Let's Do The News! (June 12, 2015)

- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended the use of "incredibly creative" approaches to prevent asylum boats from entering the nation but he refused to comment on reports than an Australian navy ship paid the crew of one vessel with 65 people on board to return to Indonesia.

- The United States spends over nine million dollars per day against the Islamic State and has poured 2.7 billion dollars into the bombing campaign since the start. The US-led coalition carried out over 4,100 air strikes in Iraq and Syria.

- An ethnic minority militant group in Myanmar known as the Kokangs has declared a ceasefire in its combat against government forces following the apparent request from China.

- Four more cases of MERS has been reported in South Korea, bringing the count to 126.

- Senators Tito Sotto and JV Ejercito, two allies of Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, said they will support Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares if she runs for either presidency or vice-presidency in next year's elections, making it more complicated for the opposition standard bearer.

- Today marks the celebration of Philippine Independence and PH leader Benigno Aquino III praises DILG secretary Mar Roxas in his Independence Day speech.

- A clip from The Sunday Times newspaper sees resigned Top Gear host James May test drives the new Ferrari 488 GTB supercar in Italy.

- A year has passed since the murder of Pinoy racing driver Enzo Pastor and the folks from TG Philippines interviews Enzo's parents as they open up a year after their son's brutal death. Read the full story here.

- New Pokemon XY toys on the radar! This month, Takara Tomy will release plush toys of legendary Pokemons Latias and Latios as well as the star of next month's Clash of Ages film, Hoopa (with two variants such as the normal one and the talking plush one)! On the MonColle figure line, the legendary Giratina (in its normal Alternate Form) is listed for 950 Yen. There's a special "Hoopa and the Clash of Ages" first set bundle where it features MonColle figures of Lugia, black Rayquaza, Arceus, Latias, Latios, and Hoopa itself. The set costs 2,500 Yen.

TTFN!!!