens probe after worker urination video
One of China's biggest beermakers said it had opened an investigation after a video appearing to show a factory employee urinating on raw ingredients went viral this week. The clip, published online on Thursday, purportedly shows a male worker at a Tsingtao Brewery Co. warehouse clambering into a high-walled container and relieving himself onto its contents. The footage circulated widely on Chinese social media, racking up tens of millions of views on the popular platform Weibo. Tsingtao said on Friday that it had contacted the police over the incident and an investigation was ongoing. "Our company attaches high importance to the relevant video that emerged from Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on October 19," the beermaker said in a statement. "We reported the incident to the police at the earliest opportunity, and public security organs are involved in the investigation," it added. "At present, the batch of malt in question has been completely sealed. The company continues to strengthen its management procedures and ensure product quality." Many social media users reacted to the video with anger and voiced support for one of China's best-known beverage brands. "I suggest the company takes this man to court and gets him to pay compensation for the damages," read one popular Weibo response to the company's statement. "Investigate this thoroughly! Always stand up for our national champion brands!" wrote another user. Hong Kong-listed Tsingtao is China's second-largest brewer, and its tall bottles of crisp lager are perennial fridge-fillers in bars across East Asia. In recent years, the company has sought to capitalise on the changing tastes of younger Chinese drinkers by diversifying into craft ales and other products. Some web users were not about to pass up the chance to make a wry quip about the country's famously light and fizzy mass-market brews. "I've always said the beer here is like horse pee. Turns out I was wrong," one of them commented. "Thanks, I think I'll have wine instead," quipped another. The post Top China beermaker opens probe after worker urination video appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 Chinese working illegally nabbed
The Bureau of Immigration announced on Friday in Manila the arrest of four Chinese nationals in separate operations in Palawan. The four were identified as Lin Yongzhen, 45; Zhang Haicong, 49; Lin Tsung-Te, 58; and Zhang Jinfei, 47. They were arrested over immigration-related violations, including working without the proper permits, misrepresenting themselves as Filipino citizens, and involvement with a crime group. According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the operations were conducted in coordination with government intelligence units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Bureau of Investigation. The foreigners were held at the BI’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while facing deportation cases. Lin Yongzhen and Zhang Haicong were arrested in El Nido. Lin was found to be working under a tourist visa, while Zhang was found to be working under a working visa under a separate company. Zhang Haicong and Lin Tsung-Te, on the other hand, were arrested in Taytay. Zhang possessed a working visa, but he was working at a different worksite. Lin failed to present his passport and was found to have been overstaying since 2016. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinfei was arrested in Puerto Princesa. He was found to be working in the area despite holding a working visa in a different location, in violation of immigration rules. The BI said the Chinese were all found to be working in fisheries near naval bases. The post 4 Chinese working illegally nabbed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tesla sued after Black workers called ‘monkey’
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Tesla for alleged racism at its Silicon Valley car plant. Black workers at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, have routinely endured stereotyping, racial insults and hostility since at least 2015, according to the suit filed on Thursday. Tesla also retaliated against Black workers who opposed such abuse, according to the lawsuit. “The racial misconduct was frequent, ongoing, inappropriate, unwelcome and occurred across all shifts, departments and positions,” the commission said. The commission said Black workers routinely endured racist slurs including variations of the “N-word,” along with “monkey” and “boy.” Racist graffiti at the plant included swastikas, nooses and threats, according to the suit. Some of the graffiti was allegedly on vehicles rolling off the production line. Black Tesla workers who complained of racist treatment found themselves switched to undesirable duties or shifts, written up unjustly or even discharged, the lawsuit maintained. Tesla supervisors and managers witnessed racial abuses but did not intervene, and Tesla failed to take steps to address the misconduct, according to the suit. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages along with compensation for wronged Black workers and an order that Tesla curb racism at the factory. WITH AFP The post Tesla sued after Black workers called ‘monkey’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trafficking victims have to pay for freedom
The Bureau of Immigration reported that a male trafficking victim was repatriated on 22 September after being forced to work as a scammer for a Chinese company in Myanmar. The authorities identified the victim as “Gio,” 33 years old. He left the country in September 2022 with two other friends, claiming that they were merely traveling to Thailand for a vacation. However, the victim admitted that after his repatriation, he was recruited by a certain “Liza” whom he met on Facebook and was lured to work as a customer service representative. He was promised a salary of up to P100,000 per month. Gio said that his recruiter asked him to pay P20,000 for his travel expenses, which were deducted from his salary. He added that after arriving in Thailand, he was transferred to Myawaddy, Myanmar southeast of the country and close to the border with Thailand. According to Gio, he was forced to work as an online love scammer by attracting foreign victims to invest in pseudo-cryptocurrency accounts. He received a salary of P60,000 a month for six months, far from what was promised to him by his recruiter. He was only able to go back home after collecting P200,000 from his friends and family to pay his company for his release. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the same modus has been observed since last year, and victims are often promised high salaries but end up in debt. As early as October 2022, the BI chief had already sounded the alarm on the modus targeting Filipinos to work for companies that operate online scams such as catfishing. Tansingco added that this is a case of double trafficking, wherein the victims are trafficked by making them agree through false promises, and then they will be forced to be part of a scamming syndicate, making it hard for them to seek help and repatriation. The National Bureau of Investigation and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided assistance to the victim. The post Trafficking victims have to pay for freedom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trafficking victim pays P200K for freedom
The Bureau of Immigration reported that a male trafficking victim was repatriated on 22 September after being forced to work as a scammer for a Chinese company in Myanmar. The authorities identified the victim as "Gio", 33 years old. He left the country in September last year with two other friends, claiming that they were merely traveling to Thailand for a vacation. However, the victim admitted after his repatriation that he was recruited by a certain "Liza" whom he met on Facebook. Liza offered him a customer service representative job with a monthly salary of up to P100,000. The victim admitted to accepting the offer. Gio said that his recruiter asked him to pay P20,000 for his travel expenses, which were deducted from his salary. He added that after arriving in Thailand, he was transferred to Myawaddy, Myanmar, which is close to the border of Thailand. According to Gio, he was forced to work as an online love scammer by attracting foreign victims to invest in pseudo-cryptocurrency accounts. He received a salary of P60,000 a month for six months, far from what was promised to him by his recruiter. He was only able to go back home after collecting P200,000 from his friends and family to pay his company for his release. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the same modus has been observed since last year, and victims are often promised with high salaries but end up in debt. As early as October 2022, the BI chief had already sounded the alarm on the modus targeting Filipinos to work for companies that operate online scams, such as catfishing. Tansingco added that this is a case of double trafficking, wherein the victims are trafficked by making them agree through false promises, and then they will be forced to be part of a scamming syndicate, making it hard for them to seek help and repatriation. The National Bureau of Investigation and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided assistance to the victim. The post Trafficking victim pays P200K for freedom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trafficking victim pay P200K for freedom
The Bureau of Immigration reported that a male trafficking victim was repatriated on 22 September after being forced to work as a scammer for a Chinese company in Myanmar. The authorities identified the victim as "Gio", 33 years old. He left the country in September last year with two other friends, claiming that they were merely traveling to Thailand for a vacation. However, the victim admitted after his repatriation that he was recruited by a certain "Liza" whom he met on Facebook. Liza offered him a customer service representative job with a monthly salary of up to P100,000. The victim admitted to accepting the offer. Gio said that his recruiter asked him to pay P20,000 for his travel expenses, which were deducted from his salary. He added that after arriving in Thailand, he was transferred to Myawaddy, Myanmar, which is close to the border of Thailand. According to Gio, he was forced to work as an online love scammer by attracting foreign victims to invest in pseudo-cryptocurrency accounts. He received a salary of P60,000 a month for six months, far from what was promised to him by his recruiter. He was only able to go back home after collecting P200,000 from his friends and family to pay his company for his release. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the same modus has been observed since last year, and victims are often promised with high salaries but end up in debt. As early as October 2022, the BI chief had already sounded the alarm on the modus targeting Filipinos to work for companies that operate online scams, such as catfishing. Tansingco added that this is a case of double trafficking, wherein the victims are trafficked by making them agree through false promises, and then they will be forced to be part of a scamming syndicate, making it hard for them to seek help and repatriation. The National Bureau of Investigation and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided assistance to the victim. The post Trafficking victim pay P200K for freedom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nine killed in Taiwan golf ball factory fire
At least nine people were killed in a fire at a golf ball factory in southern Taiwan over the weekend, including four firefighters who died in an explosion, officials said Monday. The fire, which began Friday evening and raged all night, also injured more than 100 people, mostly workers in the factory in Pingtung county, according to the local government. One person was still listed as missing as further testing was required to verify the identity of somebody fragments found at the scene, a county official told AFP. President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials visited the scene Saturday to express condolences to the victims' families and vowed to investigate the cause of the fire. An official with the Pingtung Fire Department told local media that chemical peroxide stored inside the factory could have been the cause of the one large and several smaller explosions. Several people were trapped inside due to the blasts, which caused a section of the factory roof to collapse. The post Nine killed in Taiwan golf ball factory fire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»