Council greenlights controversial election laws changes
The Constitutional Council yesterday approved four sets of controversial amendments to Cambodia’s election laws, greenlighting changes that will pave the way for the main opposition party’s parliamentary seats to be redistributed in the event of its dissolution. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/council-greenlights-controversial-election-laws-changes
Kheng scolds senior officials for seeking to keep power centralised
In a frank rebuke of members of his own party, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng yesterday accused national leaders and ministers of impeding the process of decentralising Cambodia’s government out of a desire to maintain power for themselves. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/kheng-scolds-senior-officials-seeking-keep-power-centralised
Australian firm expects licence soon for Mondulkiri gold mine
Australian mining firm Emerald Resources announced yesterday that it was making positive progress towards full licensing and funding of its Okvau gold mine project in Mondulkiri province, with the licence expected as early as the next few weeks. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/australian-firm-expects-licence-soon-mondulkiri-gold-mine
Government gives land to villagers
The government has decided to transfer nearly 100 hectares of land on Koh Sdach island in Koh Kong province’s Kiri Sakor district to local residents, who were concerned they would be forced to relocate by development companies. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5098727/government-gives-land-villagers/
Fishermen see fruitful prahok season, almost doubling last year’s catch
Fishermen on the Tonle Sap river are smelling success: The season’s first harvest of the fish now being crushed into the famously pungent prahok has hauled in a bounty set to almost double last year’s catch. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/fishermen-seeing-fruitful-prahok-season-almost-doubling-last-years-catch
CMAC steps up mines clearance for 2018
Heng Ratana said yesterday that CMAC would also carry out minefield information research and education programmes this year, as well as strengthen volunteer networks in 700 villages and provide job training to people disabled as a result of landmines. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099630/cmac-steps-mines-clearance-2018/
High costs at Kamchay dam prompts new study
China Energy Engineering Corp Ltd will be conducting a second feasibility study on producing safe drinking water from the Kamchay hydropower dam in Kampot province after the first study showed that production costs were higher than initially expected. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099603/high-costs-kamchay-dam-prompts-new-study/
Evictions sweep away Sihanoukville beach businesses
The New Year brought a new wave of evictions and development to more than 5 square kilometres on Preah Sihanouk province’s Ochheuteal Beach, though local authorities remain in the dark about what company is behind the development. ...
Cheng Sokhorng and Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/evictions-sweep-away-sihanoukville-beach-businesses
Rumours ‘hurt malaria efforts’
A study of the mass administration of anti-malarial drugs in two provinces of Cambodia has shown the challenges that surface during such interventions, including the spread of “rumours” among villagers, which can decrease participation, new research shows. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rumours-hurt-malaria-efforts
Land dispute rep to appear before court
A representative of more than 100 families involved in a land dispute with a rubber company is seeking the help of a local rights group after being ordered to appear before the Oddar Meanchey Provincial Court on Friday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/land-dispute-rep-appear-court
Hun Sen lauds US-North Korea talks
Prime Minister Hun Sen applauded the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, offering his congratulations to the odd couple at the fourth annual River Festival in Kandal province. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lauds-us-north-korea-talks
Discrepancy among ministries over garment data
Annual reports from two ministries released on Monday appear to show significantly different numbers of factories, enterprises and garment factory workers in Cambodia last year, and officials at the two ministries contacted yesterday did not explain the contradictory data. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/discrepancy-among-ministries-over-garment-data
ADB to launch $60M Labour Ministry program next year
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to establish a new $60 million program focused on developing local technical skills and increasing the competitiveness of Cambodia’s labour force in 2019, according to Minister of Labour Ith Sam Heng. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/adb-launch-60m-labour-ministry-program-next-year
NBC officials optimistic about growing riel usage
The Cambodian riel accounted for about 17 percent of total currency circulation last year, a number similar to previous years, but central bank officials said they remained optimistic that use of the local currency will grow in the future. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nbc-officials-optimistic-about-growing-riel-usage
Trade with China to grow
Hundreds of leading Chinese companies will come together with hundreds more local companies today at the first Cambodia-China Business Forum and Financial Development Forum in Phnom Penh, aimed at expanding trade and investment between the two countries. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32646/trade-with-china-to-grow/
Fresh sand controversy
Cambodia exported more than 108,000 tonnes of sand to India in 36 separate shipments between 2013 and 2015, according to Indian customs data obtained yesterday, contradicting Cambodian customs data that show no sand being sent there at all. ...
Alex Willemyns and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fresh-sand-controversy
Hackers target voter website
At a press conference yesterday, NEC member and spokesman Hang Puthea said that in the process of posting the voter list to the website, the committee encountered two major problems – a slow access speed and an invasion by hackers. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33981/hackers-target-voter-website/
Neighbouring villages share dredging worries
Locals in Siem Reap province’s Kralanh district and Banteay Meanchey’s Preah Netr Preah district yesterday alleged that a sand-dredging company is polluting a river that straddles the two districts and stoking fears of bank collapse. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/neighbouring-villages-share-dredging-worries
RCAF gets Korean gear
Cambodia is expecting a shipment of military vehicles donated by South Korea, according to a sub-decree. The Ministry of Finance in December released about $1 million to the Defence Ministry to cover the equipment’s transportation, it says. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rcaf-gets-korean-gear
Land feuds get top-level airing
Fifteen national and international organizations representing 38 civil society groups met with the National Assembly’s first commission yesterday to discuss eight major land dispute cases in an effort to find a solution for those affected. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35763/land-feuds-get-top-level-airing/