National government
Ministries and other national bodies
MEF holds agricultural workshop
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) organised a consultation workshop yesterday to gather information and comments from agriculture sector stakeholders to assist in the preparation of a 2018 national budget that would better support to the sector. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mef-holds-agricultural-workshop
Pig farmers ditch task force to monitor smuggling
A private sector task force set up by Cambodia’s pig farmers to monitor live swine imports and investigate reports of illicit smuggling has been disbanded after receiving a cold reception from government officials, the initiative’s leader said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/pig-farmers-ditch-task-force-monitor-smuggling
Election monitors get warning over law on neutrality
The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning to election watchdogs Comfrel and Nicfec, ordering them to halt their activities that allegedly violate their NGO obligation of neutrality. ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/election-monitors-get-warning-over-law-neutrality
Confusion drives more legal, illegal workers from Thailand
Hundreds of fearful and confused Cambodian migrant workers—including those with legal documentation—are continuing to flee Thailand, workers said on Tuesday, even as both the Cambodian and Thai governments called for calm among the migrant workforce. ...
Chhorn Phearun and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/second/confusion-drives-legal-illegal-workers-thailand-132138/
Police request over $500k to reward drug-busting officers
The National Police has requested more than $500,000 from the Interior Ministry to fund bonuses for police officers involved in confiscating illegal drugs, officials said on Tuesday. ...
Han Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-request-500k-reward-drug-busting-officers-132140/
Guilty walk free in land sale case
Two Ministry of Mines officials were convicted on corruption charges yesterday in a Phnom Penh court after confessing to selling state land, but nonetheless walked free after a judge reduced their sentences. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/guilty-walk-free-land-sale-case
Drainage upgrades to come amid rains: city
Cambodia will this year experience heavier rainfall than in previous years during an extended rainy season that is expected to last well into December in the coastal and central lowland areas, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology last ...
Jovina Chua and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/drainage-upgrades-come-amid-rains-city
Agro-processing SEZ moves closer to reality
A Chinese firm that plans to invest $2 billion into developing the Kingdom’s first special economic zone (SEZ) dedicated solely to agricultural processing and storage has signed on a new partner to help jumpstart the stalled project, a top agriculture official said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/agro-processing-sez-moves-closer-reality
New commune chiefs sworn in, with CNRP unconcerned about CPP interference
The process of swearing in commune councillors across the country began yesterday, marking the start of their five-year terms in local administration, with opposition commune chiefs saying they were undeterred by Interior Minister Sar Kheng’s comments last week. ...
Touch Sokha and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-commune-chiefs-sworn-cnrp-unconcerned-about-cpp-interference
White Building holdouts
More than 430 of the 493 families who formerly resided in Phnom Penh’s White Building have vacated the premises, but around 15 families have yet to accept compensation packages for their apartments, according to a Land Management Ministry official. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/white-building-holdouts
Dredging boats spotted off Koh Kong
An activist and villagers yesterday said that sand dredging boats had been spotted off the coast of Koh Kong, prompting fears that they were set to begin operations, despite a standing ban on sand exports from companies operating in coastal areas. ...
Yon Sineat and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dredging-boats-spotted-koh-kong
Three caught hauling 18 tonnes of timber
Three men were sent to court yesterday for allegedly hauling more than 18 tonnes of illegally logged first-grade timber in Kampong Thom province. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/three-caught-hauling-18-tonnes-timber
Fake recruitment ads targeted
The Ministry of Labour has written to the Ministry of Information requesting that it take action against fraudulent recruitment agencies promoting services for migrant workers via radio advertisements. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39898/fake-recruitment-ads-targeted/
Siem Reap residents petition PM’s cabinet
Fifteen people from Siem Reap yesterday delivered a petition to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet claiming they were left out of a recent land-titling drive in their village, though local authorities said the group had only settled in the area once the titling began. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/siem-reap-residents-petition-pms-cabinet
Traffic accidents, fatalities increase
The number of traffic accidents and fatalities increased marginally during the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, though the number of injuries dropped. ...
Touch Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/traffic-accidents-fatalities-increase
Election situation room faces threat of legal action
Interior Ministry officials have met to discuss whether the situation room broke the law when it monitored recent commune polls. Interior Minister Sar Kheng said the government is scrutinising the group of about 40 NGOs to ascertain if it attempted to undermine the polls. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39902/election-situation--room-faces-threat-of-legal-action/
Thailand backs off law on migrants
Facing a backlash from employers and observers alike, Thailand has backtracked on a new, heavily criticised law that imposes stricter punishments on irregular workers and their employers, though thousands of Cambodians are still being deported. ...
Yon Sineat and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/thailand-backs-law-migrants
Telecoms urged over additional charges
Cambodia’s telecom regulator has urged mobile phone network operators to be more transparent on the fees they charge subscribers on opt-in services and to ensure that users are not charged for services they have not requested. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/telecoms-urged-over-additional-charges
GDT’s hands tied on sign fees
The tax authority yesterday refuted local media claims that it had endorsed a private sector call to end Phnom Penh City Hall’s taxation of billboards and commercial signage throughout the capital, which advocates have said imposes an onerous levy on local businesses. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/gdts-hands-tied-sign-fees
Oddar Meanchey dam to be drained to avoid breach
Fearing that heavy rains will cause the Ta Mok reservoir in Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district to overflow, or its walls to rupture, Water Resources and Meteorology Department officials are preparing to drain the reservoir with canals. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/oddar-meanchey-dam-be-drained-avoid-breach
Directive to mobile operators
The Telecom Regulator of Cambodia yesterday issued a directive to mobile operators to ensure they are transparent with automatic fees charged to customers after a spike in complaints. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39840/directive-to-mobile-operators/
Phnom Penh air quality levels disputed
The first readings of the capital’s PM2.5 concentration, a major indicator of air quality, show that levels of the harmful particulates are “still low”, said Thiv Sophearith, chief of the Ministry of Environment’s Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Office, though an environmental specialist yesterday challenged ...
Jovina Chua
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/phnom-penh-air-quality-levels-disputed
Defense Minister Supports Angkor Evictions
Authorities in Siem Reap province have stopped negotiating with hundreds of families who recently built homes and shops illegally inside the Angkor Archaeological Park, and Defense Minister Tea Banh said they would start razing the structures without their consent. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/defense-minister-supports-angkor-evictions-131904/
Police collusion? Complaint filed against Kandal cops
Two police officials – one the deputy police chief of Kandal’s Takhmao town and the son of Provincial Police Chief Eav Chamroeun – are the subject of a complaint filed with the Ministry of Interior by three people who allege they might have colluded to ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-collusion-complaint-filed-against-kandal-cops