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Philippines
Security forces clashed with about 200 militants from the Moro National Liberation Front for a second day in the southern port city of Zamboanga in Mindanao. At least four people have been killed, and some 180 civilians are being used as human shields by the militants. The city has been put on lockdown as residents have fled the fighting; over 1,000 troops have been called in, and the government is trying to negotiate a resolution. The clash began before dawn yesterday when the militants stormed the city after battling with Philippine naval forces in the port.
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Philippines
Suspected Islamist militants detonated a bomb in the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao province, wounding a soldier. A second bomb was defused at the scene by security forces. Authorities suspect that militants opposed to peace talks between the government and the main rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, were behind the bombing. A jihadist group called the “Islamic Movement in the Philippines” threatened US and Philippine interests; it also asked for support in establishing the “Islamic Emirate of the Philippines.”
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Philippines
Philippines – Increase in US Troops Not Permanent
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Abu Sayyaf
News Analysis: Bombings could impact on peace process with Moro rebels
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Philippines
Security forces in Basilan raided a hideout of Abu Sayyaf leader Nurhassan Jamiri, killing seven militants; one soldier was killed and eight more wounded in the operation. During the firefight, Jamiri led militants toward a Moro Islamic Liberation Front stronghold, at which point the security forces retreated to avoid clashing with MILF. Defense Secretary Gazmin and Foreign Secretary del Rosario told Philippine congressional leaders about the government’s plans to begin negotiations with the US on the implementation of “our agreed policy of increased rotational presence” of US troops.
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Philippines
A powerful bomb exploded in Cotabato city as a city administrator’s bullet-proof SUV was passing by, killing at least six people, including the official’s two bodyguards and a policeman, and injuring 25 more. Last week another bombing on Mindanao killed eight people and injured dozens more. Islamist militants are suspected in the blasts. The US, Canada, and Australia warned their citizens in July against traveling to Cotabato and two other southern cities, due to new terror threats.
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Philippines
A bombing at a restaurant filled with doctors attending a convention killed six people and wounded at least 48 more in the port city of Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao, where Islamists have been waging an insurgency for decades. The attack occurred shortly after Islamist rebels accused the government of failing to comply with a 1996 peace accord and issued new threats.
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Philippines
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a “wealth-sharing” deal that gives the militant Islamist group a 75 percent share of earnings from natural resources and metallic minerals in a region to be set aside for the Muslim minority in southern Mindanao; in addition, the government and the MILF will split energy earnings equally. A final peace deal with the 12,000-strong MILF remains to be worked out; still to be decided is how the rebels will disarm, and the extent of the proposed autonomous region, which is believed to contain hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of gold,…
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Philippines
The US warned its citizens against traveling to Mindanao or the Sulu archipelago because of “continuing threats … due to terrorist and insurgent activities.” Earlier this week US diplomatic staff were told not to travel to Davao, Cotabato, or Zamboanga in Mindanao. Australia and Canada also warned of new threats of terrorism and kidnapping in the southern Philippines.
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Philippines
The military is reviving plans to build new air and naval bases at Subic Bay that would allow greater US access and use. US forces helping the Philippines counter al Qaeda-linked insurgents in the south have shared several Philippine bases since 2002, and US naval ship visits to Subic have increased over the past few years.
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Philippines
Vowing to defend Philippine territory against all challenges, President Benigno Aquino III said that $1.74 billion will be spent over the next five years to modernize the military. Abu Sayyaf militants released a Filipino-Chinese businessman who was kidnapped on April 7; the group is still holding at least five captives, including four foreign men and the wife of a Filipino military officer.
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Abu Sayyaf
Official: Clash that killed 14 Filipino marines and militants part of new US-backed offensive
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Philippines
Seven Marines and five Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed during a clash on the island of Sulu; nine Marines were also wounded. The troops were tracking a group of Abu Sayyaf fighters behind kidnappings in the area.
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Philippines
Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario recommended that the Philippines pull its 342 troops out of the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights, following the recent abduction of four troops by the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, a Syrian rebel group that abducted 24 Filipino troops in March. He said the rebels are using the four troops as human shields.
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Philippines
Some 100 Philippine troops raided a camp of 30 Islamist militants near Tipo-tipo on Basilan, killing eight. Authorities said wanted Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was wounded but managed to escape. He was meeting with two Indonesians from Jemaah Islamiah and another Abu Sayyaf leader prior to the assault. The militants were said to be planning to disrupt elections; bomb materials and weapons parts were found. The government said US bases would return to the Philippines only in the event of “extreme emergency.”
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North Korea
Missile defence systems deployed to counter North Korea threats: interactive
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Philippines
Some 8,000 US and Philippine troops began a joint two-week military drill, simulating battles and disaster responses. The Foreign Secretary suggested that the US may be allowed a great military presence in the Philippines given increasing regional threats.
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Philippines
Militants from the al Qaeda-linked terror group Abu Sayyaf released Australian hostage Warren Richard Rodwell, whom they had held captive after kidnapping him in December 2011. A Philippine security official said Rodwell was freed after a ransom was paid.
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United States
Drone base in Niger gives US a strategic foothold in West Africa
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Malaysia
Borneo violence spirals into crisis for Malaysia, Philippines
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Thailand
No clear signs in southern Thailand
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Malaysia
Philippine leader criticises gunmen in Malaysia
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Malaysia
‘Land Grabbing’: Foreign Investors Buy Up Third World Farmland
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Veteran Sudanese jihadist killed in French airstrike in Mali
Abu Hazim al Sudani waged jihad in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Chechnya, and the Sudan before he was finally killed by the French in Mali.
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Philippines
Sulu: The islands home to Philippine militancy
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Philippines
Clashes in Sulu province between Abu Sayyaf and the MNLF have resulted in the deaths of 20 MNLF fighters and 17 Abu Sayyaf militants. The fighting began in the village of Patikul when the MNLF tried to rescue a captive Jordanian hostage from Abu Sayyaf; the hostage, along with several others, including a Japanese, a Malaysian, an Australian, and European birdwatchers Ewold Horn and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, is still being held by the militants.
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Philippines
The Moro National Liberation Front attempted to free a Jordanian hostage being held by Abu Sayyaf in Jolo. Eight MNLF and 13 Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed in the clash; the fate of the Jordanian is not known.
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Philippines
Two Filipino members of a Jordanian journalist’s crew held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants since June 2012 have been freed; the journalist is still in captivity. The militants had demanded a $3.1 million ransom for the three men. MNLF rebels claimed to have assisted with negotiations in order to “help the government clean up the image” of Sulu, where the kidnapping occurred.
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Philippines
A suspected US drone was found floating in the waters off Mastabe Island and turned over to Philippine naval authorities. The US Embassy, which is investigating the matter, said the vehicle was unarmed and not used for surveillance.
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Philippines
Six people were wounded in the bombing of two buses on a road near Isulan in Mindanao; there are currently no suspects. Moro Island Liberation Front insurgents have been observing a ceasefire since the signing of a preliminary peace deal in October.
