NewsEverydays: 2014-02-16

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Cambodian-Americans Protest at UN Headquarters

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

04 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — Hundreds of Cambodian-Americans rallied at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, demanding the release of 23 labor activists still being held following deadly protest crackdowns last month.

Protesters also called for a recall election, following July’s polls that opposition leaders say were marred by fraud.

Cambodian-Americans Consider Boycott of Goods Sourced from Cambodia

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

14 January 2014

WASHINGTON DC — While Cambodia continues to hold garment factory workers arrested in this month’s violent crackdowns, some Cambodian-Americans say they will boycott goods purchased from factories in the country.

Major international labels source goods from Cambodia. At least seven such companies have issued an open letter condemning this month’s attacks on workers and urging a fair minimum wage. But no company has said it will stop sourcing from Cambodia if those conditions aren’t met.

US Group Plans To File Against Hun Sen at International Court

The US complaint will coincide with a complaint to be filed by the Rescue Party. Government officials have repeatedly dismissed the allegations and say they will not pay attention to the cases if they are brought before the court.

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

04 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — A group of Cambodian-Americans plans to file a criminal complaint at the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Hun Sen and senior officials, accusing them of human rights violations and obstructing justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge.

Cambodian-Americans Protest Outside White House

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

21 January 2014

WASHINGTON DC — More than 500 Cambodian-American protesters gathered outside the White House in Washington on Monday, demanding the release of 23 detained protesters still being held in a remote facility in Cambodia.

The arrests were part of a violent crackdown on protesters earlier this month that left at least five people dead and another 40 injured.

Hollande to name two women resistants for France's gender-imbalanced Pantheon

By Tony Cross
French President François Hollande is to announce the transfer to the Pantheon of the remains of four victims of the Nazi occupation in World War II, according to reports. Two of them are women, which would bring the total number of women honoured in the national mausoleum to four, out of 75.

The president has neither confirmed or denied media reports that he is to announce that two men and two women receive the honour, reserved for French citizens who are deemed to have played a key role in the country's history or culture.

Mekong Villagers Want Laos Dam Postponed

PHNOM PENH — Villagers from fishing communities along the Mekong River on Thursday urged the Cambodian government to negotiate with Laos over postponing a dam project slated to begin later this year.

Conservationists say the Don Sahong Dam could damage downstream fisheries and harm the well-being of the rare Mekong dolphin, a source of eco-tourism revenue for some Cambodian villages along the river.

Questions of Racism in Beating Death of Vietnamese-Cambodian

WASHINGTON DC — Vietnamese-Cambodians say the killing of an ethnic Vietnamese man in Phnom Penh last week is a reflection of continued racism that has been exacerbated in recent months.

Nguyen Van Chyen, 28, was killed after a traffic accident escalated into an altercation between him and his friends and a group of Cambodians. One suspect was arrested following the attack.

Opposition Threatens To Withdraw form Political Negotiations

PHNOM PENH — Opposition officials said Thursday they could pull out of political negotiations once again due to intimidation by the ruling party.

Cambodia National Rescue Party officials say they have faced continued intimidation during meetings with supporters in the provinces, where members of the police and military police exercise a show of force aimed at opposition rallies.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

World Bank To Review Environmental Complaints Against Company

WASHINGTON DC — The World Bank says it will investigate reports from indigenous groups in Cambodia that a company funded by the bank’s International Finance Corporation is involved in deforestation and land grabs.

The bank’s Office of the Compliance Adviser Ombudsman, or CAO, will first examine the credibility of the allegations by the groups against the company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Emily Horgan, a spokeswoman for the office, told VOA Khmer.

The office will then examine issues to address environmental and social impacts of the IFC, Horgansaid.

Cambodians Becoming Less Likely Tolerate Corruption: Advocate

PHNOM PENH — An anti-corruption advocate says Cambodias no longer regard corruption as an everyday occurrent they must tolerate.

“Cambodian people today have changed their attitude of ignorance to paying attention to corruption because they now understand its impacts more than before,” Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, told “Hello VOA” last week.

Cambodia was listed as the most corrupt country in Southeast Asia last year, according to Transparency International’s annual index, which measures perceived corruption. And a recently released survey by the US-based International Republican Institute found that nearly 50 percent of Cambodians view corruption and nepotism as serious problems facing the country.

FPM - បក្សប្រឆាំងព្រមានបញ្ឈប់ការចរចា ប្រសិនបើបក្សកាន់អំណាចនៅតែបន្តរារាំងវេទិកាសាធារណៈ

(ចេញផ្សាយថ្ងៃទី 20-02-2014, 10:28 am)

រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ៖ មេដឹកនាំគណបក្សប្រឆាំង ព្រមានថា នឹងបញ្ឈប់ការចរចា ប្រសិនបើគណបក្សកាន់អំណាច នៅតែបន្តរារាំងវេទិកាសាធារណៈរបស់ខ្លួន។
ការលើកឡើងបែបនេះក្នុងពេលមេបក្សប្រឆាំងទាំងពីរធ្វើសន្និសីទ កាសែត កាលពីវេលាម៉ោង៩ព្រឹក ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បត្ត៏ ទី២០ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ២០១៤ ស្តីពីការរារាំងរបស់អាជ្ញាធរ នៅទីស្នាក់ការកណ្តាលគណបក្ស ក្នុងសង្កាត់ចាក់អង្រែលើ ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

Youth Coalition Call for More Political Participation

PHNOM PENH — A coalition of six youth organizations on Wednesday delivered petitions to the ruling and opposition parties, calling for an increase in the number of young representatives to run in the 2018 municipal and provincial elections.

“This is imperative because youths are the dynamic force behind change, development and transparency at sub-national levels,” Yorng Kim Eng, executive director of People Center for Development and Peace, told VOA Khmer.

Civil Court Issues Mixed Verdict on Thailand’s State of Emergency

BANGKOK — A civil court Wednesday upheld the Thai government’s emergency decree, which allowed authorities to detain protestors and hold them for a month without charges. But the judges warned the government against using the state of emergency as a pretext to use force against anti-government demonstrators.

The government declared a 60-day emergency period from January 21 amid continuing protests against it.

It is not immediately clear what impact the court’s ruling will have on arrest warrants issued for protest leaders accused of violating the state of emergency.

Opposition To Maintain Major Demands in Political Talks

Sam Rainsy, front center, the head of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) waves to the crowd before entering Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Sam Rainsy and his party's Deputy President Kem Sokha appeared for questioning at the court about their possible involvement in inciting violence and social unrest, after four garment workers were brutality shot dead by government armed forces, on Jan. 3, according to a CNRP lawmaker. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

American skier David Wise is first men’s freestyle halfpipe champion

David Wise of the US skis on his way to a gold medal in the men's ski halfpipe at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday.

New Jersey towns lacking salt due to American flag

There is a statewide shortage of rock salt because of the harsh winter and a ship willing to transport 40,000 tons is not cleared to arrive to the state because it does not meet a 1920 federal law to fly a U.S. flag.

Heavy equipment operator Kelly Von Ellingtton, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., loads salt onto his truck at the Atlantic County Department of Public Works in Northfield, N.J. last month. There is a statewide salt shortage due to the heavy snowstorms already this winter.

New Jersey's crisis over rock salt is due to an American flag.
State transportation officials say a 40,000-ton shipment of rock salt, badly needed across the state, cannot make its planned shipment from Maine to Newark because the ship does not have an American flag.

'American Idol' live shows start tonight: Producers unveil new set, talk format changes for 'lucky' season 13

When American Idol‘s rush week begins Tuesday night, fans of the long-running singing competition will notice a couple of changes to the show. For one, what is Rush Week?

Ukraine Police Storm Kyiv Protest Camp; 21 Dead

Fires burned and stun grenades ripped through the center of the Ukrainian capital early Wednesday as riot police charged the main opposition protest camp after clashes killed at least 21 people, including seven police officers.

Police and opposition representatives said many of the dead were killed by gunshots and that hundreds more were injured, with dozens in serious condition.

Cambodians Becoming Less Likely Tolerate Corruption: Advocate

Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, on “Hello VOA” last week.
PHNOM PENH — An anti-corruption advocate says Cambodias no longer regard corruption as an everyday occurrent they must tolerate.

“Cambodian people today have changed their attitude of ignorance to paying attention to corruption because they now understand its impacts more than before,” Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, told “Hello VOA” last week.

‘Missing Picture’ Draws Large Washington Crowd

Reasey Poch, VOA Khmer

19 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — Oscar-nominated “The Missing Picture,” a film by Rithy Panh, was screened along with the other four other competitors this past weekend at the National Geographic Museum in Washington.

The one-time screening filled the 400-seat theater.

Among those is the audience was Russell Williams, a professor at American University’s School of Communication and a voting member of the Academy of the Motion Pictures, which awards the Oscars each year.

Political Parties Agree on Way Forward for Political Reform

Heng Reaksmey, Say Mony, VOA Khmer

19 February 2014

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties reopened negotiations on Tuesday, seeking to end a political deadlock that has been in place since July’s national elections.

Protesting Families Removed From Outside Pursat Court

PHNOM PENH — Nearly 70 families who are embroiled in a land dispute in Pursat province were dispersed by police outside the provincial court Tuesday, where they had been staying for about a week.

They had been sitting outside the court in protest of a loss of land the arrest of one member of their community, after about 400 cottages in Snuol district, Pursat, were set afire by security forces Feb. 12.

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថៃលោកជំទាវយីងឡាក់នឹងប្រឈមការចោទប្រកាន់

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថៃលោកជំទាវយីងឡាក់នឹងប្រឈមការចោទប្រកាន់ពីបទ ធ្វេសប្រហែសនឹងការងារគ្រាដែលមានការប៉ះទង្គិចគ្នារវាងបាតុករ និងក្រុមសមត្ថកិច្ចដែលបានធ្វើអោយមនុស្សស្លាប់៤នាក់និងជា ច្រើននាក់ទៀតរងរបួសក្នុងពេលយុទ្ធនាការរុះរើសំណង់របស់ក្រុម បាតុករក្នុងក្រុងបាងកក។ គណៈកម្ម ការជាតិប្រឆាំងអំពើពុករលួយក្នុងប្រទេសថៃ បានថ្លែងថាប្រសិនណាបើតុលាការរកឃើញថាលោកជំទាវមានកំហុស នោះលោកជំទាវនឹងអាចត្រូវគេដកចេញពីតំណែងនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី។ គួរកត់សម្គាល់ថា ក្នុងយុទ្ធនាការ រុះរើសំណង់ក្រុមបាតុករ ប៉ូលីសថៃម្នាក់បានស្លាប់និងជនស៊ីវិល៣នាក់ទៀតក៏បានស្លាប់ផង ដែរដោយសារគ្រាប់កាំភ្លើងគ្រាដែលមានមនុស្សចំនួន៦៤នាក់ផ្សេង ទៀតរងរបួស។

Former French spy chief on trial in phone-tapping scandal

By Mike Woods
A former French intelligence chief faced trial on Tuesday for spying on a journalist in a case linked to France's wealthiest woman and to former president Nicolas Sarkozy.A former French intelligence chief faced trial on Tuesday for spying on a journalist in a case linked to France's wealthiest woman and to former president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Bernard Squarcini says he was acting in the national interest by tapping into the phone records of Gérard Davet, a journalist with French newspaper Le Monde.

ថៅកែរោងចក្រអះអាងមិនចរចាបញ្ហាប្រាក់ខែឡើងវិញទេ

ដោយ រិទ្ធិ ម៉ូនីកា

ខណៈដែលក្រុមសហជីព កំពុងតែ ប្រកូកប្រកាស ប្រមូលគ្នា ធ្វើកូដកម្មទ្រង់ទ្រាយធំនៅទូទាំងប្រទេសដើម្បីសុំអោយមានការចចារ ឡើងវិញ អំពីការដំឡើងប្រាក់ឈ្នួលគោល១៦០ដុល្លាក្នុងមួយខែ ខាងភាគីនិយោជកបានបញ្ជាក់អះអាងថាគ្មានទៀតឡើយការចចារឡើងវិញអំពី បញ្ហាប្រាក់ឈ្នួលអប្បបរមា។ នេះបើតាមលោក កេន លូ អគ្គលេខាធិការសមាគមថៅកែរោងចក្រកាត់ដេរកម្ពុជា។

សាលាក្តីខ្មែរក្រហមតែងតាំងមេធាវីបរទេសម្នាក់ទៀតឲ្យកាន់សំណុំរឿង ០០៤

ដោយ ប៉ែន បូណា

សំណុំរឿង ០០៣ និង ០០៤ ដ៏ចម្រូងចម្រាសកំពុងតែដំណើរការទៅមុខបើទោះបីជាមានការខ្វែងគំនិតគ្នា រវាងសហចៅក្រមជាតិនិងអន្តរជាតិក៏ដោយ។ មេធាវីបរទេសម្នាក់ទៀតគឺលោកស្រី ស៊ូហ្សាណា តូម៉ាណូវិក ( Suzana Tomanovic ) ជនជាតិប៊ូស្នៀ ត្រូវបានតុលាការតែងតាំងជាសហមេធាវីការពារក្តីឲ្យជនសង្ស័យម្នាក់ ក្នុងសំណុំរឿង ០០៤។ អ្នកនាំពាក្យសាលាក្តីខ្មែរក្រហមបានប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹងថា ការស៊ើបអង្កេតសំណុំរឿង ០០៣ និង ០០៤ គ្រោងបិទបញ្ចប់នៅពាក់កណ្តាលឆ្នាំ ២០១៤ នេះ។

គណបក្សទាំងពីរព្រមព្រៀងបង្កើតគណៈកម្មការចម្រុះ សិក្សានិងរៀបចំក្របខណ្ឌកំណែទម្រង់ការបោះឆ្នោត

ដោយ លី ម៉េងហួរ
ក្នុងកិច្ចប្រជុំដោយបិទទ្វារ រយៈពេល ២ ម៉ោងកន្លះ នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី១៨កុម្ភៈនេះ ក្រុមការងារគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា និងក្រុមការងារគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ បានព្រមព្រៀងបង្កើតគណៈកម្មការចម្រុះមួយ ដោយមានសមាសភាពស្មើគ្នា មកពីគណបក្ស ដែលមានអាសនៈក្នុងរដ្ឋសភា ដើម្បីសិក្សា និងរៀបចំក្របខណ្ឌកំណែទម្រង់ការបោះឆ្នោត នាពេលខាងមុខ។ គណៈកម្មការចម្រុះនោះ នឹងត្រូវរៀបចំឲ្យមានសិក្ខាសាលាជាតិមួយ ដើម្បីបើកទូលាយឲ្យមានការចូលរួមយោបល់ និងអនុសាសន៍នានាពីគ្រប់មជ្ឈដ្ឋាន។

Monday, February 17, 2014

ហ្វីលីពីនដង្ហែរក្បួនមនុស្សធម៌ធំបំផុតបំបែកកំណត់ត្រាពិភពលោកពីរ

Philippines Largest Charity Walk

គ្រិស្តសាសនិកហ្វីលីពីនបានជួបជុំ គ្នាបង្កើតព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ដើររៃអង្គាសមនុស្សធម៌ក្នុងចំនួនមនុស្ស ច្រើនបំផុតមិនធ្លាប់មាន ដើម្បីជួយជនរងគ្រោះដែលនៅរស់រានមានជីវិតពីព្យុះទីហ្វុង Haiyan កាលពីឆ្នាំទៅ និងដើម្បីបំបែកកំណត់ត្រាពិភពលោកផង។

សូមចុចអាន៖ ព្យុះសង្ឃរានៅហ្វីលីពីន សម្លាប់មនុស្សជិត១ម៉ឺននាក់ ខណៈវៀតណាមជម្លៀសប្រជាជន ៥សែននាក់

អ្នកវិនិច្ឆ័យរបស់កំណត់ត្រា ពិភពលោក Guinness លោក Kirsty Bennett និយាយថា មានមនុស្សចំនួន ១៧៥ ៥០៩ នាក់ដែលជាសមាជិកគ្រិស្តសាសនា Iglesia ni Cristo បានចូលរួមដើរកាលពីថ្ងៃសៅរ៍កន្លងទៅក្នុងទីក្រុងម៉ានីល។ លោកបន្តថា ការដើរនេះបានបានបំបែកកំណត់ត្រាចាស់របស់សិង្ហបុរីក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០០០ ដែលមានចំនួនមនុស្ស ៧៧ ៥០០ នាក់ដើម្បីលើកកម្ពស់សុខុមាលភាពការរស់នៅ។

រលំអគារនៅកូរ៉េសម្លាប់ និងបង្ករបួសជាងមួយរយនាក់

សារព័ត៌មានក្នុងស្រុកកូរ៉េបានចេញផ្សាយថា យ៉ាងហោចណាស់មានមនុស្ស ១០នាក់បានបាត់បង់ជីវិត និង ១០០នាក់ផ្សេងទៀតបញ្ជូនទៅសង្គ្រោះនៅមន្ទីរពេទ្យជាបន្ទាន់ក្នុង ហេតុការណ៍បាក់រលំអគារមួយកន្លែងនៅខេត្តNorth Gyeongsang ស្ថិតនៅភាគខាងត្បូងទីក្រុងសេអ៊ូល កាលពីម៉ោង ៩ និង ១៥យប់ថ្ងៃចន្ទ។
អាន៖ ព្យុះអាត្លង់ទិចកំពុងធ្វើឲ្យប្រទេសអង់គ្លេសស្ថិតនៅក្នុងគ្រោះមហន្តរាយធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ
ហេតុការណ៍ដ៏សែនអាក្រក់ គំរាមកំហែងអាយុជីវិតសិស្សនិស្សិតខ្ទង់រយនាក់នេះ កើតឡើងបន្ទាប់ពីក្រុមប្រឹក្សានិស្សិតនៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យBusan University of Foreign Studies បានរៀបចំកម្មវិធីជួបជុំកម្សាន្តសប្បាយសម្រាប់និស្សិតឆ្នាំទីមួយ ប្រមាណ ១ ១០០នាក់។

សកម្មភាពសង្គ្រោះជនរងគ្រោះ បន្ទាប់ពីកើតហេតុភ្លាមៗ

យោងតាមសមត្ថកិច្ចមូលដ្ឋានបានឲ្យដឹងថា អំឡុងកម្មវិធីមាននិស្សិត ៥៦៥នាក់ស្ថិតក្នុងអគារ ដែលមានពិតានជរាមួយ។ ដោយមិនអាចទ្រាំទ្រនឹងការធ្លាក់ព្រិលដ៏ក្រាស់បាន ដល់ម៉ោងកើតហេតុ ៩:១៥នាទី ភ្លាមនោះពិតាន សំណង់មួយជំហរ ក៏បានដួលរលំ បាក់សង្កត់និស្សិត ១០៩នាក់ និងម្នាក់ជា អ្នករៀបចំកម្មវិធី។

ព័ត៌មានជុំវិញលក្ខណៈសម្បត្តិទាំងឡាយរបស់ Galaxy S5 មុនចេញចុងខែនេះ

Galaxy S5 តាមដែលព័ត៌មានចុះផ្សាយពីលក្ខណៈសម្បត្តិកន្លងមក ពិតជាធ្វើឱ្យបណ្ដាសាធារណជនជាច្រើនទូទាំងពិភពលោកទន្ទឹងចង់ឃើញ រូបរាងពិតប្រាកដ ព្រមជាមួយលក្ខណៈសម្បត្តិតើអស្ចារ្យយ៉ាងណា។ Samsung បានត្រៀមខ្លួនចេញមុខនៅក្នុងសមាជទូរសព្ទពិភពលោក (Mobile World Congress) ថ្ងៃទី២៤ កុម្ភៈប៉ុន្មានថ្ងៃខាងមុខនេះ ជាមួយការរំពឹងទុកថា នឹងបើកសម្ពោធមុខមាត់ Galaxy S5 ជាមិនខាន។

មានអ្នកលួចរំភើបក្នុងចិត្តពេលឮទាយាទជំនាន់ក្រោយ iPhone អេក្រង់ធំជាងមុន

ពិតណាស់កន្លងមកមានព័ត៌មានជាច្រើននិយាយពី iPhone ជំនាន់ទី ៨ របស់ Apple ដែលល្បីថានឹងមានការរចនាអេក្រង់កាន់តែធំជាងមុន ដែលធ្វើឲ្យគ្រប់ៗគ្នាមានការចាប់អារម្មណ៍ជាខ្លាំង។ លេចឮព័ត៌មាននេះ មានប្រិយមិត្តអ្នកគាំទ្រមួយចំនួនបានលួចរំភើបក្នុងចិត្តរួច ទៅហើយ និងគិតថាបើដូចតាមការចុះផ្សាយមែន ប្រាកដជាល្អជាក់ជាមិនខាន។

អានអត្ថបទ៖ វីដេអូ iPhone 6 ចេញប៉ះរូប concept Galaxy S5 ផ្អើលសាធារណជនមិនសរសើរមិនបាន
សុជាតិ និស្សិតសាកលវិទ្យាន័រតុន ដែលជាអ្នកនិយមលេងស៊េរី iPhone ជាច្រើនជំនាន់បានបង្ហាញការគាំទ្រសម្រាប់ការរចនាអេក្រង់ធំ ជាងមុនរបស់ iPhone ជំនាន់ក្រោយ បន្ទាប់ពីឮថាក្រុមហ៊ុន Apple គ្រោងរចនាទាយាទជំនាន់ក្រោយឲ្យកាន់តែប្លែកជាងមុន។

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Robbie Savage: How Arsenal turned the tables on Liverpool

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker celebrates their FA Cup victory over Liverpool

In his regular BBC Sport column, Robbie Savage looks at Arsenal's thrilling FA Cup win over Liverpool.

This was a classic cup tie played at a high tempo and it was great to watch. Arsenal needed to produce a response after they were thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League last week, and they did exactly that.
The Gunners had to battle hard to reach the sixth round but they did so through a combination of defensive resilience, some bad misses by Liverpool and a terrible decision by referee Howard Webb, which denied the Reds their second penalty of the match.
If Daniel Sturridge had taken his early chances, the game would have been very different but Arsenal scoring first meant Arsene Wenger's line-up was well suited to their task.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored one and set up the other as Arsenal earned a degree of revenge on Liverpool to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Gunners, thrashed 5-1 at Anfield in the Premier League last week, led when Oxlade-Chamberlain guided in a loose ball after 16 minutes.
The England winger provided the cross for Lukas Podolski to fire in from 15 yards at the start of the second half.
Steven Gerrard converted a penalty but Liverpool could not force an equaliser.
However, the visitors felt they should have been awarded the opportunity to level from the spot when Luis Suarez was sent tumbling inside the Arsenal area by Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Venezuela president expels three US consular officials

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is expelling three US consular officials, accusing them of meeting students involved in anti-government protests.

The country has seen growing political tension and rallies, with three protesters dying in clashes last week.
An arrest warrant has been issued for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who has pledged to lead a march in the capital Caracas on Tuesday.

EU to start sending troops to Central African Republic next month

By RFI
Several European Union countries will start deploying troops to the Central African Republic next month, according to France’s junior minister for European affairs.

Thierry Repentin said “several hundred troops from several European Union countries” will hit the ground in a few weeks.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, announced on Friday that the 28-member bloc planned to send 500 soldiers to the strife-torn country, with the possibility of doubling the number of troops, without giving a specific timeline.
France announced on the same day it will send an extra 400 soldiers, boosting troop numbers to 2,000. Around 5,400 African troops are also on the ground as part of an African Union-mandated peacekeeping force.
Besides France, five other European Union countries have proposed a "substantial" contribution to the EU mission.
Diplomats say Georgia, anxious to cement good ties with the EU, could also supply up to 100 soldiers.
Ashton has also approached Turkey for a contribution to the mission, a Turkish official said in Ankara on Sunday.
Spain is among other countries that may offer logistical, material or financial aid.

tags: Central African Republic - Ethnic violence - European Union - France - France and the world - Peace - Violence - War

Race to repair Malian heritage site before rainy season

By RFI
The United Nation’s cultural agency UNESCO has told RFI of an urgent need to preserve the Tomb of Askia in northern Mali before the rainy season starts in June.

The heritage-listed mud pyramid in Gao dates back to the 15th century. It was built by Askia Mohamed, the Emperor of the Songhai empire, after he returned from Mecca and made Islam the empire’s official religion.

The weather is cuckoo this winter, but there's method to the madness

(CNN) -- It's official: The weather has been a bit weird this winter. The nation's climate agency says so and, in part, explains why.

There is method to the meteorological madness.

And it has served to spread the weirdness around the world, from the American West all the way to Russia, a climate expert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

Florida 'loud-music' murder trial's verdict evokes mixed reactions

(CNN) -- It was a hot-button trial that drew comparisons to the proceedings against George Zimmerman in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. The outcome, however, was vastly different.

The jury in the case of Michael Dunn found him guilty Saturday night on four charges, including three of attempted second-degree murder, but they couldn't reach a verdict on the most significant charge -- first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis. The decision came on the

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