Government
Access to clean water in rural areas hits 50%
Cambodia passed a key Millennium Development Goal milestone last year with half of rural areas now having access to clean drinking water, according to a Ministry of Rural Development annual report released yesterday. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/access-clean-water-rural-areas-hits-50
Opposition casts doubt on NEC leadership, staff
The National Election Committee (NEC) yesterday appointed Tep Nytha to another term as secretary general, in a selection process that civil society and opposition party members have criticized as fraudulent and closed from public scrutiny. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21786/opposition-casts-doubt-on-nec-leadership--staff/
Voters give government mixed marks
Just a quarter of Cambodian voters are fully satisfied with the government’s efforts to deliver on its promises thus far in the fifth mandate, though more than half rated themselves partly so, according to the results of a nationwide survey conducted by election watchdog Comfrel. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/voters-give-government-mixed-marks
Reported rape cases up in 2015
Reported rape cases increased by 12 percent last year compared to 2014, despite an overall drop in crime in 2015, according to an Interior Ministry report released on Tuesday. ...
Khuon Narim and Taylor O'Connell
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/reported-rape-cases-up-in-2015-108884/
Major Thai lender Kasikornbank to open first Cambodia branch
Kasikornbank, Thailand’s fourth-largest lender by assets, plans to open its first branch in Phnom Penh by August, according to a report from Nikkei Asian Review. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21765/major-thai-lender-kasikornbank-to-open-first-cambodia-branch/
Chinese warships visit Cambodia
Two Chinese guided-missile frigates docked at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Monday for a five-day goodwill visit to Cambodia. ...
Xinhua Team
http://en.chinagate.cn/2016-02/22/content_37846059.htm
PM, Sokha spar over road toll
Political leaders from both parties have once again taken their grievances to Facebook as they fight to take credit for the decision to remove the tolls on National Road 4. ...
Ros Chanveasna and Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21731/pm--sokha-spar-over-road-toll/
Firetruck fleet set to double with China deal
The Interior Ministry has struck a deal with China to buy 200 firetrucks this year, nearly doubling Cambodia’s current fleet in a bid to better serve the country’s rural reaches, officials said on Monday. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/firetruck-fleet-set-to-double-with-china-deal-108838/
Indonesian firm lands deal to supply uniforms
Indonesian firm Sri Rejeki signed a $50 million deal with the Ministry of Interior last week to supply Cambodia’s police and armed forces with new uniforms, according to the Indonesian Embassy and media reports. ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/108800-108800/
Labour ministry eyes minimum wage law
The Ministry of Labour is eyeing the creation of a draft law that would codify the sometimes-nebulous process that determines the garment industry’s minimum wage, attendees at the ministry’s annual meeting were told last week. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/labour-ministry-eyes-minimum-wage-law
Gov’t mulls suspending duty on rubber exports
The government will consider suspending its $50 per ton export duty on rubber following lobbying by local producers who say they are operating at a loss due to the sharp fall in global prices for the commodity, Agriculture Ministry secretary of state Eang Sophalleth said ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21714/gov---t-mulls-suspending-duty-on-rubber-exports/
Thai princess helicopters to Ratanakkiri, inspects bathroom
Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn flew from Phnom Penh to Ratanakkiri province and back again on Monday, alighting for a lakeside lunch and the opening of a health center on the first day of her three-day visit to the country. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/thai-princess-helicopters-to-ratanakkiri-inspects-bathroom-108843/
New border link expected to boost trade with Thailand
Cambodia and Thailand are set to have a new international border crossing on National Road 5, linking Banteay Meanchey province and Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21667/new-border-link-expected-to-boost-trade-with-thailand/
SIM sales stagnate as internet use soars
Mobile SIM card sales slowed to a crawl in 2015 while the number of new subscribers using mobile internet services leaped by 30 per cent, according to a Ministry of Telecommunications factsheet. ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/sim-sales-stagnate-internet-use-soars
Rise in number of blazes in ’15
The number of fires in Cambodia increased by 14.7 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year, killing 35 people and consuming almost 600 homes. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rise-number-blazes-15
PM, Sokha commemorate death of peacemaker
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday sent his condolences to the government and people of Egypt over the death of former Egyptian Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who passed away on February 16 at the age of 93. Along with ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21686/pm--sokha-commemorate-death-of-peacemaker/
Embassy rescues maid from Saudi Arabia
The Cambodian Embassy in Kuwait successfully rescued a Cambodian woman working as a maid in Saudi Arabia who complained of abusive working conditions, lack of food and of having pay withheld. Him Srey, a Cham Muslim from Kampong Cham province who went to Saudi Arabia ...
Srey Kumneth
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21681/embassy-rescues-maid-from-saudi-arabia/
CPP, police brass promoted
Six senior police officials were last week promoted to the rank of four-star general, the highest possible title bestowed to a member of the security forces by the Ministry of Interior. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-police-brass-promoted
Telecom Cambodia director fired amid embezzlement probe
The director-general of state-run phone and Internet operator Telecom Cambodia has been fired amid an investigation into alleged embezzlement within the firm, a spokesman for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications confirmed on Sunday. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/telecom-cambodia-director-fired-amid-embezzlement-probe-108795/
NGO to draft graft-busting strategy for politicians
The director of Transparency International Cambodia on Friday called for all political parties to incorporate anti-corruption measures into their platforms before next year’s commune elections. ...
Chea Takihiro
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21680/ngo-to-draft-graft-busting-strategy-for-politicians9/
MEF sounds warning bell over credit growth risk
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has raised concerns about the rapid growth of credit and real estate sectors, which it says could pose risks to Cambodia’s economic growth, while emphasising that policy measures were being taken to mitigate these risks. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mef-sounds-warning-bell-over-credit-growth-risk
CPP touts Hun Sen’s attendance at US summit
Sitting in a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and fellow Asean leaders in California on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen seemed to have his mind on what Cambodians would think of his participation in this week’s U.S.-Asean Summit. ...
Anthony Jensen and Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cpp-touts-hun-sens-attendance-at-us-summit-108697/
Ministry rolls out red carpet for Japanese investors
Government officials are encouraging Japanese investors to channel more funding into the country’s booming construction and property development market, with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction rolling out the red carpet for them. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21602/ministry-rolls-out-red-carpet-for-japanese-investors/
Amid global Zika fears, gov’t urges calm and preparedness
As Latin American countries reel from a spike in the number of microcephaly cases, believed to be linked to the mosquito-borne virus Zika, the Cambodian Ministry of Health has urged citizens to take precautions against the spread of the disease here. ...
Pav Suy and Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21610/amid-global-zika-fears--gov---t-urges-calm-and-preparedness/