DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Indonesia invite foreign boxers to compete” plus 4 more

JAKARTA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Boxing Association (Pertina) extended invitations to international athletes to participate in a boxing event in the country, local media said here Friday.

Pertina chairman of executive board John Amanupunyo said the Indonesian President Cup will be held on September 2013 and the invited countries included Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, South Korea, Japan, and Cuba.

"The amount of participant countries possibilities could still change based on the responses," said Amanupunyo, as quoted by Kompas.com.

He foresaw a fierce competition at the championship and will prepare the athletes this year.

"We will also soon endure national training (pelatnas) in Makassar, November 12 2012," he said.

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Phnom Penh City Hall issued an order prohibiting all types of oil tanker trucks from driving on streets in the capital in daytime during the forthcoming 21st ASEAN Summit and related meetings later this month, according to an announcement on Friday.

"The ban is to maintain public order and safety and to avoid traffic congestion and any incident during the 21st ASEAN Summit and related meetings," the City Hall's announcement said. "All oil tankers can be driven in Phnom Penh only between midnight and 05:00 a.m. in the morning from Nov. 13 to 23."

The City Hall also ordered the municipal police, military police and local authorities to strengthen the order effectively.

Cambodia will host the 21st ASEAN Summit and related Summits from Nov. 15 to 20 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed on Thursday to residents in Phnom Penh to keep dignity and maintain public order in order to together lead the forthcoming Summits successfully.

He said that all schools and universities along roads, which will be traveled by delegates during the Summits, will be closed from Nov. 16 to 21.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Some 10,000 Cambodians from all walks of life gathered at the Independence Monument here for a celebration to mark the 59th anniversary of the country's independence from French rule on Friday.

The celebration was presided over by National Assembly President Heng Samrin, who on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni, laid a wreath and lit the victory torch inside the Independence Monument. The victory flame will be kept burning for three days.

Doves and balloons were released into the sky as a sign of independence and freedom.

In previous years, King Norodom Sihamoni presided over such important event, but this year, the King failed to attend the celebration because he was still mourning his father King Norodom Sihanouk, who died of illness on Oct. 15 in Beijing at the age of 90.

Cambodia gained full independence from the French protectorate on Nov. 9, 1953 after late King Father Norodom Sihanouk conducted the royal crusade in 1952.

France ruled Cambodia from 1863 to 1953.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will embark on a three-country trip to the Asia-Pacific next week, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Thursday.

Panetta's first stop will be Australia, where he will be joined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey for the annual U.S.-Australian Ministerial consultations, according to the official.

This year's meeting will "provide an opportunity to review the alliance's progress on the successful Marine Corps and Air Force deployments to Northern Australia and to discuss the next steps in this important cooperation," Little said.

Panetta will then travel to Thailand and Cambodia, he said, adding that Panetta will meet with defense chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the Cambodian resort of in Siem-Reap.

Panetta's visit to the region, along with that of Clinton, reflects the commitment of the United States to the rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific, Little noted.

"We look forward to this opportunity to further advance our long-term strategy of rebalancing with the Asia-Pacific," Little said.

The White House has announced that President Barack Obama will visit Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia later this month.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will kick off a four-day Asian tour starting Nov. 17 that will take him to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, the White House said on Thursday.

His travel to Rangoon marks the first visit to Myanmar ever by a sitting U.S. president, as bilateral relations have been warming up following eased U.S. sanctions in response to the undergoing reforms in the Southeast Asian nation.

During his stay, Obama will encourage the "ongoing democratic transition" in Myanmar in his meetings with President U Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, both of whom visited the United States in September, White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.

While in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, Obama will meet with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to mark 180 years of diplomatic relations and "reaffirm the strength of our alliance," Carney said.

The president will attend the East Asia Summit and meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during his stay in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

"During his interactions in the region he will discuss a broad range of issues including economic prosperity and job creation through increased trade and partnerships, energy and security cooperation, human rights, shared values and other issues of regional and global concern," Carney said.

The Asian tour is Obama's first trip abroad since he won reelection in Tuesday's presidential election.