Social development
Schooled on penalties
Despite unprecedentedly strict anti-cheating measures being implemented in last year’s grade 12 examinations, the Kingdom’s Anti-Corruption Unit pledged yesterday that punishments will be tougher still for proctors caught selling answers and accepting bribes this time around. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/schooled-penalties
Using technology to counter gender-based violence in Cambodia
As the risks of abuse and violence against women morph with societal changes in Cambodia, technology and social media are helping those in need to stay one step ahead. ...
Joanna Mayhew
http://www.dw.com/en/using-technology-to-counter-gender-based-violence-in-cambodia/a-18657639
Ahead of ‘clean’ exams, bookshops see fall in business
The owners of bookshops near the Bak Touk High School would usually be doing a roaring trade at this time of year. The grade 12 examinations each August have long been an annual boom time for the shops where students copied cheat sheets for the ...
Leng Sreynich
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/ahead-of-clean-exams-bookshops-see-fall-in-business/2924131.html
Journalists frequently harried, in actions that hurt press freedom
While there are many issues for Cambodia’s journalists to cover these days—from the tensions with Vietnam over border issues to land disputes, the law to regulate NGOs, the labor sector and others—the country’s reporters are often disrupted from their work. ...
Oum Sonita and Nov Povleakhena
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/journalists-frequently-harried-in-actions-that-hurt-press-freedom/2924097.html
As exam nears, bribes replaced with tutoring fees
Beginning with last year’s Grade 12 national exam, the Education Ministry put a stop to the time-honored tradition of teachers taking bribes to allow students to cheat on the test, drastically reducing the passing rate among students and the profit-making potential for proctors. ...
Janelle Retka and Huot Chanpav
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/as-exam-nears-teachers-replace-bribes-with-tutoring-fees-92015/
Gov’t ramping up plan for tourist-site access
A push is on to mandate handicapped-accessible ramps at the Kingdom’s tourist attractions, a member of the government’s Disability Action Council (DAC) said yesterday. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-ramping-plan-tourist-site-access
No Cambodians involved in Bangkok bombing
No Cambodians have been reported among the victims of the Erawan Shrine bombing in Bangkok, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14648/no-cambodians-involved-in-bangkok-bombing/
Marketing tactics illegal: orgs
Despite implementing a ban on marketing for breast-milk substitutes (BMS) in an effort to boost natural breastfeeding, suppliers of baby formula continue to commit “flagrant violations” of the law by marketing their products illegally and claiming superior health benefits, a new report shows. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/marketing-tactics-illegal-orgs
Mother nature accused of threatening violence
Activists from environmental NGO Mother Nature caused more than $100,000 in damages to a company that was legally dredging for sand in Koh Kong province, Khem Sameth, CEO of the company Direct Access, said yesterday. ...
Jonathan Cox and Chea Takihiro
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14651/mother-nature-accused-of-threatening-violence/
Ministry breaks ground on new tech institute
The Ministry of Education on Monday broke ground on a new Institute of Technology campus in Kompong Speu province’s Thpong district that officials said is being built with funds from the Thai royal family on land partially donated by agribusiness magnate Ly Yong Phat. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-breaks-ground-on-new-tech-institute-91900/
Anti-dredging activists jailed in Koh Kong
The Koh Kong Provincial Court on Monday imprisoned three activists from environmental NGO Mother Nature after a prosecutor charged them with threatening to cause damage during their ongoing campaign against a company accused of illegally dredging at a local estuary, according to rights group Licadho. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anti-dredging-activists-jailed-in-koh-kong-91880/
Disgraced court director imprisoned in Kandal
Disgraced former Phnom Penh Municipal Court director Ang Mealaktei was sent to the Kandal Provincial Prison on Sunday after he was charged with embezzlement for allegedly confiscating an SUV from a drug dealer and giving it to his son, a prison official said Monday. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/disgraced-court-director-imprisoned-in-kandal-91894/
Market vendors gather at Prime Minister’s residence in Phnom Penh
Some two-hundred vendors peacefully gathered in front of the residence of Prime Minister Hun Sen near Independence Monument, seeking the premier’s intervention to stop a planned construction of new Doeum Kor market. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/market-vendors-gather-at-prime-minister%E2%80%99s-residence-in-phnom-penh-8844
In crowded capital, recreational bicycling gains in popularity
The use of bicycling to get around the crowded streets of Phnom Penh has become increasingly popular. Not only do people use bikes more often to get around the city, but on weekends, cyclists can be seen on the outskirts of town. ...
No second chance on exam this year: PM
The national high school exam will take place on August 24, but unlike last year there will be no second chance for those who fail, Prime Minister Hun Sen said. ...
Va Sonyka
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14482/no-second-chance-on-exam-this-year--pm/
VN nationals arrested on kidnapping charge
Four Vietnamese nationals were jailed on kidnapping charges in Svay Rieng province on Saturday after allegedly detaining two of their countrymen over gambling debts in a casino in Bavet town. ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vn-nationals-arrested-kidnapping-charge
Kratie families feel effects of NGO law
Officials in Kratie province are insisting that a small group of families involved in a local land dispute register with the Interior Ministry or be “punished.” ...
Aun Chhengpor
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kratie-families-in-land-dispute-feel-effects-of-ngo-law-91796/
Police summon three Koh Kong anti-sand-dredging activists
Three activists from environmental NGO Mother Nature were summoned to appear at the Botum Sakor district police station in Koh Kong province on Friday to answer for their involvement in a campaign to chase off a sand-dredging company accused of destroying the environment, officials said. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambodia.opendevelopmentmekong.net/wp-admin/post-new.php
Political forum builds Cambodia’s discussion culture
Every Saturday afternoon, in a room in the Phnom Penh offices of a German political foundation, chairs are arranged in a u-shape. About 50 people, from a range of backgrounds, gather and chit-chat. ...
Sun Sokhen
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/political-forum-builds-cambodia-discussion-culture/2918069.html
Rural health centers remain underfunded, under-prepared
Cambodia launched a health strategic plan in 2002, in an effort to improve services to areas that lack medical personnel and resources. But in many rural areas, there has been little progress, and even an awareness of basic hygiene and disease prevention remains considerably low. ...
Ten Soksreinith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/rural-health-centers-remain-underfunded-under-prepared/2917998.html
Girls returned from begging in Thailand
Eight young girls were placed in the care of the Social Affairs Ministry on Thursday after Thai authorities found them begging and selling flowers in Thailand and sent them back to Cambodia, according to the ministry. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/girls-returned-from-begging-in-thailand-91658/
King’s signature brings much criticized NGO law into force
King Norodom Sihamoni signed the NGO law on Wednesday, according to a government official, bringing into effect a piece of legislation that has been internationally rebuked as a serious threat to free speech and association. ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kings-signature-brings-much-criticized-ngo-law-into-force-91643/
New Education ministry ban comes under fire
The backlash began Wednesday against a new Education Ministry directive that bans political activities and unauthorized associations at academic institutions, with the country’s largest teachers’ union and various youth groups accusing the government of hypocrisy. ...
Mech Dara and Simon Henderson
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-education-ministry-ban-comes-under-fire-91534/
Horde of the flies: Villagers plagued
Authorities in Kampong Speu province have ordered a chicken farmer to clean up his coop, the source of a local fly infestation that has caused uproar in the community. ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/horde-flies-villagers-plagued