Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising at an alarming rate in Cambodia, with deaths linked to these conditions now accounting for more than 50 per cent of total mortality, posing a growing challenge to the country’s healthcare system and public well-being. The warning was issued by Minister of Health Chheang Ra during a January 26 press conference at the 45th National Health Congress. The minister noted that globally, NCDs account for around 71 per cent of all deaths. While Cambodia remains below that global average, he cautioned that the trend is steadily moving upward due to changes in lifestyle and living…
Author: Raksmey Hong
A three-day meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) formally began on January 27 at the Poipet International Border Checkpoint, marking a renewed effort by both sides to strengthen coordination and maintain stability along the shared border. According to Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, the opening session was convened by the RBC Secretariat between Cambodia’s 5th Military Region and Thailand’s 1st Army Area. “The Cambodian delegation was led by Major General Sar Kimpak, chief of the RBC Secretariat for Cambodia, while the Thai side was headed by Major General Phittayakool Pothisuwan, chairman of…
The United States and Cambodia signalled a decisive reset in defence relations on January 26, as Washington publicly affirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over Ream Naval Base and announced an expansion of military cooperation after years of strain. The shift was underscored during a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, at the Peace Palace, followed by Paparo’s remarks to reporters at Ream Naval Base during the port visit of the USS Cincinnati. Paparo said the US Navy’s presence at Ream reflected confidence in Cambodia’s sovereignty, directly addressing long-standing concerns in Washington over…
Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will officially introduce the Jarai language into its multilingual education programme on January 27, a move aimed at strengthening early-grade learning and expanding access to mother-tongue education for indigenous children. The launch will be held in Ratanakiri province under the chairmanship of Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron, according to a January 22 ministry press release. The integration of Jarai — one of Cambodia’s indigenous languages — builds on the ministry’s long-running multilingual education initiative. “Since 2003, the ministry has implemented multilingual education initiatives through two primary channels: the Multilingual…
Cambodia has deported more than 200 foreign nationals linked to online scam operations as part of an intensified, regionally coordinated crackdown on cross-border cybercrime. “The deportations, carried out on January 23, involved 209 foreigners, including 73 South Korean nationals and 136 from Myanmar, who were sent back to their home countries for further legal procedures,” according to the General Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior. Authorities said those deported included both suspected perpetrators and victims of technology-based fraud, underscoring the complex nature of online scam networks that often rely on trafficking and coercion. Cambodian officials noted that the…
Cambodia is moving to tap into the fast-growing Muslim tourism market through a new partnership with Indonesia, as the Ministry of Tourism steps up efforts to diversify visitor sources and strengthen the sector’s long-term resilience. Tourism minister Huot Hak recently joined Indonesian ambassador Santo Darmosumarto to film a promotional video highlighting Cambodia as a Muslim-friendly destination that is warm, safe and trustworthy. The video was shot at Preah Reach Troap Mountain, commonly known as Udong Mountain, a historic site that reflects the long-standing coexistence of Buddhism and Islam in Cambodia. The initiative signals Cambodia’s growing readiness to court Muslim travellers,…
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has announced the establishment of a consultant office in Phnom Penh, marking a concrete step to deepen two-way trade and investment ties between Hong Kong and Cambodia, while calling on Cambodian businesses to take a more direct role in promoting their own opportunities abroad. Speaking at a business networking event in Phnom Penh, Leung Kwan Ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia at HKTDC, said the new consultant office would serve as a permanent bridge to encourage Hong Kong companies to invest in Cambodia and support Cambodian firms seeking access to…
Cambodia’s Ministry of Cults and Religion has issued a formal protest against the Thai military for installing a Buddha statue in An Ses village, Preah Vihear province, describing the act as a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and a breach of bilateral and international agreements. In a statement released today, January 22, the ministry said the installation, in Choam Ksan commune and district, took place in an area Cambodia considers occupied. The protest follows a January 21 release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which also condemned recent activities by Thai forces in the disputed area. According to…
Cambodian contemporary artist Tith Kanitha has returned to exhibit in her home country with Cycle of Life, a major solo exhibition at Sna Arts Management, marking her first solo presentation in Cambodia in eight years. Running from January 16 to March 14, the exhibition brings together works created between 2007 and 2025, spanning video, sculpture, painting and works on paper. Presented across three storeys of the gallery, Cycle of Life traces Kanitha’s long-term engagement with time, memory, labour and the Buddhist concept of vat sangsa — the cyclical nature of existence encompassing life, death and rebirth. “The space contains the…
The Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has issued a strong protest against Thailand’s continued actions at Ta Krabei Temple. The ministry has accused the Thai military of shelling the ancient site – located within Cambodian sovereign territory – before illegally occupying it and carrying out construction activities. In a January 22 statement, the ministry warned that the temple suffered near-total destruction as a result of shelling by Thai forces. “Ta Krabei Temple is a precious archaeological site that has long been preserved and protected by Cambodia’s cultural institutions. The temple is also a sacred site of worship, revered…