DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Greater HFMD concern in Thailand with boy's death” plus 2 more

BANGKOK, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Wanlip Nutawai, soaked in water and sweat, is scrubbing trains with a mop dipped with sanitizer at Thailand's largest railway hub Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok, one carriage at a time.

Walip is used to strenuous cleaning work. But this time he finds a bit more value in his job. "I'm glad to hear that cleaning can help protect children from hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), " Wanlip said. He and about a dozen fellow cleaners are part of a campaign to curb HFMD in Thailand.

People are cleaning and sterilizing at many schools and other public spaces in Thailand after a Cambodian boy died of suspected hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Rayong Province, east of Bangkok.

Two-year-old Kimha died in emergency treatment, two hours after being admitted to a local hospital on Wednesday, a spokesman for Thailand's Ministry of Public Health confirmed Friday. Although the boy showed symptoms of HFMD, tests are being run to decide if he died of HFMD. Results are expected in a few days.

Kimha suffered from breathing difficulty, fatigue and blisters on his palms and feet, Rayong provincial health authority chief Krit Palasuth was quoted as saying by earlier reports. Children who were in close contact with him also developed symptoms of HFMD and are being observed at a local hospital, he added.

The boy lived with his parents in a rented house. His parents took him to local clinics twice on Monday and Tuesday, but his conditions continued to worsen. He was suspected to have contracted the disease from a toddler friend just returned from Cambodia.

Kimha's death caused panic in Rayong, a hub of Cambodian migrant workers. Many people rushed to buy energy drinks, following a report that Cambodians are taking energy drink to prevent HFMD. Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had refuted the claim as false advertisement.

Energy drinks cannot help to prevent or treat HFMD. It can even be fatal for children with the disease, as the caffeine in the drinks worsens the symptoms, FDA Secretary General Srinual Korakochakorn said.

Rayong authorities have urged Cambodian migrant workers to suspend travels to their home country. Clean-up campaigns are launched across the province with efforts to promote HFMD awareness. The disease can be prevented with good hygienic conditions.

An additional 179 cases of HFMD were reported Friday in Bangkok. More than 3,500 cases have been reported in the capital city this year, according to Wongwat Lewlak, head of the Bangkok municipality's Communicable Diseases Control Division.

Dozens of schools and kindergartens have been closed in Bangkok. Some schools are also reported to have been closed because of the disease in other parts of the country.

Some 13,000 HFMD cases have been reported in Thailand this year. The viral infection, which mostly affects children, is usually mild, doctors say. Before Kimha, whose cause of death is yet to be confirmed, no death of the disease were publicly reported in Thailand since the beginning of the year.

PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The embassy of China to Cambodia on Friday awarded annual scholarships to 56 Cambodian students to pursue their bachelor's and master's degrees in China.

The students major in economics, commerce, information and communication technologies, engineering, agriculture, political science, international relations and laws.

Ambassador Pan Guangxue said the Chinese government has always attached great attention to the development of human resources in Cambodia.

"Education is the foundation for the social and economic development. China will try to offer as many scholarships as possible to Cambodia in order to develop human resources and to further enhance friendly relations between China and Cambodia," he said at the granting ceremony.

According to the ambassador, China provides at least 50 scholarships every year to Cambodian students for studying in China.

Phoeurng Sackona, secretary of state for Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, expressed sincere thanks to China for granting scholarships to Cambodian students.

"The scholarships reflect China's attention to the development human resources in Cambodia, a key element for the country's development," she said.

PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai officials met here on Thursday afternoon to discuss possibilities to re- boost investment cooperation after it had been suffered from border conflict since 2008.

The meeting was co-chaired by Kong Vibol, vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, and Hirunya Suchinai, senior executive investment advisor of Thailand's Board of Investment.

Speaking at the meeting, Kong Vibol said that since 1993, Thailand had been one of the largest investors in Cambodia, but it has been overtaken by China, South Korea and Vietnam in recent years because of the border conflict.

He said that currently, Thailand is the eighth largest investor in Cambodia with 746 million U.S. dollars.

"As now, the situation has returned to normal, it is the time for both sides to restore confidence for investors," he said.

Meanwhile, he also introduced Thai delegates with the country' s investment potential, especially in the fields of agriculture, agro-industry, infrastructure, labor-intensive industry, export industry, oil, gas and mining, as well as tourism.

Hirunya Suchinai said her delegation comprised of 30 members from various ministries in order to promote cooperation between Thai and Cambodian investment officials and to learn about Cambodia's investment policy and potential sectors.

Cambodia and Thailand has border conflict just a week after the UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site on July 07, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

The conflict led to deadly armed clashes in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

However, the military tension has eased since the Pheu Thai Party, led by ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra, came to power in last August.