标签： Asia

Emergency response teams are engaged in a critical search operation following a catastrophic garbage landslide at a Philippine landfill that has left dozens missing and claimed at least one life. The incident occurred Thursday at the privately-operated Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, where a massive section of waste suddenly gave way, burying workers beneath tons of debris.

Authorities confirmed the death of a 22-year-old woman while 12 injured sanitation workers were successfully extracted from the rubble and hospitalized. Thirty-eight individuals remain unaccounted for as rescue efforts intensify, with approximately 300 personnel from multiple government agencies and civilian groups deployed to the scene. Heavy machinery including excavators, alongside ambulances and fire trucks, are visible throughout the operational area.

Cebu City Councillor Joel Garganera pointed to fundamental flaws in waste management practices as the likely cause, revealing to local publication The Freeman that operators had been engaged in dangerous soil mining operations. “They’ve been cutting into the mountain, mining the soil, and then piling garbage to form another mountain of waste,” Garganera stated, adding that the facility had degenerated from a sanitary landfill into “an open dumpsite.”

The 10-hectare (25-acre) Binaliw facility serves as a crucial waste management site for Cebu, the primary trading hub and transportation gateway for the Visayas region in the central Philippines. Such landfills represent common infrastructure across major Philippine urban centers, though questions about operational safety standards have emerged following this tragedy.

Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed via social media that all response teams “remain fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts” as the operation enters its most critical phase. While the exact trigger mechanism for the collapse remains under investigation, the incident has highlighted persistent challenges in waste management infrastructure across rapidly developing urban centers in the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines — A sea of predominantly barefoot Catholic devotees engulfed the streets of Manila on Friday during the annual procession of the revered Jesus the Nazarene statue, transforming one of Asia’s most significant religious gatherings into a platform for expressing public fury over an extensive corruption scandal involving influential lawmakers.

The centuries-old wooden effigy, ceremoniously placed upon a four-wheel carriage after a midnight mass attended by tens of thousands at a seaside park, embarked on its traditional 6-kilometer journey through Manila’s congested thoroughfares. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno projected participation would reach millions throughout the day and night, creating both a spiritual spectacle and a formidable security challenge for authorities.

Security forces deployed approximately 15,000 police officers supplemented by intelligence personnel to maintain order. Stringent measures included firearms and alcohol prohibitions, drone and backpack bans, and cellular signal jamming along the procession route. Medical teams from government and Red Cross agencies established first-aid stations throughout the area.

This year’s event coincided with escalating public anger regarding a corruption scandal that emerged last year, implicating numerous House and Senate members accused of receiving substantial kickbacks from construction firms. The scheme involved thousands of substandard or entirely fictitious flood control projects in a nation notoriously vulnerable to catastrophic flooding.

As devotees clad in maroon shirts jostled to touch the statue—believed to possess healing properties and the power to grant better health, employment, and prosperity—many incorporated political chants into their prayers. The rhythmic cry of “jail them now!” echoed through crowds, referencing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unfulfilled promise to incarcerate corrupt legislators by last Christmas.

Bishop Rufino Sescon utilized his homily at Rizal Park to deliver a scathing critique of officials implicated in televised congressional hearings who have resisted resignation despite overwhelming public outrage. “Enough is enough. Have mercy on the people. Have some shame. Step down voluntarily in the name of mercy and love,” he declared.

Sixty-two-year-old devotee Venus Lopez, carrying a replica statue, articulated similar sentiments: “I hope those corrupt government officials will go away. They don’t deserve to be seated in power.”

The historical statue, adorned with thorns and bearing a cross, arrived in Manila via Spanish galleon from Mexico in 1606. Its survival of shipboard fires, earthquakes, and World War II bombings has fostered beliefs in its mystical resilience. The event exemplifies the distinctive Filipino Catholicism that blends orthodox tradition with folk superstitions, including the annual Good Friday practice of voluntary crucifixions.

A fatal encounter between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good has ignited nationwide condemnation, raising profound questions about law enforcement accountability and the use of lethal force. The incident occurred during a federal operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot at close range through her vehicle’s side window.

Multiple bystander videos circulating on social media platforms depict a sequence where an officer approaches Good’s stationary vehicle, demands she open the door, and attempts to access the handle. As the car begins moving forward, a second ICE agent positioned near the front rapidly moves aside, draws his firearm, and discharges multiple shots through the side window at proximate range.

The Trump administration’s assertion that the agent faced an imminent threat stands in stark contrast to eyewitness testimonies and visual evidence. Social media users and public commentators have highlighted the discrepancy between official narratives and the documented events, with many noting the agent fired into the side window rather than facing an oncoming vehicle threat.

The aftermath footage further intensified public anger, showing agents allegedly celebrating the shooting and reportedly preventing medical personnel from providing immediate assistance to the wounded woman. Journalist Briahna Joy Gray described the scene as agents ‘congratulating one another with her blood still drying on the airbag.’

The rapid characterization of Good as a ‘domestic terrorist’ by government officials and right-wing commentators drew additional criticism, with many accusing authorities of attempting to discredit the victim rather than address the shooting’s circumstances. The incident has prompted widespread comparisons to authoritarian tactics, including references to George Orwell’s ‘1984’ regarding the dismissal of visual evidence.

Political responses have been forceful, with Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar calling for comprehensive investigation and legal action against ICE, while Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib renewed calls to abolish the agency entirely. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivered an expletive-laden directive for ICE to leave his city.

The tragedy has sparked broader conversations about state violence, with some commentators drawing parallels to international human rights concerns while others emphasized the distinctly American nature of the incident. The case has emerged as a polarizing moment in national discourse surrounding law enforcement practices and government accountability.

A grieving father in the United Arab Emirates has publicly shared his harrowing account of the final hours spent with his four sons before they perished in a devastating road accident on January 3rd. The emotional revelation came during a condolence gathering at Al Warqa Grand Mosque on Thursday, where hundreds of community members assembled to offer prayers and support to the bereaved family.

The Dubai-based family, originally from Kerala, India, had initially planned a camping excursion to Hatta. The children had enthusiastically participated in planning the itinerary, looking forward to their outdoor adventure. After setting up camp in Hatta on January 2nd, the boys expressed their desire to visit the Liwa festival instead, seeking to maximize their weekend enjoyment. The father, demonstrating typical parental devotion, agreed to this spontaneous change of plans without hesitation.

Tragedy struck during the return journey from Liwa when their vehicle was involved in a severe collision. The accident instantly claimed the lives of three boys and their housemaid, while the fourth son later succumbed to injuries at a medical facility. Both parents and their daughter sustained significant injuries in the crash.

The father, still recovering from his own physical injuries and confined to a wheelchair following surgery, spoke softly with visitors during the condolence gathering. He faces an extended recovery period of at least three weeks, while the children’s mother awaits scheduled surgery in the coming days. Family members indicate she requires both medical treatment and emotional preparation for the challenging journey ahead.

The community response has been overwhelming, with friends, neighbors, and relatives maintaining a constant presence at the family’s home since the tragedy. The Thursday morning gathering at the mosque saw more than a hundred mourners offering silent prayers and words of comfort, creating a powerful demonstration of collective support during this unimaginable loss.

A fatal assault on two brothers from India’s northeastern region has exposed deep-seated racial tensions and sparked nationwide demands for legal reforms. Anjel Chakma, 24, succumbed to stab wounds seventeen days after being attacked alongside his brother Michael in Dehradun on December 9. The siblings, who had migrated from Tripura for education, faced racial slurs before the physical assault occurred according to their father Tarun Chakma.

Uttarakhand police have detained five suspects but controversially denied racial motivations behind the violence—a position vehemently contested by the victims’ family. This incident has amplified longstanding concerns about systemic discrimination faced by northeastern communities in major Indian cities, where they frequently endure racial profiling, housing discrimination, and public harassment based on physical features.

The tragedy has triggered protests across multiple cities and revived painful memories of similar cases, including the 2014 killing of Nido Tania in Delhi. Activists note that despite government committees and recommendations following previous incidents, meaningful legislative action remains absent. The federal government’s crime reports notably exclude segregated data on racial violence, obscuring the scale of the problem.

For northeastern migrants like Ambika Phonglo and Mary Wahlang, daily microaggressions and overt racism have become routine experiences. Many resort to living in segregated neighborhoods for safety and cultural preservation. Alana Golmei of a government-formed monitoring committee emphasizes that dismissing such attacks as isolated incidents exacerbates the problem, noting that acceptance and acknowledgment must precede solutions.

The Chakma family’s tragedy has renewed calls for specific anti-racism legislation, with advocacy groups citing successful precedents in dowry and caste-based violence laws. As Tarun Chakma mourns his elder son, he faces an impossible choice regarding his surviving son’s education—balancing safety concerns against the pursuit of opportunity that originally motivated their journey from Tripura.