Philippine Minister wants to work with Maoist rebels in mine areas

The Philippine Environment Minister said she has been given the green light by President Rodrigo Duterte to work with communist rebel fighters to help rehabilitate and develop the country's mining areas. The decades-long conflict between the New People's Army (NPA) rebels and the Philippine government has killed more than 40 000 people. Earlier this month the NPA agreed to a temporary truce with government, the first joint ceasefire since November 1986.