Philippine group embarks on ambitious sea voyage – Feature (EARTHtimes.org)
Manila – A group of Filipino adventurers is creating a stir across the Philippines, re-kindling national pride as they embark on an expedition to circumnavigate the world aboard a replica of an ancient wooden sailboat. Hundreds of Filipino outdoor en…

Linked Hybrid by Steven Holl Architects Named 2009 “Best Tall Building” in Asia & Australia Category (Art Daily)
The 220,000 square-meter Linked Hybrid complex includes eight towers linked by a ring of eight sky bridges housing a variety of public functions. NEW YORK, NY.-

Marines redeploy to Mindanao and Palawan (Manila Bulletin)
The Philippine Navy takes its stance in the quest to end insurgency and crush lawlessness violence in southern Philippines with the deployment of a battalion of well-equipped marines, a patrol ship, and three multi-purpose attack crafts (MPACs) to Mindanao and Palawan.

Australia’s first elephant calf born at zoo (The Age)
Sydney’s Taronga Zoo has welcomed the first elephant calf to be born in Australia.

The Vietnam Bamboo Band (Nhân Dân)
Merited Artist Mai Lan performs on the T’rung musical instrument. For ages people of South-East Asia have known about the strong, durable properties of bamboo but few knew it is also a glue.

EC approves scholarship programme for Vietnamese students (Vietnam Net)
The European Commission has approved two proposals for partnership projects under the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EMECW) for the academic year of 2009-2010.

Philippine military says over 1,000 rebels killed (AP via Yahoo! Philippines News)
More than 1,000 Muslim separatist guerrillas have been killed in fighting in the southern Philippines over the past year, the military said Saturday, but a rebel leader denied the claim.

Hundreds of separatists slain: Philippine military (AFP via Yahoo! News)
More than a thousand Muslim rebels have been killed in the southern Philippines over the past year, despite the recovery of only 278 bodies, according to a military spokesman.

Australia welcomes its first new-born elephant (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Australia has welcomed the first elephant ever born in the country with the arrival of a 100-kilogram (220.4-pound) male calf at a Sydney zoo, according to keepers.

1st elephant born in Australia (Straits Times)
SYDNEY – AUSTRALIA on Saturday welcomed the first elephant ever born in the country with the arrival of a 100kg male calf at a Sydney zoo, keepers said. The calf, yet to be named, was born at the harbourside Taronga Zoo just after 3am (1700 GMT, 1am Singapore time) to a 12-year-old Asian elephant named Thong Dee, the zoo’s director Guy Cooper said.

Indonesia May Raise Rates in 2010 After One Final Cut This Year (Bloomberg)
July 4 (Bloomberg) — Indonesia may cut interest rates once more to stoke growth before faster inflation next year prompts policy makers to raise borrowing costs, economists said.

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