DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Wild cattle in Cambodia increase its population” plus 9 more

CAMBODIA,​​​ PHNOM PENH,​ Sept 19, 2011-Research conducted by WWF and the Cambodian government in the Eastern Plains of Cambodia in the northeast of the country estimates the population of banteng between 2,700-5,700 individuals. This is the world's largest population of banteng given the estimated global population is approximately 5,900-11,000. Populations in other sites in Thailand and Indonesia number just a few hundred, the statement from WWF said on Monday

Considered​ to be one of the most beautiful and graceful of all wild cattle species, the banteng (Bos javanicus) is most likely the ancestor of Southeast Asia's domestic cattle. According to the IUCN, banteng populations in Cambodia have decreased by more than 90% since the late 1960's. Since 1996, banteng has been listed by IUCN as globally endangered because of this rapid and dramatic decline.

"The current findings provide strong evidence of the global significance of the Eastern Plains of Cambodia for the conservation of the species," said Mr Phan Channa, Ministry of Environment counterpart with WWF's research programmer and one of the authors of the recent survey report released today.

Besides banteng, the research also confirms increased numbers of other large mammals including wild pig and muntjac in the area. They are all very important prey animals for tiger, which have also suffered a massive decline across Cambodia and the rest of Asia in the last few decades.

Another author of the report, Dr Thomas Gray, Biodiversity Research Advisor with WWF-Cambodia, explained that a very important aspect of the research was to understand the current levels of tiger prey species such as banteng, wild pig, and muntjac as part of the government's strategy to restore the Eastern Plains as the priority tiger landscape in Cambodia.

For the tiger population to recover, one of the most important things needed is a sustainable source of prey, such as banteng. The Eastern Plains of Cambodia has been identified as perhaps one of the best places in Asia for such a recovery given the condition and large size of the habitat, and investments in recent years into better law enforcement and management of protected areas appear to be paying dividends. 

"The high levels of law enforcement effort by nearly 60 rangers patrolling regularly inside and outside protected areas is a big deterrent for poachers," said Ms Michelle Owen, Conservation Program Manager with WWF-Cambodia. "However much more effort is needed in order to eradicate poaching in this critically important landscape," she continued.

Poaching is not the only threat however. In recent years, the forests in the Eastern Plains, and across the rest of the country, have become increasingly at risk from large-scale land concessions. Pressure from national and international investors for agricultural concessions, as well as plans for large infrastructure projects threatens the global importance of the Eastern Plains.

According to Mr Nick Cox, WWF's Species Conservation Manager, granting economic land concessions inside protected areas even if the concessions are small, sets a very dangerous precedent, and is undermining the work that the Cambodian government and its conservation partners have collaborated to achieve in the last decade.

"It essentially means Cambodia's protected areas, including those that contain globally important species populations, are not as protected by the law as people once thought," he explained.

WWF is urging the Cambodian Government to fast track the process of developing and implementing zoning plans for protected areas in order to protect areas of high biodiversity values prior to any new decisions on land concessions. 

"For tigers and prey species – including a globally endangered banteng population – to recover within the landscape, stronger protected area management and a commitment to conservation from high levels of the Cambodian government are essential," Mr Cox said. "Anything less threatens to unravel a decade of conservation progress and with each passing day diminishes the Eastern Plains' value as a national and global ecological asset for current and future generations."

About 500 participants, who are diplomats, politicians, high ranking government officials, policy makers, scholars, economists, businesspeople and bankers from a number of Asian countries, attended the forum.

The fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said at the forum the promotion of the domestic consumption and the strict compliance to the laws are the key ingredients to boost economic growth and attract investors to Asia region.

Thaksin said that the Asian countries accounted for about half of the world's population, but the purchasing power was only 25 percent of the world consumption.

"There are a lot of rooms to grow domestic consumption, so the Asian countries should concentrate more on domestic economy by stimulating consumption," he said.

Thaksin cited an example of Australia that during the financial crisis, the country was very strong because it relied on more domestic economy than export economy.

He said that Asia needed to invest more in infrastructure and upgrade technologies and protection facilities.

Thaksin added that another important factor to bring prosperity and economic development to the Asian countries was the respect of the rule of law.

"If your country has very excellent economic policy, but your country is not trusted because you don't have a mature rule of law and corruption is rampage, the investors still do not come to your country," he said.

Thaksin said that some countries have been moving to good system with the international practice of law, but some have still lagged behind.

Meanwhile, Thaksin said that Asian economy will lead the world economy in 50 years or even 100 years as now China, India and the Middle East have been purchasing companies in the Europe and the United States.

During the forum, there had also been lectures on conflicts and solution in Asia by Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, chairman of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI) and former Vice President of Indonesia, and Jose de Venecia Jr, president of CAPDI.

Cambodian deputy Prime Minister Sok An, minister of the Council of Ministers, said the forum aimed at sharing views and experiences on building and maintaining peace in order to bring about national reconciliation, political stability, security, and social order, which are the main pillars for the regional development and prosperity in the region.

Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia early Saturday in order to give two economic lectures in two separate conferences. During the stay, he has meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and a group of Pheu Thai's members of parliament and "Red Shirt" leaders.

Thaksin was deposed in bloodless coup in 2006 by a powerful group of Thai army. He has been living in Dubai to avoid a two- year jail term for violating a conflict-of-interest law.

"The first priority is to open the road communication by clearing the mudslides and we hope to do it by this evening. And we have fanned 84 army teams comprising 2,500 soldiers to various parts of the state for rescue and relief operations," Lt. Gen. S.S. Narasimhan, corps commander of the Red Horns Division of the Indian Army, told local media.

Mud blocks the highways and bad weather were hampering the rescue operations, as the army personnel and other rescuers tried to get to the remote areas of the state.

While local government put the the death toll in the state alone at 23, the figure could rise as many areas have not been accessed and no adequate reports were available due to the cut of power and communication lines, said local officials.

Duc welcomed Somphone and Cambodia's high-ranking defense delegation on a visit to Vietnam from Sept. 18 to 24, saying the visit would help strengthen solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries' peoples and armies, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Somphone thanked Duc for his warm reception, saying he was glad to visit Vietnam and witness the country's achievements in construction and development.

Both sides informed each other of their respective country's social and economic situation, as well as national security and defense, and agreed that they should expand exchange of visits and cooperation in such areas as training, logistics work, finance, among others.

The validity of such guide licenses is set for two years, the sources said, adding that most of the revoked tourist guides who are English speaking.

There are about 6,000 tourist guides registered in Myanmar for serving world travelers.

Of them, English speakers are leading followed by Japanese,  French, German, Chinese and Thai speakers.

Along with the increase in the number of German, French and Italian tourists in the country, the registered number of tourist guides who specialize in those languages have also increased comparing with the previous years.

Myanmar is expecting more tourists in this year's tourism season starting October and steps are being taken by the tourism authorities to provide better services.

Good hotel services, smooth transport and communication, maintenance of tourist destinations and good guides as well as fixed and reasonable prices of taxi are among steps taken for the convenience of tourists to improve tourism industry, a main source of national income.

According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, since Myanmar launched the "Visit Myanmar Year" in 1996, there had been increase of tourist arrivals year-on-year from 416,344 in 2000 to 660,206 in 2005 and to 791,505 in 2010.

It has secured 469,457 tourist arrivals in the first seven months of 2011.

The joint exercise, code-named "SLINEX II", will be held till Sept. 21 and is aimed at enhancing interoperability of the two navies, according to the Sri Lanka Navy.

Two offshore patrol vessels, one fast missile vessel, two fast gun boats and six fast attack crafts from Sri Lanka and one destroyer, one frigate, one missile corvette, one landing ship tank and two fast attack craft along with one maritime patrol aircraft from the Indian navy will participate in the exercise.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the drill is expected to provide the opportunity for the neighbouring navies to rehearse the concept of joint naval operations and enhance own skills in order to gain from each other's experience.

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korean shares ended 1.04 percent lower on Monday as investor sentiment remained fragile due to lingering concerns over the possible Greek default, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 19. 16 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 1,820.94. Trading volume stood at 331.5 million shares worth 4.92 trillion won (4.33 billion U.S. dollars).

The KOSPI started 1.15 percent lower, and pared its earlier losses in the morning session due to stock purchases by foreign, institutional and retail investors, but extended its declines in the afternoon session amid lingering concerns over the possible Greek default.

Investor sentiment remained weak as European finance chiefs failed to introduce a plan to contain the region's debt crisis. Rumors spread that Greece would not meet the conditions for rescue loans, which may lead to the announcement of default.

"Uncertainties surrounding the European fiscal crisis drove down the KOSPI today. Fears for the possible Greek default were reflected in the foreign exchange market where the South Korean won fell sharply versus the greenback," Jeong Seung-jae, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities in Seoul, told Xinhua.

Jeong said investors felt burdensome for the pace of the local currency's depreciation against the dollar,warning that there was trauma that was experienced during the 2008 global financial crisis when the won's sharp falls led to heavy selling of local stocks by overseas investors.

The local currency finished at 1,137.0 won against the greenback, sharply down 24.5 won from Friday's close. The South Korean surged to 1,141.0 won at one time during the trading, nearing to a year-high of 1,144 won.

"The euro fell sharply against the dollar on rumors that Greece would default, which led to weaker trend for Asian currencies including the won. Offshore investors, which have built up huge long positions toward Asian currencies, rushed to loss cut after the region's currencies depreciated against the dollar," Jeong Seung-ji, a currency analyst at Samsung Futures in Seoul, said by phone.

Despite the sharp fall in the won, stock losses were limited on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would unveil additional stimulus measures to help revive the economic recovery at a two- day monetary policy meeting starting Tuesday.

Foreign investors were net buyers for two straight sessions, but their net buying value stood at a mere 4.8 billion won.

Institutional investors lent support to local stocks by keeping its buying streak for eight trading days. Local institutions bought a net 151.5 billion won worth of stocks, with retail investors purchasing a net 39.7 billion won worth of shares. Program-linked transactions ended up net selling as selling by arbitrage traders outweighed net buying of non-arbitrage traders. Program-related trading posted a net selling worth 48.3 billion won.

All the industry groups, excluding tech and pharmaceutical shares, lost ground on lingering worries about the European debt problems. The nation's top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.96 percent to 206,000 won, and its affiliate Kia Motors lost 0.57 percent to end at 69,600 won.

Top crude oil refiner dropped 2.08 percent to 165,000 won, and leading chemical firm LG Chem sank 4.23 percent to 328,500 won.

"Unidentified armed men opened fire on Gul Mohammad, a police officer with counter-terrorism department in Khan Abad district, on Sunday evening and killing him on the spot," Sufi Habibullah, the police chief of Khan Abad district told Xinhua.

Four persons have been arrested in this case, he said, adding investigation has been initiated to unearth the network behind subversive activities.