Page 18 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

18 www.hello-philippines.com INTERNATIONAL /GLOBAL NEWS January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition

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MANILA - The Philippine Supreme pushed hard for the Enhanced Defense
Court ruled Tuesday a military Co-operation Pact (EDCA) as part of In recent years tensions with China have seen the Philippine government seek greater US military
accord with the United States was his so-called strategic “pivot” to Asia
constitutional, paving the way for a that has involved expanding American are already bound by a mutual defence Muslim separatist insurgencies, has The Philippines has since become
greater presence of US forces in the military presence in the region. treaty signed in 1951 and a visiting heavily relied on US military aid for the most vocal critic of China’s efforts
former American colony as tensions forces agreement signed in 1998. weapons and training. to claim South China Sea territory,
simmer in the South China Sea. However it faced immediate legal including its strategy of turning islets
challenges from groups opposed to US Closer ties. The first accord But in recent years the tensions with in those waters into artificial islands
The 10-year agreement, signed in military involvement in the Philippines, commits the United States to come to China have seen Aquino’s government that can host military facilities.
2014 but not implemented due to legal a US colony from 1898 to 1946. the aid of the Philippines in case of seek much greater US military and
challenges, will see more US troops external aggression, while the second diplomatic support. In a short statement immediately
rotate through the Philippines for The Philippines hosted two of the paved the way for US troops to engage after the Supreme Court’s
war games and help their hosts build largest overseas US military bases until in exercises in the Southeast Asian China claims almost all of the announcement, the US embassy in
military facilities. 1992, following a Filipino Senate vote nation. South China Sea, despite conflicting Manila welcomed the verdict.
to end their leases that was influenced claims from the Philippines as well as
Supreme Court spokesman by anti-US sentiment. The new pact, which was only Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. “EDCA is a mutually beneficial
Theodore Te said the accord was upheld intended to be in place for 10 years agreement that will enhance our
with a 10-4 vote, ruling that President The EDCA agreement was signed from 2014, does not authorise a return In April 2012, after a tense stand- ability to provide rapid humanitarian
Benigno Aquino’s government had the in April 2014 as Obama visited of US bases. off with Philippine ships, Chinese assistance and help build capacity for
authority to sign the pact and did not Manila, when he said it would give vessels took control of a shoal just 220 the Armed Forces of the Philippines,”
need congressional approval. US forces “greater access to Filipino The cash-strapped Philippines, kilometres (135 miles) off the main the statement said. n AFP / January 12, 2016
facilities, airfields and ports, which which is also battling communist and Philippine island of Luzon.
The pact “is a mere implementation would remain under the control of the
of existing laws and treaties,” Te said. Philippines”.

Aquino negotiated the accord to help Filipino officials also previously
the Southeast Asian nation improve said it would allow the United States
its military capabilities and draw the to store equipment that could be
United States closer, partly in a bid used to mobilise American forces
to counter a fast-expanding Chinese faster—particularly in cases of natural
presence in disputed parts of the South disasters such as the frequent typhoons
China Sea close to the Philippines. that batter the archipelago nation.

US President Barack Obama also The Philippines and the United States

2 Palestinians killed by Israel forces in Gaza protest
GAZA City, Palestinian Territories clashes east of the Bureij refugee territories have seen a wave of
Palestinian mourners carry the body of Mohammed Abu Zaida, who died after being shot by Israeli - Two Palestinians were shot dead by camp in central Gaza, he said. violence in recent months, with 23
security forces, during his funeral in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza on January 15, 2016 Israeli forces during protests along Israelis and 154 Palestinians killed
©AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed the border with Gaza on Friday, the The Israeli army confirmed it since October 1.
Palestinian enclave’s health ministry had fired on protesters after they
said, following a three-month spike in breached the “buffer zone” along the Most of the Palestinians have
violence. border. been killed carrying out attacks,
while others were shot by Israeli
Mohammed Abu Zaida, 18, was “Dozens of rioters have breached forces during protests and clashes.
shot in the neck and Mohammad Qita, the buffer zone and are attempting to
26, was hit in the stomach, ministry damage the fence,” a spokeswoman An American and an Eritrean
spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said. said. “Forces shot rioters posing a have also died in the violence.
threat of infiltration and the riot is
Fifteen other Palestinians were ongoing.” Fridays are known as a day
wounded by Israeli fire during the of protest across the Palestinian
Israel and the Palestinian territories. n AFP / January 15, 2016

Kyrgios hit by Australian Open injury scare at Kooyong
MELBOURNE – Nick Kyrgios week & I will be,” he tweeted after. we will be experiencing next week.”

suffered an Australian Open scare Belgium’s Goffin, who had to deal A final match between German

on Wednesday when he pulled out not only with an injured opponent Alexander Zverev and Britain’s Kyle

of his opening match at the Kooyong but with the swirling wind which Edmund was cancelled.

Classic with a right foot injury. characterises the club, said he was Organisers were vague about

The 20-year-old Australian sorry that the match was unable to be the reason, at one point suggesting

handed David Goffin victory as he completed. excessive heat and later citing what

retired with the score at 6-7 (5/7), “Even if it was a set and a half, they claimed was a shoulder problem

3-2 to the Belgian. The year’s first it was hard to play,” he said. “It was for Zverev.

Grand Slam starts on Monday in very hot on court (around 40 Celsius) In an exhibition match before a

Melbourne. and there is always a wind. sparse crowd, 2014 champion Kei

“I felt it in training yesterday,” said “I understand Nick’s worry and Nishikori of Japan beat Australian

Kyrgios, the world number 30, after the pullout. He’s never easy to play teenage hopeful Omar Jasika 6-1, 6-7

pulling the plug as a precaution at the with that big serve and forehand.” (3/7), 10-4.

12-man Grand Slam warm-up event. Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta Asia’s top player was cruising 6-1,

“I started feeling it again today when earlier beat the 2006 Australian 4-1 and seemingly in command when

the treatment wore off. Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, his challenger launched a fightback,

“I have to think about next week, 6-4, without dropping serve. breaking Nishikori as he served for

I really hate to do this but I had to.” “I had a good finish, I’m very the match.

The colourful contender finished happy,” the Spaniard said. “I played Jasika took the set into a tiebreak

with 15 aces, including four in his some good tennis against a good which he won as Nishikori put a

final service game of the second set. player. I tried a few drop shots near backhand long. But Nishikori claimed

“Hate withdrawing, so sorry to the end just to change things a bit victory a few minutes later with

everyone @KooyongClassic I just and they worked. success in the match-tiebreak. n AFP /

have to make sure I’m right for next “It’s good to play in the heat which January 13, 2016