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Venezuela tightens security ahead of OPEC meeting

2008-10-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

CARACAS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government will mount a special security plan for the 141st Special Meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that begins on Thursday in Caracas.

Venezuela's Interior Minister Jesse Chacon said in a statement on Tuesday that the plan would prevent any violent incident at the OPEC meeting.

"We are certain there will be no security problems at the meeting," he said. He added that there might be some student demonstrations, but that they were unlikely to disrupt the proceedings.

Last week, students clashed with police in the city of Merida in southeast Venezuela, leaving 30 injured.

He said that some people wanted to make vicious use of the meetings to give Venezuela a bad image by disrupting public order.

"It is... an opportunity for a group of subversives to demonstrate, so that internationally people will think there is a climate of violence in Venezuela; something I want everyone to know does not exist," Chacon said.

The OPEC meeting will be held in the Euro building Hotel, where a heavy security presence had been observed inspecting people and vehicles seeking to enter. Enditem

75 Gitmo detainees hold hunger strike

2008-10-11T05:27:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- About 75 detainees have been staging a new wave of hunger strike since last weekend in the prison of the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. media reported Tuesday.

Robert Durand, the U.S. commander at Guantanamo, was quoted as saying that the hunger strike is a "short term, sympathy" protest to gain attention from the outside world in advance of the June 12resumption of war-crimes trial proceedings there.

He said the protest "reflects detainee attempts to elicit mediaattention to bring international pressure on the United States to release them back to the battlefield."

According to U.S. definition, a hunger strike refers to a detainee refuses nine meals in a row, which means the 75 detaineesbegan fasting overnight last Thursday.

The U.S. military did not disclose the names of hunger strikers,nor their nationalities, but said the 10 men facing war-crimes trials are not among them.

Food has frequently been the subject of a struggle for international legitimacy of the Guantanamo prison, where the United States holds about 460 detainees on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

The U.S. military has emphasized from the opening of the prisoncamps in January 2002 that captives are well fed, and given Islamic-approved halal meals in keeping with a cultural sensitivity.

Still, detainees have staged on-again, off-again fasts since the earliest days of the detention center.

Human rights groups said the hunger strikes reflect the growingfrustrations of the detainees, many of whom are being held indefinitely without a trial.

Many in the international community, including the United Nations and U.S. allies, have been urging the United States to close the prison for the concerns of the conditions of the detainees. Enditem

Brad and Angelina fork out $2m for charity

2008-09-16T03:05:00.000-07:00

One of the world's hottest couples have donated $2 million (£1.13 million) to a humanitarian cause that is to be named after their daughter.

Angelina Jolie and partner Brad Pitt donated the money for a centre called, Zahara, that will help Ethiopian children affected by Aids and tuberculosis.

The Global Health Committee said the donation from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation would establish a centre in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to treat Aids orphans and develop a program to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The Oscar-winning Jolie adopted a baby girl she called Zahara, now three years old, from Ethiopia in July 2005 and the new clinic will be named after her.

"It is our hope that when Zahara is older, she will take responsibility for the clinic and continue its mission," Pitt said in a statement.

Pitt and Jolie now have six children -- twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline born in July, Shiloh, two, and adopted children Zahara, Pax from Vietnam and Maddox from Cambodia.

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation helped set up a similar clinic in 2006 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that is named after Maddox.

"Our goal is to transfer the success we have had in Cambodia to Ethiopia where people are needlessly dying of tuberculosis, a curable disease, and HIV/Aids, a treatable disease," Jolie said.

Ethiopia has the seventh-highest rate of tuberculosis disease in the world and an estimated 1.7 million people in the country are infected with HIV, according to the World Health Organization.

US pledges US$1.8 million for Cambodian tribunal

2008-09-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The United States will give US$1.8 million to Cambodia's genocide tribunal to aid its work in trying former Khmer Rouge leaders for their alleged crimes against humanity, a top U.S. official said Tuesday.

The pledge will be the first direct U.S. contribution to the U.N.-assisted tribunal, which inches toward convening a trial for its first suspect later this year.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said the U.S. government believes "the conditions are both appropriate and opportune to make this contribution."

The tribunal has detained five former Khmer Rouge leaders on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"We want to help this tribunal succeed, and we think it definitely has a chance to succeed," Negroponte said at a press conference at the end of a three-day visit to Cambodia.

The money will be given to the tribunal's U.N. side, which is staffed by international personnel. The tribunal, which is seeking justice for atrocities committed in the 1970s under the Khmer Rouge's rule, is jointly run by Cambodian and U.N. officials under a pact both sides signed in 2003.

The radical policies of the ultra-communist Cambodian group, which ruled from 1975 to 1979, caused the death of some 1.9 million people from starvation, diseases, overwork and execution.

Negroponte also toured the S-21 prison, the largest Khmer Rouge torture center in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, to see what he called "a reminder of the holocaust."

It is now known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and holds exhibits of prisoner's mug shots, skulls, and other traces of the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule.

"It's a very moving experience to see this museum, to see the reminiscence of the holocaust," Negroponte told The Associated Press after touring the museum early Tuesday morning.

He said the site is "a reminder of the holocaust that took place, and I think it's important to document it."

Up to 16,000 men, women and children were held at the prison before being taken out for execution before the Khmer Rouge's regime was ousted from power by a Vietnam-led invasion in 1979.

Washington has spent more than US$7 million over the past decade to support the work of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an independent group that collects evidence of Khmer Rouge crimes.

The group has given many documents to the tribunal to assist it in investigating cases against the Khmer Rouge suspects.

More U.S. funds would also be available for the tribunal in future fiscal years, Negroponte said.

But he added that the U.S. "will certainly spare no effort" to ensure that all donor contributions "are put to good use," following recent mismanagement and corruption scandals faced by the tribunal.

The pledge came at a useful time as the existing funds for the U.N. side of the tribunal's operations are expected to be completely exhausted in December, said Peter Foster, a tribunal spokesman.

He said Cambodia and the international community have invested a great deal of time and money in making the tribunal happen and it would be "a real tragedy for it to fail now.

Three catfish named from Central America

2008-09-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

Cathorops belizensis. Pictures kindly supplied by Ricardo Betancur.

The taxonomy of species of the Central American marine catfish genus Cathorops has been revised and three new species described.

Publishing the revision in the latest issue of the journal Neotropical Ichthyology, Alexandre Marceniuk and Ricardo Betancur describe Cathorops belizensis from mangrove areas in Belize, C. higuchii from shallow coastal areas and coastal rivers in the cantral American Caribbean and C. kailolae from the Usumacincta River and Lake Izabal drainages in Mexico and Guatemala.

In addition to the three new species, two previously described species (C. aguadulce from the Papaloapan River drainage in Mexico and C. melanopus from the Motagua River drainage in Guatemala and Honduras) are redescribed.

Cathorops belizensis

Cathorops belizensis differs from other Cathorops in having a combination of: 19–20 rakers on the first gill arch, 18-21 anal-fin rays, the posterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine with short and inconspicuous serrations, orbital diameter 3.6–4.4% standard length, interorbital distance 12.9–15.1% standard length, and dorsal-fin spine length 29.4–33.3% of the distance from the tip of the snout to the pelvic-fin origin.

The species is named after its type locality - mangrove channels in Belize City.

Cathorops higuchii by Ricardo Betancur

Cathorops higuchii

Cathorops higuchii can be distinguished from other members of the genus in having a combination of: 18–21 rakers on the first gill arch, a slightly granulated head shield, and orbit diameter 11.7–18.9% of the outer mandibular barbel length.

This species is named after Horácio Higuchi, in recognition of his contribution to the taxonomy, systematics, and morphology of South American ariid catfishes.

Cathorops higuchii is common along most of the Caribbean portion of Central America, from Honduras to Panama, where it inhabits shallow coastal areas and lower portions of coastal rivers.

Cathorops kailolae by Ricardo Betancur

Cathorops kailolae

Cathorops kailolae differs from other members of the genus except C. aguadulce in having a combination of: the presence of fleshy papillae intercalated with the gill rakers on the first two gill arches, 14–16 rakers on the first gill arch, and body width 17.7–19.7% standard length.

It is distinguished from C. aguadulce in having a shorter snout (6.0–8.6 vs. 9.3–11.6% standard length) and a shorter predorsal distance (33.1–38.0 vs. 39.0–40.7% standard length).

Cathorops kailolae is known from the Lake Izabal drainage in Guatemala and the Usumacincta River drainage in Mexico, and is named after Patricia Kailola for her contribution to the systematics of the Ariidae.

For more information, see the paper: Marceniuk, AP and R Betancur-R (2008) Revision of the species of the genus Cathorops (Siluriformes: Ariidae) from Mesoamerica and the Central American Caribbean, with description of three new species. Neotropical Ichthyology 6, pp. 25–44.

New species of bagrid catfish described

2008-09-08T23:09:00.001-07:00

Picture kindly supplied by E Zhang

Chinese and Japanese scientists have described a new species of bagrid catfish from the middle Yangtze River drainage in southern China in the latest issue of the journal Ichthyological Research.

Authors Jian-Li Cheng, Hajime Ishihara and E Zhang have named the new species Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion, after the short maxillary barbels of this species (Greek brachys – short, and rhabdion - rod).

Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion is distinguished from other members of the genus in having combination of: a truncate or slightly emarginate caudal fin; supraoccipital spine and nuchal plate widely separate and covered with skin; nasal barbels reaching to the anterior margin of the eye; maxillary barbels reaching slightly beyond the posterior margin of the eye; outer mandibular barbels reaching the posterior margin of the eye; dorsal fin with a slightly convex distal margin, its origin nearer to the pectoral-fin insertion than to the pelvic-fin insertion; dorsal-fin spine shorter than the pectoral spine, with a slightly serrated posterior margin; pectoral-fin spine with a smooth anterior margin; anal fin with 20–23 rays, anal-fin base length 23.8–32.0% standard length, posterior end of the anal-fin base anterior to the posterior end of the adipose fin base; absence of a longitudinal black band extending along the flank; eyes large, diameter 16.3–23.7% head length; and number of vertebrae 5+43–46.

For more information, see the paper: Cheng, J-L, H Ishihara and E Zhang (2008) Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion, a new catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from the middle Yangtze River drainage, South China. Ichthyological Research 55, pp. 112–123.

Embedded Travel Guide Cambodia: Kep Is for Romance

2008-09-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

This week, our Cambodia embed, Tim Patterson, is giving us the inside scoop on the country, live from a guesthouse in Sihanoukville.

If my girlfriend was in Cambodia, I would go to Kep tomorrow, rent a bungalow and spend a week eating seafood and making sweet, sweet love.

There's something about this classy little seaside resort town that's hopelessly romantic. Kep is one of my favorite spots in Cambodia even when I'm traveling solo, but with a partner... Ay! It's like a steamy bath of crab meat and rose petals.

Kep is about four hours south of Phnom Penh, just a stone's throw from the Vietnamese border. Some of the islands off the coast are claimed by Cambodia but occupied by Vietnam, so if you happen to travel with your own sailboat, be careful where you drop anchor: The Vietnamese coast guard has been known to light up Cambodian fishing boats that stray too far from shore.

Wistful Memories of a Golden Age:
Back in the 1950s and '60s, when Cambodia was one of the more successful and stable countries in the region, Kep was the playground of the Cambodian elite, who built fancy villas along the seaside promenade. The Khmer Rouge didn't like the villas very much, and the Vietnamese didn't like the Khmer Rouge. So, during the long and brutal war, Kep got hit harder than any place in Cambodia.

Today, most of the villas are still bombed out wrecks, but somehow the ruins of faded glory just add to the atmosphere.

Delicious Crabs:
The fresh seafood in Kep is delectable. Young women will wade out into the sea, haul up crab traps and stir-fry the tasty little critters in pepper and lime sauce. At the crab market, order by the kilo.

More than two pounds of crabs goes for about $6, meaning that if you factor in the value, Kep is the best place in the world to gorge on crustaceans.

Bungalows with a View:
The best guesthouses in Kep are on a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. My favorite is Le Bout du Monde, an atmospheric, French owned place with a delightful garden and an air of elegant simplicity.

Next to Le Bout du Monde is Veranda Natural Resort, a newer, more modern and more popular place with a busy restaurant. The Kep Lodge is a more secluded option, with comfortable bungalows, Wi-Fi and a swimming pool.

All three of these guesthouses back up to the Kep National Park, where there are trails that lead around a small mountain. Look out for monkeys on the trail.

The Simple Life:
There's not much to do in Kep besides eat delicious seafood, relax on your bungalow porch and have lots and lots of sex.

More ambitious souls can make a trip out to Koh Tonsay, or Rabbit Island, a peaceful little place whose inhabitants were recently evicted to make room for a Chinese owned resort development.

You can stay overnight on Koh Tonsay in simple bungalows, or just go for the day, wandering around the deserted beaches and modeling natural bikinis like the one I'm sporting in this photo. Sexy, no? .

Fed-up neighborhood passes one-dog rule

2008-09-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

LIMA - Dog lovers beware. A neighborhood in Peru's capital, Lima, has passed a law prohibiting families living in apartments from having more than one dog. People living in houses are allowed two dogs, while those found with more will be subject to hefty fines.

According to an order published in the country's official gazette on Thursday, residents of Jesus Maria, a middle-class area in Lima, have said there are just too many dogs -- and too much barking.

"Neighbors have complained they cannot live in peace, harmony, or good physical and mental health because ... noisy dogs disturb the peace," the order read.

Families with more than the permitted number of dogs will face fines of up to 700 soles ($237), and could have their furry friends removed.

But Maria Solano, 70, said she would never let that happen to her two dogs, Boni and Fiama, adopted off the street 5 years ago.

"My dogs are my children," said Solano, who lives in an apartment in Jesus Maria. "They aren't hurting anyone. I'd move to another neighborhood before giving them up."

The order says nothing about cats, or animals besides the dog.

Condom lubricant popular acne cure for Cambodian women

2008-09-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

PHNOM PENH – A condom lubricant designed for sex workers and gay men has become a popular acne cure among female Cambodians, women in the capital and local media said Thursday.

Number One Plus, a water-based lubricant produced by health organization Population Services International (PSI), is an excellent cure for acne, 29-year-old vendor Tep Kemyoeurn told AFP.

"After I used it for three days, all of my acne dried up and went away," she said. "Many people believe in it," she added.

Khen Vanny, 29, from Phnom Penh, told AFP that women of all ages have taken to using the lubricant to get rid of spots.

"It is very effective. Some people don't believe in it but people who do really get a good result," she said, adding: "My youngest sister and my aunt use it too."

Another woman told Khmer-language Kampuchea Thmey newspaper that she had used many kinds of medicine to treat acne but none had worked.

"After that my friends, who work at garment factories in Phnom Penh, advised me to apply the lubricant from Number One Plus condoms on my face every night," she told the paper.

"And just within three to four nights, the acne on my face gradually and then totally disappeared," she added.

A vendor near a factory in the coastal city of Sihanoukville told the newspaper that she sold packets of Number One Plus lubricant for 500 riels (12 cents) to many women every day.

The paper urged experts to conduct research about the phenomenon.

PSI were not immediately available for comment on the apparent cosmetic benefits of their product.

Embedded Travel Guide Cambodia: Sex, Drugs and Orangutan Boxing

2008-09-01T07:24:00.001-07:00

This week, our Cambodia embed, Tim Patterson, is giving us the inside scoop on the country, live from a guesthouse in Sihanoukville.

A window to depravity opened last Saturday afternoon in Koh Kong, a boom town on the Thai border. My buddy Jon had to catch a flight home from Bangkok at seven the next morning. How to cap off his Cambodian adventure?

"Theoretically, we could hire half a dozen prostitutes, load up on cocaine, watch orangutans beat each other up in the boxing ring at Safari World and cap it all off with an all-night drunken flight to Bangkok," I mused.

"That would be memorable," said Jon.

In the end Jon and I settled on a farewell beer instead. I've never slept with a prostitute, snorted cocaine or condoned blood sports involving endangered species, and I sincerely hope I never will.

Still, the possibility of debauchery is very much alive in Cambodia, whether that involves drugs, sex, endangered wildlife or any combination of the three. Plenty of assholes travel to Cambodia expressly to take advantage of the country's booming black market. Please don't be one of them.

Prostitution in Cambodia:
A man is like a jewel. If you drop a jewel in the mud you can wipe it clean. A woman is like a silk scarf. Drop a scarf in the mud once and it's ruined forever.

The saying sums up the Cambodian attitude to sex: The virgin or whore paradigm is very strong in this socially conservative nation. Men are expected to sleep with prostitutes, and women are required to remain virgins until marriage.

But the availability of cheap sex here attracts men from around the world. The government has begun to crack down on pedophilia, but plain old prostitution remains common. It's a sad scene, as young professionals in Phnom Penh can't go on casual dates. "We fuck the prostitutes," a Cambodian friend told me with a resigned shrug.

Drugs in Cambodia:
Not long ago marijuana was sold by the kilo in Phnom Penh markets, but the government has started making arrests for possession. It's still easy to score pot at the backpacker ghetto on the lake in Phnom Penh, but these days you're taking a serious risk. I've got no moral qualms about smoking pot, but the possibility of Cambodian prison isn't worth a couple joints.

Other drugs are also widely available, including heroin, opium, cocaine and cheap methamphetamines called yaba. Don't go there: You don't know what you're getting, for one, and there's a very real possibility that hard drugs will land you in prison.

The Wildlife Trade:
Orangutan boxing in Koh Kong is promoted on billboards across the country, but the sick "sport" is only one example of animal mistreatment in Cambodia. The Cambodian forests are a refuge for many endangered species, but their numbers are dwindling due to loss of habitat and surging demand from the trade in exotic pets and traditional medicine. Needless to say, supporting the fights doesn't help.

Embedded Travel Guide Cambodia: Sex, Drugs and Orangutan Boxing

2008-09-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

This week, our Cambodia embed, Tim Patterson, is giving us the inside scoop on the country, live from a guesthouse in Sihanoukville.

"That would be memorable," said Jon.

In the end Jon and I settled on a farewell beer instead. I've never slept with a prostitute, snorted cocaine or condoned blood sports involving endangered species, and I sincerely hope I never will.

Prostitution in Cambodia:
A man is like a jewel. If you drop a jewel in the mud you can wipe it clean. A woman is like a silk scarf. Drop a scarf in the mud once and it's ruined forever.