Current Affairs

Israel’s "Operation Protective Edge" continues with the Palestinian dead now numbering over 800 with a reported 32 Israeli soldiers dead. The targeting of hospitals and mosques continue. The Red Cresent Society in Gaza reports that 77% of medical facilities are damaged, some of which have been completely destroyed. Today we hear from a peace activist in Gaza, and get an eyewitness account of the scale of destruction rained on the territory some call a concentration camp.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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The Israeli-Palestine conflict is one that has spanned up to almost seven decades and recorded over 21,000 dead and millions displaces in refugee camps or a part of the global Palestinian diaspora. Said to be the world's "most intractable" conflict, peace efforts have remained elusive. The most recent offensive was said to have began with the kidnapping of the three Israeli boys, but reports from Israeli media suggest that Israeli government manipulate the crime to justify is actions in Gaza and the West Bank. We explore the politics behind Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge”.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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A recording of the statement of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, on the MH17 crash in Eastern Ukraine, on the morning of the 18th of July. The recording has been edited for brevity. The part removed from the aired recording is: “According to information provided by Kiev Air Traffic Control, the location of the plane’s emergency locator beacon is 48 degrees 7 minutes and 23 seconds North; and 38 degrees 31 minutes and 33 seconds East.”

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Sectarian violence is growing in the region with violence breaking out between Buddhist radicals and minority Muslim populations in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. While Sri Lanka is not experiencing the level of violence of its more volatile neighbor, Myanmar - the increasing outbreaks of riots are worrying as governments stand by idly. We get an assessment of the source of the violence and an outline of the majoritarian character of the state’s politics.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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“It is not a question of throwing more money into [education]. It is a question of what you use the money for,” says Cheong Kee Cheok, an economist with University of Malaya. He was reflecting on the fact that while we have a youthful population, and are out-spending Singapore and South Korea in education, the results have been dismal. This report on Malaysia’s young follows on the theme for this year’s World Population Day, ‘Investing in Young People’.

This is a report by Alexandra Lok.

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About 190 million Indonesians go to the polls today to vote in the country's third direct Presidential Elections. It’s a simple two-horse race. On one side the Governor of Jakarta Joko Widodo, more popularly Jokowi, and his partner Jusof Kala. And former military man from General Suharto’s New Order era, Prabowo Subianto and his partner Hatta Rajasa. Indonesia is country of astounding diversity and perhaps among its minority communities it is the ethnic Chinese who stand out. They are an essential part of the social fabric of the country and are said to dominate the economy. But do they really dominate? And what impact will they have on today’s polls? We asked Charlotte Setijadi how important the Chinese vote is in this election.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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“It has been the love of nation, the love of the Monarchy, that has been the glue rather than any great respect for political institutions such as the Constitution,”says political scientist Joel Moore. But a Constitution is needed, nevertheless for legitimacy as well as governance especially as Thailand’s elite anticipate the death of the King and succession. Moore sheds light on what we can expect in the newest of Thailand’ Constitutions.

This is a report by Alexandra Lok.

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Last week nearly 800,000 people in Hong Kong participated in an unofficial referendum on electoral reform. A cyber-attack on the Phone App used by organisers for voting as well as the issuing of a White Paper by Beijing on governance for the territory both contributed to popular determination send the central government a message. Demands for a greater say in the democratic process is central to the demands of the Occupy Central With Peace and Love movement’s promise of a campaign of civil disobedience if Beijing refuses to concede to popular demands. Where is Hong Kong headed on the 17th anniversary of the handover of the former British territory to China.

This report is by Lim Li Ann.

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The Eastern Sabah Security Commission (Esscom) was established in the aftermath the Lahad Datu invasion last year. Esscom's on-going Ops Gasak, launched at the end of last year with the objective of removing undocumented migrants and terrorists, has has some minor successes. Despite these, questions are still being asked about the effectiveness of this RM300 million coordinating body. We speak to a security expert to outline the issues involved.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Since the approval of a Temporary Operating License for Lynas Corporation two years ago, public concerns over the safety of the rare earth processing plant have not diminished. Last Sunday 16 arrests made during a protest against the plant located in Gebeng, Kuantan in the state of Pahang. Among them were an Australian environmentalist and leader of Himpunan Hijau, a grassroots movement opposed to the plant.

BFM spoke to Tully McIntyre on the role Australian activists are playing in this campaign, and to Wong Tack on why protests have erupted again.

This is a report by Alexandra Lok.

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