Protest called off

HONG KONG – A Hong Kong women’s rights group cancelled a demonstration at the last minute on Saturday after police said violent groups might want to join the protest. The Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association was originally granted permission by Hong Kong police to hold a rare public protest on Sunday ahead of International Women’s Day, calling for labour rights, women’s rights and gender equality.

Call for probe

JAKARTA – Indonesian officials called for an investigation and an audit of state energy company Pertamina’s facilities after a fire at its storage facility killed 15. The fire, which started around 8pm (0100 GMT) on Friday from a fuel pipe at Pertamina’s Plumpang fuel storage depot in capital Jakarta, quickly spread to nearby houses and sent residents in the densely populated area into panic.

Chinese navy

MANILA – The Philippines said on Saturday it had spotted a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels around a contested Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, as territorial tensions mount in the area. The Philippine Coast Guard said 42 vessels believed to be crewed by Chinese maritime militia personnel were seen in the vicinity of Thitu island, while a Chinese navy vessel and coast guard ship were observed “slowly loitering” in the surrounding waters.

6 killed in blast

DHAKA — At least six people were killed and several injured on Saturday when a fire broke out following an explosion at an oxygen plant in southeastern Bangladesh, officials said. The death toll could rise as a rescue operation was ongoing at the plant at Sitakunda, 40km (25 miles) from the southeastern port city of Chittagong, they added. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion, a fire service official said.

Pact secured

NEGOTIATORS from more than 100 countries completed a UN treaty to protect the high seas on Saturday, a long-awaited step that environmental groups say will help reverse marine biodiversity losses and ensure sustainable development.