Briefs | Singapore: Bakery pulls Lee Kuan Yew bun after social media roasting

A bakery chain apologized for a bun commemorating Singapore’s long-time leader Lee Kuan Yew and pulled it from stores after being accused of poor taste. BreadTalk said on its Facebook page that its bun was intended to show respect for Lee but it now understands it was an insensitive way to remember his legacy. The death of Lee at age 91 on Monday has been met with an outpouring of grief in Singapore. Lee was Singapore’s prime minister for 31 years until 1990 and is regarded by Singaporeans as the architect of the city-state’s economic success. “We would like to convey our deepest apologies with regard to the commemorative bun,” the company said in the Facebook post dated Wednesday. The nondescript bun caused a wave of criticism on social media though also some came to BreadTalk’s defense. The company expected sales of the bun to total 30,000 Singapore dollars (USD22,000) and said it will still donate that amount to charity. Tens of thousands of Singaporeans are queuing for hours to pay respects to Lee before a state funeral on Sunday.

Philippines: Manila says China rushing construction in disputed sea

The Philippines’ top diplomat says China has been rushing construction projects including massive land reclamations in the disputed South China Sea in hopes of forestalling any legal moves against its vast territorial claims. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told a news forum yesterday that the Chinese construction boom aims to bolster its territorial claims and control to virtually the entire South China Sea. Del Rosario says China’s territorial claims are invalid and excessive and is in violation of international law. The Philippines has filed an arbitration case and protested China’s reclamations in submerged reefs, which are also claimed by Manila and China’s other neighbors. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately comment but in the past, Beijing has asserted its right to undertake any activity in territories it has claimed.