The latest survey of the sarus crane population in Cambodia’s Lower Mekong wetlands revealed a decline of 15 birds, from 67 in December 2023 to 52 in December last year. The survey was conducted on December 30 and 31 by staff from NatureLife Cambodia and the Takeo and Kampot provincial environment departments, as well as the authorities of the Boeng Prek Lapouv Protected Landscape in Takeo and the Anlung Pring Protected Landscape in Kampot. The effort involved 13 participants, including park rangers, Royal Gendarmerie officers, community members and NatureLife Cambodia staff. Among the 52 recorded cranes, 44 were observed in…
Author: Niem Chheng
Social observers have expressed support for plans to increase the number of police officers at commune-level administrative posts to at least 10 officers to enhance public services and citizen safety. However, they emphasised the need for a clear division of responsibilities. On December 31, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha announced that the number of commune-level officers will be increased to at least 10 officers in 2025 and 2026, according to a recent statement by the interior ministry. The ministry explained that, at present, some commune-level administrative posts lack adequate police forces to match the population and geographic areas they oversee. …
In the latest campaign to suppress illegal gambling, Kampong Speu provincial authorities have arrested 18 individuals, including three Chinese nationals and 15 Cambodian citizens. Meanwhile, the National Police apprehended four individuals for promoting gambling on social media. The Kampong Speu raid took place on January 1 in Prey Kuy Village, in Samrong Tong district’s Trapeang Kong commune. The operation led to the arrest of the Chinese ringleader and seventeen staff members, the majority of them women. The staff members included two Chinese nationals, according to the Kampong Speu Provincial Gendarmerie. Authorities seized seven card tables, two fish-shooting game machines and…
A medical team at the Koh Ker Health Center in Kulen district, Preah Vihear province, successfully saved the life of a two-month premature newborn and its mother on January 2. According to Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Chen An, a resident of Mrech Thmei village in Srayong commune who was pregnant for the first time, experienced abdominal pains and went into labour, despite her pregnancy only reaching 28 weeks. After the expectant mother reported feeling pains, her family arranged for a two-wheeled, walk-behind tractor with a trailer to transport her to the health…
Although no recent cases of counterfeit US dollars have been reported, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has issued a reminder for the public to stay vigilant and assist in preventing the circulation of counterfeit US currency. According to an announcement released today, the NBC reminder is in line with recommendations from the US Secret Service, as the US dollar continues to circulate widely in Cambodia. The NBC has instructed banking and financial institutions to confiscate counterfeit US dollar notes from customers without compensation and submit them to the US Secret Service, accompanied by reports for further investigation. “Banking and…
The Ministry of Information has pledged to continue to ensure a safe working environment for journalists in Cambodia, supporting professional development, securing media safety and upholding press freedom. The pledge was shared by ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith. In a statement on the state of the media in Cambodia in 2024, Asnarith claimed that the ministry’s efforts to promote the media industry are based on equality and are free from discrimination, threats or political bias. “We urge all journalists to work with honesty, integrity and impartiality, maintaining dignity and discipline, while upholding public interest, adhering to ethical standards and respecting journalistic…
The 2025 dry season is expected to feature less intense heat than 2024, with minimum and maximum average temperatures projected to be lower than in most previous years, according to a notification from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. In a December 30 forecast, the ministry announced that it has been monitoring and forecasting global weather phenomena. Based on predictions of surface temperature variations in the western Pacific Ocean and equatorial regions, La Niña conditions are expected to decline from 60% to 40% between January and May, giving way to ENSO-neutral conditions, which are predicted to rise from 60%…
While the government recently announced that visa fees will be reduced, several private-sector tourism commentators have suggested that waiving visa fees entirely – either for all countries or certain key markets – would better promote international arrivals. On December 28, the Cambodian government announced that from January 1, 2025, the fee for e-Visa T (Tourist Visa) will be reduced from $36 to $30, while the e-Visa E (Ordinary Visa) fee will drop from $42 to $35. While this latest initiative is viewed as a step forward, private tourism operators have encouraged the government to consider visa exemptions for international tourists,…