Cambodia Morning News For July 20

Cambodian tax boss faces jail over Aussie residency claims
The head of Cambodia’s tax department is staring down the barrel of a potential two-year prison sentence and a $21,000 fine for allegedly falsely claiming he is a resident of Australia.
— SBS News

Cambodian Rights Group Hacked Amid Concerns Over China-Linked Cyber Espionage Group
A local rights group in Cambodia said Thursday that it had fallen victim to a hacking attack a week after a U.S. cybersecurity firm announced that an espionage group believed linked to China’s government had targeted a number of stakeholders in a hacking operation ahead of an election later this month.
— Radio Free Asia

Chinese Ambassador: EU Should Not Mix Politics, Trade in Cambodia
China’s Ambassador in Phnom Penh says the European Union should not mix politics with trade as it mulls withdrawing Cambodia’s vital preferential single market access in response to the country’s autocratic backslide.
— VOA

Cambodia’s Election Crackdown
In late July, Cambodians will go to the polls for what critics say is a sham election. Having dissolved the main opposition party and closed down media outlets critical of the government, the world’s longest serving Prime Minister Hun Sen stands accused of using violence and intimidation to silence dissent.
— Aljazeera English

The Japan-China rivalry is playing out in Cambodia’s election
Cambodia’s general election on July 29 has become a proxy theater for competition between China and Japan as the two vie for influence in the Southeast Asian state.
— CNBC

Why should we encourage greater utilisation of Khmer Riels
According to the 2017 Annual Report of National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the NBC had purchased a total of USD963.3 million from commercial banks, representing a growth of 17.3% from the previous year.
— Khmer Times

Cambodian PM calls for vigilance as floods hit parts of Cambodia
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday called on authorities to pay high attention to evacuate people as floods have hit six provinces in the country.
— Xinhua

Rice price on the upswing: RBD
The Rural Development Bank (RDB) said yesterday the price of white rice has recovered slightly from a steep decline that was threatening the livelihoods of farmers.
— Khmer Times

Japan firm takes another 10pct of telecom Smart
Malaysia-based Axiata Group has sold another 10 percent stake in its Cambodian subsidiary Smart Axiata to Japanese group Mitsui Co Ltd. The Japanese firm now holds 20 percent of the local telecommunications giant.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian couple demand Thai cops probe
A Cambodia couple engaged in a legal battle with relatives yesterday filed a complaint against two Thai police officers in Bangkok.
— The Nation

No Election, No Development: PM Hun Sen
Prime Minister Hun Sen once again urged people to go to vote on 29 July 2018.
— Fresh News

ADB-backed solar park to be ready in November
The results of a feasibility study on a 100-megawatt solar park conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be available in November, just in time for the private sector to start bidding for the development of the project.
— Khmer Times

Founder of Cambodian Nationality’s Party Curses RFA and US Be Hit by Thunderbolt (Video inside)
Founder of Cambodian Nationality’s Party (CNP) Venerable Hang Dara reacted to the publication of Radio Free Asia, accusing CNP as a servant to the ruling party.
— Fresh News (video)

Chamber gives talk on local investing
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CCCC) and investment and tax advisory firm DFDL on Wednesday held a breakfast seminar in the capital to discuss tax and investment law in the Kingdom.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Pharma trade fair to be held in September
The rapidly growing medical and pharmaceutical industries in the Kingdom will take the spotlight in September with the fourth edition of the Cambodia-Phar-Med fair.
— Khmer Times

ACLEDA Staff Association Announces to Sell 25% Shares in the Cambodia Securities Exchange
The ACLEDA Staff Association, (ASA, Plc.) prepared procedures and requirements in accordance with regulations in force in order to obtain permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia and the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) to sell its 25% of ACLEDA Bank Plc. share to the public, according to a Board Member of ASA., Plc. Sous Ousaphea on Thursday.
— Fresh News

Feature photo John Le Fevre

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Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.