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Central For Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL) on September 16 issued a new report on the challenges of Cambodian migrant workers during the Covid-19 outbreak and while some needs are being met, the workers still need more help during the crisis. It said that the Cambodian government, through the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand, has provided immediate response and assistance to some of the most disadvantaged workers, but due to the large impact, the resolution and response to each of these specific cases has not yet been achieved. According to report of CENTRAL, of the nearly 2 million Cambodian workers living and working in Thailand, thousands are facing hardships such as job loss, loss of income, high risk of contracting Covid-19 and lack of protection, social security and other health services. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937549/central-says-cambodia-migrant-workers-need-more-help/

A joint police team, comprising of a task force from Cambodian police and officials from the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, seconded by Beijing, raided a large gated compound in Sen Sok, Phnom Penh on Friday, September 17. In the raid, close to 200 people, comprising Chinese, Vietnamese, and other nationals were detained. A huge amount of equipment synonymous with online gaming, phishing, online dating and scamming, crypto currency mining and fake Bitcoin trading were seized along with substantial amounts of cash. A Cambodian police official – who declined to be identified as they are planning further rains and arrests – told Khmer Times “This is not related to the China Project reported by Khmer Times, but rather a smaller version of it operating in Phnom Penh.” “We have been observing the compound for sometime and decided to conduct the raid when we received information that there were victims of extortion – both sexual and financial – being illegally detained inside the compound,” he said. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937433/massive-joint-cambodian-and-chinese-police-raid-on-compound-in-phnom-penh-close-to-200-suspects-arrested/

The possible easing of quarantine for incoming travellers into Cambodia from the current 14 days to seven, if implemented, may see the slow but steady restart of the tourism and hospitality sectors which are all but down in the dumps. The 14 days quarantine upon entry into Cambodia and the high costs of this, has inhibited travellers and even businesspeople from coming to Cambodia as they find this period a big inhibitor when their business in Cambodia is for a few days and in most cases approximately three days. In addition, travel industry sources told Khmer Times that Cambodia should push for an ASEAN travel bubble to facilitate travel between the ASEAN countries. “For this to happen, several basic principles such as proof of full vaccination, reduced quarantine periods both ways, proof of return date, insurance and even some restricted movements could be considered. “Prime Minister Hun Sen’s revelations that a seven day quarantine, during which they can travel within a specific area is welcome new and may give hotels and related industries a new lease of life. However, there are also Cambodians who need to travel abroad for medical reasons and who cannot afford to be quarantined for 14 days in the country they travel to and again, another 14 days when they return,” the officials said. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937678/quarantine-rules-easing-across-the-board-may-lure-vaccinated-tourists-back-and-encourage-cambodians-to-travel/

Parisien has reported that a €100m offer has come in from Cambodian prince Norodom Ravichok to take over Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne. Les Verts’ board has yet to respond to the offer, which was put forward to KPMG – the firm in charge of finding a new investor, according to France Bleu – on Friday. Discussions could be set to kick off in the coming days, with the offer coming as a surprise given the current financial situation. Norodom is said to be a avowed Francophile, with his grandfather having been a personal friend of Charles de Gaulle. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937652/cambodian-prince-offers-e100m-to-buy-saint-etienne-french-football-club/

The Prime Minister announced that there are studies into the effects of the fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine. He also assured that the country will shoulder the cost, but also urged the private sector to contribute. Mr Hun Sen confirmed that the possibility of the fourth jab being offered and administered to the population of Covid-19 is wholly dependent on studies and development of the pandemic in the country. This was his response to a reporter’s question about the possibility of administering the 4th shot of Covid-19 vaccine. This question was posed to the Prime Minister during the press conference after the launch of the vaccination campaign for children 6 to 11-years-old. Mr Hun Sen assured that the state will pay for costs, but he wanted to see private companies assist the government in covering for costs. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937271/prime-minister-hun-sen-mulls-possibility-of-fourth-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine/

Angelina Jolie continues to raise awareness about bee conservation and the importance of investing in women’s education as part of her ongoing partnership with Guerlain. As an ambassador of the luxury French beauty house, the actress was named the Godmother of Women for Bees — a female beekeeping entrepreneurship program that Guerlain launched last year in partnership with UNESCO — and attended the graduation of the first class of women in France this summer, where she learned more about bee-keeping. PEOPLE can exclusively report that Jolie, 46, plans on returning to Cambodia soon to establish the next Women for Bees program in the region of Samlout where she has a home. “We wanted to make sure there was at least 50x women from 25 biospheres, to understand the biospheres and why it was important to map out and build the team,” Jolie tells PEOPLE exclusively of the program, which focuses on women’s empowerment and biodiversity conservation. “We are going to be working further with UNESCO to understand how to expand how we are working with some of these countries & biospheres — the next training will be in Samlout, in my home in Cambodia.” read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937370/angelina-jolie-plans-to-establish-next-women-for-bees-program-in-cambodia-next-year/

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged his competent authorities to conduct a scientific study on the possibility to inoculate the children aged from 3 to under 6 years old against COVID-19.While presiding over the launching ceremony of COVID-19 vaccination campaign of children aged from 6 to under 12 years old, the Premier said if they can be vaccinated, Cambodia will do so. “If this age group can receive the COVID-19 jabs, the Royal Government will not hesitate to buy more vaccines for them,” he said. Cambodia has aimed to build a strong herd immunity by fully vaccinating up to 91 percent of the total population of 16 million. The Kingdom has currently been conducting four COVID-19 vaccination campaigns: for the 18 years old and up, the 12 to under 18 years old, the 6 to under 12 years old, and the 3rd dose or booster dose. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937332/cambodia-to-conduct-scientific-study-on-vaccination-of-under-6s/

Our photographer, Sokunthea Chor, was on hand to document the scenes as the vaccination campaign for 6 to 12-years-old started in Phnom Penh These pictures were taken at Tuek Thla health center in Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937061/in-pictures-vaccination-campaign-for-6-to-12-year-olds-begins/ https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50937148/in-pictures-vaccination-campaign-for-6-to-12-year-olds-begins-part-2/

The Thai Minister of Health wants to set up a Cambodian-Thai working group to vaccinate Cambodian workers on the Thai-Cambodian border to facilitate travel between the two countries. Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has expressed his desire to set up a working group on the Thai-Cambodian border to vaccinate Cambodian workers working in Thailand against Covid-19 infection. The remarks were made during a working meeting with Sok Sokretya, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism, in Bangkok on Wednesday. Charnvirakul said that the Thai government has taken care to vaccinate all people who are living and working in Thailand to avoid Covid-19 infection along the border at both countries in order to quickly and easily to return to Cambodia. “I would also like to express my appreciation for the Royal Government of Cambodia’s measures to resolve the Covid-19 crisis, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he said. Regarding Cambodia’s plans to open an international tourist destination in the fourth quarter of 2021, he expressed support and optimism that Cambodia is a leading country in the Asean region with clear safety rules for international tourists. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50936617/thais-want-joint-vaccination-drive-for-workers-at-border/

A couple from Southern California passed away from Covid-19 and left five children behind. The couple, Daniel and Davy Macias, died just days apart after they were infected with the Delta Variant which they got on a vacation. Davy was unable to get vaccinated due to being pregnant at the time. Davy’s bother, Vong Serey, confirmed that his sister was not vaccinated due to her pregnancy. It was unclear whether Daniel was vaccinated or not. Both of them were admitted into the ICU after showing severe symptoms. Davy was still in the ICU, when she gave birth via Caesarean section. She never got to hold and see her baby because just eight days after giving birth she passed away from Covid-19 complications. Daniel was able to get a glimpse of his daughter, and after three days was intubated as his condition worsened. He died less than two weeks after Davy passed away. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50936788/husband-and-cambodian-wife-dies-form-covid-19-leaving-5-children-behind/

* Foreigners lured by adverts offering call centre jobs * Held against their will, victims forced into online scams * Pandemic makes it easier for gangs to exploit foreigners * China links kidnapping, trafficking to online gambling By Matt Blomberg PHNOM PENH, Sept 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Foreign workers and tourists stranded in Cambodia during the COVID-19 pandemic have been trafficked and forced to work in sophisticated Chinese-run online scams, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has found. In interviews, nine trafficking victims said they were lured by social media adverts promising well-paid jobs in call centres. Instead, they ended up in shuttered hotel casinos and guarded compounds where they had their passports confiscated before being put to work online. The victims, mainly from Africa and Asia, said they were ordered to create fake profiles on Tinder, WhatsApp and Facebook to entice people into fraudulent investment schemes involving cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange and shares. Those who objected or performed poorly were subjected to violence and threats, victims said. Mary, a teacher from the Philippines, said she miscarried while locked in a room without food and water for three days. "We were desperate," said Mary, who was three months pregnant and four months out of work when she responded in July to a Facebook post offering call centre jobs to English-speaking foreigners. read more https://news.trust.org/item/20210916120210-olp4a

Viral video and audio of the meeting are edited fabrications, ruling party says. Cambodia’s ruling party has denied that prime minister Hun Sen crashed a meeting of his political rivals from the country’s banned opposition party, saying that viral video and audio of meeting was edited to appear real, RFA has learned. In video and audio of the alleged incident shared widely on social media, Hun Sen appears, surprising a Zoom meeting of about 15 Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) activists and former lawmakers on Sept. 9, and tells them to stop spreading anti-government messages. A spokesman for the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) denied that Hun Sen had interrupted the meeting, saying that the audio and video clips were an elaborate fabrication in a report by Voice of Democracy (VOD), a Cambodian independent media outlet started by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and operated by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM). “These are all exaggerations. It’s made as if it’s real, but it is not,” VOD quoted spokesperson Sok Eysan as saying. “[They’re] exaggerating [to suggest] that the winner who has power in hand with the people’s support across the country, turned to negotiate with those who ran out of the country. It never happened,” he said, adding that the CNRP was “already dead and would never be revived.” Former CNRP lawmaker Long Ry, who lives in exile in Massachusetts, confirmed to RFA’s Khmer Service that Hun Sen had interrupted the meeting In video footage of the alleged incident obtained by RFA, while Long Ry is speaking, Hun Sen’s face appears suddenly to interrupt. In VOD’s account of a 12-minute audio clip of the alleged incident, Hun Sen accuses the CNRP of making false reports about his death, and then launches into criticism of the CNRP’s co-founder and Acting President Sam Rainsy, who has been living in exile in Paris, but has vowed to return to Cambodia to oppose Hun Sen politically. Hun Sen then tells the meeting that he has been secretly watching them all along, the report said. “I have been listening and have entered to listen many times already. Even last night, you, Long Ry, had a meeting with Mu Sochua to strengthen forces in Bangkok and the Philippines. I received that too,” Hun Sen’s voice says, referring to the CNRP’s vice president, who lives in exile in the U.S. “Nowadays, you all want to return to the country. Nowadays, you all want to reunite,” VOD quoted the voice of Hun Sen as saying. Long Ry told RFA that Hun Sen was able to join the Zoom meeting because one of his team members shared the meeting’s link or password with others so that they could listen. He said he would be happy to invite Hun Sen to future meetings to discuss national issues. “But morally, when people sneak a peak into our affairs, we are not happy. For example, when someone furtively watches naked people taking a shower, that’s bad,” said Long Ry. “In politics, I think we should employ honest and straightforward methods, and not take advantages of others by secretly sneaking into their affairs,” he said. Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November 2017 over an alleged plot to overthrow the government. The move came amid a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on the country’s political opposition, independent media, and NGOs that paved the way for his CPP to win all 125 seats in parliament in the country’s July 2018 elections. Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Eugene Whong. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/crash-09152021155921.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on 15 September, underlined the importance of cross-border connectivity among India and developing nations of South-East Asia. Addressing the ASEAN summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships virtually from New Delhi, Sonowal said that greater connectivity between ASEAN nations has long been both an economic and strategic objective for the ASEAN–India partnership. He said connectivity provides the transmission channels through which development impulses can spread across the region and can add to the dynamism of economic and social progress. The minister added that India–ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) is central to India’s growing engagement with her eastern neighbours. In this direction, he said, extension of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam will enable greater connectivity and economic integration of India’s northeast with its eastern neighbours, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a release. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50935981/india-to-expand-trilateral-highway-to-include-cambodia-besides-india-myanmar-thailand/

3 people of Cambodian and Nigerian nationalities were arrested and remanded by a judge from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of fraud. The Investigating Judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court remanded into custody 3 suspects, 1 Nigerian national and 2 Cambodians. They were accused of fraud by pretending to be another person and asking money from that person’s wife. According to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, the preparator contacted the victim’s wife via WhatsApp in early 2020, asking her to send money from Canada to a bank account in Cambodia. The suspects told her that her husband, Steven Chen, was arrested and detained by Cambodian immigration police of overstaying his visa and needed money to settle the problem. According to the wife of the suspect, she received the money from an international transfer to her bank account on several occasions without a clear source. A total of $237,142 was transferred to the ABA bank account of the suspect’s wife. She in turn wires out $1,600 from her ABA account and $9,866 from her Wing account. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50935513/nigerian-national-among-three-people-arrested-for-fraud-and-identity-theft-scheme/

The body of the missing young male who was lost at sea yesterday was found by authorities. At around 6 p.m. on September 15, Tumpun Rolok Police Force in cooperation with the District Unity Command Force, divers and GTV Speedboat Team found the corpse of the missing boy. According to authorities the search took place from September 14 to September 15. The search team worked in bad weather conditions. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50936138/child-lost-at-sea-found-dead/

Cambodia’s hospitality industry is up in arms after Vietnam and Thailand partially open for tourists, under strict conditions, but the Kingdom remains firmly shut to such trials despite being more in control of the pandemic. This comes as news broke that Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island will be open for “fully vaccinated” tourists from the beginning of November for a period of six months as a trial and to boost tourism in the country. In Thailand, vaccinated visitors will be able to visit five provinces from Oct 1: Bangkok, Chiangmai, Chonburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, which will follow the hugely successful “Sandbox” model piloted in Phuket, which has seen a revenue of around $50 million and seen 27,609 tourists from July 1 to Sept 3. A former hotelier on Koh Rong by the name of Richards said: “Cambodia is already 80 percent vaccinated with two doses. If you can’t open the borders now, when can you? How can Phu Quoc open when Vietnam has only vaccinated about 12 percent of the whole country’s population, assuming they have had two doses?” read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50935835/vietnams-and-thailands-gains-but-cambodias-economic-loss/

Cambodia and Australia have discussed the priorities on bilateral development cooperation and the progress of the Cambodia COVID-19 Development Response Plan (CDRP 2020-2022) as well as the future development initiative programmes for Cambodia. The discussion took place through videoconference on Sept. 13 under the chairmanship of Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Cambodian Rehabilitation and Development Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CRDB/CDC), and Andreas Zurbrugg, Deputy Head of Mission of Australian Embassy and colleagues. According to a CDC’s press release, Yanara warmly welcomed and expressed his congratulation to Mr. Andreas Zurbrugg on his appointment as the Deputy Head of Mission of Australian Embassy in Cambodia and Head of Australian Aid Programme in Cambodia. He also highly valued the achievements made in the implementation of the CDRP 2020-2022 which have strengthened partnerships and contributed to the sustainable and inclusive development of Cambodia. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50935092/australia-pledges-aud35-for-purchase-of-covid-19-vaccines-for-cambodia/

Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced the Ministry of Justice undersecretary of state, Seng Sovannara to two years and six months in prison over grabbing 1,000 hectares of land in Mondulkiri province between 2018 and last year. His three accomplices Sin Po, 59, former chief of Koh Meul Loeu village, Van Sothea, 36, and Po Choy, 34, both farmers who lived in Mondulkiri province’s Koh Nhek, Nang Khylik commune to two years in prison each. In passing the sentence, Presiding Judge Theam Chanpiseth also said the grabbed land in Mondulkiri province by Sovannara, 53, is now ordered back as State property. He added that Sovannara, arrested on June 26 at his home in Tuol Kork district, was charged with four counts of “fraud with aggravating circumstances; intimidation in order to prevent the filing of a complaint; and unauthorised holding of a weapon” under Articles 377, 380, 490 and 527 of the Criminal Code and with “grabbing the state’s public property” under Article 62 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50935166/undersecretary-of-state-jailed-30-months-over-land-grab/

Following an investigation by the Khmer Times, police raided a hotel-casino. A number of people were arrested and two victims released. Firearms were also found. Those arrested will be questioned after a 14-day quarantine. To avoid the crackdown, criminal activities are being moved away from the coastal city. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Cambodian police arrested 14 people accused of criminal activities at a Chinese-owned hotel-casino on Ochheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville. The authorities acted following the investigative work of the Khmer Times, which exposed how more than 8,000 people held prisoner by Chinese bosses were forced to engage in online fraud in a complex of buildings known as the China Project. According to the Cambodian newspaper, shots were heard near the beach last Thursday. The next day, police raided the hotel. The criminals fired up to six shots as they attempted to flee to a nearby building. No deaths or injuries were reported. The same criminal activities uncovered in the China Project investigation were found inside the Xihao Ying hotel-casino. In addition to online fraud, the authorities report enslavement, cross-border human trafficking and sexual abuse. read more http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fourteen-Chinese-arrested-in-connection-with-illegal-activities-in-Sihanoukvilles-China-Project-54052.html

On the morning of September 13, Ouk Sophoan, Ambassador of Cambodia to the Kingdom of Thailand, assigned Thuch Dalin, General Counselor and Kem Chamroeun, Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission to bring rice, fish, vegetables, fish and meat to hand over to the representatives of 6 groups of Cambodian workers at Polytechnic 1 Road, Sangkat Phaya Thai, Khan Phaya Thai, Bangkok to be distributed to a total of 113 families of workers. The 113 families of the workers live in: Sok Savatdy 12 Street, Pak Khlang Plakat Commune, Phra Samuth Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province, 24 families, Area 9/155, Imperial, Lakona Commune, Bang Buathong District, Nonthaburi Province, 5 families , Group 5, Sok Sovath 2 Street, Sangkat Choam Thong, Khan Choam Thong, Bangkok, 23 families, Sin Thany 88 Project, Ban Kao Commune, Phan Thong District, Chhun Buri Province, 22 families, Seth Nawamin Area 17 families and Ta Lat Thai area, Khlong Luong district, Pa Thum Thani province, 22 families. The embassy confirmed that all of them were in dire straits, some had lost their jobs, some had been infected with Covid-19, and a large part of them had been unable to go to work. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50934549/115-cambodian-families-in-thailand-in-distressed-condition-receive-aid-from-the-cambodian-embassy/

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, the Provincial Government of Siem Reap has announced lockdown measures and other restrictions as follows: Siem Reap Town will be classified as a “Dark Yellow Zone” from September 11, 2021 through September 18, 2021. “Dark Yellow Zones” are subject to the following restrictions: All individuals within the lockdown areas must not leave their residence for the duration of the lockdown period, with some exceptions. Certain essential businesses may remain open despite the lockdown, but may be subject to stricter requirements, such as minimising their staffing to no more than 2%. For those traveling to work in essential businesses allowed to remain open during the lockdown, a travel permit from the “Executive Committee to Manage and Lead the Implementation of the Lockdown” is required in addition to an ID and employment certificate. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50934469/us-embassy-issues-alert-over-lockdown-measures-in-siem-reap/

Police in Kandal province are holding 31 villagers for alleged involvement in violence against authorities. Police in Cambodia's Kandal province set up roadblocks to prevent villagers from accessing their land, Sept. 7, 2021. RFA Cambodian authorities have arrested more than 30 villagers during a violent roundup of land protesters in Kandal province where they were protesting against an airport being built by a company owned by a tycoon with ties to the country’s autocratic leader, provincial police and villagers said. The land at Kampong Talong village in Kandal’s Beung Khchang commune was taken three years ago by the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC), a private Cambodian firm, for construction of the U.S. $1.5 billion airport project. Around 330 families living on the disputed land refused compensation for their fields, saying the amounts offered in payment by the firm were too low. Police beat the protesters who rallied Sunday, and 31 were arrested for alleged involvement in violence against authorities during the demonstration. The land dispute between 330 families and the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC) owned by Neak Oknha (honorific) Pung Khieu Se, an affluent business tycoon close to Prime Minister Hun Sen led to authorities to make the arrests. Villager Nai Phon, who was monitoring the situation, said that authorities arrested three of his family members — his wife, Khim Chetra, and sisters Nay Phea and Nay Phol, and that police were still searching for and arresting other villagers. “As a land grab victim, it has been three years since I begged the head of government to help solve this land dispute by giving us fair compensation so that we can accept it, Nai Phon said. “And now we do not dare to claim the market price. We can accept a reasonable price to end the confrontation and have all the detainees released.” RFA could not reach Kandal’s police commissioner, Chhoeun Socheth, for comment. ‘It is not a good way’ Am Sam Ath, deputy director of monitoring at Cambodian human rights group Licadho, said that this is the first time in the history of land disputes in Cambodia that authorities have arrested such a large number of people. “We still insist on not choosing that way, and it is not a good way,” said Am Sam Ath, who condemned the resort to mass arrests. “First, it affects both sides and draws more criticism over the issue of the land dispute as well as other allegations,” he said. “And if the people are imprisoned, their suffering will be doubled. This means that their families will face more problems.” This arrest and violent crackdown erupted Sept. 12 after hundreds of authorities prevented farmers from accessing the land. They set fire to the rubbish in front of the security barricades used by local police and military police to block the road to their farmland now under the control of OCIC. In response, Kandal Provincial Hall accused residents of causing acts of violence involving the use of sticks, stones, rubber bullets, and petrol bombs that injured 13 police officers. Authorities called on residents to stop what they said were illegal activities and return to efforts to resolve the land dispute peacefully. Acting on behalf of CIOC, Kandal provincial authorities have offered villagers U.S. $8 per square meter for their land, but villagers say that is much lower than the U.S. $70-80 per square meter estimated market price. Van Sophat, land monitoring officer for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, previously told RFA that OCIC had failed to conduct a proper assessment of their project’s environmental impact or to consult Kampong Talong villagers on the proposed development. The villagers hold title to their land and deserve justice and fair compensation, he said. Hundreds of police officers blocked villagers on Sept. 7 from visiting rice fields seized to build an airport, though no injuries were reported. Villagers stopped cultivating their land three years ago, but had to start farming again because business shutdowns caused by the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia have left them without other ways to survive, a villager told RFA in an earlier report. Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/villagers-arrested-09132021183947.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

‘White Building’, a film selected as Cambodia’s entry for the international feature film category for the 2022 Academy Awards, won two awards at the 78th Annual Venice Film Festival. The film won the Best Film and Best Actor Awards at the Venice Film Festival. The Best Actor Award went to Piseth Chun, who plays the protagonist of the film. The film is an achievement for the Director, Kavich Neang, and the entire cast and crew. It is an example of how Cambodia can join other countries on the international stage in the film and movie industry. The entire film and its success were made possible by the dedication and hard work of the film cast and crew and the director. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50934349/cambodian-film-white-building-bags-awards-in-venice-film-festival/

China has gifted Cambodia a $150 million sporting stadium outside Phnom Penh. Designed to pay homage to Cambodian culture, the stadium is five stories tall and can seat 60,000 people. It's the latest in China's "stadium diplomacy" strategy of giving out sporting venues in exchange for influence. Cambodia has received the keys to a brand new, $150 million stadium from China, the latest country to be gifted such a project as Beijing tries to build influence worldwide. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi formally handed over the Morodok Techno National Stadium, which China financed and started building in 2013, to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday, reported the Khmer Times. At the handover ceremony, Wang said China funded the project because it was close friends with Cambodia, per the Times. Cambodia plans to use the stadium, located on the outskirts of capital Phnom Penh, to host the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in 2023. https://www.insider.com/china-gift-cambodia-stadium-morodok-techno-diplomacy-photos-2021-9

A Filipino suspected of murder is admitted at a private clinic in Chamkar Mon district under police guard due to serious injuries on both his legs and hands after he jumped from a first floor apartment in an attempt to flee after the deaths of his younger sister and her husband. Phnom Penh police are still investigating the murder case which happened about 10am on Friday at Yabes Apartments located in Boeng Trabek commune. District deputy police chief Major Keo Veasna identified the suspect as Yabes Fermin JR Suyat, 54, a Filipino who is the owner of the apartment building, . Maj Veasna said that the suspect is now warded at the private clinic in Chamkar Mon district due to his serious injuries after he jumped from the first floor of the apartment after allegedly killing the two victims. Maj Veasna identified the two victims as Jerry I Cervancs JR, 43, and his wife Grace Yabes Suyat, 41, both Filipino. “We still do not know the motive behind the murder of the two victims since the suspect is now at the hospital and we cannot interrogate him yet,” Maj Veasna told Khmer Times yesterday. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50933924/filipino-murder-suspect-in-hospital-after-attempt-to-flee/