Chelsea have dismissed reports that they have tabled a world transfer record offer of £73.5million for AC Milan's Kaka.

Kaka has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid following Florentino Perez's return as president.

Chelsea, who have just appointed former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, insisted tonight that they have not tabled any offer for Kaka.

A statement on the club's official website read: "We have never made an offer to AC Milan for Kaka and therefore not one at this extraordinary level.

"As a consequence we have not discussed a salary with the player either.

"Any reports to the contrary are totally untrue."

A potential move to Manchester City collapsed in January and Kaka has repeatedly insisted that he wants to stay at the San Siro.

Last night AC Milan denied general manager Adriano Galliani was negotiating his sale to Real Madrid for a quoted fee of £56million and Kaka told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'll say it for the last time. The last time. I don't want to leave Milan.

"In this period I prefer to remain silent because I don't want to be misunderstood. Or, worse still, to be used.

"To the millions of Milan supporters, I say that I have made my choice. I have said what I want to stay. Leave me in peace, please."

Kaka was a bit-part player in Brazil's World Cup winning squad in 2002.

He joined Milan from Sao Paulo back in 2003 for a fee of around 8.5million euros and won the Serie A title in his first season at the club.

He was a member of the Milan team that beat Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2007, while also winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or in that year.

A devout Christian, Kaka gained Italian citizenship in 2007 and has repeatedly stated his desire to stay in Milan.

However, the Rossoneri's willingness to sell the Brazil star to City in the winter was reported to have unsettled him and opened the door to a possible future transfer.

City's extraordinary bid, thought to be in the region of £100million, proved controversial and was criticised in many quarters.

UEFA president Michel Platini described the sums quoted as "ridiculous", while a number of Premier League managers and chairmen also voiced their concerns.

French Open title favourite Roger Federer is receiving overwhelming support both on and off the court.

The Swiss star reached his 20th consecutive grand-slam semi-final with a convincing 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 6-4 victory over France's Gael Monfils.

Federer, the second seed, is bidding to win his first Roland Garros title, which would make him the sixth man to clinch the haul of all four Majors.

He will never have a better chance - leading rivals Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have all been dumped out of the tournament - and the pressure on the popular 27-year-old is immense.

He admits the nerves are jangling as he closes in on a fourth consecutive appearance in the final here, and he has been left shocked at the backing he is getting.

"I have felt it for a few years now, to be honest, but this year is even more extreme," said Federer, who will equal Pete Sampras' record of 14 grand slams if he claims the title.

"When I walk on the streets or get driven around or go for dinner, everybody is like, 'This is your year. You've got to do it!' They are screaming from their scooters and out of the car.

"They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It's quite incredible this last couple of weeks. It's great to get the support."

Federer needed to come from two sets down to defeat Tommy Haas in the fourth round but he was more like his usual self as he ultimately eased past a rather subdued Monfils.

His forehand was back working, his error count was lower and he was much more consistent.

He was given a decent workout by the Frenchman in the first set, which Federer claimed after saving a set point in the tie-break.

But he cruised through a 28-minute second set and grabbed a single break in the third to sweep to victory.

"It was important to get off to a better start today, and thank God I got the first set," Federer said.

"For the first time, I could play a bit more relaxed. I think it showed today. I was able to hit through the ball more. Everything just started to click."

Federer admitted his pre-match nerves disappeared once he strode onto Philippe Chatrier court.

He said: "We're all nervous at this stage - I felt it yesterday and I felt it again today in the warm-up. I was tired, I was nervous and I didn't really feel good.

"The whole story of Nadal losing, Murray losing, Djokovic losing, the draw opening up a little bit; it obviously plays with your mind.

"But it doesn't matter if I'm zero nervous or 100% nervous. I know I'll always play a decent match in the quarter-finals of a grand slam."

Monfils lost to the Swiss for the second successive year here - in 2008, he was eliminated in the semi-finals.

"I've played him twice now at more or less the same level, and I think the difference is the fact his game is a real pain in the backside to me. More than any other player," said the 11th seed, who had been France's last hope of success.

Monfils felt the match was played out in a strange atmosphere, adding: "The French public really respect Roger, so it's difficult for them.

"To start with, they had mixed feelings. People want Roger to win for the first time here so getting the support of the crowd is more difficult."

Federer will play fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in the last four, the Argentinian brushing aside 16th seed Tommy Robredo 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Federer has never lost to Del Potro in five matches.

"I have a good record against him but it doesn't mean a thing right now because it's too much of a big match, he's too dangerous. He's playing too well to underestimate him," the Swiss said.

Del Potro, 20, will make his first appearance in a grand-slam semi-final.

"If I can't win this tournament, I want to see Roger with the trophy on Sunday," he said.

Inspired Gonzalez Blasts Past Murray Into Semi-finals

Twelfth seed Fernando Gonzalez became the first Chilean to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals Tuesday after beating third seed Andy Murray of Scotland 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes. He snapped a five-match losing streak against Top 3-ranked opponents (6-23 lifetime).

Gonzalez takes a 4-3 career record against No. 23 seed Robin Soderling of Sweden into the semi-finals. Gonzalez had previously lost in the 2003 (l. to Ferrero) and 2008 (l. to Federer) quarter-finals at the second Grand Slam championship of the year.

Murray saved two break points in the second game of the match, but Gonzalez drew first blood in the seventh game when he hit a forehand winner off a short ball. The 28-year-old Gonzalez, the oldest player left in the singles draw, closed out the 40-minute first set on his fourth set point.

Murray, currently No. 3 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, responded with a service break in the sixth game of the second set. Gonzalez fell to 15-40 but saved the two break points with successive forehand winners, before missing a smash on game point. Murray eventually opened up a 4-2 lead when Gonzalez hit a forehand approach into the net. The Dunblane native did not commit an unforced error in the 31-minute second set.

Gonzalez cruised through the third set, dropping just seven points in 24 minutes. Murray grew increasingly frustrated as he dropped his serve in the second, fourth and sixth games.

Murray saved two break points with successive forehand winners in the eighth game of the fourth set, but Gonzalez clinched a 5-3 lead on his third break point with a forehand winner down the line. Serving for the set, Gonzalez failed to win a point as Murray broke back for 4-5.

Gonzalez was not to be denied his 22nd win of the year (22-5 record). Murray hit four unforced errors, including one forehand drop shot in the net, bringing to a close the pair’s third meeting. Gonzalez hit 45 winners and won 17 of 24 points on approach to the net.

World No. 12 Gonzalez won his fourth title at Vina del Mar, an ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament, in February. Eight of his 11 titles have been won on clay courts.

The Chilean won the 1998 Roland Garros junior title over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Only five Roland Garros junior champions have gone on to win the men’s singles title. Mats Wilander is the last to have completed the double in 1988.

Murray, 22, was working with two-time former Roland Garros finalist Alex Corretja as well as his regular coach Miles Maclagan during the European clay-court swing. He dropped to 35-6 this year, highlighted by three ATP World Tour titles.

“I played a poor third set,” said Murray. “I have to give a lot of credit to him. I’ve played him before and he hits the ball hard, but today he was hitting it huge. It’s easy to say from the side, ‘you could have done this, you could have done that’ but the guy was hitting it so hard. If that happens sometimes you have to say ‘too good’.

“Nothing surprised me about his game, but he hit his forehand great and didn’t make many errors off it. Maybe I put too many balls to this stroke. His one-two punch off the serve was pretty impressive. He was hitting forehand winners a metre or two outside the tramlines. You cannot do a whole lot about that.”

Gerrard: South Africa will be my last

Steven Gerrard believes the 2010 World Cup could be his last chance to win football's most coveted prize.

The Liverpool captain will be 30 by the time Fabio Capello's side compete in South Africa next summer - assuming there are no last-gasp hiccups in their qualifying group.

Gerrard conceded that he may be past his prime by the time of the 2014 finals.

And he will use that thought as a driving force for the double header with Kazakhstan away on Saturday and the home meeting with Andorra on June 10.

England already top their group and two more victories will put them on the verge of going through to the finals.

Gerrard said: "Will this be the last chance to qualify for a World Cup? I would say so. If we qualify, I'll be 30 when the finals come around.

"For me, it will be the last chance of doing well at a World Cup. Maybe by the time of the next one I might not be in my prime. That is a big motivation for me.

"We've now got these two important qualifiers coming up and if we want to play in the finals, we've got to get two good results.

"When we met up with the manager he said basically he wants the two wins to put us in the driving seat in the group. If we win these two games, we may possibly only need three more points.

"Of course, we know it will be warm in Kazakhstan and any international away from home is very difficult but there will be no excuses on our part.

"We should win these two games comfortably and put ourselves on the brink of going through."

Gerrard is also enjoying the new role given to him by Capello in interchanging with Wayne Rooney as the second striker.

Gerrard has operated effectively in that role at club level and it is a far cry from the days when he was often chosen to play on the left wing for his country.

He said: "The manager has put me there but with strict orders to interchange with Wayne.

"He wants me to pick up dangerous positions in a central area and not just on the left. I think he understands I'm not a left-winger.

"He sees the relationship with Wayne improving. We get on very well on and off the pitch and I think that partnership can certainly improve going forward."

Gerrard was proud to be voted the FWA Player of the Year but admits it did not make up for another trophy-less season at Anfield.

However, he feels Liverpool are closing the gap on Manchester United and is aware dropping too many points against teams they were expected to overrun cost them the title.

The 29-year-old said: "I wouldn't say being voted Player of the Year made up for not winning a trophy. It certainly helped from a personal point of view.

"But no player wants to finish the season without honours. For me the big challenge is to look forward and try and make sure there will be trophies in 12 months' time.

"We can look back at where we went wrong. That was drawing against teams who on paper we should have taken the three points against.

"But on the opposite side of the coin you get a lot of confidence from having gone to places like Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and come away with a victory.

"What we have to do is use that sort of experience to try and go one better next season."

Madrid sign Kaka in mammoth deal

Italian and Spanish media report that Kaka has agreed to join Madrid for a world-record fee of £56 million.

Speculation surrounding the Brazil and Milan superstar has been rife following an alleged meeting between new Madrid president Florentino Perez and Milan vice president Adriano Galliani in Madrid on Wednesday.

Both parties have supposedly agreed to a five-year deal worth S$18 million a season. Kaka's father and agent, Bosco Leite apparently also agreed to the terms of the contract, but held off officially signing the paperwork.

One of the reasons for this hesitation may have been a sensational last-minute increased offer from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, which is said to have enticed Kaka's father, who is also arguing over his own commission from the transfer.

According to Milan sources though, the transfer has indeed taken place behind closed doors, although club president and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi apparently does not want the transfer announced until next week.

Real Madrid president Perez had earlier hinted that the deal was underway, stating: ""We started working today and we will lay the foundations to create a magnificent team. Kaka could be one of our objectives but the prices the media are talking about are really out of the reality. Some things can last for days, others for months. We have time until 31 August."

Kaka is said to prefer a move to the Primera Liga rather than the Premier League, despite Chelsea recently appointing former Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti as coach.

The signing would be a huge blow to Chelsea, with both new manager Ancelotti and owner Abramovich putting Kaka on top of their summer wish list.

Chelsea representatives have even made moves to set up a face-to-face meeting between Kaka and Abramovich to hopefully persuade the Brazilian into a English move.

Chelsea have offered Kaka a £150,000 a week which would make him the highest paid player at the club, eclipsing John Terry and Frank Lampard, who currently earn£135,000 per week.

Cambodia considers night hours for Angkor Wat

06/01/2009
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Cambodia is considering opening the famed Angkor Wat temples at night to draw more tourists to the impoverished country, an official at the archaeological site said.

Similar night tourism efforts have been introduced at other sites in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia already has installed some lights at the network of centuries-old temples, said Bun Narith, who leads the agency responsible for managing the Angkor park.

06/01/2009
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Cambodia is considering opening the famed Angkor Wat temples at night to draw more tourists to the impoverished country, an official at the archaeological site said.

Similar night tourism efforts have been introduced at other sites in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia already has installed some lights at the network of centuries-old temples, said Bun Narith, who leads the agency responsible for managing the Angkor park.

Donors plan to give $1 billion in aid to the private sector in Cambodia

31 May 2009
By Savyuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

An official at the International Trade Center (ITC) revealed that donor countries from Europe plan to give about $1 billion to Cambodia next year to help private businesses strengthen export of products in order to pull up the falling Cambodian economy caused by the worldwide economic crisis.

Mrs. Patricia Francis, executive director of the ITC, indicated that recently, France Development Agency (with the French acronym AFD) signed an agreement with ITC to provide funds to the private sector in Asia, in order to help secure the economic situation in these countries. Cambodia also features among those countries that will receive about $1 billion in aid.

Mrs. Patricia Francis said through a translator: “AFD signed an agreement with our institution to provide funds to help the private sector move forward. $1 billion will be provided to Cambodia.”

This news was revealed following the break of the regional meeting for Asia Pacific commerce, organized in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on 29 May 2009.