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As the country continues to implement massive vaccination campaigns, the 16.5 million vaccines ordered from China will be arriving this month to fuel the endeavour. While at the Phnom Penh International Airport this morning to receive the latest delivery of vaccines, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Health, Dr Yuok Sambath, spoke to reporters and told them that today, August 12, the country received 3 million vaccines today and 2 million more doses are scheduled to arrive in the third week of the month or early in the fourth week. With the addition of the new arrivals, Cambodia has about 24.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines in stock. The doses were acquired through purchase and donations. The brand and number of vaccines in stock are as follows: 7.2 million doses of Sinopharm, 14.5 million doses of Sinovac, 1,739,000 doses of AstraZeneca, and 1,064,600 doses of Johnson & Johnson. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914560/all-16-5-million-ordered-doses-of-vaccine-from-china-to-arrive-this-month/

As widespread curfew violation continues – on an astonishing scale – in Cambodia, authorities detained over 4,000 people last night. This follows on from Monday night, where 1682 people were detained. On August 11, 2021, authorities detained another 4154 people and 990 vehicles. The violators were fined a total of fined 26 million riels (approx. $4,000). read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914457/curfew-violation-on-a-massive-scale-over-4000-people-detained-last-night-for-breaking-curfew/

Baseth district police chief yesterday received a suspension order for corruptly getting money from gamblers and allowing them to gamble illegally besides even getting his own subordinates to gamble in the district police station. Major Oum Chamroeun was suspended after some 31 top police officers and commune chiefs filed complaints against him to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng and the National Police chief General Neth Savoeun since May this year. Kampong Speu provincial police chief, Major General Sam Samuon said that Maj Chamroeun has now been transferred from Baseth district station to be on temporary standby at the Kampong Speu Provincial Police while awaiting to receive further orders from the National Police chief. “We now have already suspended his job and transferred him from Baseth district to the Kampong Speu Provincial Police Headquarters,” Maj Gen Samuon told Khmer Times yesterday. “He (Maj Chamroeun)now is waiting for the decision as to his fate from the Ministry of Interior and the National Police chief,” he said, adding that the relevant authorities are now investigating further as to all the complaints filed against him. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914854/police-chief-suspended-over-wrongdoings/

With an endless sea of genuine and contagious smiles and an abundance of hospitality and generosity that warms the heart and soothes the soul, Cambodia ranked fourth among countries and territories with the friendliest attitudes towards foreign residents, according to a survey conducted by Expat Insider and published by InterNations. This comes after a three-year hiatus, when the Kingdom of Wonder – alternatively dubbed the “Land of Smiles” – made a surprise appearance on the top ten list in 2017, also taking fourth place. Virtually all correspondents (96 per cent) rated the levels of intimacy and friendly attitudes as “positive”, compared to the 70 per cent global average. read more https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-ranks-fourth-friendliness-towards-foreign-residents

The last surviving senior Khmer Rouge leader will next week begin an appeal against his life imprisonment for his role in the genocide committed by the regime in Cambodia more than four decades ago. The Khmer Rouge, led by "Brother Number 1" Pol Pot, left some two million Cambodians dead from overwork, starvation and mass executions from 1975-79. The regime's former head of state Khieu Samphan, 90, will on Monday challenge his 2018 conviction for genocide against ethnic minority Vietnamese. He was convicted alongside "Brother Number 2" Nuon Chea and jailed for life for genocide and a litany of other crimes, including forced marriages and rapes. The pair were previously handed life sentences by the UN-backed court in 2014 for crimes against humanity over the violent forced evacuation of Phnom Penh in April 1975, when Khmer Rouge troops drove the population of the capital into the countryside. read more https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210812-top-khmer-rouge-leader-to-appeal-genocide-conviction

The Commission for COVID-19 Vaccination says the media in Phnom Penh will receive the third dose of AstraZeneca at the National Children’s Hospital from September 8 to 15, 2021. According to Ms. O Vandin, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health, times and dates will be: September 8 to 15, 2021, 08:00 to 11:00 and in the afternoon from 14:00 to 17:00 Journalists are being prioritised because ‘they are active and mobile everywhere to hunt for information’ read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50913803/journalists-in-phnom-penh-will-start-receiving-booster-dose-from-september-8th/

For the 10th consecutive day, daily COVID case totals were lower in Cambodia as The Kingdom announced the lowest daily case figure since June 19th. Cambodia today announced a daily new cases total of 486, bringing the COVID case total to 83,384 cases. Figures for the last week have been significantly lower than the 900 daily case average that has been the norm for so long. The total number of Community Cases is now 71,030 with 12,354 cases being imported. However, daily imported cases are still causing concern for The Kingdom with another 119 imported cases being announced today – bringing with them the danger of the ‘Delta’ variant crossing over the currently closed border from Thailand and then moving into the community. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50913810/new-cases-drop-again-but-cambodia-hopes-that-border-reopening-on-friday-the-13th-will-prove-to-be-a-lucky-day/

Phnom Penh Court of Appeal yesterday upheld the sentences of two Vietnamese men who were sentenced last year to three years in prison for transporting rare wildlife bones and ivory from Mozambique to Cambodia in 2019 at the Phnom Penh International Airport. Presiding Judge Chan Marina identified the two men as Dang Van Minh, 45, and Nguyen Van Nam, 53. “Based on the confessions of the two accused as well as the evidence presented by the relevant authorities, the Appeal Court has found the accused guilty and upheld the decision made by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” Judge Marina said. Judge Marina said that both were convicted and sentenced on January 26 last year by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to three years in prison. She said the court also ordered them both to pay about $10,000 each, but they appealed the decision. “They were charged under Articles 27 and 98 of the Forestry Law and were arrested on December 25, 2019,” she added. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914129/sentences-upheld-for-two-ivory-traffickers/

At least 3 people are reported to have died and around 30 people have been injured in a major smash last night when 2 trucks carrying workers collided head on. The tragic accident happened 6.30pm yesterday, along National Road 41 in Samrong village, Trapeang Kong commune, Samrong Tong district, Kampong Speu province. According to sources at the scene, one track was carrying bricks, while the other carried around 35 workers, returning home from their day’s work. Read more + pictures https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914491/3-dead-almost-30-injured-when-2-trucks-collide/

The Royal Government has called for participation in the protection and conservation of wild elephants in Cambodia after data from automatic cameras deployed in protected areas found that Asian elephants – and baby elephants – were living in herds in Cambodia’s protected areas Speaking on the occasion of the World Elephant Day, which was held under the theme: “Together we protect and conserve elephants to survive” on August 12, HE Net Pheaktra, Secretary of State and spokesman for the Ministry of Environment. Asian elephants are under serious threat across their habitats, both globally and in Cambodia, as poaching, trapping, human-elephant conflict and domestic breeding are all necessary. We must work together to protect and conserve elephants. He stressed that although the conservation situation of the protected area has improved in providing shelter, water sources and food for the elephants to live, some threats remain, especially the encroachment on illegal state forest land by groups. Corruption that affects elephant habitats and where elephants used to live and find food and water sources. In addition, wild elephants were found to be threatened by trapping and adoption, while habitat degradation has disrupted Asian elephants and negatively impacted long-term stability. The length of this important species. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50914513/on-world-elephant-day-cambodia-calls-for-participation-in-the-protection-and-conservation-of-wild-elephants-in-cambodia/

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is dismayed by the Cambodian information ministry’s decision to create a “Monitoring Committee for Journalism Ethics” that is completely lacking in independence, transparency and accountability and is clearly designed to serve as a new censorship mechanism. Unveiled on 2 August, the committee will “examine complaints by the public against journalists and media outlets,” “evaluate the practice of journalism in Cambodia” and “provide orientation to journalists on how to conduct themselves,” according to pro-government media outlets. In practice, the committee reserves the right to summon and sanction any journalist or media whose reporting displeases the government. RSF has learned that the committee will have 15 members, of whom 11 will be information and interior ministry officials. The only concession to civil society is the decision to give four of the positions on the committee to representatives of journalists’ associations. One of them is Nop Vy, the head of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA). read more https://rsf.org/en/news/cambodia-use-ethics-committee-censor-journalists

Please move my message to the good forum if I picked up the wrong one. My friend is nearly 97 years old and I guess he's closer from the end than from the beginning. We need to sort out some issue. He gets the same maid since around 30 years. Very devoted person. Not a single day off since my friend is bedridden (2 years). She receives a decent salary. When the unfortunate day will come and my friend will pass away (can be within 5 years or tomorrow), does his son have to give any allowance to the maid due the "end of contract" ? By the way, my friend and the maid never signed any contract. By the way, my friend mentioned the maid in his will. She'll get 100 000 bahts. As you are reading me, please allow a last question. This maid needs a small surgery (someone will help her at work during this time), does my friend need to pay any thing regarding the medical expenses of the employee ? Thank you

For the 9th consecutive day, daily COVID case totals were lower in Cambodia – raising hopes that the Royal Government’s daring restriction strategy has made a real difference to the situation in The Kingdom, as it announced the lowest daily case figure since June 19th. Cambodia today announced a daily new cases total of 499, bringing the COVID case total to 82,898 cases. Figures for the last week have been significantly lower than the 900 daily case average that has been the norm for so long. The total number of Community Cases is now 70,663 with 12,235 cases being imported. However, daily imported cases are still causing concern for The Kingdom with another 125 imported cases being announced today – bringing with them the danger of the ‘Delta’ variant crossing over the now closed border from Thailand and then moving into the community. Many migrants are now stranded at the Thai border and experts have warned that Cambodia’s COVID-19 cases may see another surge once borders are reopened on 13 August and there are fears that once – if – the Thai border is reopened, the ‘Delta’ variant will come flooding in. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912934/a-small-victory-cambodian-daily-covid-case-totals-drop-below-500-for-the-first-time-in-7-weeks/

Cambodia is on track to have telephone antennas in all communes and districts across the Kingdom by 2027, according to Telecommunications Minister Chea Vandeth. The minister also acknowledged the problem of poor phone and internet signals in the capital’s gated communities. He said the ministry will test telephone service in boreys or other areas in Phnom Penh that have poor service and explain to private telecoms what they need to do to fix identified problems. Vandeth said the rapid rollout of new antennas would also help address connectivity issues for mobile phone and internet users. The minister also sought to reassure Cambodians that telephone antennas pose no health risk. There have been protests in Siem Reap when Metphone tried to build an antenna in the Slakram district. Locals were concerned the mast would emit harmful radiation. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50913294/government-promises-countrywide-mobile-and-internet-coverage-by-2027/

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday announced an additional $4 million in urgent Covid-19 assistance for Cambodia. This assistance will provide timely support, particularly in light of the United States’ recent donation of 1,060,100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through The COVAX Facility, to increase Cambodia’s readiness to administer Covid-19 vaccines, promote vaccination in eligible populations, provide public health interventions to manage Covid-19, and strengthen laboratories to expand testing capacity. US Ambassador Patrick Murphy said advancing global health security and disease outbreak preparedness is vital not only to protect health and safety but also to ensure economic prosperity and defend the security of our countries. “We are proud to provide this support, which will help Cambodians protect themselves, their neighbours and their economic future,” he said. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912540/usaid-to-give-4-million-in-c-19-assistance-to-cambodia/

Civil Society Organisations are calling on the relevant authorities at provinces along the Cambodia-Thai borders to allow stranded migrant workers to enter the Kingdom. The Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL) in Thailand Leung Sophon, told Khmer Times yesterday that he had seen many migrant workers stranded at the border and hope the authorities would let them in. It said that the migrant workers are staying at the border in the middle of a forest with no clean water, and electricity supply. “They just want to get home to be with their loved ones. They are living with the hope that the authorities will open the border to let them in,” it said, adding that the migrant workers, both legal and illegal, want to return home due to the spread of the new Delta variant in Thailand. It said that Cambodians in Thailand are worried that they may get infected with the new variant if they do not return to the Kingdom soon. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912476/migrant-workers-stranded-at-thai-border/

Cambodia is now one of six major countries sending workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) policy to work in Korea which is now welcoming back migrant workers from abroad after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Korea has imposed tough measures to ensure safe working conditions. Tae Wuk Ha, Minister and Consul-General of the Korean Embassy in Bangkok, said EPS workers’ travel to Korea was suspended in early 2020 due to Covid-19 prevention measures, health policies, and the reduction in air travel. However, after close consultation with six countries, including Cambodia, workers can now resume working there. He said the six countries are Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Timor-leste and China. Cambodia and Thailand are major source countries for EPS workers in Korea, comprising over two thirds of the total. Other countries send under 1,000 workers a year. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912793/korea-welcomes-back-cambodian-workers/

Prime Minister Hun Sen said no third or booster dose will be administered for those who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine yet. The Premier made the clarification in a special voice message after there have been requests for the 3rd dose to be administered for those injected with AstraZeneca in the past few days. Hun Sen explained that the Ministry of Health had not yet studied clearly about the recommended interval between the first, second, and third doses of AstraZeneca, and there is not enough AstraZeneca vaccine for the moment. “Currently, only frontline workers who have been vaccinated with either the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines will have access to the booster dose of AstraZeneca.” Cambodia will become the third country to use mix and match vaccines to bolster the immunity of the people. “So far, we have only conducted study on the gap of Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, therefore we can provide AstraZeneca as the booster dose or third dose [for those inoculated with Sinopharm or Sinovac],” the prime minister stressed. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912645/lack-of-sufficient-stocks-of-astrazeneca-vaccines-may-impede-third-dose-for-all-says-pm-hun-sen/

Report says Chinese-funded projects threaten a food crisis in the Mekong river delta A Chinese-financed dam in Cambodia, part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, has been a human rights “disaster” for indigenous and ethnic minority communities, according to a report published on Tuesday. Human Rights Watch claims the construction of the Lower Sesan 2 dam at the confluence of two tributaries of the Mekong, “washed away the livelihoods” of communities that relied on fishing, forest-gathering and farming when the areas upstream were flooded. “The Lower Sesan 2 dam has profoundly harmed local communities, leaving them poorer and worse off,” the advocacy group said. read more https://www.ft.com/content/731211dd-bd9a-4a07-8bf1-f46fe88fc8a5

A Finnish woman was killed in a car crash on the morning of August 9. The incident happened on National Road 3 in Toteung Tngay village, Boeung Touk commune, Teuk Chhou district. Teuk Chhou District Traffic Police reported that the victim was named Freya Melissa, aged 24, from Prey Tnaot village, Kampong Kreng commune, Teuk Chhou district, Kampot. The accident happened at 6:45 a.m. On August 9. Freya was driving on National Road no. 3 and a car was driving in the same direction. The victim was seen driving from the west and suddenly the car collided with her from behind and sped away. The motorcyclist died upon impact. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50912248/finnish-woman-loses-life-in-a-hit-and-run-incident/

A Cambodian-American deportee, who was convicted of causing the death of an elderly Swiss man in Phnom Penh in 2020, has appealed against his sentence. Sek Thuch, a 41-year-old gym instructor residing in Phnom Penh, was arrested on April 29, 2020, after he attacked Markus Zahner – a 69-year-old Swiss man – causing the victim to fall and lose consciousness. Mr Zahner died five days later from serious injuries sustained in the attack. Sek Thuch was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on September 25, 2020 for intentional aggravated violence resulting in the death of a victim under Article 224 of the Penal Code of the Kingdom of Cambodia. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay 80 million riels ($ 200,000)in compensation to the victims family. During the trial, Sek Thuch admitted his guilt, but said he had no intention of attacking the victim. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50911291/cambodian-american-appeals-jail-sentence-for-death-of-swiss-man-in-phnom-penh/

From February 10 to August 8, Cambodia has successfully vaccinated and fully 5,821,021 people in the country. As for the first dose, 8,151,969 have been administered a range of vaccines from Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. In addition, administration of a 3rd booster dose of the vaccine, comprising AstraZeneca has also begun in seven provinces bordering the Thai border in a sustained programme to build the immunity of front line workers who will be faced with a deluge of returning migrant workers later un the week when border shut downs end. This accounts for some 78.83 percent of the original 10 million targeted for vaccination back in February this year. Cambodia has achieved a target of 47.9 people out of every 100 targeted for vaccination and this comprises fully vaccinated, I,e, with two shots of the vaccines. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50911556/cambodia-fully-vaccinates-close-to-51-percent-of-total-population-against-covid-19/

Forgotten Temples Cambodia has a real treat for us this week – the mysterious and evocative Neang Khmao temple As he says: Neang Khmao is a place of love or is it destruction & evil, a wonderful story to this temple. In the abandoned jungle city it is a awe inspiring place. The Neang Khmao Temple, Takeo is also known as the temple of the Black Virgin. According to legends, this temple might once have been the haven to Kali, the Dark Goddess of Destruction. It is positioned in the yard of Neang Khmao pagoda at Ro Vieng Commune of Sam Roung District in Takeo province. This magnificent temple was built by King Jarman IV during the 10th century. The temple is made of sandstone and brick, following the style of Thmor Koh Keo. However, most parts of the Neang Khmao Temple in Takeo have been damaged over the years. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50911027/video-cambodias-black-princess-temple/

Phnom Penh police have apprehended a Chinese man and confiscated about 10 kilos of drugs in Chamkar Mon district’s Phsar Doeum Thkov commune. On Friday at about 4am, police officers stopped a Chinese man on a motorbike checked him and found five bags of drugs with him in Phsar Doeum Thkov commune, police said, identifying the Chinese man as Huang Xulong, 21. Police officers then checked a room at a Condo in Meanchey district’s Boeng Tompun II where the Chinese man lived and found 10 kilogrammes of the drug and another six kilos of suspected drug substance, according to Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Lieutenant General Sar Thet. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50911144/police-arrest-a-chinese-man-seize-more-than-10-kilos-of-drugs/

For the 7th consecutive day, daily COVID case totals were lower in Cambodia – but higher deaths and the fear of the ‘Delta’ variant case a gloom over otherwise good news. Cambodia today announced a daily new cases total of 556, bringing the COVID case total to 81,891 cases. The total number of Community Cases is now 69,902 with 11,989 cases being imported. Daily imported cases are causing concern for The Kingdom with another 154 imported cases being announced today – bringing with them the danger of the ‘Delta’ variant crossing over the now closed border from Thailand and then moving into the community – both in the border provinces as well as other provinces and the capital, Phnom Penh. Experts have warned that Cambodia’s COVID-19 cases may see another surge once borders are reopened on 13 August and there are fears that once – if – the Thai border is reopened, the ‘Delta’ variant will come flooding in from Thailand. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50911089/higher-covid-deaths-total-cloud-otherwise-downwards-case-trend-for-cambodia/