Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ former strongman president, has just pulled off a political comeback for the history books. He won the mayoral race on May 12 in his southern stronghold of Davao City while locked up some 11,000km away in The Hague, where he is on trial for crimes against humanity.

The overpowering smell of Davao’s famous durian may soon reach the biggest market for pungent fruit. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Wednesday said his country, the biggest importer of the fruit, had approved the entry of fresh durian from the Philippines.