Budget backed without support
Members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party voted in the National Assembly yesterday to back a 2017 national budget that outlines spending of $5 billion, but opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) members refused to give it their support. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32306/budget-backed-without-support/
Article 2 will stand: Hun Sen
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday hit back at opposition critics of his efforts to seek French expert help in modernising old colonial maps of Cambodia’s border with Vietnam, rejecting their claims that such an effort would require a constitutional amendment. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/article-2-will-stand-hun-sen
France loans €30M for water plant expansion
The French Agency for Development has granted a 30 million euro, or $31.1 million, loan for the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) to expand one of its four water plants and increase its water distribution in the capital. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/france-loans-eu30m-water-plant-expansion
Bird flu outbreak halted
Health officials in Svay Rieng province, which was hit by an outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) early this month, said the virus has been stopped and there was no sign of a continuing outbreak. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35658/bird-flu-outbreak-halted/
Laos’ Pak Beng dam proposal under scrutiny
Members of Mekong River Commission and civil society groups will be heading to Luang Prabang in Laos to attend the regional stakeholder meeting on Wednesday to discuss Laos’ proposal to build a third dam on the Mekong mainstream, the Pak Beng. ...
Leakhena Sreng
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/lao-pak-beng-dam-proposal-under-scrunity/3733702.html
Protest violence as activist jailed
At least three women – one pregnant – and a man were hurt in a clash with security forces at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday after land rights activist Tep Vanny was jailed for two and a half years over a 2013 protest. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35824/protest-violence-as-activist-jailed/
Wall of fresh fish blocks Poipet border
Thai authorities withdrew a 700 percent import tax increase on Cambodian fish vendors on Thursday after the angered cart-pushers formed a wall of baskets teeming with fresh fish along a border checkpoint on Thursday in protest, according to Poipet authorities. ...
Buth Kimsay
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/wall-of-fresh-fish-blocks-poipet-border-125741/
Over 88,000 candidates register for upcoming commune elections
More than 88,000 candidates will be vying for the 11,572 seats up for grabs in the June 4 commune elections, the National Election Committee (NEC) announced on Monday, following a three-day registration window that closed on Sunday. ...
Ouch Sony and Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/over-88000-candidates-register-for-upcoming-commune-elections-126195/
Top court upholds decision to deny bail for Adhoc officials
Four senior officials for rights group Adhoc will remain behind bars after the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Court of Appeal’s ruling that they should be held in detention while awaiting trial, but gave no reason for the decision. ...
Fears hover over plan to collect data on all Cambodians
Every Cambodian will be assigned a 10-digit identification number under which information from various government departments, as well as the private sector, will be collected in a central database, Interior Minister Sar Kheng announced on Thursday. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fears-hover-over-plan-to-collect-data-on-all-cambodians-126693/
US cuts funding to UN women’s health fund
The US government has pulled any future funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a group focused on reproductive rights for women and girls, over claims it has practiced coercive abortions and involuntary sterilizations in China. ...
Mark Tilly
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37230/us-cuts-funding-to-un-women---s-health-fund/
Kith Meng company secures timber release
Customs officers have released a pair of trucks that local officials said were seized late last month while being used to smuggle timber belonging to business mogul Kith Meng into Vietnam in breach of a government ban, according to police. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kith-meng-company-secures-timber-release-128163/
Cambodia-China cooperation
Cambodia and China reiterated their commitment to speed up the construction of the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville super highway and the building of a new airport in Siem Reap, according to the government’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit yesterday. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37923/cambodia-china-cooperation/
Foreign Minister on US mission
Foreign Minister Park Sokhornn will be at the White House on Thursday for the first meeting between Asean foreign ministers and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson since the new administration of President Donald Trump took office in January. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37938/foreign-minister-on-us-mission/
Cambodia says Laos lacks documents on transboundary impacts of proposed Pak Beng dam
So Sophort, deputy secretary-general of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, said Cambodia would attend the meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in Vientiane, which is part of a six month prior consultation process for the 921-megawatt dam. ...
Ministry defends sand exports; Mother Nature stands by claims
The Mines and Energy Ministry on Friday defended sand exports reported last week by an environmental NGO, saying Cambodia’s sand ban did not include the type seen in a video being loaded onto vessels off the coast of Sihanoukville. ...
Van Roeun and George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-defends-sand-exports-mother-nature-stands-by-claims-129204/
Roadside families protest at City Hall
Nearly 100 residents living along a stretch of land running from a railway in Boeung Kak to National Road 5 have gathered again outside City Hall to demand information about the development of a new road threatening to destroy their homes. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38081/roadside-families--protest-at-city-hall/
Grow Asia to focus on value chain projects
Cambodia’s agricultural sector must improve post-harvest processing to increase the value of its products, while increased knowledge sharing could help farmers better understand the different value chains and identify opportunities, agricultural experts participating in the Grow Asia Forum said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/grow-asia-focus-value-chain-projects
Training centre to help locals climb ladder at garment firms
The Garment Manufacturer Association of Cambodia (GMAC) will launch its new vocational training centre next month, providing courses aimed at upgrading the skills of Cambodian workers in a bid to replace the middle-management positions currently occupied predominantly by foreigners. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/training-centre-help-locals-climb-ladder-garment-firms
Business outlook still positive
Bun Mony, advisor to the Cambodian Microfinance Association (CMA) noted that though the interest rate cap could lower revenue and cut profit margins in the sector, overall neither the election nor the cap would have a lasting impact for the industry. ...
Hor Kimsay and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/business-outlook-still-positive