DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “7 houses collapse into Lower Mekong River of Cambodia, Flood still threatens” plus 9 more

CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH, Sept 24, 2011-7 houses in Neak Leung area of Prey Veng province of Cambodia on Saturday fell into river, but no casualty reported.

The house collapsed at about 13: 15 PM local time and nobody died," witnessed reported. Cambodia plans to build a longest bridge over this Mekong at the area of Neak Loeung. Neak Loeung is a historic bombardment during the fighting between Lon Nol's and Khmer Rouge's armies. And it also destroyed by American bombs on Khmer civilian and it was featured in Killing field movie.

"The houses were built on riverbank at the areas.  The flood of the lower Mekong River after the country hit by low air pressure from Indian Ocean and rainfall dropped heavy at the upper Mekong made the country in flooding at some area.

Siem Reap province, home of Angkor- world class tourism destination also hit. Over 200 foreign tourists escaped by helicopter this week.

"It will be released soon," said Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources and meteorology at area to inspect the damage and ordered to survive.

So far, 60 people were claimed "dead" according to report from disaster management committee. On Saturday, two local people also died after their boat capsized down into Mekong River in Steung Treng district of Kampong Cham province.

The flood hit villages along Mekong River, and Tonle Sap, lower Mekong River but now the water level at upper Mekong river of Cambodia deceased.  Steung Treng, Kratie, Kampong Cham province, Kandal, Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, Kompong Thom, Poi Pet of Banteang Mean Chey province are under threats from flood.  Schools and Pagodas also were sunk by flood. Health ministry is in quick process to help medical care for local people.

The government expressed their concern this week and made appeal for local people to be careful and seek safety shelter or high land.

CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH, Sept 24, 2011-Thousands of Thais and Cambodians on Saturday support the friendship football match for members and lawmakers of Pheu Thai Party and senior governmental officials, and lawmakers from Cambodia side at the Phnom Penh's national Olympic Stadium.

" The game is for boosting, restoring the bilateral ties and good cooperation between the two kingdoms," Samdech PM Hun Sen said, adding that nightmare of ties disappeared. Two countries soured their tension after Thai troop during Thai PM Abhisit invaded Cambodia on July 15, 2008.

Two kingdoms restored ties after Thailand led Pheu Thai Party, under leadership of first female Thai PM Yingluck, who won landslide victory for general election on July 3.

Somchay Vongsawat, former Thai PM told media that "the match will contribute to strengthen ties and thanks Cambodian government that offered warm welcome."

"In near future, Cambodian football team will go to play in Bangkok," He stresses. Over 1,000 Thais from red group of Pheu Thai party joined this football event.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Samdech Heng Samrin, president of national assembly, Cambodian national military police chief Gen, Phnom Penh Govenor Kep Chutema. Sao Sokha and former Thai PM Vongsawat, top leaders from red group like Jatuporn Prompan, Nutavuth sayku and other are players.

Both sides divided their team of players by half and regroup their team from both sides.  After the match, Samdech PM Hun Sen's team gained 10 scores and Somchay Vongsawat for 7 scores.  No win or lose but win-win game because each team has Cambodian- Thai players.

CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH, Sept 24, 2011-Leaders of the movement to eradicate anti-personnel mines have welcomed the island nation of Tuvalu as the 157th state to join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention. Tuvalu's accession was made official when it appeared in the United Nations Journal on 22 September, With Tuvalu's accession to the Convention, there is near universal

acceptance of this landmark treaty in the Pacific. In the region, only the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention.

Tuvalu is the first State to have acceded to the Convention since another Pacific Island state – Palau – joined the Convention in November 2007. Tuvalu's accession, however, likely will be soon followed by other nations. Finland, Poland and South Sudan have all indicated that they are taking steps to join the Convention.

Tuvalu participated for the first time in the work of the Convention in Geneva in June 2011, as an observer. "The international community again looks forward to the participation of Tuvalu, this time as a member of the Convention, at the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties (11MSP) to take place in Phnom Penh from 27 November to 2 December 2011," said His Excellency PRAK Sokhonn, Minister attached to the Prime Minister of Cambodia and President of the upcoming international landmines conference in Cambodia.

"Tuvalu's accession will help strengthen the international movement to eradicate anti-personnel mines and to assist the survivors," said His Excellency Gazmend Turdiu, the senior Albanian diplomat who currently presides over the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. "Tuvalu's accession demonstrates that all States – big and small, mine-affected and free from the scourge of anti-personnel mines – have a role to play in ending the suffering caused by these insidious weapons."

"I am extremely grateful that Tuvalu has joined this important humanitarian cause," said His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al Hussein of Jordan who in his capacity as Special Envoy on the Universalization of the Convention, visited Tuvalu in August to encourage government leaders to accede. "Tuvalu, like most of the international community, has recognised that this Convention contains the only real response to the problems caused by anti-personnel mines."

"We are hopeful that Tuvalu's accession will spur other states both in the Pacific and elsewhere to accept that anti-personnel mines must not be used by anyone anywhere, that all mined areas must be return to safe use and that survivors must be assisted" said Kasia Derlicka, Director of the Nobel Peace Prize-laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention was adopted in Oslo in 1997 and was opened for signature in Ottawa the same year; it entered into force in 1999. With Tuvalu's accession, there are now 157 States that have ratified or that have acceded to the Convention, 153 of them now no longer hold stocks; approximately 44.5 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed by the States Parties. 34 of 50 States that at one time manufactured anti-personnel mines are now bound by the

Convention's ban on production. Most other parties have put in place moratoria on production and / or transfers of landmines.
Demining has resulted in millions of square metres of once dangerous land being released for normal human activity.

NEW DELHI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- India and Iran backed Palestinian bid for UN membership during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York on Friday, reported local media Saturday.

The reports quoted Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai as saying besides bilateral ties, the two leaders "reiterated their support for the Palestinian attempt to seek membership of UN."

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 66th session of UN General Assembly, which Singh and Admadinejad were attending.

Singh also accepted in principle Ahmadinejad's renewed invitation to visit Iran. The dates of prime minister's visit are to be worked out, but Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) speaker Meira Kumar will be visiting Iran shortly, the reports said.

The two leaders also discussed a whole series of economic projects between the two countries, including potential cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons, said the reports.

India is a major importer of petrol and gas products as the country's economy is growing at about 8 percent annually.

But a plan to build an oil pipeline from Iran to India through Pakistan has been in suspense.

COTABATO, the Philippines, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- More than 30, 000 families have been displaced and a 13-year-old boy has died in flash floods in the southern Philippines caused by torrential rains, local officials said Saturday.

Maguindanao Provincial Administrator Abdul Wahab Tungga said evacuation centers are insufficient to accommodate all the displaced people.

"Those who were not accommodated have set up their own tents along the national highway. It's only the area not flooded," he said, referring to the towns of Datu Montawal and Pagalungan in Maguindanao where they notice water level continue to rise.

He said around 16 low-lying towns have already been submerged with 34,491 families displaced. Local officials also said a 13- year-old boy got drowned in Pagalungan.

Apart from heavy downpours in the past days, water hyacinths clogged Rio Grande de Mindanao and Buluan Lake in the region, sending water to spill over their banks.

Officials have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to commence the removal of water hyacinths.

SYDNEY, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted New Britain region, Papua New Guinea 12:57 p. m. Saturday (02:57:52 GMT), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 67.00 km, was initially determined to be at 6.3370 degrees south latitude and 151.5640 degrees east longitude.

The epicenter is about 178 km southeast of Kimbe of New Britain. There have been no reports of casualties or property damage.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended a meeting of foreign ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and met respectively with his Russian and Nigerian counterparts here on Friday.

During the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Yang noted that great progress has been achieved in the cooperation among BRICS countries since 2011, and that the organization's prospects are good.

He said the BRICS countries should fully implement the Sanya Declaration and the action plan issued at the BRICS Leaders Meeting in April 2011, deepen coordination and cooperation in major international issues and make good preparations for the fourth meeting of leaders from BRICS countries.

The foreign ministers of the five BRICS countries agreed to further enhance practical cooperation and improve coordination in international affairs. They also exchanged views on the issues of Libya, Syria, the Palestine-Israel conflict, the international financial system reform, climate change, sustainable development and anti-terrorism.

During his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Yang said China is willing to further promote its bilateral strategic cooperative partnership with Russia, prepare for high-level exchanges this year and enhance cooperation with Russia in the United Nations (UN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Lavrov said Russia attaches great importance to bilateral relations with China and is willing to further promote strategic cooperation with China in all areas and at all levels.

The two ministers agreed to solve the Syria issue through dialogue and peaceful consultation. They also exchanged views on the Palestine-Israel conflict, Afghanistan, the upcoming Cannes G20 Summit and the East Asia Summit.

During talks with Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, Yang noted that China is ready to work with Nigeria to further enrich political mutual trust, push for the smooth development of economic and trade cooperation within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and support the positive influence of the African Union in ensuring the peace and stability of Africa.

Ashiru said Nigeria continues to adhere to the one-China policy, welcomes China's investment in Nigeria and hopes to enhance cooperation with China in the United Nations and the FOCAC. They also discussed several issues, including the Durban Climate Change Conference.

Yang also attended a working breakfast Friday morning, where UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

MANILA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- While officials of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III have been trumpeting that the huge budget surplus in August of 9.22 billion pesos (210 million U.S. dollars) was due to the government's prudent fiscal management, some critics are saying that this was the result of under-spending which has dragged the Philippine economy downwards.

It was President Aquino himself who announced the "the good news" to members of the Filipino community last Thursday during the Washington leg of his working visit to the United States.

According to Aquino, the 9-billion-peso budget surplus was indicative not of under-spending, for which his administration had drawn flak, but of a genuine rise in revenues.

As a result of the budget surplus in August, the country's budget deficit from January to August this year totaled only 34.49 billion pesos--about one-seventh of the 228.1 billion pesos recorded in the same period of 2010.

While it is true that total revenues for the eight month period ending August 2011 rose to 912.8 billion pesos, or 13.7 percent higher than last year's 802.8 billion pesos, the Aquino government has disbursed only 12 percent of the 300 billion pesos it planned to spend in 2011, on top of the national budget, with only four months to go before the year end.

From January to August, expenses reached 947.2 billion pesos, or 8 percent less than the 1.03 trillion pesos reported in the same period last year.

In August alone, expenditures reached 114.9 billion pesos, 7.9 percent more than the 106.5 billion pesos spent in the same month of 2010. That same month, revenue came in at 124.1 billion pesos-- an increase of 15.2 percent from last year's 107.8 billion pesos.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad also said that the main factor behind the surplus was additional revenue collection. Abad insisted that the January-to-August expenditure "was bigger than that of the same period in 2010."

But Economics Professor Benjamin Diokno of the University of the Philippines said the Aquino government has continued to under- spend amid "a slower, harsher, and riskier" world economy.

"I estimate that, for the first three quarters of the year, the Aquino administration has failed to move some 179.2 billion pesos out of a programmed budget of 1.023.6 trillion pesos or by 17.5 percent," Diokno said.

Diokno, a former budget secretary, said the unspent amount could have created a lot of jobs and could have brought benefits to the people and the economy much sooner.

On Wednesday, key members of the Philippine Senate, one of them an ally of Mr. Aquino, also castigated the administration's economic team over its "fixation" on reducing the budget deficit at the expense of public spending and economic growth.

Led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, the team was grilled by Senators Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto over the slowdown in the economy in the last quarter.

The second quarter's 3.4 percent growth rate missed the government's target and was partly blamed on Malacanang's cautious approach to spending, especially on infrastructure.

"Are you more fixated on reducing the deficit rather than pushing growth and creating more jobs?" Senator Angara asked Purisima during the hearing of his department's budget of 11.5 billion pesos for 2012.

Angara told Purisima that the administration "ought to strike a balance between reducing our deficit and debt and, at the same time, not constricting our economy and creating incomes and jobs for our people."

Purisima promised the senators that the administration, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, would fast-track public spending in the remainder of the year.

Sen. Ralph Recto, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, and an ally of Mr. Aquino, said the economy should grow by 6 percent in the third and fourth quarters to attain a 5 percent growth for the full year, which is what is now being targeted by the administration.

Several multilateral lending institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have downgraded their growth forecast for the Philippines to below 5 percent this year.

Veteran Filipino journalist and columnist Amando Doronila has cited Credit Suisse, the Swiss financial services firm, as less optimistic than most assessments of the Philippine economy after it scaled down its full-year growth forecast for the country from 5 percent to 4.2 percent.

Credit Suisse, according to Doronila, has said that the country "might undershoot" its full-year fiscal deficit program of 300 billion pesos because of slow spending. It said under-spending might have dragged down second quarter GDP growth to 3.4 percent.

Doronila said that the economy's expansion of just 3.4 per percent year-on-year in the second quarter has placed the Philippines "in the category of one of the weakest performers in Asia."

He said that the slump took place "in a year of a profuse proliferation of moralistic sloganeering on honest governance as the key to expanding economic growth, as well as reducing poverty. "

"By contrast to economic growth, the main output of the Aquino administration consisted of a Herculean campaign to dig up skeletons of corrupt transactions during the previous administration that consumed most of its energy at the expense of neglecting economy-boosting measures," Doronila said.

SHANGHAI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer has pulled out of next month's Shanghai Masters to rest, event organizers confirmed on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Swiss star wrote in a letter to the organizing committee in Shanghai that he needs "necessary time to rest and recuperate after a long summer."

"I have some nagging injuries that I need to address and I look forward to returning to the ATP World Tour as soon as possible," he added.

Federer played two Davis Cup singles matches and a doubles match in Australia last weekend, just days after losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open semifinals in New York.

The 16-times grand slam winner apologized to his fans and said he looks forward to returning to Shanghai for the 2012 event.

"I have very fond memories of Shanghai so I will miss this amazing tournament and all my loyal Chinese fans, but I look forward to returning to China next fall," said Federer.

BOGOTA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Rescue personnel found two more dead miners killed in a coal mine explosion in Colombia's central province of Boyaca Friday, raising the death toll to seven.

Carlos Ivan Marquez, the National Emergency director, said authorities are still hopeful for survival of four of the 11 people confirmed to be working 300 meters underground in the mine named Diamond when the blast struck.

Rescue workers intensified their efforts Thursday and took advanced oxygen and artificial respiratory equipment deep down to the spot where the four miners, whom they believe are still alive, are trapped.

According to authorities, the coal mine, located near the capital, had been operating with all necessary legal papers.

Colombia has lost at least 45 miners in mining accidents this year alone, and in most cases, the mines involved were found to have violated safety regulations.