Aid and development
Cambodia: UN expert concerned over curbs affecting human rights, democratic processes
The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, expressed concern today that the country’s National Assembly held its second session last week without the opposition representatives taking up their seat, and urged the legislature to upkeep the key principles of ...
UN News Center Staff
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47525&Cr=cambodia&Cr1=
World Bank raises growth forecast for Cambodia in 2014
The World Bank upwardly revised Monday its GDP growth forecast for Cambodia this year to 7.2 percent, up from its October projection of 7.0 percent. In explaining the higher forecast, the bank’s East Asia and Pacific Economic Update pointed to “the expectation of renewed confidence and ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=YjY5Zjc3MTUwZDg
World Bank says Cambodia has most liberal foreign investment regime in ASEAN
The World Bank says Cambodia has the most open foreign direct investment regime in ASEAN while Thailand has the most restrictive. In a report released Monday, the bank also said that Cambodia had recently emerged as ASEAN’s second-biggest recipient of foreign direct investment in the agricultural ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=OGM2MTVmYTQ0NTM
Cambodia leads doubts over AEC
In a rare moment of honesty a Cambodian official has admitted his doubts about his country’s ability to meet regional expectations in time for the launch of the much vaunted ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of 2015. “If you talk about short-term: Yes, we ...
Luke Hunt
http://thediplomat.com/2014/04/cambodia-leads-doubts-over-aec/
Weekend storms take heavy toll
A weekend storm surge that saw torrential downpours hit the capital had far more dire consequences outside of Phnom Penh, where hundreds of families were affected and at least one man was killed. At least 675 homes in eight provinces were damaged in sudden thunderstorms that ...
Khoun Leakhana
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/weekend-storms-take-heavy-toll
Cambodian PM flies to Vietnam for Mekong River Commission Summit
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen flew Friday to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to attend the second Summit of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which will be held on Saturday. The premier was accompanied by Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Lim Kean Hor, Environment Minister ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-04/04/c_133238058.htm
Heritage Foundation calls for change of US policy in Cambodia
Political analysts at the US-based Heritage Foundation say relations with Cambodia are overdue for reform. In a recent analysis, “Promoting True Democratic Transition in Cambodia,” the Washington think tank says the 2013 elections, which the opposition claims were marred by widespread fraud, offer a chance to ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/heritage-foundation-calls-for-change-of-us-policy-in-cambodia/1886504.html
Licadho data ‘not real’: gov’t
The government yesterday accused Licadho of producing wildly misleading figures on land grabs, following the rights group’s announcement earlier this week that land conflicts in Cambodia have affected more than half a million people since 2000. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Sar Sovan, secretary of ...
May Titthara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/licadho-data-%E2%80%98not-real%E2%80%99-gov%E2%80%99t
Assembly OKs law to patch up roadways
A draft law meant to improve the maintenance and construction of Cambodia’s dilapidating roads was passed yesterday in a one-sided session of the National Assembly that saw ruling party lawmakers lambast Public Works and Transport Minister Tram Iv Tek for his allegedly poor stewardship. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rcaf-captain-guilty-outlawed-birds%E2%80%99-battle
Railway audit finds poor maintenance of tracks
Toll Royal Railway, the private operator of Cambodia’s train service, has no system in place to regularly inspect the state of its tracks, and lacks qualified inspectors to check either tracks or bridges, according to a recent safety audit of the firm’s Phnom Penh operations. The ...
Zsombor Peter and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/railway-audit-finds-poor-maintenance-of-tracks-55756/
Cambodian parliament ratifies protocol on Cambodia-Vietnam investment agreement
The National Assembly of Cambodia on Thursday ratified a protocol on the investment promotion and protection agreement between the governments of Cambodia and Vietnam. All 64 lawmakers of the ruling party, who were present at the parliamentary session, unanimously approved the protocol as the opposition party’s ...
Global Times News Staff
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/852568.shtml#.Uz4WwfmSxqU
US provides Cambodia with underwater demining equipment
The United States on Thursday handed over underwater demining equipment to the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC)’s Underwater Demining Unit in northern Kampong Chhnang province, said a press statement from the US Embassy. US Ambassador William E. Todd delivered the equipment, including inflatable boats, air compressors, ...
Global Times News Staff
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/852563.shtml#.Uz4W0vmSxqU
4th Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge almost completed
The work of fourth Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge has almost been completed after a 16-month construction, a contractor said Thursday. He Luesa, head of Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company’ s construction team, said the construction of a 855 meters by 13.5 meters Takhmao Bridge across Tonle Bassac ...
ECNS News Staff
http://www.ecns.cn/2014/04-03/108053.shtml
Two Killed, 73 Houses Destroyed by Lightning in Northwest
Officials said two people were killed on Tuesday by separate lightning strikes in Pailin and Kompong Cham provinces as the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a warning about seasonal storms spreading across the country. Searing temperatures and the approach of wet season ignited the ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/two-killed-73-houses-destroyed-by-lightning-in-northwest-55648/
Ministry issues storm warning
In the wake of two deaths from separate lightning strikes this week, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a notice yesterday warning against potentially devastating storms lasting from today until Sunday. ...
Khoun Leakhana
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-issues-storm-warning
ADB predicts slower growth for 2014
The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday said it expects Cambodia’s economic growth to slow slightly in 2014. In its annual “Asian Development Outlook,” the bank said it expects to see a drop in the rate from about 7.2 percent last year to 7 percent this year ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/adb-predicts-slower-growth-for-2014/1883732.html
Compensation plan agreed to, says ADB
Following a scathing report from its internal watchdog about the resettlement of thousands of Cambodian families affected by a national railway rehabilitation project that it is funding, the Asian Development Bank has agreed with the government on an action plan for further compensation, it said ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/compensation-plan-agreed-says-adb
Brands ‘failing their workers’
European mega-brands are not doing enough to ensure that the Cambodian workers who make their products receive a basic living wage, according to a report released today. Tailored Wages, an analysis of 50 of Europe’s biggest clothing brands, found that many major high-street chains are doing ...
Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/brands-%E2%80%98failing-their-workers%E2%80%99
Forecast: coast in danger
Residents along Cambodia’s coastline may want to relocate to higher ground in the wake of a climate-change assessment that predicts much of the Kingdom’s coast could be submerged by rising sea levels. Based on predictive models that take into account global temperature trends and melting ice ...
Laignee Barron
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forecast-coast-danger
EU grant US$3.9 million to enhance the capacity of local authorities and the independence of the media in Cambodia
The European Union has launched a call for proposals under the EU thematic programme “Non-State Actors (NSA) and Local Authorities (LA) in Development” for a total of 2.9 Million euros (over 3.9 million USD) in grants to strengthen civil society and to enhance the participation ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=15&token=MzRmZGJiODVlYWY
Government studying mollusc fishery in Kampong Chhnang province
The Cambodian Fisheries Administration has begun a one-year study of a mollusc fishery in Kampong Chhnang province, the Mekong River Commission says. Launched in February and financed by the MRC Fisheries Programme, the pilot study aims to assess the status of the snail and clam fishery ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=OGQwYzQ1Yjc3ZWY
CNRP leaders lobby EU Parliamentarians over ‘Blood Sugar’
The opposition CNRP made another pitch for an end to free trade benefits for Cambodian sugar exports to the European Union at a meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday with visiting European Parliament members, blaming the benefits for effectively subsidizing companies that are evicting poor ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrp-leaders-lobby-eu-parliamentarians-over-blood-sugar-55002/
Cambodia sees improvements in logistics performance: World Bank
Cambodia has seen significant improvements in logistics performance in the last four years, a World Bank’s senior official said Wednesday. “According to the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI), Cambodia’s LPI ranking has risen spectacularly by 46 places, to 83rd out of 160 countries in 2014, ...
Shanghai Daily News Staff
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=208878
Unicef: Not all maternal deaths in Cambodia are being recorded
Many maternal fatalities in Cambodia are not being officially recorded, experts have warned. According to Unicef Cambodia, government figures indicate that the country’s maternal death rate is falling, the Phnom Penh Post reports. ...
Paul Robertson
http://www.figo.org/news/unicef-not-all-maternal-deaths-cambodia-are-being-recorded-0012076