Cambodia morning news for January 3, 2019

Angkor Park Welcomes Nearly 2.6 Million International Tourists in 2018
Almost 2.6 million international visitors bought tickets to tour Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province in 2018.
— akpnews.info

‘They only go to Chinese shops’: why Cambodia’s influx of mainland tourists is causing tensions
More than 1.27 million Chinese tourists visited Cambodia in the first eight months of 2018, a 72 per cent increase on the same period in 2017. But not all local business owners are happy.
— South China Morning Post

Casino boom in Cambodia: + 53 per cent in 2018 only
About 150 casinos are now in operation, up from 98 in 2017. In the coastal province of Sihanoukville alone there are 88. The law bans Cambodians from entering casinos.
— www.asianews.it

Traffic deaths dip slightly
Nearly 1,800 people died and 5,000 were injured in traffic accidents last year, an annual report showed yesterday.
— Khmer Times

About 8,000 Cases of Illicit Drug Use and Trafficking Intervened in 2018
Cambodian competent authorities intervened 8,018 cases of illicit drug use and trafficking in 2018, according to local media report.
— akpnews.info

As prices and quality decline, tour operators denounce unfair competition
Local tour operators are complaining of a generalised drop in service quality in the sector which is stacking the deck against those upholding high professional standards.
— Khmer Times

PM Gives Green Light to Establishment of National Qualification Commission
Cambodian Higher Education Association (CHEA) has been given the green light by Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen to establish the National Qualification Commission.
— akpnews.info

White-rumped Shamas Hunted for Commercial Purpose
White-rumped Shama – a beautiful bird living in Cambodia – has been suffering from hunting for commercial purpose, according to BirdLife Cambodia’s report.
— akpnews.info

Artist earns big from rubbish
Artist Riem Mony Silong dropped out of school in grade-four aged nine. Born into an impoverished family in Siem Reap, they could not afford to send him to public school, let alone provide him with art lessons.
— Phnom Penh Post

Foreigners Arrested in Poipet Clampdown
Authorities in Poipet cracked down on two online gaming sites in “GOOD LUCK” on the morning of January 2 2019.
— Cambodia News English

Bankers agree: 2018 a great year for local financial sector
Despite uncertainty caused by the July general elections, 2018 was an excellent year in terms of business performance for a number of key players in the local financial sector.
— Khmer Times

Plastic Surgery Clinic Raided After Extortion Claims
Phnom Penh: Preliminary reports say that the Royal Gendarmerie forces went to the “Dermo Clinic” beauty center, after claims a hidden camera was used to take pictures of customers and used to extort tens of thousands of dollars.
— Cambodia News English

Silk centre calls on private sector to take sericulture to the next level
Following a very successful year for the Kingdom’s sericulture sector in which its foundations have been cemented, the silk centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh is ready for expansion.
— Khmer Times

Drug seizures rise despite drop in arrests
The National Authority for Combatting Drugs issued a year-end report that showed a 12.5 percent increase in the amount of drugs seized by police, despite a drop in the number of arrests.
— Khmer Times

Siem Reap To Host 27th APPF Annual Meeting in Mid-January
Cambodia has scheduled to host the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-27) from Jan. 14 to 17 in Siem Reap province under the theme “Strengthening Parliamentary Partnership for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development”.
— akpnews.info

Cambodia Securities Exchange market capitalisation up 40%
The Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) market capitalisation rose more than 40 per cent last year from 2017, mostly boosted by the rise in the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) share price, the CSX said.
— Phnom Penh Post

44 Political Parties Registered at Interior Ministry
Ministry of Interior registered in total 44 political parties as of the close of 2018, according to a local media report.
— akpnews.info

Nest of endangered birds discovered
At least 27 nests of critically endangered bird species have been found the Siem Pang wildlife sanctuary in Stung Treng province, according to the BirdLife International Cambodia Programme.
— Phnom Penh Post

Spokesman: KNLF set to register as legitimate party later this month
The Khmer National Liberation Front (KNLF) – a group claiming to be Cambodia’s “government in exile”, led by Sam Serey – is set to register as a legitimate political party later this month, after its members collected more than 5,000 thumbprints, its spokesman Thuy Vy said on Tuesday.
— Phnom Penh Post

Most Endangered Birds Continue to Be Present in Cambodia
Giant Ibis, vultures, and White-shouldered Ibis continue to be found in their natural habitats in Cambodia, according to BirdLife Cambodia.
— akpnews.info

Change to Article 45 with King for signing
A senior government official on Monday said that the amendment to Article 45 of the Law on Political Parties has reached its final stage and is merely awaiting the signature of King Norodom Sihamoni, leaving 118 politicians facing the dilemma as to whether to return to the political stage or not.
— Cambodia Daily

Feature photo AIP Foundation

This week’s Cambodia morning news feature photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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.

Cambodia morning news for January 3 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on January 3, 2019
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.