US marines face a 'hell of a fight' in Helmand surge

US Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade wait for helicopter transport as part of Operation Khanjar at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on July 2, 2009. Photo: GETTY United States Marines storming into southern Afghanistan are facing a "hell of a fight" in some districts while others are "suspiciously" quiet, their commander has said.By Ben Farmer in KabulPublished: After meeting little resistance in the first day of Operation Khanjar, or 'sword strike', he said units south of Garmsir were involved in heavy fighting.American marines lost a single soldier during the first 24...

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US Troops Push Further into Southern Afghanistan

U.S. Marine takes a position next to piles of dried poppy bulbs in the village of Noghara in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, By VOA News U.S. Marines pushed further into southern Afghanistan Friday, meeting little resistance as they moved to capture villages and population centers controlled by Taliban militants.The U.S. offensive is being led by 4,000 Marines who poured into southern Helmand province on Thursday. The operation is aimed at driving out militants and securing the area ahead of presidential elections August 20.Marine spokesman Bill Pelletier says U.S. troops have engaged in only sporadic fighting, but he warned...

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Inside Michael Jackson's 'Vibrant' Last Rehearsal

Video of shows a seemingly energetic Michael Jackson at rehearsal two days before his death.his is a rush transcript from "On the Record," July 2, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Now, you are looking at Michael Jackson two days before he died. This was his very last rehearsal, the last known video of Jackson. Our next guest was right there at the Staples Center, photographing Jackson. He has been photographing Jackson for 30 years. Kevin Mazur joins us. Good evening, Kevin.KEVIN MAZUR, ROCK-AND-ROLL PHOTOGRAPHER: How're you doing?VAN SUSTEREN: Kevin, now there's a lot of focus,...

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U.S. soldier captured by insurgents in Afghanistan; American Marines launch major offensive in area

BY Brian Kates and Stephanie GaskellDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERSU.S. troops are scouring eastern Afghanistan for an American soldier captured by insurgents, military officials said.A Taliban spokesman said the terror group had the missing soldier - and vowed to release a video of him with their demands."Our leaders have not decided on the fate of this soldier," said a commander with the Taliban's hard-line Haqqani faction, according to Agence-France Press. "They will decide on his fate and soon we will present video tapes of the coalition soldier and our demand to media."The Haqqani network is believed to control large swaths of eastern Afghanistan.The...

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Michael Jackson's farewell will be like few others before

Michael Jackson performs on stage during is "HIStory" world tour concert in Auckland, New Zealand.BY Joe Kemp In Los Angeles and Rich Schapiro In New YorkDAILY NEWS WRITERSA public memorial service for Michael Jackson will be held Tuesday in what could easily be the greatest farewell ever to an American entertainer.Fans who want to attend the memorial in the 20,000-seat Staples Center in Los Angeles must register for free tickets, said the Jackson family's spokesman, Ken Sunshine. Details on how to do that will be announced today.Although only 11,000 tickets will be available - and there will be a huge rush on them - it's expected many thousands...

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MySpace cyber-bulling conviction tentatively dismissed

Lori Drew helped create a fake MySpace profile to draw in an acquaintance of her daughter’s.A federal judge tentatively throws out guilty verdicts in a hoax that led to a teen girl'sA federal judge in Los Angeles on Thursday tentatively threw out the conviction of a Missouri woman for her role in a cruel Internet hoax on a teenage girl who ended up committing suicide.The decision by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu, which will not become final until he files a written ruling, was a blow to prosecutors who had hoped to send the message that cyber-bullying is a crime. Wu had repeatedly delayed sentencing to consider a defense motion to dismiss...

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Chinese Netizens Celebrate Green Dam Delay

Customers surf the Internet at an Internet cafe in Beijing, By Alison KlaymanBeijingMany Internet users in China are celebrating after Beijing delayed implementing its order that Internet-blocking software be installed in all new computers. News of the delay turned a scheduled Internet boycott into an all-day celebration on Wednesday. Hundreds of opponents of the plan flowed in and out of a tucked-away restaurant in Beijing's Caochangdi art district. The well-known artist and activist Ai Weiwei organized the event. Dressed in neon pink, he walks around posing for photographs and signing T-shirts with slogans protesting the plan. Ai had proposed...

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Britain Rolls Out New Flu Strategy

>A CDC Image of H1N1 influenza virusBy Tom RiversLondonContaining the H1N1 virus in Britain is no longer an option and the country is moving to a new treatment phase. Health Secretary Andy Burnham outlined the new approach, effective immediately, which includes doctors diagnosing and prescribing medication over the phone to those suspected of having contracted the virus. The disease infection rate is roughly doubling every week in Britain. The United Kingdom is already experiencing the highest number of swine-flu cases in Europe and that number is expected to grow exponentially now that the virus is firmly entrenched.Officially, Britain...

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Michael Jackson transformed Neverland Ranch much as he did music

LONG WALK: Fans park their cars behind a police roadblock for a 1 ƒ¦1/2ƒ§-mile trek to the gates of Neverland Ranch.The architecture on his Santa Barbara County property reflects his androgynous, perpetually childlike model of superstardom -- and his unique if disjointed take on the celebrity compound.By CHRISTOPHER HAWTHORNE, Architecture CriticJuly 3, 2009It was while I was bumpily making my way across a rope bridge in a quiet corner of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Thursday morning -- next to an elaborate treehouse crowned with a ship's wheel, and overlooking a bronze sculpture of smiling children -- that I finally figured out what...

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UN Chief Arrives in Burma

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file) By VOA News United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Burma to press the ruling military government to release its political prisoners.Mr. Ban arrived in the main city of Rangoon Friday, and was scheduled to fly to the remote administrative capital of Naypyitaw. His arrival occurred on the same day the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was set to resume. But the court hearing the case issued another postponement, this time until July 10.Her lawyer, Nyan Win, says the judge postponed Friday's hearing because the Supreme Court did not send the case files to the lower court. Aung San Suu...

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SOKHA HOTEL HOSTAGES

Photo by: KYLE SHERERSOKHA HOTEL HOSTAGESEmmett McHenry, general manager of the Sokha Angkor Resort, was taken aback to hear that his hotel is the crux of a sensational conspiracy theory regarding the resignation of Co-prosecutor Robert Petit from the Khmer Rouge tribunal last week.A small human rights NGO claims that Petit was forced to resign after Prime Minister Hun Sen held his family captive at the Sokha Angkor Resort one month ago. The Cambodian Action Committee for Justice and Equity Network (CACJE) made the accusation in a letter to ECCC trial chamber Judge Silvia Cartwright, which was posted on Cambodian news site Khmerization last Friday....

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A MAN suspected of illegally gathering ancient artefacts from a compound at Angkor Wat was sent to Siem Reap provincial court on Wednesday, Heritage P

A MAN suspected of illegally gathering ancient artefacts from a compound at Angkor Wat was sent to Siem Reap provincial court on Wednesday, Heritage Police officials said."We sent him to the provincial court already, but we don't know how long it will be until the court charges him," said Li Hok Seng, a deputy director of the Heritage Police.Chea Sophart, also a deputy director of the Heritage Police, said Sunday the 34-year-old Banteay Meanchey man identified only as Ryn was arrested while using an electric-powered machine to collect artefacts about 400 metres northeast of Takeo temple on Sunday.Police quoted Ryn as saying that on 10 previous...

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Court says it will consider defamation charges against Ho Vann, who is currently overseas, whether the lawmaker is present or not.

Kong Sam Onn (left) at a press conference in April. PHNOM Penh Municipal Court is set to begin trial proceedings later this month in a defamation case filed by 22 high-ranking army officials against opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Ho Vann.According to a court citation issued Friday by Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun, a copy of which was obtained by the Post, Ho Vann has been summoned to appear at the court on July 17.Ho Vann faces charges under Article 63 of the UNTAC penal code and Article 10 of the 1995 Press Law, according to the citation. Although he is currently overseas, Ho Vann will be tried whether he is present or not."In case the person...

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DESPITE years of judicial reforms aimed at establishing a respected court system, many Cambodians still prefer to send their complaints to NGOs rather

Dey Krahorm residents wait for a judicial ruling outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court prior to their eviction earlier this year. Many in Cambodia say they have lost faith in the Kindom's court system and prefer seeking the help of non-governmental organisations to resolve legal disputes.DESPITE years of judicial reforms aimed at establishing a respected court system, many Cambodians still prefer to send their complaints to NGOs rather than place their trust in the judicial system, which many say remains under the control of politicians."The courts do not solve problems for us because the people who we want to sue are party members, so I don't want...

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Thailand still undecided on Preah Vihear stance

News DeskThe Nation (Thailand)The Thai government has yet to discuss whether Thailand should ask Cambodia to jointly register the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the ThaiCambodian border as a World Heritage Site, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.A joint submission for the registration of the temple as a World Heritage Site would only create more confusion because border demarcation in the area is still unclear, he said. Abhisit said questions could be raised regarding ownership of the area adjoining the temple. However, he suggested, a settlement could be made on condition that neither Thailand nor Cambodia claim ownership of the disputed area. So far the Cambodian government has not considered applying for jointly registering the site with Thailand, he said. The United Nations...

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Development plan for Cambodia border provinces approved

ietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has recently approved building plans for provinces that border Cambodia. The plans aim to develop the area into a nationally important economic region by 2020, and the world by 2030.By: BangkokPost.comThe area bordering Cambodia includes ten provinces. Among them, Kon Tum , Gia Lai, Dac Lac and Dac Nong are located in the Central Highlands, the others are to be found in the southeastern region, consisting of Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang.It is estimated that by the end of 2020, the total population of the region will reach 16.51 million, of which, between ten...

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Troop reductions near Preah Vihear

Thailand and Cambodia will today begin reducing troop levels along the border near Preah Vihear temple, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.By: BangkokPost.comMr Suthep said this should help ease the tension along the sensitive frontier.He and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed during talks last weekend that the border dispute should be settled by peaceful means.The deputy prime minister will tomorrow leave for Phnom Penh for another meeting with Mr Hun Sen.Mr Suthep refused to comment when asked about senior Democrat MP Suthas Ngernmuen's threat yesterday to quit the party if the Bhumjaithai Party and Newin Chidchob were put in charge of the government's political actvities in the Northeast region....

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Suwit defends his Preah Vihear role

Preah VihearBy: BangkokPost.comNatural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti on Thursday insisted he was able to get Thailand about one year of extra time to raise its concerns over the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) listing of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.Mr Suwit admitted Preah Vihear had already been listed as a world heritage site, as Pongpol Adireksarn, former chairman of the Thai World Heritage Committee, had said.�But Cambodia had yet to formally complete its obligations by �presenting a management plan �for safeguarding and developing the temple, �including a map...

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US Marines hit Taliban heartland as part of Barack Obama's 'big surge'

Thousands of United States Marines have swept into a Taliban heartland in the first big drive of President Barack Obama's Afghanistan surge strategy.housands of United States Marines have swept into a Taliban heartland in the first big drive of President Barack Obama's Afghanistan surge strategy. By Ben Farmer in Kabul More than 4,000 marines and 600 Afghan soldiers backed by helicopters and jets stormed Taliban-held districts to drive out the militant fighters.Commanders hope the offensive by thousands of newly arrived troops will be a turning point in the eight-year-battle against a stubborn Taliban-led insurgency.t also represents a major...

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Person: Officials discuss possible Jackson event

AP – FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 27, 2003 file picture, Michael Jackson thanks the audience during the Radio … By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 46 mins agoLOS ANGELES – Los Angeles officials are holding closed-door talks about a possible event for Michael Jackson on Tuesday at a downtown arena, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.The event would take place at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, said the person who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.It wasn't immediately clear if a funeral or a public memorial was being discussed...

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Putin has 'one foot in old ways,' Obama says

AP – President Barack Obama gestures during his interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, July 2, 2009, … By JENNIFER LOVEN, AP White House Correspondent Jennifer Loven, Ap White House Correspondent WASHINGTON – On the eve of a trip to Moscow, President Barack Obama chided Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday for keeping "one foot in the old ways of doing business." By contrast, he said Putin's handpicked successor as president understands that Cold War behavior is outdated.In a White House interview with The Associated Press, the president said he will meet with both Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev on his trip, in hopes...

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Michael Jackson Memorial Planned For Los Angeles' Staples Center July 7

LOS ANGELES - A Michael Jackson public memorial service has been set and will take place on Tuesday, July 7, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to multiple media outletsPlanning is still under way, according to multiple media reports.By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by MTV News staffLOS ANGELES — A Michael Jackson public memorial service has been set and will take place on Tuesday, July 7, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to multiple media outlets. The memorial honoring the 50-year-old pop star will unfold at the 20,000-capacity arena after the holiday weekend, nearly two weeks after Jackson died after...

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Michael Jackson Memorial Planned For Los Angeles' Staples Center July 7

>2Michael JacksonPhoto: Michel Linssen/RedfernsLOS ANGELES — A Michael Jackson public memorial service has been set and will take place on Tuesday, July 7, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to multiple media outlets. The memorial honoring the 50-year-old pop star will unfold at the 20,000-capacity arena after the holiday weekend, nearly two weeks after Jackson died after suffering cardiac arrest at his rented home in Los Angeles on June 25.The arena is also the venue where Jackson was rehearsing for his 50-show "This is It" concerts, which were originally slated to kick off at London's O2 Arena on July 13. He rehearsed at the...

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Cambodian Conservationist Looks to Save Fish

Chouly Ou, a conservationist and biologist, hopes to use her education to save the fish of the Mekong river. Her plan is to pursue a PhD to gain technical knowledge on fish population modeling. By Nuch Sarita, VOA KhmerOriginal report from WashingtonChouly Ou, a conservationist and biologist, hopes to use her education to save the fish of the Mekong river. Her plan is to pursue a PhD to gain technical knowledge on fish population modeling.“I plan to develop a model for sustainable management of the fish population in the Mekong river, the largest and most important river in Cambodia,” Chouly Ou said in an interview with VOA Khmer.Chouly Ou was...

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North Korea Fires Short Range Missiles as Talks With South Sputter

S. Korean chief delegate Kim Young-tak, before leaving Kaesong at transit office in Paju, near border village of the Panmunjom, 02 Jul 2009By Kurt AchinSeoulA third round of talks over an embattled joint industrial zone between North and South Korea has produced no progress. The North apparently launched several short range missiles into the ocean even as South Korean delegates were making their journey back from the North's territory.Reports of the latest North Korean missile launches came Thursday via South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The report said North Korea fired two short range missiles off its east coast between 5:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m....

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