Cambodia Fights to Contain Drug-Resistant Malaria

Cambodian man purchases malaria medicine at local pharmacy The spread of drug-resistant malaria in Asia and Africa complicates the fight against the killer. In Cambodia, the government has tightened its grip on private drug stores, often the source of resistance-enhancing fake drugs and improper treatment. There is concern, though, that the effort may shut down the pharmacies upon which Cambodians most rely.Mom Va, who lives in Pailin in western Cambodia, says her malaria symptoms appeared a week ago, and she still has not recovered. Va worries that she has a strain of malaria called falciparum, which has become resistant to some of the most effective treatments.In...

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20 Missing in China Landslide

Photo: AP Rescue workers evacuate residents from flooded areas in Jianong town, southwest China's Sichuan province, 18 July...

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China Tackles Oil Spill

Peter Simpson | Beijing ...

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Pol Pot (1925-1998)

Pol Pot, near the end of his life © Pol Pot was leader of the Khmer Rouge, a communist regime that ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, and caused the deaths of more than one million people. Pol Pot was born Saloth Sar on 19 May 1925 in Kompong Thong province in central Cambodia. The country was then a French protectorate and Pol Pot, whose family were relatively prosperous, was educated in a series of French-speaking schools. In 1949, he won a scholarship to study in Paris where he became involved in communist politics. He returned to Cambodia in 1953 and became one of the leaders of an underground communist movement, the 'Khmer Rouge'. In 1963, the Khmer Rouge set up guerrilla bases in remote...

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1975: US pulls out of Cambodia

The US has admitted defeat in Cambodia and removed its remaining embassy personnel from the capital, Phnom Penh. Early this morning 276 people were airlifted from a football field near the embassy by a fleet of 30 helicopters. Those on the airlift included 159 Cambodians who had worked with the Americans. Foreign journalists who had been covering the civil war between the communist Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian government were also airlifted out of the country. It was feared "Operation Eagle Pull", as the evacuation was dubbed, would come under Khmer Rouge fire and more than 300 armed Marines guarded the field. However, the operation passed off uneventfully. Some of Cambodia's most senior government ministers, including the Acting President, Saukham Khoy,...

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Inception has dream opening

DiCaprio says the film does not rely on "regurgitated plot structures" Christopher Nolan's Inception has topped the North American box office taking $60.4m (£39.5m) on its opening weekend, according to studio estimates. The thriller, about thieves who steal secrets from dreams, knocked animated 3D film Despicable Me off the top spot. It was Leonardo DiCaprio's best opening weekend, beating $41.1m (£26.9m) taken for Shutter Island in February. It is already being tipped for Oscar glory. Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice opened at three with $17.4m (£11.4m). Inception stars DiCaprio, 35, as the leader of a team that breaks into people's dreams. “Start Quote It's nice...

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Mexico arrests man with 18 monkeys around his waist

By Julian Miglierini BBC News, Mexico The monkeys were rolled up in socks and slung on a belt Mexican authorities have arrested a man who was trying to smuggle 18 small monkeys into the country by carrying them in his clothing. Roberto Sol Cabrera, a Mexican citizen, was stopped at a random check at Mexico City's international airport after arriving from Lima. In a statement, police said Mr Cabrera Zavaleta had been behaving "nervously". Once he was searched, it was discovered that he had hidden 18 titi monkeys in a girdle around his waist. After his arrest, Mr Sol Cabrera confessed that the animals had travelled in his luggage,...

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Cambodian population to reach 17.5 mln by 2025

PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that his country's population will reach 17.5 million by 2025 citing the average birth rate at 1.54 percent per year. In an open message to the World Population Day, Hun Sen said the Cambodian populations were recorded at 13.4 million in 2008 to about 14.3 million by July 2010. He said with the capacity of having 3 to 4 children in one family and with an average birth rate of 1.54 percent per year, the country's populations will "reach 17.5 million by 2025". He said women have played an important role in Cambodia's society and their roles have been elevated through the rectangular strategy set out by his government and their education was also recorded...

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Cambodia to promote solar energy using

Cambodia's rural electrification fund is planning of 12,000 solar panel systems next month to help spread green power to rural villagers who are not connected to the national grid, local media reported on Friday.The REF - a World Bank-supported public institution aiming to provide electricity to every Cambodian village by 2020 - plans to sell the solar panels to rural households on a monthly payment basis, executive director Loeung Keosela was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.Foreign and domestic vendors will be invited to submit bids next month to supply the REF with 12,000 sets of solar panels, batteries and wiring, he said, which will then be sold individually to rural Cambodian households."If we procure in bulk sizes, hopefully the...

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World Cup Fans Deal With Stadium Restrictions

At major sporting events around the world, there are restrictions on what fans can bring into the stadiums and arenas. That is no different at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee in South Africa has published a compact, colorful 88-page Fan Guide that is available to all visitors at no cost.It includes a variety of information on the host country, such as the history of South Africa, banking, languages, weather and food. There is information on each of the nine host cities, with detailed maps of the stadiums and their immediate surroundings that point out things like security zones, ticketing centers and public transportation drop-off points.Of course,...

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Aspiring Young South African Athletes Train at University of Pretoria

As the 2010 FIFA World Cup Continues in South Africa, future football and other aspiring professional sports hopefuls train at a special facility at the University of Pretoria. New groups of promising future sports champions arrive throughout the year at the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre, or hpc.The top level athletes are in what is called the TuksSport Academies.These three young teenage footballers train two or three times a day with Tuks. Jacob Mkhize said he is happy with his progress."Well, it's been fun," said Jacob Mkhize. "The transition has been fun. It's also been tough. We're pushed, and so far I think I'll become a good footballer if I can stick to the program."Anees...

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World Cup 2010: Fifa evades technology questions

Lampard effort not given Fifa has refused to comment on mistakes made by officials in Sunday's World Cup last-16 ties, or the potential future use of goal-line technology.England's Frank Lampard was denied a goal against Germany, despite his effort having clearly crossed the line. And Carlos Tevez's first goal for Argentina against Mexico was allowed to stand despite him being offside. At its daily briefing on Monday, Fifa spokesman Nicolas Maingot said it was "not the place" to discuss such issues. "We will not enter into any debate on refereeing at the daily media briefing. I am not competent to do so," explained Maingot. Fifa offers no comment on ref blunders ...

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World Cup 2010: Arjen Robben to decide on fitness

Van Marwijk looks on as Robben takes part in his first full training session Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk says he will allow winger Arjen Robben to decide if he is fit to face Cameroon in their final Group E match on Thursday.The 26-year-old Bayern Munich player has been sidelined since 5 June with a hamstring injury. Robben trained on Sunday for the first time since joining his compatriots in Johannesburg having stayed in the Netherlands for treatment. "I am going to leave him to make the decision," said Van Marwijk. "He knows his own body best and he will let me know when he is ready." Robben's inclusion in Thursday's match with Cameroon in Cape Town is not essential, with the Dutch already...

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World Cup 2010: Van Persie fit for Netherlands

Van Persie was in agony after suffering the injury against Brazil Netherlands striker Robin van Persie has been cleared to play in Tuesday's semi-final against Uruguay after a scan on his elbow showed no serious damage.Van Persie injured his elbow during his side's 2-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday. Defender Joris Mathijsen has also been given the all clear, having suffered a knee injury during the warm-up. "Neither scan on Van Persie or Mathijsen showed any serious damage," said a statement from the Dutch FA. But Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk will definitely be without midfielder Nigel De Jong and full-back Gregory van der Wiel, who are both suspended. Mathijsen had...

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Baby 'joy' for Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo scored one goal at the World Cup in South Africa The World Cup may have ended in disappointment for Cristiano Ronaldo but the Portugal captain has reason to smile after recently becoming a father.The Real Madrid forward announced on Sunday that he had exclusive custody of the baby boy, born in June to an anonymous American. The news appeared on Real's website and Ronaldo's Twitter and Facebook pages. "It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become a father to a baby boy," said Ronaldo. The 25-year-old, who captained his country to the last 16 in South Africa before Portugal were knocked out by Spain, is not married. "With the agreement of the mother, who wishes to remain...

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Turkey goes into battle with Google

Last month Turks found they could not access many Google services. YouTube is already banned. The BBC's Jonathan Head looks at this brewing battle between Turkey and one of the giants of the internet. Ataturk Mausoleum: Turkey bans abuse against its founding father Sitting in an Istanbul cafe Ozan Tuzun taps away furiously on the keyboard of his laptop, trying to break the invisible walls that surround him. "I'm going to DNS.com now to take one of their numbers… I enter it… no that didn't work. Right let's try to get a DNS from Google… no… ok we'll try Ktunnel…" What Ozan is doing - and it takes him about 10 minutes - is something most of...

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Spain must improve, admits coach

Highlights - Paraguay 0-1 Spain Coach Vicente Del Bosque admitted that Spain struggled to find their usual rhythm after sneaking past Paraguay to reach a first World Cup semi-final.Spain needed a late winner from David Villa to win 1-0 and book a Wednesday clash against Germany, who earlier on Saturday thrashed Argentina 4-0. "We weren't as at ease in possession as in other games and it's important to be comfortable," said the 59-year-old. Del Bosque also conceded that Germany are "the best team at the moment." Spain were pushed right to the brink by a committed Paraguay side who could have taken the lead had Iker Casillas not saved Oscar Cordoba's 59th-minute penalty. ...

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Netherlands 2-1 Brazil

The Netherlands produced a stunning second-half comeback to reach the semi-finals as Brazil's World Cup imploded in a dramatic game in Port Elizabeth. After taking an early lead through Robinho's cool finish, the pre-tournament favourites were pegged back following an awful defensive mix-up early in the second-half and were found wanting in defence again soon afterwards when Wesley Sneijder headed in.Brazil found themselves in even deeper trouble when Felipe Melo saw red for stamping on Arjen Robben with 17 minutes to go and, although Dunga's side gave everything in a thrilling finale, they crashed out in the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament.It is the Netherlands who will go forward to play Uruguay or Ghana in the...

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Garth Crooks' team of quarter-finals

Blimey, we're down to the final four teams - and there are only four remaining matches remaining at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The South American giants crashed out in the quarter-finals so we could well end up with an all-European final next Sunday. Highlights - Argentina 0-4 Germany Here's my team of the quarter-finals: Iker Casillas GoalkeeperSpainHis penalty save and last-minute block helped secure Spain their first World Cup semi-final. He hasn't had a great deal to do this tournament, but he was superb against Paraguay when it mattered....

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FIFA worl Cup 2010

Emotion no substitute for clear thinking Diego Maradona compared Argentina's 4-0 World Cup defeat by Germany to being on the wrong end of a punch thrown by Muhammad Ali. Perhaps he needed Ali's legendary trainer Angelo Dundee alongside him on the bench. In one of the great sports books. David Remnick's 'King of the World,' Dundee recalled his involvement in the first fight with Sonny Liston, when Cassius Clay (as Ali was still called at the time) had been blinded by a substance allegedly put on Liston's gloves. He was threatening to abandon the fight, but Dundee managed to calm him down. "Isn't experience wonderful?" reflected Dundee. "I've only been doing this for 48 years. You can't get to where you're hysterical...

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