Led by Mong Lamy and Teng Chankaruratha, a delegation of 10 Cambodian youths representing several political parties registered with the National Election Committee (NEC), including the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), and one civil society organisation, participated in the JENESYS Cambodia-Japan Young Politics-Oriented Exchange Programme. They reportedly gained significant benefits from the programme, on politics and democracy in Japan, organised under the coordination of the Japanese embassy in Cambodia. The initiative was first proposed by Senate president and CPP president Hun Sen and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe during the Mekong-Japan Summit in October 2018. The latest programme, held…
Author: Chhorn Norn
A joint Preah Sihanouk task force conducted multiple raids and inspections of alleged online scam operations on March 23, detaining 50 suspects across several locations. Provincial authorities said the team inspected 26 suspected sites and carried out raids at four, including the Jinsha Holiday Hotel, a villa compound, the Sheng Yu condominium and a rental house in Sangkat 4. The operation resulted in the arrest of 50 suspects , including 36 Chinese nationals, three Cambodians (one woman), five Indians (two women), three Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis and one Myanmar woman. A number of items were seized as evidence, including desktop computers,…
The government has ordered a that total expenditure on fuel and lubricant allowances for government institutions be reduced by 30 per cent, with the aim of conserving vital reserves for contingencies and strategic tasks. The new reductions exclude the public security sector. The directive was established in the “Rationalization and Strengthening the Efficiency of National Budget Expenditures for the Implementation of the Finance Law for the 2026 Management” circular, issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on March 20, but made public today, March 24. The measure comes amid an ongoing and unpredictable fuel energy crisis. The 30 per…
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has issued updated guidelines to fuel importers and distributors to ensure the implementation of the government’s measure to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) burden on the supply of petroleum products, specifically regular gasoline and diesel. The ministry reaffirmed that the Royal Government has introduced a VAT relief measure on gasoline and diesel, reducing the rate from 10% to 4%, with the government covering the remaining 6%. The measure has been in effect since March 20. The ministry instructed wholesalers to apply the 4% VAT rate on domestic supplies of gasoline and diesel in…
The 11th International Half Marathon in Sihanoukville has set a new record, attracting approximately 15,000 participants, surpassing all previous iterations of the past 10 years. The surge in participation is expected to play a key role in promoting tourism and showcasing the province’s beautiful coastline to the world. Originally, organisers had expected only around 2,500, based on participation levels from previous events. They even projected it would take another 3 to 5 years to surpass 10,000 runners. However, the March 22 event exceeded expectations, drawing 15,000 runners from 41 countries — a figure that surprised many. Participation was noticeably high…
Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), has warned that the quality and strength of Cambodia’s sporting efforts have fallen drastically since its triumphant hosting of the 32nd SEA Games in 2023. He noted that Cambodia’s first-ever hosting of the event was a resounding success — in terms of medal achievements, hospitality and organisation. The opening and closing ceremonies reached an Olympic-level standard, making it difficult for other countries in the region to match. However, he stressed that this success has since declined sharply after efforts were relaxed. “Even though it was a success, behind that…
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has issued a statement on the “Protection of Khmer Cultural Heritage,” noting that Cambodia’s rich tangible and intangible heritage — including traditional clothing and cultural arts — is supported by historical and archaeological evidence. It specifically explained that the “Sbai”, a traditional shawl worn around the chest and shoulders, is deeply rooted in Khmer civilisation dating back to the Funan period. The statement was issued in response to comments circulating on Thai social media and remarks by some Thai politicians regarding traditional attire and objections to the promotion of Khmer culture. Recently, several…
A new cross-border payment service and the “Cambodia-China Tourism Debit Card” were officially launched on March 18, as part of efforts to enhance convenience for travellers and accelerate the current Cambodia-China Tourism Year campaign. The initiative, introduced by the Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch, aims to provide a modern and innovative tourism product that enables Cambodian, Chinese and international visitors to make seamless payments while traveling in Cambodia. The launch ceremony, held at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, was presided over by Minister of Tourism Huot Hak, alongside Zhong Jie, economic and commercial counsellor at the…
A remarkable piece of ancient Khmer heritage has been brought back to life with the restoration of Cambodia’s largest known statue of the dancing Shiva. Standing about 5 metres tall, the statue is once again wowing visitors, after years of restoration work. The statue, which features two tiers, five faces, and ten arms, dates back over 1,000 years to the 10th century, and originated from Prasat Krahom in the Koh Ker Temple complex. It was discovered in a severely damaged state, having been broken into more than 10,000 fragments, largely due to looting during the civil war. The restoration was…
An Austrian delegation has reportedly expressed strong interest in Cambodia’s tourism potential and is exploring the possibility of launching direct flights from Vienna to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, as both sides look to deepen cooperation in the tourism sector. Minister of Tourism Hout Hak met with the Austrian representatives, including Andreas Sumper, deputy head of mission at the Austrian Embassy in Cambodia, Max Gridling, honorary consul of Austria, and Christian-Petru Ciochirca, CEO of Austrian promotional company M8 M8imize, on March 17 at the tourism ministry headquarters. Sumper highlighted a recent Austrian trade mission that brought major companies from various…