Government
Interior Minister launches ghost-busting commission
The government is strengthening the quality of the civil service, warning that staff who fall short of standards will be let go and that so-called “ghost workers” will be eliminated, Interior Minister Sar Kheng said yesterday. ...
Chea Takihiro and Va Sonyka
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13807/interior-minister-launches-ghost-busting-commission/
Koh Kong sand-dredging protests heat up
Concerned Koh Kong residents, joined by environmental activists from the campaign group Mother Nature, began an ambitious protest last weekend in the province’s Andong Teuk commune. ...
Jack Laurenson and Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13808//
Grassroots democracy party to hold its inaugural congress
The Grassroots Democracy Party, the creation of political analyst and “Khmer for Khmer” advocacy group founder Kem Ley, will hold its inaugural congress on Sunday and register as a party on Monday, Mr. Ley said Tuesday. ...
Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/grassroots-democracy-party-to-hold-its-inaugural-congress-89838/
Experts tell Laos, VN, Cambodia to study border issues
Delegates from Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos discussed the ASEAN Economic Community’s effects on transnational natural resources at an annual international conference on cross-border economic co-operation. ...
Viet Nam News Staff
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/273671/experts-tell-laos-vn-cambodia-to-study-border-issues.html
Cambodia to attend trade exhibition in Macau
A group of Cambodia’s businessmen will attend the upcoming trade exhibition in Macau this year, said ministry of commerce. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/cambodia-to-attend-trade-exhibition-in-macau-8759
Foreign affairs minister to join the 48th ASEAN foreign affairs’ meeting in Malaysia
Deputy prime minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation will lead a delegation to join the 48th ASEAN Foreign Affairs’ Meeting, and a number of other ASEAN ministerial meetings from 03-06 August, in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/foreign-affairs-minister-to-join-the-48th-asean-foreign-affairs%E2%80%99-meeting-in-malaysia-8762
Eurocham pushes for construction rules
The European Chamber of Commerce on Monday signed an agreement with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction to help it come up with development standards to increase investment in the Kingdom. ...
Igor Kossov
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13748/eurocham-pushes-for-construction-rules/
Activists board dredging barges in Koh Kong
About 80 villagers and activists in Koh Kong province on Monday boarded and attempted to tow away five sand-dredging barges as part of their ongoing campaign against two firms they accuse of polluting a local waterway and causing riverbank collapses, activists and officials said. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/activists-board-dredging-barges-in-koh-kong-89643/
Kingdom may fall short of Tourism target
Cambodia may not achieve its goal of attracting 5 million tourists this year due to the slowdown in the global economy, according to the Ministry of Tourism. ...
Muny Sithyna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13765//
Japan wraps up tax audit project
Cambodia’s General Department of Taxation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency yesterday completed a more than three-year project to improve taxpayer services and increase tax audit capacity of the government entity. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/japan-wraps-tax-audit-project
One dead after Cambodian, Vietnamese fishermen clash
A Cambodian man was left dead after a group of fishermen from Kampot province clashed with Vietnamese fishermen while at sea on Sunday evening, according to officials. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/one-dead-after-cambodian-vietnamese-fishermen-clash-89639/
Effort to curb violence against children gaining speed
The effort to reduce violence against children in Cambodia is gaining speed, with a boost from the Religion Ministry, which will highlight the Buddhist value of nonviolence as well as the practice of meditation in the country’s schools, according to ministry officials. ...
Srey Kumneth
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13762/effort-to-curb-violence-against-children-gaining-speed/
Rice federation to get $450,000 from ministry
The Cambodian Rice Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday to receive $450,000 in financial support from the government to increase Cambodia’s rice exports, according to a federation official. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/rice-federation-to-get-450000-from-ministry-89665/
Royal palace says his majesty no plan to summon political leaders
His Majesty, Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia has no plan to summon any political leaders for ongoing dispute on the Cambodian-Vietnamese border. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/royal-palace-says-his-majesty-no-plan-to-summon-political-leaders-8757
For many, alcohol has become a ‘communication’ tool
Alcohol consumption in Cambodia is high enough that authorities are now drafting legislation for a drinking age. But as the country and its economy develop, many here say it has become an essential part of their social—and professional—lives. ...
Pang Chamnan
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/for-many-alcholol-has-become-a-communication-tool/2880192.html
Royalist party forms ‘youth movement’
Prince Norodom Ranariddh has announced the formation of a youth group for the royalist party Funcinpec, in hopes of finding more support among a new demographic. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/royalist-party-forms-youth-movement/2880168.html
CNRP lawmaker punished over Facebook post
Opposition lawmaker Um Sam An has been suspended from the next 15 sessions of parliament and will have his salary cut as punishment for critical comments he posted to Facebook earlier this month, according to a statement issued Friday by the National Assembly’s Secretariat General. ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrp-lawmaker-punished-over-facebook-post-89443/
New laws in Cambodia to help ruling party in 2018 election
Cambodia’s ruling party suffered a dramatic drop in support during the country’s last election two years ago, and critics say lawmakers are now pushing through a spate of laws to ensure that does not happen again. In the past year, parliament has passed new regulations ...
Robert Carmichael
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13715/new-laws-in-cambodia-to-help-ruling-party-in-2018-election/
Censured lawmaker admits poor word choice
In the wake of his 15-session suspension from parliament for “insulting” National Assembly President Heng Samrin, opposition lawmaker Um Sam An has defended criticism he posted on social media while expressing regret over his choice of words. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/censured-lawmaker-admits-poor-word-choice
Border talks with King
King Norodom Sihamoni may soon intervene in the ongoing dispute over border issues between the government and opposition by calling their leaders to a meeting, according to former prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/border-talks-king
NGO director claims visit to border blocked
An NGO director claimed Sunday that authorities in Svay Rieng province blocked a group he was leading from visiting homes they had rebuilt near the Vietnamese border in Romeas Hek district. ...
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngo-director-claims-visit-to-border-blocked-89480/
Plenty of paychecks for ghosts haunting Cambodia’s lax bureaucracy
Borith has been on the payroll of Cambodia’s parliament for 15 years but rarely shows up for work. He is busy with his other job at a non-governmental organization, and no one notices his absence. ...
Reuters team
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13721/cnrp-lawmaker-capitulates--apologizes-to-assembly-president/
Gov’t to finish Northern rail line in 2016
The government has set aside some $33 million to finish rebuilding Cambodia’s northern rail line by late next year, according to the Transportation Ministry, reanimating a long-delayed and over-budget project that had been one of the Asian Development Bank’s priorities in the country. ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-to-finish-northern-rail-line-in-2016-89463/
The inseparable ties of villagers along Vietnam-Cambodia border
Villagers along the border of Vietnam and Cambodia have maintained close relations for generations and, for them, the ‘border line’ is just like a fence between two nearby houses. ...
Tuoitrenews.vn News Staff
http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/29405/the-inseparable-ties-of-villagers-along-vietnamcambodia-border