France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes

BBC NEWS

A Norwegian neo-Nazi musician arrested by French authorities in July on suspicion of planning a terrorist act is due to go on trial in Paris.

Kristian "Varg" Vikernes was detained after his wife, a licensed gun holder, bought shotguns and other weapons.

Authorities later conceded there was no specific plot and they were released.

Instead Mr Vikernes is now being tried for inciting racial hatred and glorifying war crimes in some of his writings on the internet.

He is a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi who was once in touch with his compatriot Anders Breivik, the Norwegian far-right militant who killed 77 people in attacks in Norway in 2011.

In May 1994 Mr Vikernes received a prison sentence for murdering the guitarist of a rival black metal band and setting fire to churches in Norway.

Ban appoints Sigrid Kaag to head up joint OPCW-UN mission in Syria

UN NEWS CENTER

16 October 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Sigrid Kaag, of the Netherlands, as Special Coordinator of the joint mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations, which officially began its work today overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical stockpiles and production facilities.

The UN chief appeared with Ms. Kaag at a news briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, he also announced that the appointment was made in close consultations with OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü.

Manith Jupiter - ស្អប់ជំពប់លើ ( Hate Become Love )

Manith ft Vanilla ▶ Closer [Khmer song]

Lao Airliner Crash Kills 44

VOA NEWS
A Lao Airlines flight carrying 44 people has crashed into the Mekong River, killing everyone on board.

Thailand's foreign ministry said the plane was travelling from the Lao capital Vientiane to the southern town of Pakse when it went down. It said five Thai nationals were among the dead.

Neither the airline nor the Lao government has yet commented on the crash, which reportedly occurred during bad weather.

Cambodian Opposition Leader Urges Pressure on Govt

Cambodia's opposition leader said Wednesday that international donors should not do "business as usual" with the aid-dependent government of longtime ruler Hun Sen unless he agrees to an independent probe into July's disputed election.

Sam Rainsy spoke to The Associated Press during a visit to Washington as he lobbied the Obama administration, lawmakers, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. His party is readying another mass protest next week to press its demand for an investigation into alleged irregularities it claims robbed the party of an election victory.

The ruling party maintains the vote was fair and has steadfastly refused the opposition's demand, although independent observers identified serious problems with electoral rolls. Negotiations to broker a compromise have stalled, and parliament convened last month despite an opposition boycott, extending Hun Sen's 28-year rule.

"The international community, especially donor countries, should not do business as usual with the current Cambodian government," Rainsy told the AP, contending that it represented "half of the nation at best" and lacked legitimacy to sign off on longterm loans and commercial contracts.

Khmer Rouge Victims Seek Memorials in Tribunal Closing Statements

VOA NEWS
Survivors of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime packed a courtroom in Phnom Penh on Wednesday to hear the start of closing statements in the trial of the group's most senior living ex-leaders.

Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for their part in the 1970s rule of the communist Khmer Rouge, which is blamed for the deaths of as many as 2 million Cambodians.

Pich Ang, a lawyer for the civil party complainants, told the court his clients are seeking the construction of memorials in Phnom Penh and Paris, as well as a national Cambodian holiday. 

"Assigning a date of remembrance will serve as a day to restore dignity to Khmer Rouge victims which include those who died and those who are still alive. The survivors can remember their loved ones. It will serve also as a memory of the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge time, which will enable healing and restoring dignity to the victims. It will also be a reminder that such a regime will not come back."

Fed Saw ‘Modest to Moderate’ Growth Amid Budget Impasse

BLOOMBERG

Four Federal Reserve districts reported slower economic growth while the remaining eight said the expansion held steady amid “uncertainty” from the U.S. fiscal deadlock, the central bank said today.Growth remained “modest to moderate” as consumer spending maintained gains and business investment grew, the Fed said today in its Beige Book business survey. The report provides policy makers anecdotal accounts from the Fed districts two weeks before they meet to set monetary policy.

Employment growth “remained modest” in September, and price and wage pressures “were again limited,” the Fed said based on information gathered through Oct. 7, after the partial government shutdown began Oct. 1. Many contacts “noted an increase in uncertainty” due mostly to the shutdown and debt-ceiling debate, the report said. “Retailers generally remained optimistic about the holiday shopping season.”

Policy makers, scheduled to gather Oct. 29-30, are trying to gauge the strength of the U.S. expansion without federal economic data suspended after the government closing. Private measures of homebuilder and consumer confidence suggest the shutdown and a political impasse over raising the nation’s $16.7 trillion borrowing limit damped household and business optimism.

The budgetary wrangling will probably prompt policy makers to delay a tapering of $85 billion in monthly bond purchases known as quantitative easing or QE, said Thomas Costerg, an economist with Standard Chartered Plc in New York.

‘Very Cautious’

House approves bill to end shutdown

Washington (CNN) -- [Breaking news alert, 10:14 p.m.]

The House of Representatives late Wednesday night passed a Senate-brokered bill to fully reopen the government and raise the federal government's debt ceiling.

[Previous update, 10:03 p.m.]

Weeks of bitter stalemate gave way to a frenetic few hours of legislative action Wednesday to address the federal government's latest budgetary crisis -- an episode marked by rare bipartisanship, but also the very real prospect of more fights to come.

The relatively rapid movement, by congressional standards, came on the 16th day of the partial government shutdown and one day before the Treasury Department had warned the nation could run out of money to pay its bills unless it raises its borrowing limit.

If legislation brokered by Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate gets to his desk, President Barack Obama has vowed to get things back up and running as soon as possible.

"I will sign it immediately," the President said. "We'll begin reopening our government immediately."

Still, it's not a done deal.

Non Stop - Town Vol 25: Khmer Song 2013 Complete