A Japanese expert has urged Cambodia to invest in improving transport on the Mekong River to boost the movement of cargo around the country. Kume Hidetoshi from the Japanese International Cooperation Center made the call during a presentation at the Japanese embassy yesterday.   ...

A total of 22,148 polling stations across the country opened their doors to registered voters at 7:00 AM. Some 7.8 million people are registered to vote for chiefs and councilors in more than 1,600 communes, with close to 12 political parties fielding candidates. ...

The government has tapped two officials to become new deputy governors in Phnom Penh, including former Pursat Provincial Deputy Governor Keut Che, and Nuon Pharath, a staffer at the Council of Ministers with close ties to the youth organisation led by the premier’s youngest son. ...

Trade between Cambodia and Thailand increased by about 10 percent in the first half of the year to $2.9 billion, up from $2.6 billion in the same period last year, according to figures released by the Thai embassy yesterday. ...

The next industrial revolution will introduce “smart factories” in which computers and robotics communicating wirelessly will handle physical processes with very little input from human operators, leaving few job opportunities for unskilled workers, executives of German industrial giants said during a briefing in Phnom Penh ...

Mekong Region countries like Cambodia should reconsider their plans to expand hydropower dams and coal plants, as the costs of alternative energy sources, such as solar power, are rapidly falling, a U.S. think-tank said, while improved regional grid connections can also ease growing energy demand. ...

A Japanese consular office yesterday opened in Siem Reap town in a ceremony attended by Japanese and Cambodian dignitaries. Attending the events were Sieng Nam, CPP lawmaker for Siem Reap province, Chhay Sinarith, deputy National Police commissioner, and Nakane Kazuyuki, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. ...

About 70 people protested in the waters off Koh Khyang in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nup district against the demarcation of four hectare-sized areas designated as shelters for blood cockles, saying it hindered their fishing and impacted their livelihoods, according to a rights group yesterday. ...

The ruling CPP on Monday pressed ahead with legal amendments that would let the government move to dissolve political parties over the crimes of their leaders or if the parties make “serious” legal mistakes, saying the changes could be passed within days. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called on everyone whose work related to children to be conscientious and passionate about their job. He spoke at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Regional Early Childhood Development Conference, which is being held over three days in Siem Reap City. ...

Opposition lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said yesterday that Cambodia National Rescue Party banners featuring self-exiled former party President Sam Rainsy will be taken down nationwide after a National Assembly vote on Monday that is expected to ban the use of his image in party materials. ...

Several senior officials from the embattled KNUP have defected to rival party Funcinpec, a spokesman said on Sunday, following the sacking of 12 government advisers and a warning from the ruling party that all government workers linked to KNUP leader Nhek Bun Chhay will be ...

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have been committed to enhance their cooperation in combating counterfeit banknotes. The commitment was made at a symposium held in Hanoi, Vietnam last Friday attended by relevant officials from the three neighbouring countries, according to the National Bank of Cambodia’s news ...

The U.N.’s human rights envoy to Cambodia condemned the government’s recent violent rhetoric, court action against politicians and attacks against NGOs that have ramped up ahead of a key national election next year, arguing that the country appeared to be “approaching a precipice.” ...

While industry, particularly the textile, travel bag and footwear sectors, is diversifying to high value added products, upgrading of high technology and modern machinery is needed for all factories, a senior official at the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said. ...

One day after it was revealed that the United States would discontinue funding for the Cambodian government’s explosives removal body, the US Embassy said it would fund a separate “world-class removal program” in the eastern part of the country, following a competitive bidding process. ...

The National Election Committee yesterday closed the voter registration list at 5.30 pm, with more than 32 percent of an estimated 1.6 million newly eligible voters having signed up successfully. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said final registration figures will be released today. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged CPP leaders at all levels to work twice as hard serving the nation by swiftly implementing party policies. He made the call in a 15-minute audio recording sent to party members following the dissolution of the CNRP last week. ...

A national network of people living with HIV, which has been key in helping coordinate anti-HIV services at the grassroots level, is now being excluded from a new Global Fund grant, raising “deep” concerns, according to NGOs and a leaked internal email sent to government ...

Cambodia’s budget process was slightly more transparent last year than in previous years, according to a new report, though scant information is provided to the public over the course of the budget process, with few opportunities for public engagement and limited oversight in its creation. ...