New parties to register
As Cambodia inches closer to the 2017 commune elections, the Interior Ministry has implored all of the Kingdom’s political parties to get their affairs in order and finish the necessary paperwork so their organization is listed on the ballot. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/27603/new-parties-to-register/
Prime minister seeks $300 million from china for rice sector
In the latest effort to mitigate the impact of plummeting rice prices, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday that the government was seeking $300 million from China to boost the capacity of rice millers and provide funds to them for purchasing paddy from farmers. ...
Kuch Naren and Janelle Retka
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prime-minister-seeks-300-million-china-rice-sector-118209/
Construction standards on the way
The International Business Chamber of Cambodia (IBS) on Friday took a step to formulate industry-wide construction standards by signing a memorandum of understanding with the UK’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), an accreditation agency that monitors quality and safety across the property market. ...
Igor Kossov
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/15449/construction-standards-on-the-way/
Rights report decries sugar firm’s tactics
Asia’s largest sugar producer, Mitr Phol, is responsible for violating the rights of hundreds of villagers in Oddar Meanchey who saw their land grabbed, homes destroyed and livestock killed to make way for plantations, according to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT). ...
Phak Seangly and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rights-report-decries-sugar-firms-tactics
Official denies Prey Speu transfers
Phnom Penh’s Social Affairs Department yesterday dismissed reports that dozens of homeless people were sent to the city’s notorious Prey Speu detention centre this week, even as the United Nations confirmed the transfer and expressed concern at the continued use of the facility. ...
Alice Cuddy and Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/official-denies-prey-speu-transfers
Interior ministry names 22 new spokespeople, no contact details
The job of spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, long held by General Khieu Sopheak, has been split up and given to 22 different ministry officials, according to a statement released Friday, though contact details for the new point people have not been published. ...
Matt Blomberg and Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/interior-ministry-names-22-new-spokespeople-no-contact-details-102165/
Koh Rong development moves forward
A ceremony here on Saturday, attended by some of the country’s most powerful officials, laid out Royal Group’s $30 million plan to develop Koh Rong’s previously pristine Sok San beach into a luxury resort, complete with houses, piers, hotels and facilities for helicopters. ...
Jack Laurenson
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/18759/koh-rong-development-moves-forw-ard/
Experts convene 2nd council on Preah Vihear temple
The International Coordinating Committee (ICC) for Preah Vihear held its second meeting in Siem Reap City on Monday to discuss ongoing efforts to preserve the 12th century Hindu temple and turn the majestic but remote site into a popular tourist destination. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/experts-convene-2nd-council-on-preah-vihear-temple-110245/
Rainsy alleges Khmer Rouge culture still pervades Cambodia
Although the Khmer Rouge no longer holds power, self exiled Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy alleged that the regime’s residue pervades Cambodian society and culture. He made these claims via Skype at the Choeung Ek Genocide Center – also known as the Killing Fields – yesterday. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23888/rainsy-alleges-khmer-rouge-culture-still-pervades-cambodia/
Anti-corruption unit arrests lawyer; bar warns of graft
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has arrested a lawyer in Phnom Penh over undisclosed allegations of graft, with the bar association issuing a notice to members on Wednesday warning them against acting as a “go-between” for court officials and clients. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anti-corruption-unit-arrests-lawyer-bar-warns-of-graft-113372/
Hun Sen: Rainsy no different than Pol Pot
Prime Minister Hun Sen released a three-page statement Thursday claiming there were “no differences” between what opposition leader Sam Rainsy would do to the country if he won the next election and the destruction Pol Pot wrought during his three years in power. ...
Kuch Naren and Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-says-sam-rainsy-no-different-than-pol-pot-97014/
PM invited to US as Rainsy seeks support in Europe
As a grinning Prime Minister Hun Sen shook hands with U.S. President Barack Obama and received his first invite for an official trip to Washington over the weekend, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said he was headed to Europe seeking to place diplomatic pressure on the ...
Alex Willemyns and Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/pm-invited-to-us-as-rainsy-seeks-support-in-europe-101143/
UN World Food Program extends activities in Cambodia until 2018
The United Nations World Food Program has extended its activities in Cambodia for 30 months from July 2016 to Dec. 2018 in order to improve food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable children in the country, Gianpietro Bordignon, WFP Representative to Cambodia, said Wednesday. ...
Xinhua Team
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=322680
Officials survey Prey Lang from sky
Making a dramatic arrival by helicopter at the Sofitel Hotel in Phnom Penh after a flyover of Prey Lang forest, Environment Minister Say Sam Al and US Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt discussed a plan to make the Kingdom’s largest forest a protected area. ...
Pech Sotheary and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-survey-prey-lang-sky
Officials identify leader of capital’s sex trafficking ring
Military police have identified the suspected leader of what they believe to be a sex trafficking ring masquerading as a masseuse-training agency as a 40-year-old businesswoman with Cambodian and Thai citizenship who owns karaoke parlors in both countries. ...
Tea Banh’s sons given top gov’t jobs
As the government fends off continued accusations of nepotism within its institutions, a royal decree issued in early March revealed the appointment of four official assistants to four-star general and deputy prime minister Tea Banh, two of whom are the general’s own sons. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/24491/tea-banh---s-sons-given-top-gov---t-jobs/
SEZs hold key to economic corridor growth
Industrial parks that offer special privileges to companies that operate inside them play a dominant role in attracting investment in the region, but countries must focus more on building up their infrastructure and human resources to take advantage of increased connectivity, development experts said yesterday. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/sezs-hold-key-economic-corridor-growth
Mesco closes in on gold licence
After an unexpectedly lengthy review, the Ministry of Environment has approved the environmental and social impact study of Indian mining firm Mesco Gold, clearing the last major hurdle for the company to receive a licence to operate the Kingdom’s first royalty-generating mine. ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mesco-closes-gold-licence
Indonesia, Cambodia discuss defence cooperation
Indonesia is willing to offer Cambodia’s navy ships at a discount and would like the Kingdom to be involved in joint patrols in the region, Indonesia’s Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu yesterday told the Post, amid his meetings with government leaders. ...
Shaun Turton and Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/indonesia-cambodia-discuss-defence-cooperation
Brexit won’t affect ties, says UK ambassador
The British ambassador yesterday reaffirmed to the Cambodian government that the results of a recent referendum on leaving the EU, and a cabinet reshuffle by the ruling Conservative Party, would not have a negative impact on the country’s ties with Cambodia. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/28856/brexit-won---t-affect-ties--says-uk-ambassador/