Fournis par AFP Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (L) meets with Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga (R) in Naha, Okinawa prefecture on April 5, 2015

Shinzo Abe's right-hand man on Sunday urged the governor of Okinawa to concede in a lingering row over the construction of a US air base ahead of the Japanese prime minister's visit to Washington later this month.

The base's construction, first mooted in 1996, has been stymied by local opposition from islanders who say they bear a disproportionate burden in hosting more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan.

In the latest twist in the two-decade row, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told Governor Takeshi Onaga: "We hope to get your understanding on the plan... for maintaining the deterrent power of the Japan-US alliance."

However, the Okinawan governor countered that while he understood the importance of the alliance with the US, any national security plan must have the Japanese people's support.

"Okinawa never voluntarily offered (land) for bases. I'm convinced that it is impossible to construct a new base," Onaga said, referring to a plan to replace the urban Futenma Air Base with one on a rural coastline at Nago.

After the meeting, he told reporters: "I will never step back on the base issue," criticising the government's top-down approach.

Hundreds of anti-base protesters rallied outside the hotel in Okinawa's capital Naha where the talks took place, holding banners that read "rescind the relocation plan!"

The anti-base camp -- who want the base off Okinawa -- struck a blow late last month when Onaga said coral just outside the permitted zone at the site on the island's northeast coast had been damaged and demanded a halt to the work.

Fournis par AFP Servicemen of US Marine Corps salute while Japanese (R) and US flags are lowered at the evening colors ceremony at the Camp Foster near Futenma Base in Ginowan, Okinawa prefecture, on November 14, 2014

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Tokyo urges Okinawa governor to back down in US base row

Two more cabinet ministers in the Harper government have signalled theyre heading for the exits as the clock ticks down to the next federal election.

Heritage Minister Shelly Glover and International Development Minister Christian Paradis both chose the Good Friday holiday to announce theyre preparing to leave politics.

The timing meant they didnt have to run a gauntlet of media and explain why they are bowing out when theres a little more than six months left before an expected federal ballot.

They both cited personal reasons.

Ms. Glover and Mr. Paradis will remain in cabinet until the election but will not seek another term in office.

There has now been three retirement announcements in the Harper cabinet in 60 days.

A Conservative source wouldnt rule out the possibility of more departures, pointing to the crop of MPs elected in 1997 or 2000 as those most likely to consider calling it quits.

Former foreign affairs minister John Baird left cabinet rather abruptly in February to pursue a private career and hes since been hired by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li as an adviser.

The late departure notices from Ms. Glover and Mr. Paradis leave replacement candidates less time to build their profiles.

While they were by no means household names, Mr. Paradis was an incumbent MP in Quebec, a province where the Conservatives have been repeatedly frustrated in their attempts to gain ground.

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Two federal cabinet ministers announce departure from politics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ?Here is a list of some road projects from around the Heartland.

Bollinger County, MO

Route N in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs. This section of roadway is located between Route F to Route 51. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Butler County, MO

Route 53 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. This section of roadway is located from County Road 616 to County Road 617. Weather permitting, work will performed Monday, April 6 through Thursday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

MoDOT is currently planning to improve three Butler Co. bridges. Two of the bridges are located on Route 142 over Hart Ditch and Long Slough Ditch. The third bridge is on Route 158 over the drainage ditch located about 0.7 miles west of Route BB. The project will involve replacing the existing bridges over Hart Ditch and the drainage ditch.

The bridge over Long Slough Ditch will be replaced with a culvert; grading and paving will also be completed. Acquisition of the right-of-way will be minimal and will only be required for the Hart Ditch bridge project. Existing utility lines will be affected on this project. Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in summer 2015.

Work is expected to be finished in about four months, weather permitting. As construction is underway, Rte. 142 and Rte. 158 will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the bridges for the duration of the work. Property owners within the project limits will have access into their properties during this time.

Ripley/Butler Counties, MO

Route 160 in Ripley and Butler Counties will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as contractor crews replace culverts. This section of road is located between Route JJ and Route 67. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

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Heartland road projects for 4/4

Ajit Doval to travel to Thailand Vietnam this week

Times of India - Friday 3rd April, 2015

Vietnam this week to connect with top political leaders there, in what is seen as a quiet mission to boost defence and security cooperation with an eye on upgrading India's presence in ...

Times of India - Thursday 2nd April, 2015

Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, center, arrives at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 2, 2015. Thailand's junta lifted martial law, which was imposed in ...

West Australian - Thursday 2nd April, 2015

Bangkok (AFP) - The Thai junta's decision to lift martial law was denounced by critics Thursday as cosmetic, with Washington and the United Nations warning that replacement security measures ...

Travel Daily Media - Thursday 2nd April, 2015

Singapores Amara Group debuts in Thailand Singapore's upscale hotel brand, Amara, has launched its first ever property in Thailand. The new ...

China Daily - Thursday 2nd April, 2015

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Cabinet approves debt restructuring plan

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ?Here is a list of some road projects from around the Heartland.

Bollinger County, MO

Route N in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs. This section of roadway is located between Route F to Route 51. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Butler County, MO

Route 53 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. This section of roadway is located from County Road 616 to County Road 617. Weather permitting, work will performed Monday, April 6 through Thursday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

MoDOT is currently planning to improve three Butler Co. bridges. Two of the bridges are located on Route 142 over Hart Ditch and Long Slough Ditch. The third bridge is on Route 158 over the drainage ditch located about 0.7 miles west of Route BB. The project will involve replacing the existing bridges over Hart Ditch and the drainage ditch.

The bridge over Long Slough Ditch will be replaced with a culvert; grading and paving will also be completed. Acquisition of the right-of-way will be minimal and will only be required for the Hart Ditch bridge project. Existing utility lines will be affected on this project. Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in summer 2015.

Work is expected to be finished in about four months, weather permitting. As construction is underway, Rte. 142 and Rte. 158 will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the bridges for the duration of the work. Property owners within the project limits will have access into their properties during this time.

Ripley/Butler Counties, MO

Route 160 in Ripley and Butler Counties will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as contractor crews replace culverts. This section of road is located between Route JJ and Route 67. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Read more here:
Heartland road projects for 4/3

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III confirmed Wednesday that there will be a minor Cabinet revamp in his administration.

Aquino, in an interview at JAM Liner Bus Terminal in Quezon City, said that he was considering Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. to head the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

He said that he was still completing the process since he wants to make sure that if he would move one Cabinet official to another post, there should already be a replacement.

"Kung may aalis sa isang puwesto kailangan yung papalit sa puwesto niyo maitu-turnover na niya para minsanan yung paglipat," he said.

If appointed, Coloma would succeed former chairman Francisco Duque III whose term ended in February.

A CSC chair has a seven-year term.

Asked if Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Joel Villanueva would replace Coloma, the President said, "Hintayin na natin kaya 'yon para makumpleto 'yung buong proseso."

As to the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief head, Aquino said there are other candidates aside from PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo.

He also said that he was still waiting for the legal opinion from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Justice if he could appoint a permanent PNP chief even if Purisima remains the four-star general.

Purisima resigned as PNP chief after the tragic Mamasapano incident on January 25 that left 44 police commandos dead.

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Aquino confirms Cabinet revamp

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has approved a request from the country's junta to lift martial law.

The announcement, which was made on television today, goes into effect immediately. But, as reporter Michael Sullivan is telling our Newscast unit, while the lifting of martial law is good news, critics say what it's being replaced with is worse.

That law is Article 44, which gives Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of last year's coup, sweeping powers over the Thai government. Michael says: "Human rights groups and other critics say Article 44 is even worse than martial law. Some Thai media outlets are calling it 'The Dictator Law.'"

Prayuth told reporters Tuesday that he would use Article 44 to "constructively" deal with security issues facing the country.

"Don't worry," he said after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. "If you're not doing anything wrong, there's no need to be afraid."

His comments were reported by the Associated Press.

As NPR's Scott Neuman previously reported, today's move might be an effort to placate the West, which has been critical of the coup last May that ousted a democratically elected government. Soon after the coup, Prayuth promised new elections by October 2015; he has since said that they would come no sooner than next year.

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Thailand Lifts Martial Law, But Critics Say Its Replacement Is Worse

Jonathan Coleman

And Labour Dunedin North MP David Clark has blasted the Government for the potential delay, calling it an ''absolute outrage''. The paper to a board committee yesterday said detailed planning work for the $200 million clinical services building would be completed by December 2016.

That work would then be used to ''inform'' the development of the business case, the key step in obtaining Government approval for a major project. Earlier this year, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman told the Otago Daily Times he hoped the Cabinet would consider a business case for the project as early as December, but most likely next year.

That was later than what Dr Coleman's predecessor, Tony Ryall, said last year when he stated the business case would be considered in 2015.

Yesterday, Dr Coleman said in an email he hoped the ''first stage of the plan'' would go before the Cabinet later this year. A spokeswoman declined a request for clarification.

''I expect the first stage of the plan could go to Cabinet as early as late 2015, but there are a number of issues to work through first,'' Dr Coleman said .

Dr Coleman's spokesman said the minister had nothing to add when the ODT asked when he expected the full business case.

Dr Clark claimed yesterday the National-led Government misled the southern region about the likely time frame in the lead-up to last year's general election.

''There's no way ministers who are competent in their portfolios could have not known that decision-making would be over such an extended time frame.

''Clearly, it suited the last administration to have the public believe that the matter was being attended to leading into the election.

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Report suggests further delay for hospital rebuild

Hans Tanzler III is leaving his post as executive director of the St. Johns River Water Management District, saying the agency has rebuilt itself to regulate responsibly after major staff cuts.

The district now has the means to be in the solutions business and is not in the just say no business, Tanzler said in a letter to board members announcing his resignation.

I believe I have completed my personal mission here, he said.

Tanzler, an attorney and son of the former Jacksonville mayor, will leave his post May 4.

His resignation letter referred to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet appointing the next executive director with Senate confirmation, but agency spokeswoman Teresa Monson said a process for selecting a replacement hasnt been set yet.

She said the board could discuss that process during its next meeting April 14, but hasnt scheduled any action.

Until a replacement is named, operations will be overseen by Michael Register, the agencys director of regulatory, engineering and environmental services.

Tanzler has been the agencys $165,000-a-year executive director since 2011, and had been the agencys general counsel and a board member for three years before that.

The management district, headquartered in Palatka, oversees water supplies in an 18-county area holding close to five million people.

Funding for its $145 million yearly budget comes mainly from a separate property tax, and had withered in recent years after real estate values collapsed around the state.

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Tanzler leaving job as water management district's executive director

TANEGASHIMA, KAGOSHIMA PREF. A rocket blasted off successfully Thursday morning carrying a backup optical satellite for the governments intelligence gathering program.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the H-IIA rocket at 10:21 a.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The satellite is described as an advanced ground-monitoring device. Currently, Japan has two radar satellites and two optical satellites in operation, which are able to collect images of any point on the ground at least once a day.

The latest satellite will replace one of the two optical satellites, which was launched in 2009.

The device was developed at a cost of 32.5 billion, according to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center.

The images and related information obtained by the satellite will not be publicly released as they are designated as state secrets under a law that took effect last year.

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Japan launches replacement intelligence satellite