The Japanese embassy in Cambodia donated several traditional Khmer musical instruments to the Secondary School of Fine Arts on December 10, as part of the KUSANONE Grassroots Grant Aid Programme. The handover ceremony was presided over by Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi and Hab Touch, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, and attended by 400 students and members of the school’s faculty. “These traditional musical instruments are a contribution from the Japanese people and government under the grassroots grant aid program for cultural projects. Since 1991, in addition to large-scale loans and other grant aid projects,…
Author: Niem Chheng
Minister of Tourism Huot Hak has called on workers in the sector to develop specialised skills under the motto “One Employee, One Skill” as Cambodia’s Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) training programme officially entered its third phase. The launch of HoKa Phase 3 (2024–2028) took place on December 9 at the ministry, with participation from key partners. Initiated in 2017, the programme has trained thousands of individuals, including youth from underprivileged backgrounds, business owners, managers and tourism professionals. The ministry highlighted HoKa as a nationwide initiative known for its high-quality training. “This programme is acknowledged for its high-quality training aligned with the…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has inaugurated the construction of the Kingdom’s first-ever public university hospital under the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Phnom Penh. He also used the occasion to urge the public to invest in health care through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Located in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, Khmuonh commune, the hospital is funded by a $66.57 million concessional loan from South Korea. Construction is expected to take 28 months, and the hospital will be managed by the University of Health Sciences as a teaching facility. Addressing this morning’s December 10 groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of…
Much-loved Cambodian social media influencer and comedian Chem Chanra, widely known as Peak Mi, received acclaim for organising the “Smile of My Village” event in Siem Reap province’s Prasat Bakong district on Saturday, December 7. The one-day miniature festival event highlighted traditional Khmer farming practices such as harvesting, threshing and milling rice, while also showcasing cultural heritage activities like making ambok (flattened rice), baking clay stoves and preparing traditional Khmer desserts for both local and international tourists. Held in Thnal Trang village in Bakong commune, the event welcomed many local guests and nearly 200 international tourists. Supported by provincial authorities,…
Senate president Hun Sen is leading a high-level delegation on official visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the goal of strengthening ties and cooperation between their respective legislative institutions. Analysts have highlighted the importance of these visits in both economic and political dimensions, particularly as Cambodia faces accusations of leaning too heavily toward a single great power, China. According to a Senate press release, Hun Sen’s December 8 to 14 visitbegan in Saudi Arabia, where he arrived on December 8. During the tour, he will meet with parliamentary leaders, as well as the…
Political analysts argue that Cambodia’s current domestic condition makes it unlikely that opposition movements based abroad will achieve success, noting that unless the situation in the Kingdom worsens significantly, they are unlikely to accomplish their goals. Their observations were in response to numerous efforts by former opposition party members to launch resistance campaigns abroad, ever since the largest opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved in 2017. The Royal Academy of Cambodia hosted a December 6 “Forming Resistance Movements Abroad” roundtable discussion. Although the discussion touched on the resistance and “colour revolutions” experienced in various countries, the…
The government, UNESCO and several partners have called on the media to play a more active role in promoting gender equality and addressing violence against women and girls. The appeal was made during the Annual Media Forum on Gender Equality: held under the theme The Role of Media in Promoting Gender Equality and Preventing Violence Against Women on December 5. Global and local perspectives on violence against women Speaking at the forum, UNESCO representative in Cambodia Sardar Umar Alam highlighted a stark global reality: “Worldwide, 736 million women – one in three – experience violence in their lifetime.” He warned…
The Ministry of Interior has issued a directive which prohibits the creation, sharing and promotion of images, videos or content related to illegal gambling activities. This includes efforts to entice the public to participate in illegal gambling, either directly or online. Analysts, however, believe there is a significant gap between the directive and its practical enforcement. In the directive, released on December 4, interior minister Sar Sokha noted that the ministry has observed the widespread promotion and sharing of illegal gambling by influencers and content creators on social media, causing public confusion and encouraging further dissemination. The directive demands an…
The Minister of Information has underscored the crucial role of online content creators in producing entertainment and educational material, distinguishing them from those involved in make-money-online (MMO) schemes, who are often driven by profit rather than truth or ethics. Information minister Neth Pheaktra addressed over 100 content creators during a meeting on December 3, praising their contributions to public entertainment and information. He highlighted their significant role in maintaining social order. “Content creators differ from MMO groups who neglect professional ethics and focus solely on ‘likes’, ‘comments’ and ‘shares’ to generate income from platforms like Facebook and TikTok,” he said.…
Hun Sen, president of the Cambodian Senate and leader of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), met personally with Chinese President Xi Jinping on December 3, as part of his three-day official visit to China. He encouraged increased security cooperation in areas like fraud and online gambling, while also suggesting that party-to-party and diplomatic ties be strengthened. The two leaders emphasised their commitment to enhancing the “ironclad friendship” and advancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations. A social media post by the former prime minister shared that he had requested continued Chinese support for Cambodia in the form of grants and…