ASEAN has not dropped the Cambodia–Thailand border issue from its diplomatic agenda, with foreign ministers reaffirming continued engagement and follow-up discussions during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat, held on January 29, in Cebu. Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn attended the retreat, where the bloc reviewed progress and next steps following earlier ASEAN-led efforts to ease tensions between Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Opening the closed-door meeting, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa P. Lazaro, in her capacity as AMM chair for 2026, outlined her priorities for the year, stressing the need for ASEAN to…
Author: Raksmey Hong
Donors from Singapore and Hong Kong have helped deliver more than 2,000 “Boxes of Hope” to vulnerable children across three provinces in Cambodia, including those displaced by the ongoing border situation and living in temporary shelters, according to community development NGO This Life. The initiative targets children whose daily routines, education and sense of safety have been disrupted by displacement, incarceration of caregivers, or prolonged social and economic hardship. The boxes were distributed over time in temporary shelters for displaced families, correctional facilities where children live with their mothers and community locations identified through local partners. Each Box of Hope…
Royal Khmer cuisine, long associated with Cambodia’s court traditions and ceremonial dining, is being revisited through a contemporary lens with the introduction of a new set menu at Restaurant Le Royal, located within the historic Raffles Hotel Le Royal. According to a January 26 press release, the new menu reflects an effort to reinterpret classical Royal Khmer dishes using modern culinary techniques, while retaining their traditional foundations. The initiative coincides with a seasonal art exhibition, positioning cuisine and visual art as parallel expressions of Cambodia’s cultural continuity and change. “The menu draws inspiration from well-known Royal Khmer recipes, adapting them…
Cambodian authorities have expressed serious concerns after a cluster munition explosion injured three civilian workers in Oddar Meanchey province, underscoring the enduring humanitarian threat posed by explosive remnants of war (ERWs) left from past Thai aggression in the area. The blast occurred on January 29 along National Road 58 in Bosthom village, Kokpos commune, Banteay Ampil district, as employees of the SN company were installing electricity lines. The explosion left three workers injured, some seriously, according to the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). In a statement, the CMAA said the incident involved a cluster munition and warned…
Life-saving maternal and newborn care is being rolled out immediately to displacement-affected areas in northern Cambodia, as UNICEF warns that delays of even minutes can cost lives for mothers and babies living in crisis conditions. More than 112,000 people remain displaced across five provinces as of January 28, including 58,738 women and 36,686 children, according to the Ministry of Interior. While some families have begun returning home, significant pockets of displacement persist in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, where health services remain uneven and under strain. To address the most urgent gaps, UNICEF, with support from the US government, has…
A Thai cluster munition exploded this morning, January 29, in Oddar Meanchey province. Three workers from SN electricity service provider were injured, according to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC). The incident took place in Bosthom village, Kokpos commune, in Banteay Ampil district, near National Road 58. “The explosion occurred when a worker accidentally stepped on an unexploded cluster munition, a remnant of war left from past Thai aggression in the area. The victims sustained injuries, some serious, while carrying out electricity network installation work,” said CMAC director-general Heng Ratana. Ratana reiterated his appeal to local residents as well as…
The Ministry of Environment has raised serious concerns over the widespread use of hazardous chemicals in plastic products, following a global study showing that more than one-quarter of the chemicals used in plastic production pose risks to human health and ecosystems. The ministry cited the global PlastChem database, recently published and cited by the EU’s Directorate-General for Environment, noting that a total of 16,235 chemical substances are used in plastic production worldwide. However, researchers have been able to identify and compile detailed information on only 12,658 of the substances, while the remaining chemicals lack sufficient data on their composition and…
After 25 years of training and employing young people from low-income families, impact sourcing pioneer Digital Divide Data (DDD) says it is shifting toward artificial intelligence (AI)-driven services to ensure Cambodian youth remain competitive in a rapidly changing global digital economy. The organisation, which began operations in Cambodia in 2001, has trained and employed more than 15,000 young people across Cambodia, Laos and Kenya, helping them transition from low-income backgrounds into professional digital careers. As automation and AI transform the global outsourcing industry, DDD says its new focus on AI skills is aimed at protecting and expanding employment pathways for…
Minister of Health Chheang Ra has urged authorities and all relevant stakeholders to maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent and curb the importation of the Nipah virus into Cambodia, after the infectious disease was reported in several countries across Asia. The call was made on the morning of January 28, during an inspection of quarantine operations at Techo International Airport. His inspection was accompanied by Charles Vann, director at Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd. (CAIC), and representatives from relevant institutions. Health minister noted that Cambodia has not yet detected any cases of the Nipah virus, but stressed that…
Cambodia officially introduced the Jarai language into its multilingual education programme on January 27, marking a historic milestone as the first country in the world to implement six indigenous languages written in the Khmer script. The initiative aims to safeguard cultural identity, promote language rights and ensure indigenous children receive quality and equitable education. The announcement was made in Ratanakiri province by Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. He said the move reflects the government’s commitment to the principle that “no child is left behind”, by allowing indigenous children to begin learning in their mother tongue. Naron…