Philippine environment minister says to uphold President Duterte’s open-pit mining ban

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his state of the nation address at Congress in Manila. Duterte has been against open-pit mining activities in the Philippines. (AFP)
Updated 04 October 2017
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Philippine environment minister says to uphold President Duterte’s open-pit mining ban

MANILA: Philippine Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Wednesday that he will uphold President Rodrigo Duterte’s plans to ban open-pit mining.
“We will eventually abide by the instruction of the president to stop open-pit mining in the future,” Cimatu told lawmakers during a confirmation hearing in Congress.
Duterte said last month he agreed with banning open-pit mining in the world’s top nickel ore exporter, given the environmental damage it causes, but would give mining firms time to find other ways to extract minerals.
Open-pit mining is formally allowed under the Philippines’ mining law, but Cimatu’s predecessor, Regina Lopez, slapped a ban on it during the 10 months she spent in office before being forced out after failing to win congressional confirmation.


Louvre opening delayed as staff meets to decide whether to resume strike

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Louvre opening delayed as staff meets to decide whether to resume strike

PARIS: The opening ​of France’s Louvre museum in Paris was delayed until ‌0900 ‌GMT ‌on ⁠Monday ​as ‌staff was meeting to decide whether to resume a ⁠strike ‌started in December ‍over ‍pay and ‍working conditions, museum employees said.
Staff ​on December 19 had voted ⁠to call off the strike until January 5.