Korea to Loan $200 Mil. to Cambodia

President Lee Myung-bak, left, is welcomed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday. Lee pledged that South Korea will provide a total of $200 million in loans to the nation over the next four years to help its economic development.

/ Korea Times photo by Sohn Yong-seok

By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak pledged Thursday that South Korea will provide a total of $200 million in loans to Cambodia over the next four years to help its economic development.

He also said Korea will represent the interests of developing Asian countries at global forums, including the G-20 Summit, which Korea is set to host next November, for balanced global growth.

Lee made the promises during an interview with Cambodia's largest-circulation newspaper, the Rasmei Kampuchea, last week in Seoul.

Lee arrived in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the second stop on his three-nation, six-day Southeast Asian trip, from Vietnam.

Upon arrival, Lee visited Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni for talks on bilateral economic cooperation. In the afternoon, he held a summit with Prime Minister Hun Sen on increasing economic and cultural exchanges.

"President Lee and King Sihamoni agreed to expand cooperation on various fields, including the agricultural and cultural sectors," Cheong Wa Dae said.

"Underlying the rapid development of Korea-Cambodia relations since the normalization of their ties in 1997, Lee hoped there will be stronger bilateral cooperation."

During his meeting with Hun Sen, Lee asked for the support of Korean firms seeking to participate in Cambodia's infrastructure development projects.

Lee also asked him to play a role in strengthening ties between Korea and ASEAN - a 10-member economic bloc including Cambodia.

On the sidelines of the summit, the two governments signed an agreement, which will provide South Korean firms with 200,000 hectares of land - almost the same land area as Jeju Island - for forest plantation.

Seoul has increased its Economic Development Cooperation Fund to finance economic development programs in poor countries.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr

READ MORE - Korea to Loan $200 Mil. to Cambodia

Cambodia, S Korea develop comprehensive strategic partnership: FM

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong announced on Thursday that Cambodia and South Korea has developed comprehensive and strategic partnership.

Hor made the announcement after the meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting South Korea President Lee Myung-bok.

Hun Sen and Lee Myung-bak held in-depth talks focusing on strengthening the bilateral ties on the various fields as forestry, mineral, agriculture and tourism, Hor told reporters. Both countries also agreed to establish comprehensive strategic partnership from now on, Hor added.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of two agreements on extradition and 200 million U.S. dollars concession loan from South Korea that will implement from 2009-2012.

At the same time, Cambodia agreed to provide multiple entrance visa per year to South Korean tourists to encourage more South Korean tourists to visit here, he said, adding that both sides will sign other seven MOUs for expanding cooperation on Friday at relevant sectors.

Lee paid a two-day state visit here at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. After Cambodia, Lee will also attend the 15th ASEAN Summit set on Oct. 23-25 in Hua Hin, Thailand, that involves the ASEAN Plus Three and India, Australia and New Zealand.

READ MORE - Cambodia, S Korea develop comprehensive strategic partnership: FM

Senior Iran MP casts doubt on atom fuel deal

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A senior Iranian lawmaker rejected on Thursday the idea of sending low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing, casting doubt on a proposal aimed at easing international tension over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The comment came a day after the U.N. nuclear watchdog presented a draft deal to Iran and three world powers for approval within two days to reduce Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium, seen by the West as a nuclear weapons risk.

"They (the West) tell us: you give us your 3.5 percent enriched uranium and we will give you the fuel for the reactor. It is not acceptable to us," parliament's deputy speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.

"The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is obliged to provide us with the fuel based on the safeguards," he said.

Iran has yet to give an official reaction to the plan submitted by the IAEA Agency after talks this week in Vienna.

Western diplomats said it would require Tehran to send 1.2 tonnes of its known 1.5-tonne reserve of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia and France by the end of the year. The material would be converted into fuel for a nuclear medicine facility in Tehran.

Iran's IAEA envoy has hinted that his government may seek amendments. Western diplomats suggested this could jeopardize the deal if they overstepped "red lines" set to create confidence that Tehran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons option.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; writing by Fredrik Dahl; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

READ MORE - Senior Iran MP casts doubt on atom fuel deal

Protests before British far-right leader's TV slot

By Katherine Haddon (AFP) – 1 hour ago

LONDON — Protesters are gathering at the BBC studios in London on Thursday ahead of a controversial appearance by the leader of the far-right British National Party (BNP) on a top TV political panel show.

They handed out flyers outside Television Centre condemning the invitation to Nick Griffin on "Question Time", which attracts around three million viewers.

Griffin has thanked the BBC for inviting him and hailed his critics for being "stupid" enough to fuel a high-profile debate over whether he should be allowed on, generating huge publicity for the BNP.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says Griffin's appearance on the show will be "a good opportunity to expose what they are about" but one of his ministers, Peter Hain, has threatened to sue the BBC for inviting the BNP leader.

The BNP wants to see an end to all immigration to Britain and does not allow non-white members, although that is set to change after a recent court ruling.

Large demonstrations and tight security were expected ahead of Griffin's appearance. He says his biggest concern about the evening is "that I might get shot on the way in."

The hour-long show will be screened at 10:35 pm (2135 GMT) on the BBC1 channel but is thought to be being recorded several hours previously. Related blog: Griffin's TV dream could be nightmare for opponents.

Amid the debate over whether the television exposure will boost the BNP or embarrass Griffin, he praised the broadcaster for giving him the slot.

"Thank you, Auntie," he told the Times newspaper, using the BBC's nickname, adding: "I thank the political class and their allies for being so stupid.

"The huge furore that the political class has created around it clearly gives us a whole new level of public recognition."

In a demonstration of his ability to provoke, Griffin used the Times interview to describe US President Barack Obama as an "Afrocentric racist bigot" and said Afro-Americans should have been resettled in Africa "because the two peoples living side by side would cause problems forever".

The BBC insists it has the duty to hold all democratically-elected political parties up to scrutiny.

The BNP is now in its strongest-ever position after two of its members, including Griffin, were voted into the European Parliament.

Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of the group Unite Against Fascism (UAF), said: "I don't believe the BNP are going to be taken apart in the debate.

"What they are going to get is a massive hustings for their fascist and racist politics and the price for that will be an increase in the number of racist attacks."

Griffin was pelted with eggs at a protest organised by the UAF as he tried to hold a press conference near the British parliament shortly after being elected.

Around 400 people gathered for a protest held by UAF on Wednesday night.

Police said they would provide "appropriate" security on Thursday while the BNP also said it would take its own measures to protect its leader. Within Television Centre, it will be the responsibility of the BBC itself.

The controversy has also helped turn the spotlight on Griffin's personal life. He lives in rural Wales and is married with four children.

Griffin's wife Jackie was quoted in the Daily Mail describing her husband as "an oddball" who saw politics as a game.

"I thought he would grow out of it," she said. "I was earning money, he wasn't -- what a fool I was."

READ MORE - Protests before British far-right leader's TV slot

Cambodia exile offer for Thaksin increases tension

BANGKOK, October 22 (AP): Thailand's government threatened Thursday to seek the extradition of Thaksin Shinawatra if the fugitive former prime minister accepts an invitation for refuge in neighboring Cambodia. The reaction came a day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen pronounced Thaksin a "political victim" and said he was welcome in Cambodia - even adding that there's a house ready for him.
Hun Sen's comments were bound to increase tensions between the often-bickering neighbors and clearly timed to rattle Thailand's current leadership. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is hosting an annual summit of Asian leaders this weekend under tight security to prevent protests by Thaksin supporters. At a previous summit in April, Thaksin supporters stormed the venue and leaders were evacuated by helicopter.
"I would like to assure Thaksin and his supporters that Hun Sen will be his friend forever," the Cambodian leader told reporters in Phnom Penh on Wednesday after a meeting with influential former Thai prime minister, Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who recently allied with Thaksin as a member of the opposition Puea Thai Party. Thaksin has been living mostly in self-imposed exile since he was ousted in a 2006 coup. He was convicted last year of conflict of interest and sentenced to two years in prison, and Thai officials have revoked his passports.
"Thaksin was a political victim. I respect and like him more now than when he was a prime minister," Hun Sen said, adding that he has prepared a house where Thaksin can stay at any time. Relations between Cambodia and Thailand have already been sour due to a border dispute over a parcel of land around an 11th century temple. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban called Chavalit's visit to Cambodia an attempt to "create legitimacy for Thaksin."
"Thailand will make an extradition request if Thaksin is given shelter in Cambodia," Suthep told reporters in Bangkok, dismissing questions about potential damage to Thai-Cambodia relations. Thailand and Cambodia have had an extradition treaty since 2001. Few, however, expect Thaksin to serve his sentence anytime soon. Putting Thaksin behind bars would only agitate Thailand's ongoing political crisis. And, extradition is generally a lengthy process that many countries make exceptions for if they believe politics played a part in the legal proceedings.
Past extradition attempts from other countries have failed due partly to bureaucracy and an inability to locate Thaksin, the government has said. Since the coup, Thaksin has surfaced in Dubai, Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Liberia, and Montenegro in pursuit of investment opportunities. Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, remains popular among the poor who benefited from his populist policies, but he is reviled by many of the elite in Bangkok, where his administration was seen as deeply corrupt. Thaksin has repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing.

READ MORE - Cambodia exile offer for Thaksin increases tension

UK warns of lack of urgency over Copenhagen talks

By Peter Griffiths


LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The world lacks a sense of urgency over the importance of the U.N. climate change talks in Copenhagen in preventing a "human emergency" affecting hundreds of millions of people, the British government said on Thursday.

With United Nations talks on a new deal to combat global warming less than 50 days away, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said too many people still failed to grasp the scale and urgency of the problem.

Climate change will deepen Middle East tensions, trigger wars over water and food and lead to unprecedented migration unless action is taken now to curb global warming, he said.

"For too many people, not just in our own country but around the world, the penny hasn't yet dropped ... that this climate change challenge is real and is happening now," Miliband told a news conference.

"The penny hasn't dropped too that Copenhagen is the chance to address on a global scale the climate change challenge. There isn't yet that sense of urgency and drive and animation about the Copenhagen conference."

Disagreement between rich and poor countries on levels of emissions cuts and aid for developing nations to help make those reductions have hampered talks leading to Copenhagen.



BREAK THE IMPASSE

Miliband is the latest senior member of the British government to attempt this week to persuade the 192 countries meeting in Copenhagen to "break the impasse" preventing a deal.

Finance Minister Alistair Darling told Reuters he feared the climate talks could drag on like the world trade negotiations [ID:nLL174744], while Prime Minister Gordon Brown said world leaders should intervene to avoid a catastrophe. [ID:nLI642078]

Unchecked global warming will lead to a further 150 to 200 million people migrating, four billion people facing water shortages and climate change dominating the U.N. Security Council, Miliband said. Water shortages in the Middle East will exacerbate the region's problems, he said.

Miliband and his brother Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary, published a map showing the possible effects of a global average temperature rise of 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to pre-industrial levels.

It suggested northern areas, such as the Arctic and North America, will have larger temperature rises than the rest of the world. Every continent will face a higher risk of forest fires, while yields of maize and wheat in Africa could fall by 40 percent. Rice yields in Asia may drop by nearly a third.

The hottest days of the year in cities like New York and Washington could be as much as 10-12C (18-22F) warmer.

Sea levels could rise by 80cm by the end of the century, threatening low-lying islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

The map was based on computer models run by the Hadley Centre, Britain's climate research centre, and the data was peer-reviewed. It is online: www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk.

The 4C rise could be reached by 2060, although it could be as late as 2100, according to the British government's Chief Scientific Advisor John Beddington. He said it was crucial that the world agrees to limit the temperature rise to below 2C.

"There is going to be a danger of (reaching) a tipping point: a sudden, dramatic and unexpected change," he said.

READ MORE - UK warns of lack of urgency over Copenhagen talks

Fees serve as deterrents to Cambodian health care

Many families delay care for their children in Cambodia because they are worried about costs, says Dr. Dina Kulik. Photo Credit: Dr. Dina Kulik

When I went to Cambodia to work in the National Paediatric Hospital, it was to learn about HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and dengue. While I was there, I found I learned much more about health care delivery and inequality.

In Cambodia, those who have money receive care, despite the facade of a “public” and “free” health care system. Navigating the system for families felt much the same as it does in Canada, though in Cambodia the stakes were much higher.

In Canada. I fight for MRI access; in Cambodia I was fighting for simple access to care.

Despite the Jakarta Declaration’s investment in the determinants of health, including equity and access to health care services for all, I quickly realized that these basic needs are not being guaranteed in Cambodia.

Cambodian health care is public, though many families are charged fees. This leads to an underlying distrust of the health care system. Accordingly, many families will delay visiting hospitals because of the bills they encounter and children will often come to hospital only after they have become very ill.

I saw many cases of dengue, tetanus, AIDS and tuberculosis progressing to end-stages before families thought it necessary to bring their child to hospital. It is not uncommon to hear stories of families that went seriously into debt after borrowing from loan sharks to pay for the care of family members. In fact, many families delay care for their children because they are worried about cost.

In addition, and perhaps most sadly, I saw the consequences of care being delayed even when the patient was brought to hospital in a timely manner. Typically, a family must come up with the funds to pay for investigations and medicines, and until it does, the patient often waits without care — despite the care being “free” and seemingly accessible to all.

Most families seek the much cheaper services of pharmacists, who appear to act as Cambodia’s ‘frontline physicians’. However, the pharmacists are not trained as they are in developed countries. Therefore, it was common to see cases of overdoses, medication interactions and other medication errors. This often led to such consequences as dystonia secondary to metoclopramide prescribed for gastroenteritis and overdoses of paracetamol causing hepatotoxicity.

Nevertheless, despite inequalities of health care delivery, once care is obtained it is of good quality and provided by well-trained health care professionals. Children receive holistic, comprehensive treatment with modern medicines, procedures and investigation. The people are warm and inviting, and eager to gain knowledge and advance their practice.

Health care professionals and patients alike inspired me to continue to strive for excellence in my practice, no matter what challenges I face. Further, my work in Cambodia served as a reminder that unfortunately, we may have a long way to go before all determinants of health are guaranteed for all children around the world.

— Dina M. Kulik, MD, Toronto, Ont

READ MORE - Fees serve as deterrents to Cambodian health care

Boeing Posts Wider Loss

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boeing on Wednesday posted a larger-than-expected quarterly loss on costs related to its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner program, but the world's second-largest planemaker reaffirmed that the aircraft is on track to fly this year.

The loss, combined with a lowered 2009 earnings outlook, sent shares down in early trading, although most of the details in the earnings statement had been previously publicized.

"The surprise was they reiterated the (787) schedule," said Alex Hamilton, senior managing director at Jesup & Lamont.

"I always look at these as opportunities to kind of reset the bar," Hamilton said. "I think there's a lot of scepticism growing on the street about their delivery schedule."

Chicago-based Boeing and rival Airbus have been hit hard this year as carriers and cargo operators grapple with the global recession and credit crisis. Meanwhile, Boeing's defence unit struggles with sweeping government budget cuts.

Boeing said its revenue was $16.7 billion (10 billion pounds), up 9 percent from the year-ago period, which was impacted by a labour strike, but still far short of $17.16 billion that analysts had expected, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

"There is no doubt that both our commercial and defence businesses continue to face challenging times right now," Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said on a conference call with analysts and reporters.

Shares of Boeing, a Dow component, were down 1.18 percent at $51.28 at midday on the New York Stock Exchange.

DREAMLINER ON TRACK

Boeing has grappled this year with delays to the Dreamliner program. The Dreamliner is Boeing's upcoming aircraft that features revolutionary composite materials and construction methods. The plane is two years behind schedule, and some industry watchers say it could be delayed further.

Boeing said on Wednesday the plane would fly this year with first delivery set for the fourth quarter of 2010. The company has a record 840 firm orders for Dreamliners from 55 customers.

The company previously said it would reclassify to research and development costs incurred through July for the first three 787 flight-test planes. Those costs amounted to $2.46 per share. Boeing reported an additional cost of 14 cents per share related to spending on those planes for August and September.

Earlier this month, Boeing said it would delay the first flight and delivery of its 747-8 Freighter and take a 99-cent-per-share third-quarter charge because of high production costs and tough market conditions.

To reflect the 787 and 747 impacts, earnings guidance for 2009 has been changed to a range of $1.35 to $1.55 per share, from $4.70 to $5.00 previously.

"The 787 cost reclassification and the 747 charge for increased costs and difficult market conditions clearly overshadowed what continues to be otherwise solid performance across our commercial production programs and defence business," McNerney said in a statement.

"We look forward to getting the 787 and 747-8 in the air soon and moving forward with flight test and certification for these two important programs," he said.

THE NUMBERS

Boeing said its net loss was $1.6 billion, or $2.23 per share, compared with a profit of $695 million, or 96 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding a loss from discontinuing operations, Boeing's quarterly loss was $2.22 per share, compared with analysts' estimates for a loss of $2.12 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes posted a loss from operations of $2.8 billion. A year ago the unit posted earnings of $394 million. Revenue for the division increased 13 percent to $7.9 billion on higher deliveries.

The division booked 96 gross orders during the quarter, while 17 orders were cancelled. Its backlog was $254 billion.

Boeing's Integrated Defence Systems' earnings from operations were $885 million. Third-quarter revenue was up 3 percent to $8.7 billion on increased military aircraft deliveries.

(Reporting by Kyle Peterson; editing by John Wallace, Dave Zimmerman and Gunna Dickson)

READ MORE - Boeing Posts Wider Loss

Fed says economy perked up from depressed levels

By Emily Kaiser

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic conditions stabilized or improved modestly in most parts of the country, according to a Federal Reserve report on Wednesday that suggested the economy was slowly clawing out of a recession.

In its "Beige Book" of anecdotal reports on the economy, which was prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond based on information collected before October 13, the Fed noted improvement in two of the hardest hit areas -- residential real estate and manufacturing.

"Reports from the 12 Federal Reserve districts indicated either stabilization or modest improvements in many sectors since the last report, albeit often from depressed levels," the Fed said. "Reports of gains in economic activity generally outnumber declines, but virtually every reference to improvement was qualified as either small or scattered."

U.S. stocks stayed at higher levels after the report was released, while prices for government debt remained lower, as did the U.S. dollar.

The central bank gave a grim assessment of commercial real estate, which is widely seen as one of the big remaining trouble spots for the still-struggling financial sector.

"The weakest sector was commercial real estate, with conditions described as either weak or deteriorating across all districts," the Fed said.

A number of the regional Fed banks said businesses in their area did not expect commercial real estate to improve much, if at all in, in 2010.

"Tenants are demanding significant concessions -- including space improvements and one- to two-year leasing commitments -- along with low rental rates," the Boston Fed reported.

THOSE WALL STREET BONUSES

Labor markets were typically characterized as weak or mixed, although there were "occasional pockets of improvement." That assessment supported the view that the worst of the job losses are over, but it may be a while before growth resumes.

The Atlanta Fed said many employers "indicated that they were holding on to the most skilled workers, but have reduced overall hours. They feel that a sustained increase in orders and sales is a prerequisite to adding to payrolls."

Despite all the recent talk about huge bonuses at Wall Street firms, the New York Fed heard from one of its contacts that times were getting tougher for top-tier bankers.

"Compensation -- especially cash compensation -- has reportedly fallen sharply, and is expected to fall further during the remainder of the year and into 2010, most notably for the top earners in the industry," the New York Fed said.

The report said the "cash for clunkers" auto sales incentive program left depleted inventories and slower sales in its wake. Overall spending remained weak in most districts, although "some improvements" were noted.

In residential real estate, which was at the heart of the credit crisis that sparked the recession, the government's $8,000 first-time homebuyers' tax credit helped to lift sales of low- to middle-priced houses, the Fed said. However, residential construction activity remained weak in most districts.

READ MORE - Fed says economy perked up from depressed levels

Pakistan Closes Schools Amid Attacks

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's schools closed their doors Wednesday, a day after bombings at an Islamabad university, amid warnings of more attacks on a wider range of targets around the country.

The recent spate of attacks in Pakistani cities has come as the army prepared for, and launched, a military offensive in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan that is seen as a stronghold for Taliban and al Qaeda militants.

Intelligence officials warned that the militants could target foreign-controlled gas stations, banks and food chains.

All schools, universities and student hostels were ordered closed and vacated for an indefinite period, "until appropriate security measures are taken," said Qamar Zaman Kaira, the federal minister for information.

Many private schools in Islamabad and other major cities had already shut this week after intelligence reports that suggested militants would try to take students hostage to exchange for militants held by the security forces.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the two suicide bomb attacks on International Islamic University, which killed four students and two bombers Tuesday.

Tariq Azam, a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a loose organization of Taliban factions, warned of more such attacks in a phone call to the BBC. Islamic militants have blown up hundreds of girls' schools in northwestern Pakistan, but it was the first time a university was targeted.

Tuesday's university bombing was the seventh major militant attack in just over two weeks and the first since the launch of the military offensive in South Waziristan.

Rehman Malik, the interior minster, said unarmed security guards posted at schools weren't capable of stopping terrorist attacks, and that police had been deployed around major educational institutions.

Fighting continued for the fifth day between government forces and Taliban militants in South Waziristan. Last week, around 30,000 troops launched the biggest offensive yet carried out by Pakistan to clear militants from the border region.

"The troops are facing stiff resistance and the militants are fighting for every space," said Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, the chief military spokesman.

At least 105 militants and 13 soldiers had been killed since the military offensive began on Saturday, according to the military. Access to the region is restricted, and reports by the military couldn't be confirmed.

More than 150,000 civilians have now fled the war zone, according to aid agencies.

A major battle is being fought for the control of Koktai, the hometown of Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of the main Pakistan Taliban faction. Gen. Abbas said government forces have secured the high ground around the town. The troops have also demolished the houses of Mr. Hakimullah and Qari Hussein, the main trainer of suicide bombers for the faction, the military said.

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