The success or failure of Kofi Annan's peace plan for Syria will depend largely on how willing Russia is to keep sustained pressure on a government that Moscow is determined to protect from Western calls for "regime change."
Even if, as expected, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fails to comply fully with an April 10 deadline to halt military operations and pull its army out of population centers, U.N. diplomats say Annan will keep pushing Russia and China to help him pressure Damascus to end the year-long conflict.

The former U.N. secretary-general, now an envoy for the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria, told the 15-nation Security Council on Monday the Syrian government had agreed for the first time to a deadline to halt fighting by April 10, to be followed by an end of rebel operations within 48 hours. The council hopes to endorse the deadline formally soon.

Russia has endorsed the April 10 deadline, and said Assad's government should take the first step toward a cease-fire. While Moscow still staunchly opposes outside intervention in the Syrian conflict, diplomats and observers said its position has shifted toward putting more pressure on Damascus.

It is difficult to find a U.N. official or diplomat in New York who believes Assad will fully keep his word, since he has failed to keep all previous promises to halt his assault on pro-democracy demonstrators and rebels.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, president of the Security Council this month, summed up the atmosphere of skepticism prevailing among Western powers on the council.

"The United States is concerned and quite skeptical that the government of Syria will suddenly adhere to its commitments," Rice told reporters on Tuesday. "In the event that it does not, we will be certainly consulting with colleagues on the Security Council as to what are appropriate next steps."

What "next steps" could those be? In theory, the council could impose sanctions on Damascus or even authorize military intervention to protect Syrian civilians as it did last year in the cases of Libya and Ivory Coast.

But Russia, supported by China, has made clear that it opposes U.N. sanctions and will never back military force to topple the Syrian government. Moscow and Beijing have twice vetoed resolutions that condemned Syrian military assaults on protesters and hinted at the possibility of sanctions.

Still, if Annan reports to the council that Assad has failed to comply with the deadline and urges it to pass a resolution to pressure Damascus to implement his six-point peace plan, it would be difficult for Russia to ignore such a request.

Annan's plan calls for an end to the fighting and dialogue between the government and opposition aimed at initiating a "political transition." It falls short of an Arab-League plan calling for Assad to step aside, a proposal Damascus and Moscow vehemently rejected.

All the while, the body count in Syria continues to rise. The United Nations says the Syrian army has killed more than 9,000 people while Damascus blames rebel "armed groups" for the death of some 3,000 members of the security forces.

Opposition activists accused Syrian troops of shelling two cities on Tuesday in a campaign to weaken forces fighting Assad's government before the ceasefire deadline. Rebel fighters also kept up their attacks, killing three soldiers in separate actions in northern Syria.

RUSSIA LOSING PATIENCE WITH ASSAD

Russia has repeatedly accused the United States and Europe of tricking it in March 2011 into abstaining on a council resolution authorizing military force to protect Libyan civilian so that NATO could help rebels topple leader Muammar Gaddafi.

"Russia has three goals at the moment," a senior Western diplomat said. "To punish the West for Libya, to show that it is a diplomatic power that can't be ignored, and to protect its naval port in Syria. These three goals are very important."

But Russia, which has its only warm-water naval port outside the former Soviet Union in Syria, has grown increasingly frustrated with Damascus and its failure to end an uprising that began over a year ago and has expanded to the point that the country is on the brink of civil war.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a U.N. diplomat who has been following Syria closely said there had been "a major shift in the Russian position. They have very clearly had enough of the prevarication and intransigence from the Syrian regime."

A senior U.S. official described Moscow's support for the deadline as "an important shift."

"What this is doing is preventing him (Assad) from running out the clock, and to do that they had to put a certain date on it," the U.S. official said.

Several Western diplomats said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had privately told several of his European counterparts that Assad would probably be ousted, but someone from his minority Alawite inner circle - the Alawites are a Shi'ite offshoot - would step in and keep Assad's policies.

"Russia believes regime change in Syria would result in an Islamist regime after a great deal of bloodshed," a senior diplomat said. "They would rather keep the current government roughly in place, with or without Assad."

Georgy Mirsky, a Russian Middle East expert, echoed this view. He said Moscow hopes Assad will stay in power but is hedging its bets to prepare for any outcome, improve its image, and retain diplomatic clout. He said Russia's support for Annan's peace plan and for the demand that government forces take the first ceasefire step did not mean Moscow had abandoned Assad or would pressure him to withdraw from areas that could fall under control of his foes.

"Of course Russia wants the Assad government to stay, but it is not quite sure of his survival," said Mirsky, chief research fellow at Moscow's Institute of World Economy and International Relations. "A few months ago, if you asked a Russian official, he would tell you there's no doubt that very soon it will all be over and the rebellion will be crushed. Now, they are not so certain," he said. "And the Russian authorities are keen to be seen as allies of world public opinion, as partners of Kofi Annan."

នៅក្នុងឱកាសនៃកិច្ចប្រជុំប្រចាំខែរបស់សាលារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ កាលពីព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី ២១ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ ២០១២ ក្រោមអធិបតីភាព ឯកឧត្តម កែប ជុតិមា អភិបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ក្រុមស្ថាបត្យកររបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុនអនិកជន OCIC បាន បង្ហាញពីគម្រោងស្ថាបនាផ្លូវថ្មីរូងក្រោមដី១ខ្សែ ដោយជម្រើសក្នុងការសិក្សា អាចជា ផ្លូវថ្មីរូងក្រោមដី នឹងត្រូវធ្វើការ សាងសង់បណ្តោយ ២៧២ម៉ែត្រ ទទឹង ១៤ម៉ែត្រ តភ្ជាប់ពីផ្លូវសហព័ន្ធរុស្ស៊ីកាត់ផ្លូវព្រះមុន្នីវង្ស មកផ្លូវក្រមួនស និងផ្លូវ ព្រះអង្គឌួង (ជាប់វិមានកាណាឌីយ៉ា) ដែលផ្លូវក្រោមដីនេះ ត្រូវបានបែងចែកជា៤គន្លងផ្លូវ គឺ២គន្លងផ្លូវទៅ និង២គន្លង ផ្លូវមក មានជំរេស្ពានចំនួន ៥,៥% ដែលអាចអនុញ្ញាតឱ្យរថយន្តកំពស់ ៣,៥ម៉ែត្រឆ្លងកាត់បាន។ ឬលទ្ធភាពមួយទៀត ដោយសិក្សាលើផ្លូវព្រះមុនីវង្ស ត្រង់ចំនុចណាមួយ នៅក្បែរព្រះសច្យមុនីចេតិយ្យ ឬអគារកាណាឌីយ៉ា។ ចំពោះការសាងសង់ គឺត្រៀមជាពីរដំណាក់កាល ក្នុងរយៈពេលតែ ៦ខែ ដែលគ្រោងនឹងប្រើប្រាស់ទឹកប្រាក់ អស់២លានដុល្លាអាមេរិក។
ក្នុងកិច្ចពិភាក្សានេះ អង្គប្រជុំបានស្តាប់នូវ យោបល់បច្ចេកទេសជាច្រើន ពីជំនាញជំវិញសាលារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ដោយឃើញថា ការសិក្សារបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុននេះ នៅមិនទាន់គ្រប់ជ្រុងជ្រោយនៅឡើយ ដោយហេតុថាកត្តាសំខាន់គឺ ការពិចារណាលើលំហូរចរាចរណ៍នៅទីតាំងនោះ និងកត្តាមួយទៀតគឺសោភ័ណភាព។ ហេតុដូចនេះ អង្គប្រជុំស្នើឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ធ្វើការសិក្សាជាថ្មី ដោយផ្តល់នូវជំរើសលើសពីពីរ ដែលការសិក្សានោះ ត្រូវមានការពិចារណា​យ៉ាងល្អិតល្អន់​លើបញ្ហាចរាចរណ៍ ជាចាំបាច់ ហើយការសិក្សានេះត្រូវមានកិច្ចសហការពីមន្ទីរជំនាញមួយចំនួន ដូចជាមន្ទីរសាធារណៈការ និងដឹកជញ្ជូន មន្ទីរដនសស ក៏ដូចជា មន្ត្រីទីចាត់ការរៀបចំក្រុងរបស់សាលារាជធានីផងដែរ។

ក្រោយពីបានស្តាប់នូវ ការបកស្រាយរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន ក៏ដូចជាយោបល់ល្អៗជាច្រើន របស់អង្គប្រជុំ ឯកឧត្តមអភិបាលញ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា នេះពិតជា គម្រោងថ្មី និងជាដំណោះស្រាយថ្មីមួយទៀត ដើម្បីជួយសង្គ្រោះនូវបញ្ហាចរាចរ ណ៍ក្នុងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញសព្វថ្ងៃ។ ដោយសារតំបន់នេះ (ស្តុបBKC) មានចរាចរណ៍ មមារញឹក ដែលជាឧបសគ្គមួយ សាលារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ស្នើឲ្យក្រុមហ៊ុន ធ្វើការសិក្សាឲ្យបានឆាប់រហ័ស ដោយយើងរង់ចាំសហការ ផ្តល់នូវប្រឹក្សាបចេ្ចកទេសចរាចរណ៍ ក៏ដូចជាបញ្ហាផ្សេងទៀត ដែលក្រុមហ៊ុន ត្រូវការជំនួយពីអាជ្ញាធរ។ ដើម្បីសម្រួលចរាចរណ៍ ឱ្យបានកាន់តែ ប្រសើរថែមទៀត ឯកឧត្តម បានគូសបញ្ជាក់ ដោយបានដាក់កំហិតដល់ស្ថាប័នពាក់ព័ន្ធត្រូវ បង្កើតក្រុមការងារ បច្ចេកទេសសិក្សាជាបន្ទាន់ ពីតំបន់ជុំវិញលើលំហូរចរាចរណ៍ ដើម្បីបានជាមូលដ្ឋានរួម រួចកសាងឯកសារសិក្សាមួយ យ៉ាងល្អិតល្អន់ ដើម្បីស្នើសុំការសំរេចពីរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល។

គ្រឿង​អលង្ការ​របស់​ម្ចាស់ក្សត្រី​ Elizabeth II របស់​អង់គ្លេស​នឹង​ត្រូវ​ដាក់​បង្ហាញ​ជា​សាធារណៈ​ដើម្បី​ប្រារព្ធ​ពិធី​មួយ​​ ​បន្ទាប់​ពី​បាន​​សោយរាជ្យ​អស់​រយៈពេល​៦០ ឆ្នាំ​មក​នេះ (៦ កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ១៩៥២ ដល់ បច្ចុប្បន្ន) ។

ក្នុង​ការ​ដាក់​បង្ហាញ​នេះ គេ​នឹង​ឃើញ​មាន​គ្រឿង​អលង្ការ​ដែល​ម្ចាស់ក្សត្រី​គ្រង​ចាប់​តាំង​ពី​ខួប កំណើត​ព្រះជន្ម ២១ ព្រះ​វស្សា រហូត​មក​ទល់​សព្វ​ថ្ងៃ​នេះ។ ការ​តាំង​ពិព័រណ៍​គ្រឿង​អលង្ការ​នឹង​បើក​ដំណើរ​ការ​រយៈ​ពេល ២ ខែ​នៅ​ក្នុង​រាជវាំង Buckingham ក្នុង​ខែ​សីហា ហើយ​ត្បូង​មាន​តម្លៃ​មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត​របស់​មហាក្សត្រ​ចក្រភពអង់គ្លេស​ដទៃ​ទៀត​ក៏​ដាក់​បង្ហាញ​ផង​ដែរ។ រឹត​តែ​អស្ចារ្យ​សម្រាប់​ពិព័រណ៍​នោះ​គឺ មកុដ​របស់​ម្ចាស់ក្សត្រី (Queen Victoria) ដែល​រុំ​ព័ទ្ធ​ដោយ​ត្បូង​ពេជ្រ​ចំនួន ១.២០០ គ្រាប់​ក៏​ដាក់​បង្ហាញ​ផង​ដែរ។ បន្ថែម​លើ​នេះ​ទៀត គ្រឿង​អលង្ការ​នីមួយ​ៗ​នឹង​មាន​ពណ៌នា​ពី​ប្រវត្តិ​ខ្លះ​ៗ​ឲ្យ​មហាជន​បាន​ជ្រាប។

ម្ចាស់ក្សត្រី Elizabeth II មាន​ព្រះ​នាម​ពិត​ថា Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ។ ទ្រង់​បាន​ប្រសូត​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២១ ខែ​មេសា​ឆ្នាំ ១៩២៦ ក្នុង​តំបន់ Mayfair ចក្រភព​អង់គ្លេស៕

When U.S. restrictions on work permits barred Intel from moving nearly 50 Finnish engineers to the United States this year, the microchip maker reluctantly parked them in a new research center in Finland.
U.S. and multinational firms are chafing at delays and difficulties securing visas that effectively require them to keep high-skilled workers abroad instead of expanding operations in the United States.

"Tech companies like ours follow where the action is and where the talent pools are," said Young Sohn, chief executive of the semiconductor maker Inphi.

That trend puts pressure on President Barack Obama to set aside his plan for a "comprehensive" overhaul of U.S. immigration policies -- at the risk of angering key Hispanic voters -- and fix the system of work permits and green cards for the likes of engineers and programmers.

"America can't afford to let high-skilled immigration reform remain attached to the controversies that surround comprehensive immigration reform more broadly," executives advising Obama on jobs and competitiveness said this week.

"Given the challenges our economy now faces in a global age, we all need to rethink," the chief executives from GE, Boeing, DuPont and other firms said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also wants quick action on skilled workers because of Capitol Hill's resistance to the sweeping deal sought by Obama that would address undocumented workers and border security at the same time.

"I'm not sure you can do this whole thing in one great big bunch," Chamber President Thomas Donohue said. "We might have to do it a piece at a time. And this is the piece that we really ought to be able to get done in a big hurry."

'CRITICAL SHORTFALLS'

Even with 9.1 percent of Americans unemployed, there are thousands of vacancies in the U.S. manufacturing sector because the U.S. labor force lacks the engineering, computing and math skills companies need.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the cumbersome process to secure visas for top foreign graduates in the United States contributed to "critical shortfalls" in the software industry as well as electronics, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

"Turning these students out of the country is, to put it bluntly, about the dumbest thing that we could possibly do," he said. "We cannot afford to keep turning away those with skills that our country needs to grow and to succeed. It is sabotaging our own economy."

The United States caps H-1B skilled worker visas at 65,000 a year and often hits the maximum within months, leaving limited options for top-skilled foreign graduates and experts.

And while it issues more than 1 million permanent residency "green cards" each year, only 15 percent are given for economic reasons to workers and their families, and those are subject to nationality quotas that pinch applicants from big countries.

Intel, whose CEO Paul Otellini is a member of Obama's jobs panel, learned in March that the annual cap had already been met for the permits it needed to move over the 50 engineers who previously had worked for Nokia.

The specialists now work in a new R&D center in Helsinki, but Intel said it would have preferred to have them do their mobile computing research in its U.S. facilities.

"Intel's R&D and manufacturing hub is in the United States. It is important to our business group managers to have the flexibility to move individuals with specialized technical expertise to the U.S. to collaborate with existing Intel teams," Intel's staffing manager Idan Zu-Aretz said.

'TECHNICAL FIX'

Labor unions have expressed concern that companies hire foreign workers because they can do so at a lower salary than Americans would accept.

But proponents of more skills-based immigration say the salary differential is overstated. They say immigrants tend to create jobs because they are twice as likely as U.S.-born people to start their own companies and can help improve access to foreign export markets.

Obama is likely to tread carefully on the issue of foreign workers because of his preoccupation with reducing the U.S. jobless rate as part of his 2012 re-election campaign.

Turning away from his "comprehensive" immigration approach could also alienate the Democrat from Hispanic voters who want to see help for the estimated 11 million undocumented workers and their families now in the United States.

Cecilia Munoz, the top immigration policy official at the White House, said the prospects for immigration reform depended on Republicans in Congress, who supported a comprehensive fix under the Bush administration but have since cooled to it.

"The challenge for anything in the immigration arena, including the broader immigration reform as a whole or any of these individual pieces, is the lack of bipartisan support," she said in a recent interview.

Scott Corley, head of the Compete America alliance of companies that includes Google, Wal-Mart and Cisco, said there was potential for piecemeal action on skilled immigration before the election.

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives to eliminate green card nationality quotas may be able to clear Congress as a first step, Corley said.

"It's a technical fix that we could do today," he said of the bill from Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz.

He added there was possibility of amendments to other pieces of legislation working their way through Congress.

ហ្សាកាតា: អនុរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ក្រសូងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម របស់ប្រទេសឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី លោក Mahendra Siregar បានថ្លែងកាលពីថ្ងៃសុក្រ ទី១២ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ថា ចិន និងប្រជាជាតិ អាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ (អាស៊ាន) គ្រោងនឹងប្រើប្រាស់ រូបិយប័ណ្ណយ័ន (yuan )របស់ចិន នៅពាណិជ្ជកម្មក្នុងតំបន់ ដើម្បីជួយកាត់បន្ថយសហានិភ័យនៃ រូបិយប័ណ្ណដែលមិនរឹងមាំ អាចបង្កឱ្យអ្នកជំនួញនាំផលិតផលចេញ ទៅក្រៅជួបបញ្ហាគ្រោះថ្នាក់។

យោងតាមគេហទំព័រ Manila Standard Todayបានឱ្យដឹងនៅថ្ងៃទី១៣ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១១នេះថាលោក Siregar បានមានប្រសាសន៍ ក្រោយពីឥណ្តូនេស៊ី និងរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងពាណិជ្ជកម្មអាស៊ាន ទាំងអស់បានជួបជាមួយរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ពាណិជ្ជកម្មចិន លោក Chen Deming ថា “មន្រ្តីជាច្រើនបានកំពុងសំឡឹងមើលរកវិធីជាច្រើន ដើម្បីជួយសម្រួលក្នុងការប្រើរូបិយប័ណ្ណរបស់ចិន Renminbi ដែលហៅថា យ័ន (Yuan) សម្រាប់ធ្វើពាណិជ្ជកម្មក្នុងតំបន់។ ហើយរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីជាច្រើនបានពិភាក្សាលទ្ធភាព នៃការកើនឡើងប្រសិទ្ធភាពនៃរូបិយ ប័ណ្ណទ្វេភាគី។”

លោកបន្តថា អាស៊ានកំពុងតែពិចារណា វិធានការនេះក្នុងការការពារសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ការនាំចេញរូមបញ្ជូនគ្នាពីការប្រែប្រួលដោយរូបិយវត្ថុរបស់ពួកគេ ដែលប្រឆាំងរូបិយវត្ថុ​ដុល្លារអាមេរិក ខណៈពេលអ៊ឺរ៉ុបកំពុងជួបវិបត្តិ បំណុលយ៉ាងធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ និងការរអាក់រអួលលើការស្តារ នៃការវិយោគ ដែលបាន ធ្លាក់ទាបឱ្យកើនហូរចូលទីផ្សារ​ងើបឡើងវិញ។ “អាស៊ាននំាចេញផលិតផលទៅប្រទេសចិន ជាង២៣០ពាន់លានដុល្លារអាមេរិក។”
រដ្ឋាភិបាល ចិន ជប៉ុន កូរ៉េខាងត្បូង និង អាស៊ាន បានបញ្ជាក្រសួងហរិញ្ញវត្ថុធ្វើការសិក្សា ការប្រើប្រាស់រូបិយប័ណ្ណផ្សេងៗ ក្នុងតំបន់សម្រាប់ក្នុងដោះបំណុល នាំចេញនិងនាំចូលតាមតម្រូវការ។

ការកើនឡើង នៃការប្រើប្រាស់រូបិយប័ណ្ណយ័នក្នុងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ដែលប្រហែលជាអាចជួយឱ្យមានងាយស្រួល ក្នុងសង្គ្រោះវិបត្តិហរិញ្ញវត្ថុនាពេលអនាគត ហើយក្រោយ​ពីការខ្វះខាតនៃប្រាក់ដុល្លារអាមេរិក អំឡុងពេលពិភពលោកឆ្លងកាត់ឥណទានពាណិជ្ជកម្មរលំ ឆ្នាំ២០០៧-២០០៩ ។
តាមរយៈគេហទំព័រធនាគារជាតិប្រទេសចិន កាលពីថ្ងៃសុក្រទី១២ខែសីហានេះ បានប្រកាសថា ខ្លូននឹងចំណាយទៅលើការប្រើរូបិយវត្ថុយ័ន ក្នុងការវិនិយោគ​និងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម​ឆ្លងកាត់ព្រំដែន ហើយក៏ពង្រីកឱកាសសម្រាប់រូបិយប័ណ្ណយ័នហូរចូលនិងហូរចេញ។

ក្នុងសេចក្តីប្រកាសបានបន្តថា “ប្រទេសចិននឹងបន្តបង្កើតកន្លែងប្តូរប្រាក់ ហើយនឹង ជំរុញឱ្យវាទៅមុខជាមួយម៉ាស៊ីនប្តូរប្រាក់យ័ន”។
តាមរយៈទីប្រឹក្សាជាន់ខ្ពស់នៃមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលហរិញ្ញវត្ថុហុងកុង លោក Mu Huaipeng បានឱ្យដឹងថា ការទូទាត់រូបិយប័ណ្ណយ័នក្នុងពាណិជ្ជកម្មនៅ ទីក្រុងហុងកុងប្រហែល សរុបមានចំនួន ១ពាន់ពាន់លានយ័ន (ស្មើនឹង១៥៦ពាន់លានដុល្លារអាមេរិក) នៅឆ្នាំនេះ។

លោក Mu Huaipeng បានថ្លែងក្នុងកិច្ចប្រជុំមួយនៅក្រុងហុងកុង កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១២ខែសីហានេះថា “វាគឺវត្ថុទី២សម្រាប់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលហរិញ្ញវត្ថុហុងកុង(Hong Kong Monetary Authority) ចេញពីធនាគារជាតិប្រទេសចិន”៕

South Africa's ruling ANC tried to bring its Youth League leader Julius Malema to heel at a meeting on Monday after the populist politician troubled the party by calling for nationalisation of mines and meddling in foreign affairs
The meeting may temporarily silence the outspoken Malema but it will be difficult to keep down a man expected to be a power broker when the ANC elects its top officials at a party gathering next year, analysts said.

Neither the African National Congress nor the Youth League had any immediate comment on the meeting.

Malema's call to nationalise mines and seize white-owned land has unnerved investors but struck a chord with poor blacks who make up the majority of the population and who envision him as a future leader of Africa's biggest economy.

"There are people within the ANC frustrated with what the Youth League is doing, but they see a benefit to the Youth League's support and will keep quiet even if it is possibly damaging for the county or the party," said Lucy Holborn, research manager at the South African Institute of Race Relations.

The ANC, which prides itself on keeping its squabbles internal, blasted the Youth League for its call to overthrow the democratically elected government in neighbouring Botswana.

"The African National Congress would like to totally reject and publicly rebuke the ANC Youth League on its extremely thoughtless and embarrassing pronouncements on "regime change" in Botswana," it said in a statement.

ANC brass last week slapped down Malema's calls for nationalisation, saying they are hurting the economy.

Malema in recent weeks has faced charges that could derail his career, with major papers reporting he has a slush fund for bribes used to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

The Youth League accused white capitalists of a conspiracy to bring down Malema, saying the family trust fund on which media reports have focused is used to finance charitable work.

Malema, 30, has no direct policy-making power in the ANC but his ability to influence the masses of poor puts him in an influential position, with senior leaders including President Jacob Zuma courting him to secure their political aspirations.

Malema's call for nationalising mines would bankrupt South Africa, economists said, with many seeing it as a ploy to help his allies obtain bailouts for bad investments they made in the sector.

Even though nationalisation could send the economy off a cliff, the ANC has kept the topic alive by saying it requires further study, so as not to alienate Malema.

The market capitalization of listed mining firms in South Africa is about $270 billion, equal to about two-thirds of GDP or twice the annual national budget.

Threats to tweak laws in order to expropriate shares for a fraction of their value would run up against international investment guarantees that would almost certainly trigger severe backlashes from South Africa's trading partners.

A downgrade of United States' top-tier credit rating has Wall Street scrambling to figure out the knock-on effects for the financial system, from mortgages to banks to markets that rely on U.S. Treasuries for collateral.
The immediate effects of the Standard & Poor's downgrade of the country's AAA credit rating late on Friday are likely to be modest, largely because it was expected and already at least partly discounted, experts said.

Many downplayed the likelihood of the sort of financial contagion experienced when Lehman Brothers went under in September 2008. Few had expected it to have to file for bankruptcy, and few were prepared for the fallout. Money market funds froze, some major commercial banks collapsed, and many major dealers and finance houses teetered on the edge of failure.

But even if that type of scenario is unlikely this time, bankers, lawyers and investors wonder if there could be longer-term consequences of S&P's downgrade, given that U.S. sovereign credit is bedrock to the world financial system.

The analysis is complicated because so many of the potential stress points for the financial system are relatively opaque areas like over-the-counter derivatives markets.

Adding to the difficulties is the concern that the downgrade is only one of the many issues roiling global markets. The European debt crisis is spreading, with Italy and Spain coming under the gun after Greece, and data in recent weeks point to a weaker U.S. economy than many investors had thought and have led to fears of another recession.

"I actually think it is going to end up having more of an impact than some of the news stories are suggesting," said Thomas Stoddard, a senior managing director at Blackstone Group who focuses on financial services investment banking.

"Not having the U.S. as triple-A is just going to pop up in more places and have more frictional costs than people might suspect," Stoddard added.

A number of entities that are key players in the U.S. financial system -- including mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and securities clearinghouses like the Options Clearing Corp Depository Trust Co -- are likely to be downgraded by Standard & Poor's on Monday.

For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, losing their triple-A rating could lift borrowing costs, potentially making mortgages more expensive for consumers and adding to stress in the already unstable U.S. housing market.

Last month, S&P said it may also cut ratings for companies like the Depository Trust Co, which facilitates payment transfers among major banks, and several Federal Home Loan Banks and Farm Credit System Banks.

On Friday evening, when S&P cut the United States' sovereign rating by one notch to "AA-plus," it said it would offer more detail about the ratings for these companies on Monday.

DERIVATIVES MARKETS

Another source of potential stress is derivatives markets, where investors and banks often collateralize their positions using U.S. Treasuries.

If banks start demanding more Treasuries to collateralize the same exposure, investors could be forced to sell assets to come up with extra collateral, causing broader market declines. As long as Treasury yields are at all time lows, that risk seems relatively low, said a hedge fund trader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some derivatives transactions may have ratings triggers built into them that unwind the deals if the U.S. is downgraded, the trader said, but he said it is difficult to know how many such transactions are out there.

OCC, the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization, said on Sunday it has no current plans to adjust its current valuations or haircuts on Treasuries used as collateral.

There are some factors working in markets' favor, analysts noted.

For one thing, major U.S. banks are better capitalized as credit losses have slowed. The U.S. banking system had $1.51 trillion of equity capital at the end of the first quarter, compared with $1.29 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2008. That roughly 17 percent of extra capital is supporting about 3 percent fewer assets than it used to.

If stresses become strong in areas like the repo market, a massive market that banks use to fund securities short-term, dealers are fairly sure the Federal Reserve can jump in to offer support, as it did during the credit crunch, the trader said.

Any impact in the derivatives market will be less than what the pessimists fear, said Michael Holland, founder of asset manager Holland & Co. "I don't expect major disruptions in markets just from the downgrade."

BORROWING COSTS

Borrowing costs for companies with top ratings like Microsoft Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp could drop, because triple-A rated debt may be even more attractive to some investors now, analysts said. Some companies have at times had more available cash on their balance sheets than the U.S. government in recent weeks.

In general, corporate borrowing costs may not rise following the U.S. downgrade. Last week, when many in the market were expecting the U.S. to be downgraded, six U.S. companies issued 30-year bonds, which is unusually long-dated for the corporate market.

Even highly-rated corporate bonds have seen their risk premiums rise in recent sessions, signaling that portfolio managers are still concerned about credit risk. As turmoil in Europe ratchets higher, those risk premiums may rise more. But investors' willingness to buy long-term corporate debt signals some confidence in the sector.

"To a certain extent, corporate debt may look even more attractive, especially cash-rich balance sheet companies with lots of liquidity," said Chip MacDonald, a financial services partner at law firm Jones Day.

STATE FINANCES

States that rely heavily on federal government spending -- such as Virginia and Maryland, which are home to many federal employees and defense contractors -- could suffer if Congress and President Barack Obama slice the federal budget more deeply.

A downgrade of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would affect billions of dollars of debt issued by public housing authorities secured by federally guaranteed mortgages.

Hospital credits could be weakened if the federal government slashes programs such as Medicaid -- the health plan for the elderly, poor and disabled that accounts for as much as 30 percent of state spending. Stocks in the health care sector sold off last week, amid fears of declining government support for spending in the sector.

"The degree of dependence on the federal government now becomes a state credit issue," said Philip Fischer a managing principal at eBooleant Consulting, in a recent report.

S&P is also expected to immediately downgrade pre-refunded bonds. When municipal bonds are refunded, investors are typically repaid from Treasuries held in escrow.

Debt issued by AAA-rated universities and colleges with global reputations might rise in price, said Evan Rourke, a portfolio manager, with Eaton Vance, citing Harvard and Princeton as examples.

Indeed, the immediate impact of the downgrade might be muted by the tax-free market's traditional strengths.

"I don't see a tremendous flight out of municipals. You might see credit spreads widening for lower-rated issues but we also think a lot will hold their ratings," Rourke said.

Somalia's famine refugees, weakened by months of drought, on Monday began Islam's punishing Ramadan fast amid the tents and shacks of the world's largest refugee camp.
"Because of the famine, we've been going for days without any food anyway," said 25-year-old Mohamed Dubow Saman, comforting his daughter outside their emergency shelter in Dadaab camp, just over Somalia's border in neighboring Kenya.

"That was a fast without reward. At least this fast is inspired by God," he said.

Sick people do not have to keep the fast during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. But most camp-dwellers, caught up in the severest drought to hit the Horn of Africa in decades, appeared determined to keep to their traditions.

As the sun sank below the horizon late on Sunday, bathing Dadaab's makeshift city in a deep orange hue, Saman scanned the sky for the first sight of the crescent moon, which would mark the start of the month-long fast.

Like millions of fellow believers across the world, Saman was prepared to go without food or water from dawn to dusk and wait until night to eat his meager rations.

Ramadan comes at a tough time for the Horn of Africa's Muslim population. In parts of the drought-prone region the rains have failed for four straight years, pastoralists say.

The United Nations has warned the whole of southern Somalia is slipping into famine. In all, more than 12 million people are affected across the Horn.

A rebellion waged by Islamist militants has prevented the distribution of food aid in some parts of Somalia.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has embarked on a tour of countries in the region, kicking off with Djibouti over the weekend, to stress the importance of delivering aid within the country first, so Somalis do not have to trek elsewhere.

"We don't want our compatriots to have to make testing journeys to other countries to receive aid," he told Reuters

Apple Inc plans to launch a new iPhone with a faster chip for data processing and a more advanced camera in SepThe new iPhone will include the A5 processor along with an 8-megapixel camera, the report said, quoting two people familiar with the plans.

Apple is also testing a new version of the iPad that has a higher resolution screen, the report said, adding a cheaper version of the iPhone aimed at developing countries is also in the works.

Apple shares fell to $323.85 in trading before the bell on Wednesday. They closed at $325.30 Tuesday on Nasdaq.tember, Bloomberg said in a report late Tuesday.

Republican lawmakers are "playing with fire" by contemplating even a brief debt default as a means to force deeper government spending cuts, an adviser to China's central bank said on Wednesday.
The idea of a technical default -- essentially delaying interest payments for a few days -- has gained backing from a growing number of mainstream Republicans who see it as a price worth paying if it forces the White House to slash spending, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

But any form of default could destabilize the global economy and sour already tense relations with big U.S. creditors such as China, government officials and investors warn.

Li Daokui, an adviser to the People's Bank of China, said a default could undermine the U.S. dollar, and Beijing needed to dissuade Washington from pursuing this course of action.

"I think there is a risk that the U.S. debt default may happen," Li told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Beijing. "The result will be very serious and I really hope that they would stop playing with fire."

China is the largest foreign creditor to the United States, holding more than $1 trillion in Treasury debt as of March, U.S. data shows, so its concerns carry considerable weight in Washington.

"I really worry about the risks of a U.S. debt default, which I think may lead to a decline in the dollar's value," Li said.

Congress has balked at increasing a statutory limit on government spending as lawmakers argue over how to curb a deficit which is projected to reach $1.4 trillion this fiscal year. The U.S. Treasury Department has said it will run out of borrowing room by August 2.

If the United States cannot make interest payments on its debt, the Obama administration has warned of "catastrophic" consequences that could push the still-fragile economy back into recession.

"It has dire implications for the economy at a time when the macro data is softening," said Ben Westmore, a commodities economist at National Australia Bank.

"It's just a horrible idea," he said.

Financial markets are following the U.S. debate but see little risk of a default.

U.S. Treasury prices were firm in Europe on Wednesday, supported by a flight to their perceived safety on the back of the Greek debt crisis and worries about a slowdown in U.S. economic growth.

Marc Ostwald, a strategist with Monument Securities in London, said markets were working on the assumption that the U.S. debt story "will go away." But nervousness would grow if a resolution was not reached in the next five to six weeks.

'WOULDN'T HAPPEN'

The Republicans' theory is that bondholders would accept a brief delay in interest payments if it meant Washington finally addressed its long-term fiscal problems, putting the country in a stronger position to meet its debt obligations later on.

But interviews with government officials and investors show they consider a default such a grim -- and remote -- possibility that it was nearly impossible to imagine.

"How can the U.S. be allowed to default?" said an official at India's central bank. "We don't think this is a possibility because this could then create huge panic globally."

Indian officials say they have little choice but to buy U.S. Treasury debt because it is still among the world's safest and most liquid investments. It held $39.8 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of March, U.S. data shows.

The officials declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Oman is concerned about the impact of a default on the currency reserves of the sultanate and its Gulf neighbors.

"Our economies are substantially tied up with the U.S. financial developments," said a senior central bank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"It just wouldn't happen," said Barry Evans, who oversees $83 billion in fixed income assets at Manulife Asset Management. "They would pay their Treasury bills first instead of other bills. It's as simple as that."

Monument's Ostwald called the default scenario "frightening" and said bondholders' patience would wear thin if lawmakers persisted in pitching this strategy in the coming weeks.

"This isn't a debate, this is like a Mexican standoff and that is where the problem lies," he said.

Yuan Gangming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank, smelled some political wrangling behind the U.S. debt debate as the 2012 presidential election draws nearer and said Republicans "want to make things difficult for Obama."

But with time running short before the U.S. Treasury exhausts its borrowing room, Yuan said default was a real risk.

"The possibility is quite high to see a default of the U.S. debt, which would harm many countries in the world, and China in particular," he said.

The United States probably wouldn't be able to maintain its prized AAA sovereign ratings status if it suffered even a "technical" default on its debt, Fitch Ratings said on Wednesday.
The rating agency also warned it would downgrade the U.S. sovereign ratings to "restricted default" in August if the government fails to honor Treasury notes and some coupon payments on Treasury securities due on August 15.

"Even a so-called 'technical default' would suggest a crisis of 'governance' from a sovereign credit and rating perspective and though such an event (such as a short-lived Treasury bill default) may not permanently impair the capacity of the U.S. government to service its obligations, it is unlikely that its 'AAA' status would be retained in the short to medium term," Fitch said in a statement.

Fitch added, however, that it believes U.S. lawmakers will ultimately reach an agreement to raise the country's debt ceiling and avoid any default.

Cambodian New Year (Khmer: បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី) or Chol Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally "Enter Year New", is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the New Year. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year's day, which usually falls on April 13th or 14th, which is the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins. Khmer's living abroad may choose to celebrate during a weekend rather than just specifically April 13th through 15th. The Khmer New Year coincides with the traditional solar new year in several parts of India, Myanmar and Thailand.

Cambodians also use Buddhist Era to count the year based on the Buddhist calendar. For 2011, it is 2555 BE (Buddhist Era).
The three days of the new year
Maha Songkran (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត)

Maha Songkran, derived from Sanskrit Maha Sankranti, is the name of the first day of the new year celebration. It is the ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines, where the members of each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha's teachings by bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they go to bed.
[edit] Virak Wanabat (វ័នបត)

Virak Wanabat is the name of the second day of the new year celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate by helping the poor, servants, homeless, and low-income families. Families attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery.
Tngay Leang Saka (ថ្ងៃឡើងស័ក)

Tngay Leang Saka is the name of the third day of the new year celebration. Buddhists cleanse the Buddha statues and their elders with perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.
New Year's customs

In temples, people erect a sand hillock on temple grounds. They mound up a big pointed hill of sand or dome in the center which represents sakyamuni satya, the stupa at Tavatimsa, where the Buddha's hair and diadem are buried. The big stupa is surrounded by four small ones, which represent the stupas of the Buddha's favorite disciples: Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, and Maha Kassapa. There is another tradition: pouring water or liquid plaster (a mixture of water with some chalk powder) on someone.

The Khmer New Year is also a time to prepare special dishes. One of these is a "kralan": a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.[2]
[edit] Khmer games (ល្បែង⁣ប្រជាប្រិយ⁣)

Cambodia is home to a variety of games played to transform the dull days into memorable occasions. These games are similar to those played at Manipur, a north-eastern state in India. [3] Throughout the Khmer New Year, street corners often are crowded with friends and families enjoying a break from routine, filling their free time with dancing and games. Typically, Khmer games help maintain one's mental and physical dexterity. The body's blood pressure, muscle system and brain are challenged and strengthened for fun.

* "Tres"

A game played by throwing and catching a ball with one hand while trying to catch an increasing number of sticks with the other hand. Usually, pens or chopsticks are used as the sticks to be caught.

* "Chol Chhoung (ចោល⁣ឈូង⁣) "

A game played especially on the first nightfall of the Khmer New Year by two groups of boys and girls. Ten or 20 people comprise each group, standing in two rows opposite each other. One group throws the "chhoung" to the other group. When it is caught, it will be rapidly thrown back to the first group. If someone is hit by the "chhoung," the whole group must dance to get the "chhoung" back while the other group sings.

* "Chab Kon Kleng (ចាប់⁣កូនខ្លែង)⁣ "

A game played by imitating a hen as she protects her chicks from a crow. Adults typically play this game on the night of the first New Year's Day. Participants usually appoint a strong player to play the hen who protects "her" chicks, while another person is picked to be the "crow". While both sides sing a song of bargaining, the crow tries to catch as many chicks as possible as they hide behind the hen.

* "Bos Angkunh (បោះអង្គុញ⁣)"

A game played by two groups of boys and girls. Each group throws their own "angkunh" to hit the master "angkunhs," which belong to the other group and are placed on the ground. The winners must knock the knees of the losers with the "angkunh." "Angkunh" is also the name of an inedible fruit seed, which looks like a knee bone.

* "Leak Kanseng (លាក់⁣កន្សែង)⁣ "

A game played by a group of children sitting in a circle. Someone holding a "kanseng" (Cambodian towel) that is twisted into a round shape walks around the circle while singing a song. The person walking secretly tries to place the "kanseng" behind one of the children. If that chosen child realizes what is happening, he or she must pick up the "kanseng" and beat the person sitting next to him or her.

* "Bay Khon"

A game played by two children in rural or urban areas during their leisure time. Ten holes are dug in the shape of an oval into a board in the ground. The game is played with 42 small beads, stones or fruit seeds. Before starting the game, five beads are put into each of the two holes located at the tip of the board. Four beads are placed in each of the remaining eight holes. The first player takes all the beads from any hole and drops them one by one in the other holes. He or she must repeat this process until they have dropped the last bead into a hole that lies besides any empty one. Then they must take all the beads in the hole that follows the empty one. At this point, the second player may have his turn. The game ends when all the holes are empty. The player with the greatest number of beads wins the game. It is possibly similar to congkak.

* "Klah Klok (ខ្លា ឃ្លោក) "

A game played by Cambodians of all ages. It is a gambling game that is fun for all ages involving a mat and some dice. You put money on the object that you believe the person rolling the dice (which is usually shaken in a type of bowl) and you wait. If the objects face up on the dice are the same as the objects you put money on, you double it. If there are two of yours, you triple, and so on.