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Category Archives: Islands

China's man-made islands in disputed waters raise worries

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China is rapidly building five man-made islands from tiny reefs and shoals in the South China Sea, U.S. officials say, sparking concern that Beijing is growing more assertive in the disputed waters even as the United States boosts its own forces in the western Pacific.

Dredging around Fiery Cross Reef, a former outcropping in the Spratly Islands, over the last year has created a new island nearly 2 miles long and several hundred yards wide.

U.S. officials say it is large enough for China to build its first airstrip in the remote archipelago, one long enough for most of its combat and support aircraft. Satellite photos also reveal a small port under construction.

U.S. officials worry that the buildup indicates a Chinese push to establish de facto control over the resource-rich waters and islets also claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam.

Except for Brunei, those nations all maintain small airstrips or symbolic military outposts in the Spratlys, but the Chinese military dwarfs others in the region and could undermine the tense status quo. Confrontations have broken out over fishing, oil and gas drilling and military maneuvers in recent years.

India is the latest country to express alarm about Beijing's growing military clout, partly because the Chinese navy has sent nuclear submarines into the Indian Ocean, rattling New Delhi's defense community.

During a three-day visit to New Delhi that ended Tuesday, President Obama signed a joint statement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for "safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea." They urged all parties "to avoid the threat or use of force."

White House aides portrayed Obama's trip as a way to emphasize his attempt to focus more military and other resources on Asia and the western Pacific, a pivot intended in part to offset China's influence. The Pentagon has sent more warships and troops to the region and has forged closer military ties with several of China's neighbors.

A military-grade airstrip and dredged harbor on Fiery Cross Reef, which lies on the western edge of the Spratly archipelago, clearly would expand China's ability to operate in an area considered a potential tinderbox. Land reclamation is also underway at Johnson South Reef, Johnson North Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Gaven Reef.

"China appears to be expanding and upgrading military and civilian infrastructure including radars, satellite communication equipment, antiaircraft and naval guns, helipads and docks on some of the man-made islands," according to a report last month by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was set up by Congress.

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China's man-made islands in disputed waters raise worries

Bank Negara urged to act on 1MDB funds in Cayman Islands

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The existence of 1MDBs RM7 billion in the Cayman Islands and its return to Malaysia must be verified.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli urged Bank Negara Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, in a statement on Wednesday, to invoke the Anti Money Laundering Act and ensure that a reported RM7 billion kept in the Cayman Islands by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) had indeed returned to Malaysia as claimed by the sovereign wealth fund and entered the local financial system.

The Governor should probe which financial institutions are holding the reported RM7 billion, said Rafizi in the statement which also called on the Governor to give some time to the Opposition MPs to hear their views on the issue. She should also ensure that 1MDB has sufficient funds to repay the RM2 billion owing to Maybank and RHB Bank, since the repayment has been twice postponed.

He warned that if Bank Negara is unable to issue the all clear signal on the RM7 billion, it will further fuel public speculation and lead many to conclude that the RM7 billion, if it exists, did not return to Malaysia.

He noted that 1MDB has sought a further postponement of its repayment of the RM2 billion and expressed the hope that this will not affect the countrys credit rating and the local banking and financial industry and system.

The consensus is that if 1MDB really has RM7 billion parked in the Cayman islands and it has since returned to Malaysia, the company would not seek a further postponement in repaying the RM2 billion due to the two local banks.

The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea, is a major world offshore financial centre.

The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands are considered to be part of the geographical Western Caribbean Zone as well as the Greater Antilles.

The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

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Bank Negara urged to act on 1MDB funds in Cayman Islands

More than 9m spent on unused Inishbofin airstrips

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The airstrips at Inishbofin and Cleggan, Co Galway, were developed over five years and were completed in about 2009. Photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times

More than 9 million of public money was spent on landing strips to improve access to Inishbofin Island, but air services never got underway, it has emerged.

The airstrips at Inishbofin and Cleggan, Co Galway, were developed over five years and completed in about 2009. Arrangements are now being made to transfer them to the coast guard, according the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Secretary general of the department Joe Hamill told the Dil Public Accounts Committee the only use to which the landing strips may have had was to aid the coast guard on occasion, and perhaps by unauthorised private aircraft.

But as far as facilitating small aircraft access to the islands as they were intended, the air strips had not been officially used he said.

Mr Hamill said further proposals to provide a landing strip at Tory Island had not gone beyond the planning process.

Maintenance costs of Inishbofin and Cleggan airstrips were included in costs for the three working airstrips on on the Aran Islands, which currently amount to about 300,000 per year, Mr Hamill said.

He told Labour TD Joe Costello the strips were made of tarmac and sufficient to land a small aircraft. They had been fenced since 2009. No terminal buildings were ever built.

Mr Hamill told Gabrielle McFadden TD the airstrips were a product of a time when the departments annual budget for the islands was about 40 million. The budget was now about 600,000, he said.

He said the project had to be seen as part of broader attempts to improve air access for islanders and tourists, and included in the National Development Plan in 2003. He said there was some proposals at the time that the air service to the Aran Islands could be extended to serve Inishbofin and Cleggan.

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More than 9m spent on unused Inishbofin airstrips

More than 9m spent on Inishbofin airstrips

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The airstrips at Inishbofin and Cleggan, Co Galway, were developed over five years and were completed in about 2009. Photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times

More than 9 million of public money was spent on landing strips to improve access to Inishbofin Island, but air services never got underway, it has emerged.

The airstrips at Inishbofin and Cleggan, Co Galway, were developed over five years and completed in about 2009. Arrangements are now being made to transfer them to the coast guard, according the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Secretary general of the department Joe Hamill told the Dil Public Accounts Committee the only use to which the landing strips may have had was to aid the coast guard on occasion, and perhaps by unauthorised private aircraft.

But as far as facilitating small aircraft access to the islands as they were intended, the air strips had not been officially used he said.

Mr Hamill said further proposals to provide a landing strip at Tory Island had not gone beyond the planning process.

Maintenance costs of Inishbofin and Cleggan airstrips were included in costs for the three working airstrips on on the Aran Islands, which currently amount to about 300,000 per year, Mr Hamill said.

He told Labour TD Joe Costello the strips were made of tarmac and sufficient to land a small aircraft. They had been fenced since 2009. No terminal buildings were ever built.

Mr Hamill told Gabrielle McFadden TD the airstrips were a product of a time when the departments annual budget for the islands was about 40 million. The budget was now about 600,000, he said.

He said the project had to be seen as part of broader attempts to improve air access for islanders and tourists, and included in the National Development Plan in 2003. He said there was some proposals at the time that the air service to the Aran Islands could be extended to serve Inishbofin and Cleggan.

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More than 9m spent on Inishbofin airstrips

Fringe Focus: Context, Grit and Islands

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Caroline Horton in Islands at the Bush Theatre. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Caroline Hortons Islands at the Bush Theatre has well and truly put the cat among the pigeons.

Most of the critics have had their claws out, slating it as self indulgent and toothless. A few, though, have raised their voices in defence, arguing eloquently that the bloated, grotesque nature of the piece is a powerful statement in itself. As Stewart Pringle writes, Meeting obscenity, Horton matches it with the obscene.

Andrew Haydon meanwhile neatly argues that its all about context. A very French form of satire one that is ugly, scatological and messy inspires Hortons bouffon show. It is directly opposite to what the English appreciate as satirical tidy, cerebral, whimsical.

Having interviewed Horton about the project, I think Pringle and Haydon are bang on. They have met it on its own terms. The others appear to have marked it against criteria it wasnt attempting to meet.

Speaking to a colleague about this, he argued it was partly to do with the marketing of Islands: much has been made of Hortons links with John Christensen from the Tax Justice Network and his role as advisor, so in the context of this factual, no nonsense, public service background, her opaque response is doubly shocking.

I think this is partly true people went along expecting an issue drama and were faced with something much more violently visceral but it was also there for anyone who wanted to dig a little deeper.

As Horton told the Independent:

There are some brilliant books about tax havens that are accessible so what is it that this show might do that those dont I think its about something grotesque and visceral that can potential horrify but will also make us feel something, something about this issue, an issue that is deliberately designed to put us off thinking about it.

Even in the face of misleading marketing, you cant say she didnt warn us.

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Fringe Focus: Context, Grit and Islands

Channel Islands Beach Concrete Specialists Shafran Masonry Construction 805-421-4333 – Video

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By: Shafran Const

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Channel Islands Beach Concrete Specialists Shafran Masonry Construction 805-421-4333 - Video

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visits Sisters’ Islands Marine Park – Video

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Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visits Sisters #39; Islands Marine Park
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan paid a visit to the Sisters #39; Islands Marine Park, where the last of the corals from Semakau landfill were being relocated. Video...

By: Straits Times

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Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visits Sisters' Islands Marine Park - Video

Srie Minecraft Floating Islands Ep 3 – Une Mystrieuse mine abandonn ! – Video

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Srie Minecraft Floating Islands Ep 3 - Une Mystrieuse mine abandonn !
Yo les gens c #39;est et aujourd #39;hui et un grand jours car c #39;est le commencement d #39;une grande aventure minecraft qui nous attend mais cette aventure se feras sur des les et oui le but tant...

By: XxDar TekxX

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Srie Minecraft Floating Islands Ep 3 - Une Mystrieuse mine abandonn ! - Video


  1. Islands