29th January 2013

China Urged to Face Philippines at UN Tribunal Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on January 29, 2013, 8:00 pm (By Jim Gomez, Associated Press, 29 Jan 2013) A senior U.S. lawmaker meeting with Philippine officials said Tuesday that China should agree to face the Philippines before a U.N. arbitration tribunal to avoid a possible crisis over their long-raging territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines took a daring legal step last week when it notified China that it will challenge Beijing's claims to virtually the entire South China Sea in a case before an arbitration tribunal under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has not issued a formal response, but its ambassador to Manila, Ma Keqing, has reiterated Beijing's "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested region. Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Washington takes no sides in the territorial conflicts but backs an internationally accepted diplomatic solution. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

4th January 2013

China Gearing Up For Anti-Satelite Test, Experts Say Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on January 4, 2013, 8:05 pm (By NCBNews.com  | 08:05:08 pm | 4 Jan 2013)   Known orbit planes of Fengyun-1C debris one month after its 2007 disintegration by a Chinese anti-satellite (ASAT) interceptor. The white orbit represents the International Space Station. China may be gearing up to perform a controversial anti-satellite test this month, perhaps in the next week or two, some experts say. For several months, rumors have been circulating within the United States defense and intelligence communities that a Chinese anti-satellite test is imminent, says Gregory Kulacki of the Union of Concerned Scientists. It could even be conducted on Jan. 11, the date on which China performed ASAT operations in both 2007 and 2010. "Given these high-level administration concerns, and past Chinese practice, there seems to be a strong possibility China will conduct an ASAT test within the next few weeks," Kulacki wrote in a blog post Jan. 4. "What kind of test and what the target might be is unclear." Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0 Satelites Spot China's Mysterious Warplane Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on January 4, 2013, 6:38 pm (By David Axe, 6:38 pm | 4 Jan 2013)   The GeoEye 1 photo from Jan. 1 (above) depicts the new transport, which isn’t known to have flown yet, on one of Yanliang’s runways, surrounded by people and vehicles. News reports have claimed the Y-20 is currently undergoing runway taxi tests in preparation for its eventual first flight. A week after the publication of blurry photographs depicting what appears to be China’s first long-range jet transport, Danger Room has obtained satellite imagery of the new plane at an airfield in central China. The images, acquired by the GeoEye 1 and IKONOS spacecraft - both belonging to commercial satellite operator GeoEye headquartered in Washington, D.C. - corroborate the general layout of the Xian Aircraft Corporation Y-20, the existence of which has been confirmed by Beijing. They also underscore the emerging consensus among Western experts that the Y-20, while outwardly impressive, could lack the performance of even much older American, Russian and European transports. The IKONOS image (below) is dated Dec. 25. It shows the Y-20 outside a large hangar at Yanliang airfield, home of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s test establishment. The base is crowded with examples of the PLAAF’s other main transports, including Y-8 medium airlifters and, apparently, tanker versions of the aged H-6 bomber - both types of which could in theory be replaced by the Y-20, ostensibly giving China the same global military reach the U.S. and other advanced nations have enjoyed for half a century. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

26th December 2012

Russian opposition leader faces new probe Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on December 26, 2012, 8:50 am (By Associated Press, 24 Dec 2012) Photo: APPolice officers detain opposition leader Alexei Navalny during an unauthorized rally in Lubyanka Square in Moscow. Navalny,who helped organized the largest anti-Kremlin rallies in Russia's post-Soviet history, was charged with fraud and money-laundering Thursday. MOSCOW (AP) --- A prominent Russian opposition leader faces his third investigation in five months as authorities intensify pressure on the opposition. The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Monday that they launched a new probe against Alexei Navalny, who was already charged with theft and with fraud and money laundering in two separate cases. Investigators now say they also suspect Navalny of defrauding the Union of the Right Forces, a now defunct liberal party, of 100 million rubles ($3.2 million) in 2007. Navalny, a charismatic 36-year-old lawyer, made his name exposing corruption in state-controlled companies. Last winter, he spearheaded a series of street rallies in Moscow that drew up to 100,000 people before March's vote that handed Putin a third presidential term. In July, the lawyer was charged with the theft of half a million dollars from a state-owned timber company. Earlier this month, Navalny and his brother were charged with defrauding a transportation company of about $1.8 million. The opposition leader dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, and pointed to the fact that there was no injured party in either of the cases. Leonid Gozman, a former senior figure at the Union of the Right Forces, was quoted by the Interfax news agency, as denying reports of fraud at his party. "This is another provocation, total nonsense," he said. Navalny tweeted "that's enough," referring to the slew of criminal cases against him. Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

9th December 2012

Syrian Rebels Tied to Al Qaeda Play Key Role in War Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on December 9, 2012, 3:59 pm (By Tim Arango, Anne Bernard and Hwaida Saad, New York Times, 8 Dec 2012)   In May in Damascus, Syrian workers removed debris from two car bombs that were linked to the Qaeda-backed Nusra Front.  (Photo: Sana Handout via European Pressphoto Agency) BAGHDAD --- The lone Syrian rebel group with an explicit stamp of approval from Al Qaeda has become one of the uprising’s most effective fighting forces, posing a stark challenge to the United States and other countries that want to support the rebels but not Islamic extremists. Money flows to the group, the Nusra Front, from like-minded donors abroad. Its fighters, a small minority of the rebels, have the boldness and skill to storm fortified positions and lead other battalions to capture military bases and oil fields. As their successes mount, they gather more weapons and attract more fighters. The group is a direct offshoot of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Iraqi officials and former Iraqi insurgents say, which has contributed veteran fighters and weapons. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

6th December 2012

Syria's endgame in sight as rebels advance Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on December 6, 2012, 9:00 pm By Ashley Fantz and Joe Sterling, CNN updated 5:04 PM EST, Thu December 6, 2012   (CNN) -- Hell came to Damascus months ago. It's loud and scary in Syria's capital. But now, this week, something seems different. It feels worse. And that makes Leena feel better. The Damascus resident, who sides with the rebellion, says it means the forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad are winning. "The rebels are winning, can you see?" she insisted during a Skype call Wednesday. "The regime feels threatened. They are scared. You can feel it here. It's so tense." Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

29th September 2012

EXECUTIVE FACED GUNPOINT EXTORTION Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on September 29, 2012, 10:17 am (By Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker, 29 Sep 2012)   Owners of Tenix's defence business at the time -the Salteri family. Photo: Jim Rice TENIX executive involved in negotiating a $150 million Asian shipbuilding contract claims a senior Philippines coast guard officer threatened him with a pistol and demanded a large sum of money. The executive, who has asked not to be named, said he was sitting across the desk from the officer when a pistol was produced and pointed at him. ''He said, 'this deal will earn you and your company a lot of money. I want one million US dollars,''' the executive said. The matter was reported to management in Sydney and the executive offered extra security, but he soon resigned from Australia's biggest defence contractor. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

28th September 2012

NIKE DROPS AMID SLOWING DEMAND FROM CHINA Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on September 28, 2012, 10:04 am (By Matt Townsend, 28 Sep 2012) Nike Inc. (NKE), the world’s largest sporting-goods company, declined after reporting future orders that trailed analysts’ estimates as demand sank in China. Nike fell (NKE) 1.1 percent to $94.91 at the close in New York. The Beaverton, Oregon-based company’s shares have fallen 1.5 percent this year. Chief Executive Officer Mark Parker has been discounting merchandise in China to clear inventory that wasn’t selling well, hurting demand for new products. Future orders from China, excluding currency fluctuations, declined 6 percent, trailing analysts’ average estimate for a 1.2 percent gain. Total orders for the Nike brand from September to January advanced 8 percent, trailing the 10 percent average estimate. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

31st August 2012

US HELPS PHILIPPINES FORTIFY DEFENSE IN PALAWAN Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on August 31, 2012, 12:45 am (By Tarra Quismundo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 12:42 am, Friday, 31 Aug 2012) Pursuing its pivot to Asia strategy, the United States on Thursday handed over to the Philippines new equipment to improve surveillance and law enforcement operations in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as President Benigno Aquino prepared to meet China’s leader for talks that may include territorial disputes in those waters. US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas turned over to police and local government officials in Palawan province two new patrol boats and two boat-towing pick-ups to support the Philippine National Police Special Boat Unit (SBU) in the island province. The United States is also helping the Philippines build a new SBU outstation on Balabac Island, off Palawan’s southernmost tip close to Sabah in Borneo. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

15th August 2012

China moves cautiously in face of slump, avoiding stimulus that could hurt long-term goals Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on August 15, 2012, 2:15 am (By Associated Press, Wednesday, 15 Aug 2012, 2:15 AMAP) BEIJING - Summer should be the busy season for Shen Lin’s musical instrument workshop in the southwestern city of Kunming. But her monthly sales of traditional wooden flutes are dwindling as China’s economy slows, with no sign of a widely anticipated rebound in sight. "I have less for my workers to do, which means they are paid less. They complain, but I have no choice," said Shen, who runs the company with her husband. "I don’t know when things will improve." China’s economic recovery is taking longer than expected. But facing a collapse in export growth and weak consumer spending, Beijing is avoiding an aggressive stimulus and sticking to a gradual strategy of small interest rate cuts and modest spending increases. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0