Japanese NGO Caring for Young Khmer (CYK) has donated 40 examples of pidan – a type of finely detailed woven silk cloth used in traditional Cambodian ceremonies – to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. It is hoped that the gifts, made by the young artisans of the NGO, will help to raise awareness of the richness of Khmer intangible heritage. Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi presented the pieces to culture minister Phoeurng Sackona during a February 4 ceremony, held at the National Museum of Cambodia. The pidan – often used as canopies or tapestries during special events and Buddhist…
Author: Niem Chheng
Rising temperatures and an increase in standing water are the key factors contributing to the rapid growth and reproduction of common Culex mosquitoes. While these mosquitoes do not pose serious health risks, the Ministry of Health continues to warn the public to remain vigilant against Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever. In recent weeks, residents in Phnom Penh have reported a noticeable increase in Culex mosquitoes, with numbers significantly higher than in previous years. Many have urged the ministry to take action, such as spraying insecticide to control the mosquito population. Ly Sovann, director of the ministry’s Communicable Disease Control…
Fourteen young offenders who were caught performing motorcycle stunts on public roads were detained by the Phnom Penh Military Police. As has become common, they were made to do physical exercises and had their heads shaved as a form of punishment. Social analysts are calling for additional strategies to prevent youth from engaging in such behaviour. According to the police, the youths were detained in the early hours of January 3, in the capital’s Chroy Changvar district. They were part of a group of 15 (including one female) who had earlier been seen riding their motorcycles in a dangerous fashion.…
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has summoned two journalists and their interviewees for questioning over statements which the unit perceived as “intentionally inciting opposition against the ACU”. The statements relate to a corruption case in Kampong Thom province, which involves former public servant He Koeun. According to the summons, shared by the ACU on February 3, the two journalists are Kong Kan from Kong Kan TV and Huy Udom from Oudom TV, while the two interviewees are Pech Chheng Im, the wife of the accused, and their daughter Sok Kunthea. The four have been ordered to appear for questioning on February…
US President Donald Trump has appointed US secretary of state Marco Rubio as the acting administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), citing his belief that the agency’s aid programmes are no longer serving the core national interests of the US. In a statement issued just hours ago, the US Department of State asserted that USAID had strayed from its main mission of responsibly expanding US interests abroad. “In an interim step to manage and clearly understand the agency’s actions, President Donald Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the interim head. Mr. Rubio also notified…
The Cambodian government plans to introduce a new policy which will prohibit the import of energy-inefficient items, as part of efforts to promote energy conservation. This policy will be implemented through the establishment of electrical standards, which the government will announce soon, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. During the 2024 annual review and 2025 planning conference of the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, held today, February 3, the minister explained that various devices such as light bulbs and air conditioners – as well as other appliances with high electricity consumption – will be subject to the new…
Cambodia has expressed its thanks to the UK for its decision to extend Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) membership for an additional three years after the Kingdom graduates from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Once the December 19, 2029 graduation takes effect, Cambodia will no longer be eligible for the preferential trading schemes and tariff exemptions provided to LDC nations by several countries and trading blocs. The UK will extend its support until 2032. The extension was confirmed during a meeting between Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Dominic Williams, UK Ambassador to Cambodia. Discussions at…
Australia has provided another AUD $2 million AUD (approximately $1.25 million) to support Cambodia’s demining efforts, in phase IV of the Clearing for Results Project, a cost sharing agreement between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the UNDP. A signing ceremony was held today, January 30, at the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) headquarters in Phnom Penh. Through the Clearing for Results project, 384 square kilometres of mine-affected land has been cleared and returned to use. From 2020 to 2024, the project spent of $16 million for clearance and non-technical surveys, of which Australia…
The Japanese government has provided over $440,000 in grants for new projects in three provinces: a water reservoir in Takeo and new bridges in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap. The aid was supplied through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme for small-scale human security projects (Kusanone). Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi hosted a January 30 signing ceremony to officially announce the funding. The first project, the restoration of a water reservoir system in Takeo Province, will cost over $18,000. The work will be implemented by the provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology and is expected to benefit about…
A new government programme, the “Land Granting and Forest Protection Programme for Sustainable Development”, could begin accepting land applications from genuinely landless impoverished citizens as early as next week, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet. In a video clip released on the evening of January 28, Manet explained that that through the scheme, the government will grant land to genuinely landless Cambodian citizen. They will form new communities, helping to protect the land and forests surrounding their new homes. Manet described the programme as “killing two birds with one stone”, as it both assists landless citizens and protects forests from…