In the wake of opposition accusations that the Cambodian leadership family uses luxury goods, which they suggest shows the social distance between them and ordinary Cambodians, government spokesperson Pen Bona dismissed the claims, calling them a recurrent tactic employed by the opposition for over three decades. He argued that these accusations were merely attempts to incite anger and mobilise public sentiment against the government. The opposition figures are amplifying their critique by pointing to the lavish lifestyles of government officials and their families. “This is the political culture of the opposition in Cambodia,” said Bona. “For over 30 years, they…
Author: Raksmey Hong
A youth-oriented event, held at Pursat province’s Kampong Luong Primary School on September 16, aimed to highlight the power of community empowerment through international cooperation, with a focus on education, health and hygiene. Organised by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Cambodia Office, the Cambodia–Korea Alumni Association (CAMKAA) and World Friends Korea (WFK) volunteers, it brought together more than 600 participants. “As part of the event, KOICA and CAMKAA donated essential items to the school, including 150 bicycles, 250 school bags, 400 notebooks and pens, 300 toothbrushes and toothpaste, sets of textbooks and storybooks, and nutritious cookies,” according to KOICA.…
The EU and Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) are co-hosting the September 16-17 “Closing the Gap” workshop. The event, held in Phnom Penh, has brought together over 50 regional stakeholders from governments, vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, the private sector and international organisations across the ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste. “The workshop aims to align TVET systems with the labour market’s needs, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector, a vital component of the ASEAN economy,” according to a press release. The workshop featured the launch of a new study on the employability of TVET…
Cambodia’s agricultural sector has long been the backbone of its economy, supporting the livelihoods of millions and contributing to national food security. As the country strives toward its vision for 2030 and 2050, higher education is increasingly seen as a critical player in transforming this sector to meet both domestic and global demands. At the heart of this transformation are Cambodia’s agricultural higher education institutions, which are playing a pivotal role in equipping the next generation of agricultural professionals. During a September 16 graduation ceremony, 1,487 students from the Royal University of Agriculture, Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture and…
The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) has sounded the alarm over a surge in fraudulent activities on the popular messaging platform Telegram. It has urged the public to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams. According to the TRC, scammers have been circulating deceptive messages through Telegram, employing a variety of tactics to exploit users. “These include impersonating well-known public figures, senior government officials and business leaders to promote fake investment schemes promising high returns in a short period of time,” it said. Other scams involve messages falsely informing recipients they have won a prize, with victims then being asked to…
The Apsara National Authority is set to complete the restoration of the historic Chorm Temple by the end of the year, marking a major milestone in the revival of Cambodia’s cultural heritage. “Situated in the Preah Pithu Temple Group of the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the temple had suffered significant damage over time, but restoration efforts are on track to restore its grandeur,” explained the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Chorm Temple, a small yet notable sandstone structure dating back to the early 12th century, had been in a deteriorated state for years. The site, which shares a…
The ASEAN community gathered in Phnom Penh on 13 September 2025 to celebrate Southeast Asia’s vibrant cultures, traditions and unity at the ASEAN Bazaar 2025. The event, marking its second iteration, was an exploration of the region’s shared identity and its diverse offerings. “The bazaar provided a platform for visitors to experience the culinary delights, traditional crafts, and cultural expressions from all 10 ASEAN Member States, along with Timor-Leste, as part of the region’s growing inclusivity,” according to a press statement. The event was organised by the ASEAN embassies in Phnom Penh, with Malaysia leading the coordination efforts as ASEAN…
The German government has pledged urgent assistance to families displaced along Cambodia’s conflict-affected border regions, launching a nutrition programme in partnership with World Vision Cambodia. “The initiative will provide lifesaving support to more than 1,000 children under the age of five and 572 pregnant and lactating women in Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces,” according to World Vision Cambodia. “Families in displacement sites currently rely on basic food staples such as rice, canned fish and instant noodles,” it explained, in a September 12 statement. While these supplies prevent immediate hunger, experts warn they fall short of the nutritional…
In a demonstration of its commitment to global environmental governance, Cambodia has reaffirmed its dedication to signing and ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement. The Kingdom also expressed its strong support for the “Nice Wake-Up Call for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty”, underscoring its active role in addressing critical global environmental issues. These key developments were discussed during a courtesy call between Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Olivier Richard, the newly appointed ambassador of France to Cambodia. According to the foreign ministry, the September 10 meeting highlighted the long-standing and robust diplomatic ties between…
The Ministry of National Defence on Thursday supported the deployment of the ASEAN Interim Observer Team (IOT) from Phnom Penh to Preah Vihear and Banteay Meanchey provinces to begin on-site monitoring of the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. “The mission, led by Brigadier General Dato’ Pahlawan Asri bin Shukor, Head of Mission of the IOT and director of Training at the Royal Malaysian Army HQ, includes representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam,” noted the defence ministry. “The team is tasked with observing, verifying and reporting on the situation in the border areas,” it added.…