Floating villages on the Tonle Sap

Local residents rest on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, covering an area of 2,500-3,000 square kilometers during the dry season. In recent years, Tonle Sap Lake has become a famous scenic spot for tourists from all over the world, who have interest in the lifestyle of local residents living in floating villages around the lake. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local vendors sell vegetables and fruits on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local residents live on a floating water dwelling on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Foreign tourists take a tour by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local fishmen return home after a day's work by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Children play on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)

Floating villages on the Tonle Sap

Local residents rest on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, covering an area of 2,500-3,000 square kilometers during the dry season. In recent years, Tonle Sap Lake has become a famous scenic spot for tourists from all over the world, who have interest in the lifestyle of local residents living in floating villages around the lake. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local vendors sell vegetables and fruits on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local residents live on a floating water dwelling on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Foreign tourists take a tour by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local fishmen return home after a day's work by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Children play on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)

Floating villages on the Tonle Sap

Local residents rest on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, covering an area of 2,500-3,000 square kilometers during the dry season. In recent years, Tonle Sap Lake has become a famous scenic spot for tourists from all over the world, who have interest in the lifestyle of local residents living in floating villages around the lake. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local vendors sell vegetables and fruits on a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local residents live on a floating water dwelling on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Foreign tourists take a tour by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Local fishmen return home after a day's work by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)
Children play on Tonle Sap Lake, northwest of Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)

The stport News

O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Years after dubbing himself as professional basketball's most dominant center, Shaquille O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports in a competition series premiering on Tuesday night on ABC.

In the premiere of "Shaq VS," the 7-foot-1-inch NBA star, who has never played organized football, will quarterback a team in a seven-on-seven game, with two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger quarterbacking the other team.

O'Neal prepared for tonight's episode by training for a week under the tutelage of Charlie Batch, Roethlisberger's backup quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Later episodes will have O'Neal play against the Olympic gold medal-winning beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor; box 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya; swim against 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps; play tennis against 11-time grand slam singles champion Serena Williams; and compete against St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in a home run hitting contest.

O'Neal will be given an advantage in several of the events in an attempt to increase their competitiveness.

O'Neal said he is doing the series because "I represent the male bravado couch potato."

"I don't really consider myself one of those salad-eater, elite athletes," O'Neal said in an interview during ABC's portion of there cent Television Critics Association summer press tour. "I'm just a regular guy with a lot of heart and determination that thinks he can do anything."

O'Neal said if he does win a challenge, it will probably be "because it was handicapped anyway."

"I'm not doing this to show anybody up," said O'Neal, who was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade from the Phoenix Suns this summer and said he may retire if the team wins this season's NBA championship.

O'Neal said he has no fear of injury participating in the series.

"Most of the time, I'm just training, so I don't see how I can be hurt training," O'Neal said.

Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry said late last month that he was "looking forward to seeing him do all this stuff."

"We talked through things to make sure no one would get hurt," Ferry said. "It's all in good fun. It's good for the NBA. He enjoys doing this stuff."

When he boxes De La Hoya, who stands 5 feet 10, O'Neal said he will wear headgear and is "not going to go all out."

"I may give it to him once or twice. I know he may give it to me once or twice, but it's not going to be an all-out heavyweight brawl," said O'Neal, whose listed weight of 325 pounds is more than double De La Hoya's final 145-pound fighting weight.

The stport News

O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Years after dubbing himself as professional basketball's most dominant center, Shaquille O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports in a competition series premiering on Tuesday night on ABC.

In the premiere of "Shaq VS," the 7-foot-1-inch NBA star, who has never played organized football, will quarterback a team in a seven-on-seven game, with two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger quarterbacking the other team.

O'Neal prepared for tonight's episode by training for a week under the tutelage of Charlie Batch, Roethlisberger's backup quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Later episodes will have O'Neal play against the Olympic gold medal-winning beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor; box 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya; swim against 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps; play tennis against 11-time grand slam singles champion Serena Williams; and compete against St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in a home run hitting contest.

O'Neal will be given an advantage in several of the events in an attempt to increase their competitiveness.

O'Neal said he is doing the series because "I represent the male bravado couch potato."

"I don't really consider myself one of those salad-eater, elite athletes," O'Neal said in an interview during ABC's portion of there cent Television Critics Association summer press tour. "I'm just a regular guy with a lot of heart and determination that thinks he can do anything."

O'Neal said if he does win a challenge, it will probably be "because it was handicapped anyway."

"I'm not doing this to show anybody up," said O'Neal, who was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade from the Phoenix Suns this summer and said he may retire if the team wins this season's NBA championship.

O'Neal said he has no fear of injury participating in the series.

"Most of the time, I'm just training, so I don't see how I can be hurt training," O'Neal said.

Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry said late last month that he was "looking forward to seeing him do all this stuff."

"We talked through things to make sure no one would get hurt," Ferry said. "It's all in good fun. It's good for the NBA. He enjoys doing this stuff."

When he boxes De La Hoya, who stands 5 feet 10, O'Neal said he will wear headgear and is "not going to go all out."

"I may give it to him once or twice. I know he may give it to me once or twice, but it's not going to be an all-out heavyweight brawl," said O'Neal, whose listed weight of 325 pounds is more than double De La Hoya's final 145-pound fighting weight.

The stport News

O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Years after dubbing himself as professional basketball's most dominant center, Shaquille O'Neal takes on dominant athletes in other sports in a competition series premiering on Tuesday night on ABC.

In the premiere of "Shaq VS," the 7-foot-1-inch NBA star, who has never played organized football, will quarterback a team in a seven-on-seven game, with two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger quarterbacking the other team.

O'Neal prepared for tonight's episode by training for a week under the tutelage of Charlie Batch, Roethlisberger's backup quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Later episodes will have O'Neal play against the Olympic gold medal-winning beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor; box 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya; swim against 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps; play tennis against 11-time grand slam singles champion Serena Williams; and compete against St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in a home run hitting contest.

O'Neal will be given an advantage in several of the events in an attempt to increase their competitiveness.

O'Neal said he is doing the series because "I represent the male bravado couch potato."

"I don't really consider myself one of those salad-eater, elite athletes," O'Neal said in an interview during ABC's portion of there cent Television Critics Association summer press tour. "I'm just a regular guy with a lot of heart and determination that thinks he can do anything."

O'Neal said if he does win a challenge, it will probably be "because it was handicapped anyway."

"I'm not doing this to show anybody up," said O'Neal, who was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade from the Phoenix Suns this summer and said he may retire if the team wins this season's NBA championship.

O'Neal said he has no fear of injury participating in the series.

"Most of the time, I'm just training, so I don't see how I can be hurt training," O'Neal said.

Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry said late last month that he was "looking forward to seeing him do all this stuff."

"We talked through things to make sure no one would get hurt," Ferry said. "It's all in good fun. It's good for the NBA. He enjoys doing this stuff."

When he boxes De La Hoya, who stands 5 feet 10, O'Neal said he will wear headgear and is "not going to go all out."

"I may give it to him once or twice. I know he may give it to me once or twice, but it's not going to be an all-out heavyweight brawl," said O'Neal, whose listed weight of 325 pounds is more than double De La Hoya's final 145-pound fighting weight.

AIDS patients...

AIDS patients struggle in isolated Cambodian town

AIDS patients...

AIDS patients struggle in isolated Cambodian town

AIDS patients...

AIDS patients struggle in isolated Cambodian town

Guatemala's Beteta assumes as subregional director of UN ECLAC-Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Guatemala's former Finance Minister Hugo Beteta assumed on Monday as the new director of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)'s subregional headquarters in Mexico City, a UN press release said

During Oscar Berger's presidency, Beteta served as planning minister from 2004 to 2006, then as finance minister from 2006 to 2008.

He was the first Central American named Secretary of the Inter-American Development Bank in 2007. He also served as alternate governor of the International Monetary Fund and as president of Inter-American Investment Corporation.

He holds a civil engineering degree from Rafael Landivar University and has received Spain's Order Isabella the Catholic for his contribution to the Inter-American Dialogue.

Guatemala's Beteta assumes as subregional director of UN ECLAC-Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Guatemala's former Finance Minister Hugo Beteta assumed on Monday as the new director of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)'s subregional headquarters in Mexico City, a UN press release said

During Oscar Berger's presidency, Beteta served as planning minister from 2004 to 2006, then as finance minister from 2006 to 2008.

He was the first Central American named Secretary of the Inter-American Development Bank in 2007. He also served as alternate governor of the International Monetary Fund and as president of Inter-American Investment Corporation.

He holds a civil engineering degree from Rafael Landivar University and has received Spain's Order Isabella the Catholic for his contribution to the Inter-American Dialogue.

Guatemala's Beteta assumes as subregional director of UN ECLAC-Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Guatemala's former Finance Minister Hugo Beteta assumed on Monday as the new director of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)'s subregional headquarters in Mexico City, a UN press release said

During Oscar Berger's presidency, Beteta served as planning minister from 2004 to 2006, then as finance minister from 2006 to 2008.

He was the first Central American named Secretary of the Inter-American Development Bank in 2007. He also served as alternate governor of the International Monetary Fund and as president of Inter-American Investment Corporation.

He holds a civil engineering degree from Rafael Landivar University and has received Spain's Order Isabella the Catholic for his contribution to the Inter-American Dialogue.

Real Madrid crushes Rosenborg 4-0, wins Santiago Bernabeu trophy

Real Madrid's Raul (L) and Jose Maria Gutierrez "Guti" hold up the trophy after their victory over Rosenborg during their Santiago Bernabeu trophy soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 24, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

OECD chief urges Mexico to seek green growth, cut fuel subsidies

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should seek a green growth and cut fuel subsidies to boost both the economy and clean energy, the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Jose Angel Gurria, said at a Monday conference organized by Mexico's Environment Ministry.

"Green growth is an opportunity for exports, jobs and wealth," Gurria told the conference. "Developing green technology could be a business opportunity for Mexico."

He said that global spending on alternative fuels could top 500billion U.S. dollars by 2020, and cited the success story of Denmark, which has become the world's biggest exporter of wind turbines though its geographical conditions are not so favorable for the development of wind energy.

"There exists a bad caricature that the choice is between economic growth and the environment," Gurria said. However, there are many cases where that has not been the case, he stressed.

The U.S. state of "California's Global Warming Solutions Act could create hundreds of thousands of jobs by making California a center of innovation," he noted.

He also called on Mexico to cut subsidies that hurt the environment, including policies like setting the price of fuels below the international price, even though the nation imports around 40 percent of the fuel it consumes.

"Doing so will save the government and taxpayers money and help raise economic efficiency," he said. Last year, when U.S. citizens crossed into northern Mexico to buy cheaper fuel, much of which was originally imported from the United States, the Mexican government was losing money on every sale, he noted.

"In Mexico, over the next 20 years, low oil production will pressure the government's ability to spend on social programs. Investing in clean energy will reduce the government's dependence on oil and raise Mexico's competitiveness," he said.

The Mexican government gets around 40 percent of its annual income direction from state-run energy giant Pemex, which is producing less oil each year as Cantarell, the supergiant field that has been its mainstay since the 1970s, enters a final decline. A carbon tax could help compensate for this, Gurria suggested.

Real Madrid crushes Rosenborg 4-0, wins Santiago Bernabeu trophy

Real Madrid's Raul (L) and Jose Maria Gutierrez "Guti" hold up the trophy after their victory over Rosenborg during their Santiago Bernabeu trophy soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 24, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

OECD chief urges Mexico to seek green growth, cut fuel subsidies

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should seek a green growth and cut fuel subsidies to boost both the economy and clean energy, the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Jose Angel Gurria, said at a Monday conference organized by Mexico's Environment Ministry.

"Green growth is an opportunity for exports, jobs and wealth," Gurria told the conference. "Developing green technology could be a business opportunity for Mexico."

He said that global spending on alternative fuels could top 500billion U.S. dollars by 2020, and cited the success story of Denmark, which has become the world's biggest exporter of wind turbines though its geographical conditions are not so favorable for the development of wind energy.

"There exists a bad caricature that the choice is between economic growth and the environment," Gurria said. However, there are many cases where that has not been the case, he stressed.

The U.S. state of "California's Global Warming Solutions Act could create hundreds of thousands of jobs by making California a center of innovation," he noted.

He also called on Mexico to cut subsidies that hurt the environment, including policies like setting the price of fuels below the international price, even though the nation imports around 40 percent of the fuel it consumes.

"Doing so will save the government and taxpayers money and help raise economic efficiency," he said. Last year, when U.S. citizens crossed into northern Mexico to buy cheaper fuel, much of which was originally imported from the United States, the Mexican government was losing money on every sale, he noted.

"In Mexico, over the next 20 years, low oil production will pressure the government's ability to spend on social programs. Investing in clean energy will reduce the government's dependence on oil and raise Mexico's competitiveness," he said.

The Mexican government gets around 40 percent of its annual income direction from state-run energy giant Pemex, which is producing less oil each year as Cantarell, the supergiant field that has been its mainstay since the 1970s, enters a final decline. A carbon tax could help compensate for this, Gurria suggested.

Real Madrid crushes Rosenborg 4-0, wins Santiago Bernabeu trophy

Real Madrid's Raul (L) and Jose Maria Gutierrez "Guti" hold up the trophy after their victory over Rosenborg during their Santiago Bernabeu trophy soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 24, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

OECD chief urges Mexico to seek green growth, cut fuel subsidies

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should seek a green growth and cut fuel subsidies to boost both the economy and clean energy, the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Jose Angel Gurria, said at a Monday conference organized by Mexico's Environment Ministry.

"Green growth is an opportunity for exports, jobs and wealth," Gurria told the conference. "Developing green technology could be a business opportunity for Mexico."

He said that global spending on alternative fuels could top 500billion U.S. dollars by 2020, and cited the success story of Denmark, which has become the world's biggest exporter of wind turbines though its geographical conditions are not so favorable for the development of wind energy.

"There exists a bad caricature that the choice is between economic growth and the environment," Gurria said. However, there are many cases where that has not been the case, he stressed.

The U.S. state of "California's Global Warming Solutions Act could create hundreds of thousands of jobs by making California a center of innovation," he noted.

He also called on Mexico to cut subsidies that hurt the environment, including policies like setting the price of fuels below the international price, even though the nation imports around 40 percent of the fuel it consumes.

"Doing so will save the government and taxpayers money and help raise economic efficiency," he said. Last year, when U.S. citizens crossed into northern Mexico to buy cheaper fuel, much of which was originally imported from the United States, the Mexican government was losing money on every sale, he noted.

"In Mexico, over the next 20 years, low oil production will pressure the government's ability to spend on social programs. Investing in clean energy will reduce the government's dependence on oil and raise Mexico's competitiveness," he said.

The Mexican government gets around 40 percent of its annual income direction from state-run energy giant Pemex, which is producing less oil each year as Cantarell, the supergiant field that has been its mainstay since the 1970s, enters a final decline. A carbon tax could help compensate for this, Gurria suggested.

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

Panama reports 8 suspected A/H1N1 flu cases

PANAMA CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Panamanian health authorities reported on Monday eight suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in the Atlantic city of Colon, 80 km to Panama City.

Regional director for the Health Ministry Aurelio Pineda told the press Monday that there were pregnant women and children among the possibly infected patients.

The medical staff directly assisted these patients and their blood samples were taken to the Commemorative Institute Gorgas, whose lab is specialized on A/H1N1 virus detection, Pineda said.

The ministry has a program of quick response in the Atlantic coast in case the patients test positive of A/H1N1 flu, he added.

The national authorities have reported a total of 654 confirmed cases, including eight deaths.

Panama reported its first case on May 8 and since then it launched a massive preventive campaign to stop the virus from spreading.

Nicaragua confirms second A/H1N1 flu death

MANAGUA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua confirmed its second A/H1N1 influenza death on Monday, the Health Ministry announced.

A 44-year-old female patient from Costa Rica died in a hospital in Managua, Health Minister Guillermo Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the patient, who was probably infected with the disease when she arrived in the country, was hospitalized for 12 hours before death.

Nicaragua confirmed its first A/H1N1 flu death on Aug. 12 as a 30-year-old patient from Cruz del Rio Grande in the Caribbean region died of the virus.

So far, Nicaragua has reported 775 infections since the first case in the country was confirmed in June.

Experts from American countries discuss vaccination strategies against A/H1N1 flu

SAN JOSE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of 150 immunization specialists from American countries met on Monday in Costa Rica to discuss vaccination strategies against the A/H1N1 flu, said the Pan American Health Organization (PHO).

Members of the PHO Advisor Technical Group (GTA), which meet biennially on disease immunization, eradication and elimination, attended the meeting.

The meeting, which will last for three days, is expected to focus on how to protect the most vulnerable groups against the A/H1N1 pandemic.

"The meeting will discuss the A/H1N1 flu vaccination recommendations, whether it should be kept a seasonal vaccination in case of a pandemic and who will be first to be vaccinated," the PHO said in a statement.

Experts from Argentina, Canada and the United States joined the delegates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in the meeting.

Panama reports 8 suspected A/H1N1 flu cases

PANAMA CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Panamanian health authorities reported on Monday eight suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in the Atlantic city of Colon, 80 km to Panama City.

Regional director for the Health Ministry Aurelio Pineda told the press Monday that there were pregnant women and children among the possibly infected patients.

The medical staff directly assisted these patients and their blood samples were taken to the Commemorative Institute Gorgas, whose lab is specialized on A/H1N1 virus detection, Pineda said.

The ministry has a program of quick response in the Atlantic coast in case the patients test positive of A/H1N1 flu, he added.

The national authorities have reported a total of 654 confirmed cases, including eight deaths.

Panama reported its first case on May 8 and since then it launched a massive preventive campaign to stop the virus from spreading.

Nicaragua confirms second A/H1N1 flu death

MANAGUA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua confirmed its second A/H1N1 influenza death on Monday, the Health Ministry announced.

A 44-year-old female patient from Costa Rica died in a hospital in Managua, Health Minister Guillermo Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the patient, who was probably infected with the disease when she arrived in the country, was hospitalized for 12 hours before death.

Nicaragua confirmed its first A/H1N1 flu death on Aug. 12 as a 30-year-old patient from Cruz del Rio Grande in the Caribbean region died of the virus.

So far, Nicaragua has reported 775 infections since the first case in the country was confirmed in June.

Experts from American countries discuss vaccination strategies against A/H1N1 flu

SAN JOSE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of 150 immunization specialists from American countries met on Monday in Costa Rica to discuss vaccination strategies against the A/H1N1 flu, said the Pan American Health Organization (PHO).

Members of the PHO Advisor Technical Group (GTA), which meet biennially on disease immunization, eradication and elimination, attended the meeting.

The meeting, which will last for three days, is expected to focus on how to protect the most vulnerable groups against the A/H1N1 pandemic.

"The meeting will discuss the A/H1N1 flu vaccination recommendations, whether it should be kept a seasonal vaccination in case of a pandemic and who will be first to be vaccinated," the PHO said in a statement.

Experts from Argentina, Canada and the United States joined the delegates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in the meeting.

Panama reports 8 suspected A/H1N1 flu cases

PANAMA CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Panamanian health authorities reported on Monday eight suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in the Atlantic city of Colon, 80 km to Panama City.

Regional director for the Health Ministry Aurelio Pineda told the press Monday that there were pregnant women and children among the possibly infected patients.

The medical staff directly assisted these patients and their blood samples were taken to the Commemorative Institute Gorgas, whose lab is specialized on A/H1N1 virus detection, Pineda said.

The ministry has a program of quick response in the Atlantic coast in case the patients test positive of A/H1N1 flu, he added.

The national authorities have reported a total of 654 confirmed cases, including eight deaths.

Panama reported its first case on May 8 and since then it launched a massive preventive campaign to stop the virus from spreading.

Nicaragua confirms second A/H1N1 flu death

MANAGUA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua confirmed its second A/H1N1 influenza death on Monday, the Health Ministry announced.

A 44-year-old female patient from Costa Rica died in a hospital in Managua, Health Minister Guillermo Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the patient, who was probably infected with the disease when she arrived in the country, was hospitalized for 12 hours before death.

Nicaragua confirmed its first A/H1N1 flu death on Aug. 12 as a 30-year-old patient from Cruz del Rio Grande in the Caribbean region died of the virus.

So far, Nicaragua has reported 775 infections since the first case in the country was confirmed in June.

Experts from American countries discuss vaccination strategies against A/H1N1 flu

SAN JOSE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of 150 immunization specialists from American countries met on Monday in Costa Rica to discuss vaccination strategies against the A/H1N1 flu, said the Pan American Health Organization (PHO).

Members of the PHO Advisor Technical Group (GTA), which meet biennially on disease immunization, eradication and elimination, attended the meeting.

The meeting, which will last for three days, is expected to focus on how to protect the most vulnerable groups against the A/H1N1 pandemic.

"The meeting will discuss the A/H1N1 flu vaccination recommendations, whether it should be kept a seasonal vaccination in case of a pandemic and who will be first to be vaccinated," the PHO said in a statement.

Experts from Argentina, Canada and the United States joined the delegates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in the meeting.

Over 1,000 new A/H1N1 flu cases confirmed in Europe

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A European health agency said on Monday that 1,048 new A/H1N1 flu cases were reported in European countries within the last 24 hours.

Of the new cases, 585 were confirmed in Germany, 223 in Portugal and 207 in Greece while other cases were reported in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Finland, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in its daily situation report.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus in the EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries increased to 43,152, with 14,325 cases in Germany, 12,957 in Britain, 2,210 in Portugal, 1,631 in Greece and 1,538 in Spain, the ECDC said.

The total number of fatal cases rose to 93, with nine new fatal cases from France and one from Spain, the ECDC added.

The ECDC publishes a daily situation report about the H1N1 flu cases in the EU and EFTA countries based on official information from these countries

Over 1,000 new A/H1N1 flu cases confirmed in Europe

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A European health agency said on Monday that 1,048 new A/H1N1 flu cases were reported in European countries within the last 24 hours.

Of the new cases, 585 were confirmed in Germany, 223 in Portugal and 207 in Greece while other cases were reported in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Finland, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in its daily situation report.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus in the EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries increased to 43,152, with 14,325 cases in Germany, 12,957 in Britain, 2,210 in Portugal, 1,631 in Greece and 1,538 in Spain, the ECDC said.

The total number of fatal cases rose to 93, with nine new fatal cases from France and one from Spain, the ECDC added.

The ECDC publishes a daily situation report about the H1N1 flu cases in the EU and EFTA countries based on official information from these countries

Over 1,000 new A/H1N1 flu cases confirmed in Europe

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A European health agency said on Monday that 1,048 new A/H1N1 flu cases were reported in European countries within the last 24 hours.

Of the new cases, 585 were confirmed in Germany, 223 in Portugal and 207 in Greece while other cases were reported in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Finland, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in its daily situation report.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus in the EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries increased to 43,152, with 14,325 cases in Germany, 12,957 in Britain, 2,210 in Portugal, 1,631 in Greece and 1,538 in Spain, the ECDC said.

The total number of fatal cases rose to 93, with nine new fatal cases from France and one from Spain, the ECDC added.

The ECDC publishes a daily situation report about the H1N1 flu cases in the EU and EFTA countries based on official information from these countries

S Korea, DPRK to hold family reunion talks

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The two Koreas decided to hold family reunion talks from Aug. 26 to 28 at the DPRK's Mount Kumgang resort, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday.

According to Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung, Pyongyang accepted Seoul's earlier proposal to hold talks on reunion of families separated during the Korean War.

Seoul's proposal, made last week, came after an earlier agreement reached between DPRK leader Kim Jong-il and South Korea's Hyundai Group Chief Hyun Jeong-eun to resume the reunion move.

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

S Korea, DPRK to hold family reunion talks

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The two Koreas decided to hold family reunion talks from Aug. 26 to 28 at the DPRK's Mount Kumgang resort, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday.

According to Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung, Pyongyang accepted Seoul's earlier proposal to hold talks on reunion of families separated during the Korean War.

Seoul's proposal, made last week, came after an earlier agreement reached between DPRK leader Kim Jong-il and South Korea's Hyundai Group Chief Hyun Jeong-eun to resume the reunion move.

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

S Korea, DPRK to hold family reunion talks

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The two Koreas decided to hold family reunion talks from Aug. 26 to 28 at the DPRK's Mount Kumgang resort, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday.

According to Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung, Pyongyang accepted Seoul's earlier proposal to hold talks on reunion of families separated during the Korean War.

Seoul's proposal, made last week, came after an earlier agreement reached between DPRK leader Kim Jong-il and South Korea's Hyundai Group Chief Hyun Jeong-eun to resume the reunion move.

U.S. heart group recommends limits on added sugar intake

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- People are recommended to limit their added sugar consumption by the American Heart Association in a statement as quoted by news agencies Tuesday.

The organization said on Monday most women should take in no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons, while for most men the recommendation is just 150 calories or nine teaspoons.

The recommendation is far below the 22 teaspoons or 355 calories of average sugar consumption by the Americans per day, according to data gathered during a national nutrition survey between 2001 and 2004.

Added sugars offer no nutritional value other than calories to the diet, and too much sugar intake not only makes people fat, but also increases their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to the statement.

The recommendation only applies to the added sugars, which are added to foods during manufacturing or by consumers, including sugar in soft drinks, candy, desserts and sweetened dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods is not included.

The organization particularly aimed at the soft drinks, which the organization said is the No. 1 source of added sugars in the U.S. diet. It said many studies have shown a correlation between higher intake of sweetened beverages and obesity.

For example, one 12-ounce (0.35 liter) can of regular soda contains roughly 130 calories, which already exceeds a woman's daily sugar budget.

The organization also suggested that if people want to eat more sweet treats, they need to increase their sugar budget by becoming more physically active.

(Agnecies)

Pakistan seeks assistance in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here on Monday to attend the ministerial meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said Monday that Pakistan is trying to engage the private sector of FoDP countries to participate more and more in Pakistani investment and trade activities, said the report.

The Istanbul meeting of FoDP, which aims at finding solutions to the problems of Pakistan, will provide assistance to the Pakistani government in the fields of education, health, energy, economy and local administration.

A pilot project, which touches upon the reconstruction and rehabilitation of displaced people in the Malakand division as well as the prospect of cooperation in public and private sectors, will be discussed at the meeting.

Representatives from 20 countries and 6 international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting, among whom were U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Qureshi will also hold formal talks with his Turkish counterpart, according to the report.

Japan Meteorological Agency wrongly issues strong quake alarm

TOKYO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a false alarm saying a strong earthquake was imminent in Tokyo and surrounding areas early Tuesday, casing subway and other train services to briefly halt shortly before morning rush hour, Kyodo News reported.

The quake warning was issued around 6:37 a.m., but no jolt perceptible to people was observed in the region, the agency said, blaming the error on a possible computer glitch.

The alert caused Tokyo Metro to suspend services on eight of its subway lines for two to nine minutes, including halting trains, but the timetables were restored by 8 a.m. Other railways were also affected.

A quake centered under the sea east of Chiba Prefecture occurred after the alarm, and the agency said its quake alert system may have misjudged signals of this tremor, Kyodo said.

The system is designed to release a warning when a strong quake of intensity at least lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 is forecast based on minor initial tremors detected by seismometers

Pakistan seeks assistance in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here on Monday to attend the ministerial meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said Monday that Pakistan is trying to engage the private sector of FoDP countries to participate more and more in Pakistani investment and trade activities, said the report.

The Istanbul meeting of FoDP, which aims at finding solutions to the problems of Pakistan, will provide assistance to the Pakistani government in the fields of education, health, energy, economy and local administration.

A pilot project, which touches upon the reconstruction and rehabilitation of displaced people in the Malakand division as well as the prospect of cooperation in public and private sectors, will be discussed at the meeting.

Representatives from 20 countries and 6 international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting, among whom were U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Qureshi will also hold formal talks with his Turkish counterpart, according to the report.

Japan Meteorological Agency wrongly issues strong quake alarm

TOKYO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a false alarm saying a strong earthquake was imminent in Tokyo and surrounding areas early Tuesday, casing subway and other train services to briefly halt shortly before morning rush hour, Kyodo News reported.

The quake warning was issued around 6:37 a.m., but no jolt perceptible to people was observed in the region, the agency said, blaming the error on a possible computer glitch.

The alert caused Tokyo Metro to suspend services on eight of its subway lines for two to nine minutes, including halting trains, but the timetables were restored by 8 a.m. Other railways were also affected.

A quake centered under the sea east of Chiba Prefecture occurred after the alarm, and the agency said its quake alert system may have misjudged signals of this tremor, Kyodo said.

The system is designed to release a warning when a strong quake of intensity at least lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 is forecast based on minor initial tremors detected by seismometers

Pakistan seeks assistance in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here on Monday to attend the ministerial meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said Monday that Pakistan is trying to engage the private sector of FoDP countries to participate more and more in Pakistani investment and trade activities, said the report.

The Istanbul meeting of FoDP, which aims at finding solutions to the problems of Pakistan, will provide assistance to the Pakistani government in the fields of education, health, energy, economy and local administration.

A pilot project, which touches upon the reconstruction and rehabilitation of displaced people in the Malakand division as well as the prospect of cooperation in public and private sectors, will be discussed at the meeting.

Representatives from 20 countries and 6 international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting, among whom were U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Qureshi will also hold formal talks with his Turkish counterpart, according to the report.

Japan Meteorological Agency wrongly issues strong quake alarm

TOKYO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a false alarm saying a strong earthquake was imminent in Tokyo and surrounding areas early Tuesday, casing subway and other train services to briefly halt shortly before morning rush hour, Kyodo News reported.

The quake warning was issued around 6:37 a.m., but no jolt perceptible to people was observed in the region, the agency said, blaming the error on a possible computer glitch.

The alert caused Tokyo Metro to suspend services on eight of its subway lines for two to nine minutes, including halting trains, but the timetables were restored by 8 a.m. Other railways were also affected.

A quake centered under the sea east of Chiba Prefecture occurred after the alarm, and the agency said its quake alert system may have misjudged signals of this tremor, Kyodo said.

The system is designed to release a warning when a strong quake of intensity at least lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 is forecast based on minor initial tremors detected by seismometers

Singapore official reiterates commitment to security for APEC meeting

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Monday reiterated the city state's commitment to security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting which will be held here in November this year.

According to Channel NewsAsia reports on Monday night, Wong, who is also Singapore's Home Affairs Minister, said that the country is not letting its guard down.

Stressing that he understood the regional security situation, he said the city state is widely exposed to threats by people who want to do the city state harm.

The key is to ensure that the country remains a hard target for terrorists, he added.

Leaders from the 21-member group will attend the two-day meeting from Nov. 14 to 15.

In recent days, there were media reports of a plot to attack the APEC meeting that was uncovered during investigations into the Jakarta bombings in July. But on Sunday, Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam called them "unverified rumors".

Singapore official reiterates commitment to security for APEC meeting

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Monday reiterated the city state's commitment to security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting which will be held here in November this year.

According to Channel NewsAsia reports on Monday night, Wong, who is also Singapore's Home Affairs Minister, said that the country is not letting its guard down.

Stressing that he understood the regional security situation, he said the city state is widely exposed to threats by people who want to do the city state harm.

The key is to ensure that the country remains a hard target for terrorists, he added.

Leaders from the 21-member group will attend the two-day meeting from Nov. 14 to 15.

In recent days, there were media reports of a plot to attack the APEC meeting that was uncovered during investigations into the Jakarta bombings in July. But on Sunday, Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam called them "unverified rumors".

Singapore official reiterates commitment to security for APEC meeting

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Monday reiterated the city state's commitment to security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting which will be held here in November this year.

According to Channel NewsAsia reports on Monday night, Wong, who is also Singapore's Home Affairs Minister, said that the country is not letting its guard down.

Stressing that he understood the regional security situation, he said the city state is widely exposed to threats by people who want to do the city state harm.

The key is to ensure that the country remains a hard target for terrorists, he added.

Leaders from the 21-member group will attend the two-day meeting from Nov. 14 to 15.

In recent days, there were media reports of a plot to attack the APEC meeting that was uncovered during investigations into the Jakarta bombings in July. But on Sunday, Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam called them "unverified rumors".

ACID ATTACKS: A cruel way to get even

http://www.nst.com.my

MARIAM MOKHTAR, Ipoh
2009/08/25

I RECOIL in horror at the mutilation of a police constable and his girlfriend by his ex-wife ("Wife splashes acid on cheating hubby" -- NST, Aug 18).

Sadly, thousands of women in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Cambodia, have suffered the same fate.

Most of the victims are injured in violent attacks involving acid which has become a way of getting even.

The attacks are a male backlash against modern women who have become socially and financially independent.



It has also been documented that the attacks are a common form of revenge by men who have been jilted, spurned or who are involved in a dispute.

It is an evil act whether it is done by a man or woman. The perpetrator may not want to kill the victim but in some perverse way wants to do something that will make the victim suffer for the rest of his or her life.

Acid eats away flesh and even bones. It causes terrible pain and shock. It also induces terror. Victims are inflicted for the rest of their lives with permanent disabilities such as blindness and disfigurement.

Survivors face social isolation and rejection. Few survivors can afford reconstructive surgery. None can fully recover from the horrible ordeal and for many, it is a fate worse than death.

Unmarried women who are victims may never marry. The social stigma, loss of self-esteem and economic rejection is enough to break anybody's will and spirit.

It is a tragedy for the policeman and his girlfriend to have suffered this fate. But what is worse is that his ex-wife is the saddest and most tragic figure of this crime.

The Sesan Krom II Hydro-Electric Dam Affects Nine Villages – Monday, 24.8.2009

Posted on 25 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 627
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Phluk village along the Sesan River in Stung Treng, to be constructed with a height of 75 meters from the bottom of the river, with resulting lake having a total length of more than 10 km, will flood more than 30,000 hectares of land and force about 5,000 citizens of nine villages above the Sesan Hydro-electric dam to move out.

“The environment projects officer of the NGO Forum on Cambodia, Mr. Tonn Kunthel, said, ‘The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, to be built from early of 2010 to 2015, will affect nine villages in Sesan district lying along the Srae Pok River: Srae Kor 1, Srae Kor 2, Srae Sranok, Kbal Romeas, Kbal Spean Srae Pok, Krabei Chrum, Khsach Thmey, Svay Rieng, and Rumpot villages.’

“Mr. Tonn Kunthel added that ‘the 75-meter-heigh dam will submerge farm land of more than 30,000 hectares of the community and the National Road 13 from Stung Treng to Ratanakiri, worrying minority people who live along the Srae Pok River.’

“He went on to say that the environmental impacts will happen through the change in the flow of water: destructive floods which contaminate the water, landslides, loss of private land, loss of fish shelters and other water-borne life, and the sources of water-borne diseases affect the health of people in the community.

“All ethnic minority people living along the river will have to relocate to new villages far from their current villages, where the soil is not fertile enough for farming, and they will have to give up the crops that are providing good yields in their current villages.

“The Ratanakiri deputy governor, Mr. Mom Saroeun, said on 20 August 2009 in a celebration in Ratanakiri to mark the seventh anniversary of the three-river system – Sesan, Srae Pok, and Sekong rivers, ‘Development cannot avoid certain impacts that we try to steer clear of.’ He added, ‘First we need to assess the impacts on the society, the economy, and the environment, especially to organize plans with the participations from all relevant institutions and from the communities, before any projects are finally decided.’

“Mr. Mom Saroeun said, ‘We will work together to take responsible actions to solve for existing problems emerging from the impacts, where we had found that there are more negative impacts than positive ones, and more loss than gain; project developers have to decide whether projects should be implemented or not, but their decisions must be really correct.’

“He added that not all developments yield profits, but they can also affect the society, the economy, and the environment.

“The Phluk Village chief, Mr. Khean Bun Heng – a 43-year-old person from a Laotian ethnic minority, told Deum Ampil at his village, ‘More than 800 villagers of the 227 families in Phluk village that would be affected by the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, do not want that some companies construct a hydro-electric dam up-stream from their village, because they fear that the dam might break, flooding their houses, damaging their property, and killing them.’

“Representing Phluk villagers, the Phluk village chief asks the Cambodian government to cancel the contract to construct the dam.

“Mr. Choeum Kea, chief of the Kbal Romeas village, which lies up-stream from where the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam is to be built, in Kbal Romeas commune, Sesan district, Stung Treng, told Deum Ampil that citizens of the 120 families in Kbal Romeas village will be forced to move away from the Srae Pok River, because the village will be flooded with a water level more than 30-meter above the village. This village chief added that the Phnoung ethnic people in the village do not want to relocate to new places.

“He explained that all people of the Phnoung community in the village are doing farming on fertile land and respect the spirits believed to be protecting them. At new places for settlement, the land is not fertile and has many stones. It is a low-lying area where it is difficult to establish a village, because the area is regularly flooded and under standing water.

“It should be noted that the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Sesan district, Stung Treng, is planned to be constructed from early 2010 to 2015. The companies managing the plan are a company from Vietnam, Power Engineering Consulting Corporation 1 (PECC1), and a Cambodian company, Key Consultants Cambodia (KCC), investing approx. US$816 million. According to a Memorandum of Understanding achieved in 2007, between the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Energy of Cambodia and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the EVN will study the implementation of the Sesan Krom II project by assessing also the environmental impacts.

“The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam will generate more than 400 megawatt for the provinces around Stung Treng, and the rest of the electricity will also be sold to Vietnam and Laos.â€?

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #270- 23-24.8.2009

ACID ATTACKS: A cruel way to get even

http://www.nst.com.my

MARIAM MOKHTAR, Ipoh
2009/08/25

I RECOIL in horror at the mutilation of a police constable and his girlfriend by his ex-wife ("Wife splashes acid on cheating hubby" -- NST, Aug 18).

Sadly, thousands of women in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Cambodia, have suffered the same fate.

Most of the victims are injured in violent attacks involving acid which has become a way of getting even.

The attacks are a male backlash against modern women who have become socially and financially independent.



It has also been documented that the attacks are a common form of revenge by men who have been jilted, spurned or who are involved in a dispute.

It is an evil act whether it is done by a man or woman. The perpetrator may not want to kill the victim but in some perverse way wants to do something that will make the victim suffer for the rest of his or her life.

Acid eats away flesh and even bones. It causes terrible pain and shock. It also induces terror. Victims are inflicted for the rest of their lives with permanent disabilities such as blindness and disfigurement.

Survivors face social isolation and rejection. Few survivors can afford reconstructive surgery. None can fully recover from the horrible ordeal and for many, it is a fate worse than death.

Unmarried women who are victims may never marry. The social stigma, loss of self-esteem and economic rejection is enough to break anybody's will and spirit.

It is a tragedy for the policeman and his girlfriend to have suffered this fate. But what is worse is that his ex-wife is the saddest and most tragic figure of this crime.

The Sesan Krom II Hydro-Electric Dam Affects Nine Villages – Monday, 24.8.2009

Posted on 25 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 627
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Phluk village along the Sesan River in Stung Treng, to be constructed with a height of 75 meters from the bottom of the river, with resulting lake having a total length of more than 10 km, will flood more than 30,000 hectares of land and force about 5,000 citizens of nine villages above the Sesan Hydro-electric dam to move out.

“The environment projects officer of the NGO Forum on Cambodia, Mr. Tonn Kunthel, said, ‘The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, to be built from early of 2010 to 2015, will affect nine villages in Sesan district lying along the Srae Pok River: Srae Kor 1, Srae Kor 2, Srae Sranok, Kbal Romeas, Kbal Spean Srae Pok, Krabei Chrum, Khsach Thmey, Svay Rieng, and Rumpot villages.’

“Mr. Tonn Kunthel added that ‘the 75-meter-heigh dam will submerge farm land of more than 30,000 hectares of the community and the National Road 13 from Stung Treng to Ratanakiri, worrying minority people who live along the Srae Pok River.’

“He went on to say that the environmental impacts will happen through the change in the flow of water: destructive floods which contaminate the water, landslides, loss of private land, loss of fish shelters and other water-borne life, and the sources of water-borne diseases affect the health of people in the community.

“All ethnic minority people living along the river will have to relocate to new villages far from their current villages, where the soil is not fertile enough for farming, and they will have to give up the crops that are providing good yields in their current villages.

“The Ratanakiri deputy governor, Mr. Mom Saroeun, said on 20 August 2009 in a celebration in Ratanakiri to mark the seventh anniversary of the three-river system – Sesan, Srae Pok, and Sekong rivers, ‘Development cannot avoid certain impacts that we try to steer clear of.’ He added, ‘First we need to assess the impacts on the society, the economy, and the environment, especially to organize plans with the participations from all relevant institutions and from the communities, before any projects are finally decided.’

“Mr. Mom Saroeun said, ‘We will work together to take responsible actions to solve for existing problems emerging from the impacts, where we had found that there are more negative impacts than positive ones, and more loss than gain; project developers have to decide whether projects should be implemented or not, but their decisions must be really correct.’

“He added that not all developments yield profits, but they can also affect the society, the economy, and the environment.

“The Phluk Village chief, Mr. Khean Bun Heng – a 43-year-old person from a Laotian ethnic minority, told Deum Ampil at his village, ‘More than 800 villagers of the 227 families in Phluk village that would be affected by the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, do not want that some companies construct a hydro-electric dam up-stream from their village, because they fear that the dam might break, flooding their houses, damaging their property, and killing them.’

“Representing Phluk villagers, the Phluk village chief asks the Cambodian government to cancel the contract to construct the dam.

“Mr. Choeum Kea, chief of the Kbal Romeas village, which lies up-stream from where the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam is to be built, in Kbal Romeas commune, Sesan district, Stung Treng, told Deum Ampil that citizens of the 120 families in Kbal Romeas village will be forced to move away from the Srae Pok River, because the village will be flooded with a water level more than 30-meter above the village. This village chief added that the Phnoung ethnic people in the village do not want to relocate to new places.

“He explained that all people of the Phnoung community in the village are doing farming on fertile land and respect the spirits believed to be protecting them. At new places for settlement, the land is not fertile and has many stones. It is a low-lying area where it is difficult to establish a village, because the area is regularly flooded and under standing water.

“It should be noted that the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Sesan district, Stung Treng, is planned to be constructed from early 2010 to 2015. The companies managing the plan are a company from Vietnam, Power Engineering Consulting Corporation 1 (PECC1), and a Cambodian company, Key Consultants Cambodia (KCC), investing approx. US$816 million. According to a Memorandum of Understanding achieved in 2007, between the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Energy of Cambodia and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the EVN will study the implementation of the Sesan Krom II project by assessing also the environmental impacts.

“The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam will generate more than 400 megawatt for the provinces around Stung Treng, and the rest of the electricity will also be sold to Vietnam and Laos.â€?

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #270- 23-24.8.2009

ACID ATTACKS: A cruel way to get even

http://www.nst.com.my

MARIAM MOKHTAR, Ipoh
2009/08/25

I RECOIL in horror at the mutilation of a police constable and his girlfriend by his ex-wife ("Wife splashes acid on cheating hubby" -- NST, Aug 18).

Sadly, thousands of women in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Cambodia, have suffered the same fate.

Most of the victims are injured in violent attacks involving acid which has become a way of getting even.

The attacks are a male backlash against modern women who have become socially and financially independent.



It has also been documented that the attacks are a common form of revenge by men who have been jilted, spurned or who are involved in a dispute.

It is an evil act whether it is done by a man or woman. The perpetrator may not want to kill the victim but in some perverse way wants to do something that will make the victim suffer for the rest of his or her life.

Acid eats away flesh and even bones. It causes terrible pain and shock. It also induces terror. Victims are inflicted for the rest of their lives with permanent disabilities such as blindness and disfigurement.

Survivors face social isolation and rejection. Few survivors can afford reconstructive surgery. None can fully recover from the horrible ordeal and for many, it is a fate worse than death.

Unmarried women who are victims may never marry. The social stigma, loss of self-esteem and economic rejection is enough to break anybody's will and spirit.

It is a tragedy for the policeman and his girlfriend to have suffered this fate. But what is worse is that his ex-wife is the saddest and most tragic figure of this crime.

The Sesan Krom II Hydro-Electric Dam Affects Nine Villages – Monday, 24.8.2009

Posted on 25 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 627
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Phluk village along the Sesan River in Stung Treng, to be constructed with a height of 75 meters from the bottom of the river, with resulting lake having a total length of more than 10 km, will flood more than 30,000 hectares of land and force about 5,000 citizens of nine villages above the Sesan Hydro-electric dam to move out.

“The environment projects officer of the NGO Forum on Cambodia, Mr. Tonn Kunthel, said, ‘The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, to be built from early of 2010 to 2015, will affect nine villages in Sesan district lying along the Srae Pok River: Srae Kor 1, Srae Kor 2, Srae Sranok, Kbal Romeas, Kbal Spean Srae Pok, Krabei Chrum, Khsach Thmey, Svay Rieng, and Rumpot villages.’

“Mr. Tonn Kunthel added that ‘the 75-meter-heigh dam will submerge farm land of more than 30,000 hectares of the community and the National Road 13 from Stung Treng to Ratanakiri, worrying minority people who live along the Srae Pok River.’

“He went on to say that the environmental impacts will happen through the change in the flow of water: destructive floods which contaminate the water, landslides, loss of private land, loss of fish shelters and other water-borne life, and the sources of water-borne diseases affect the health of people in the community.

“All ethnic minority people living along the river will have to relocate to new villages far from their current villages, where the soil is not fertile enough for farming, and they will have to give up the crops that are providing good yields in their current villages.

“The Ratanakiri deputy governor, Mr. Mom Saroeun, said on 20 August 2009 in a celebration in Ratanakiri to mark the seventh anniversary of the three-river system – Sesan, Srae Pok, and Sekong rivers, ‘Development cannot avoid certain impacts that we try to steer clear of.’ He added, ‘First we need to assess the impacts on the society, the economy, and the environment, especially to organize plans with the participations from all relevant institutions and from the communities, before any projects are finally decided.’

“Mr. Mom Saroeun said, ‘We will work together to take responsible actions to solve for existing problems emerging from the impacts, where we had found that there are more negative impacts than positive ones, and more loss than gain; project developers have to decide whether projects should be implemented or not, but their decisions must be really correct.’

“He added that not all developments yield profits, but they can also affect the society, the economy, and the environment.

“The Phluk Village chief, Mr. Khean Bun Heng – a 43-year-old person from a Laotian ethnic minority, told Deum Ampil at his village, ‘More than 800 villagers of the 227 families in Phluk village that would be affected by the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam, do not want that some companies construct a hydro-electric dam up-stream from their village, because they fear that the dam might break, flooding their houses, damaging their property, and killing them.’

“Representing Phluk villagers, the Phluk village chief asks the Cambodian government to cancel the contract to construct the dam.

“Mr. Choeum Kea, chief of the Kbal Romeas village, which lies up-stream from where the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam is to be built, in Kbal Romeas commune, Sesan district, Stung Treng, told Deum Ampil that citizens of the 120 families in Kbal Romeas village will be forced to move away from the Srae Pok River, because the village will be flooded with a water level more than 30-meter above the village. This village chief added that the Phnoung ethnic people in the village do not want to relocate to new places.

“He explained that all people of the Phnoung community in the village are doing farming on fertile land and respect the spirits believed to be protecting them. At new places for settlement, the land is not fertile and has many stones. It is a low-lying area where it is difficult to establish a village, because the area is regularly flooded and under standing water.

“It should be noted that the Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam in Sesan district, Stung Treng, is planned to be constructed from early 2010 to 2015. The companies managing the plan are a company from Vietnam, Power Engineering Consulting Corporation 1 (PECC1), and a Cambodian company, Key Consultants Cambodia (KCC), investing approx. US$816 million. According to a Memorandum of Understanding achieved in 2007, between the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Energy of Cambodia and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the EVN will study the implementation of the Sesan Krom II project by assessing also the environmental impacts.

“The Sesan Krom II hydro-electric dam will generate more than 400 megawatt for the provinces around Stung Treng, and the rest of the electricity will also be sold to Vietnam and Laos.â€?

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #270- 23-24.8.2009

Eradicate red tape — Angara

http://www.journal.com.ph

August 25, 2009

By: Bernadette E. Tamayo

SEN. Edgardo Angara is saddened by a recent study by the World Bank and International Finance Corp. that it is easier to open business in Cambodia than in the Philippines.

The WB and IFC report said it would take only four days to start a business in Singapore, while in the Philippines it takes 52 days. The study also put the Philippines at 140th out of 181 countries on the ease of doing business.

“Our country, one of the lowest-ranked in the region, was behind Cambodia at 135 and only ahead of Laos at 165 and East Timor at 170. The average ranking for East Asia is 83,” Angara said.

Angara said the country should improve its business environment by eliminating “red tape” amid the global economic crisis affecting job creation and investment generation efforts. “Starting a business in the country takes an average of 18 procedures, 11 of which are required nationally and seven by local governments,” he said.

He noted that the IFC report, entitled Doing Business 2009, took into account the laws, rules and regulations that enhance or impede business activities.

Aside from cutting the time it takes to set up a business, Angara said it is also important to provide necessary infrastructure and human capital development.