Thailand to hold fresh election on July 20th

Philippine military clashes with Rebels; 15 fatalities.

Philippine military clashes with rebels leave 15 dead

The US has helped the Philippine military battle the Abu Sayyaf over the years

 

 

Heavy fighting in the southern Philippines has resulted in the deaths of 14 militants and one soldier, military officials say.

The clashes happened at a remote camp of Abu Sayyaf rebels near Patikul town in Sulu province late on Tuesday.
The Abu Sayyaf were using the camp as a training ground and a base for their operations, military officials said.
The Islamic group, which has links to Al-Qaeda, has been weakened over the years with the help of the US.
The Abu Sayyaf is on the US list of terror groups and has earned a reputation for kidnapping for ransom.
The militants are suspected of abducting a Chinese tourist and a Filipina hotel worker from Malaysia's Sabah Island this month.
Officials believe that the militant group only has a few hundred members left.
The rebels were trying to retake their camp in Patikul after soldiers managed to capture it on Monday, reports say.
"They tried to overwhelm our marines to regain their camp but we have back-up forces nearby and close air support," military spokesman Captain Ryan Lacuesta was quoted by AP news agency as saying.
"They resorted to mortar and M203 rifle grenade fire so our wounded mostly were hit by shrapnel."
At least 19 soldiers were also wounded in the clashes, reports say.
The clashes come a few days after US President Barack Obama visited Manila as part of his Asia tour. Before his visit, representatives from both countries signed a 10-year military pact which allows a bigger US military presence in the country.
Rotating US troops in the Philippine south have been helping the Philippine military fight the Abu Sayyaf for more than a decade.
Another rebel group in the Philippine south, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, last month signed a landmark peace deal with the government, bringing an end to one of Asia's longest and deadliest conflicts.

Austrailia & Japan's historic trade agreement

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26917871

Vietnam jails promient blogger

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26627304


The issue comes down to how much censorship is neccessary to protect a state from conflicting interests. Phan Viet Dao, 62, was found guilty for "absuing democratic freedoms that infringe interests of the state". Mr. Dao is critical of the government, and has said that while his information was erroneous, the information he posted "was not endangering the goverment's security">

  His blog posts contained the sensitive territorial conflict with China..recently there was another man who was sent jail for nearly identical problems; the vietnamese government has been detaining writers for years.

Abusing the rights is in violation of a very vague Article 258 of Vietnam's criminal code.

Freedom of the press is definitely welcome in Vietnam, as all newspaper and media outlets are strictly regulated by the government.

Thailand to lift emergency rule

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26613069

Following weeks anti-government protests; PM Yingluck Shinawatra has declared that the emergency rule filed to handle government protests is officially in order.

  Protests started because people accused Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, of running Thailand's government.

  So far, 23 people have been killed during or in the aftermath of the protests.

  On Feb. 2nd, protesters blocked the main entrance to polling station, and blocked major road junctions, as well as government ministries. and without the backing of an army the emergency response was not efficent.

Now, despite dwindling protesters; there is of course, political tension that still has yet to be resolved.

China media: The rise of Russia

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-26660494

   There is much concern in China after Russia's victory in Crimea. The Chinese people basically are worried that......

Australia Great Barrier Reef dredge dumping plan approved

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The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral structure and home to rich marine life

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Australian authorities have approved a project to dump dredged sediment in the Great Barrier Reef marine park as part of a project to create one of the world's biggest coal ports.

The decision was made by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Scientists had urged it not to back the project, saying the sediment could smother or poison coral.

Several companies want to use the Abbot Point port to export coal reserves from the Galilee Basin area.

Abbot Point lies south of Townsville on the Queensland coast.

Late last year, the government approved an application for the coal terminal to be expanded. The dredging is needed to allow ships into the port.

'Strict controls'

The approved disposal site for the dredged sediment is located approximately 25km (16 miles) east-north-east of the port, GBRMPA said in a statement.

"It's important to note the seafloor of the approved disposal area consists of sand, silt and clay and does not contain coral reefs or seagrass beds," it said.

The disposal operation would be "subject to strict environmental conditions", it added.

Authority Chairman Dr Russell Reichelt said the decision reflected "the agency's view that port development along the Great Barrier Reef coastline should be limited to existing ports".

"As a deepwater port that has been in operation for nearly 30 years, Abbot Point is better placed than other ports along the Great Barrier Reef coastline to undertake expansion as the capital and maintenance dredging required will be significantly less than what would be required in other areas."

Earlier this month, 233 scientists signed a letter to GBRMPA urging it to reject the plan, and environmental groups condemned the decision.

"This go-ahead for dumping is one more body blow for the reef, which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries," Greenpeace Reef Campaigner Louise Matthiesson said in a statement.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral structure, rich in marine life. It stretches for more than 2,600km (1,680 miles) along Australia's eastern coast.

Last year UNESCO warned that it could be placed on the World Heritage list of sites in danger, unless action was taken to improve water quality.

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