Cambodia says China gifting 2 warships as it finishes work expanding strategically important port
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry says China is giving its navy two warships of the type it has had docked for months at a strategically important base being expanded with Beijing’s funding.
Cambodia's prime minister welcomes artifacts returned by New York's Met and other collections
Cambodia’s prime minister has led a celebration of the return of dozens of precious centuries-old artifacts from museums and private collectors abroad, and said his government will continue working with others to bring home more such cultural treasures.
Cambodia breaks ground on a China-funded canal and says it will be built 'no matter the cost'
Cambodia on Monday broke ground to build a controversial, China-funded canal to link the capital Phnom Penh to the sea despite environmental concerns and the risk of straining ties with neighboring Vietnam.
US defense secretary meets Cambodian officials to push for stronger ties with Chinese ally
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with Cambodian officials to discuss a possible resumption of joint military exercises, suggesting the beginning of a thaw in relations between the countries that have been strained over Cambodia’s growing closeness with China.
Chinese foreign minister arrives in Cambodia, Beijing's closest Southeast Asian ally
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in Cambodia for a three-day official visit to reaffirm ties with Beijing’s closest ally in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia's relocation of people from UNESCO site raises concerns
Cambodia's program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they're doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters.
Cambodia's prime minister sounds a sour note on trucks' musical horns
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered a ban on musical horns, after videos posted on social media showed people dancing on roads and roadsides as passing trucks blasted rhythmic little tunes.
Chinese navy ships are first to dock at new pier at Cambodian naval base linked to Beijing
Chinese naval vessels have become the first ships to dock at a new pier at a Cambodian naval base that the United States and some international security experts say is destined to serve as a strategic outpost for Beijing’s navy.
Cambodian Parliament approves longtime leader's son as prime minister as part of generational change
The son of longtime autocratic Cambodian leader Hun Sen has been approved as the country’s new prime minister.
Cambodia's king appoints army chief Hun Manet as successor to his father, long-ruling Hun Sen
Cambodia’s king has appointed army chief Hun Manet to succeed his father and long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen as the nation’s leader later this month.
Cambodia electoral body confirms Prime Minister Hun Sen's party as the winner after final vote tally
Cambodia’s electoral body has announced its final result for last month's election — which has been criticized by the West as neither free nor fair — sealing a landslide victory for the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and a mandate for the next five years.
Cambodia's Hun Sen, Asia's longest serving leader, says he'll step down and his son will take over
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says he will step down in August and hand the position to his oldest son, though Asia’s longest-serving leader is expected to continue to wield significant power.
Cambodian leader's son, a West Point grad, set to take reins of power — but will he bring change?
Hun Sen has been Cambodia’s autocratic prime minister for nearly four decades, during which the opposition has been stifled and the country has moved closer to China.
UN expert group calls for release of Cambodian-American human rights activist after investigation
A United Nations expert group is calling for the immediate release of a Cambodian-American human rights activist, saying an investigation it conducted has concluded she was being “arbitrarily detained in violation of international law.”.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen had been a huge Facebook fan. Now he's threatening to ban it
Cambodia’s long-serving, tough-talking leader, Hun Sen, says he is considering banning Facebook in his country, largely because he is fed up with the abuse he receives on it from his political foes abroad.
Oversight board recommends Facebook suspend Cambodian premier's account for violent language
A quasi-independent review board is recommending that Facebook temporarily suspend the social media accounts of Cambodia's prime minister.
Cambodia's top opposition party barred from July elections, leaving Hun Sen's party unchallenged
Cambodia’s top opposition party has been barred from participating in the July elections after the Constitutional Council refused to overturn a decision not to register the party over a paperwork issue.
Cambodian land activists arrested for allegedly inciting farmers to hate the rich
Cambodia's Interior Ministry says three land rights activists who were arrested on charges of plotting against the government planned to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions between rich and poor.
Cambodian PM's son, tipped to succeed him, gets promotion
Cambodian army chief Hun Manet, who is widely expected to replace his father as the country’s prime minister later this year, has been promoted to his country’s highest military rank.
Cambodian opposition leader gets 27 years on treason charge
A court in Cambodia has convicted opposition leader Kem Sokha of treason and sentenced him to 27 years of house arrest, the latest blow in a campaign by the government to silence its critics or drive them out of the country.
Cambodia's Hun Sen has COVID-19 at G-20 after earlier summit
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday he has COVID-19 and is leaving the Group of 20 meetings in Bali, just days after hosting President Joe Biden and other world leaders for a summit in his country’s capital.
Biden pledges US will work with Southeast Asian nations
President Joe Biden says the United States will work with a strategically vital coalition of southeast Asian nations to build a region that is free, stable, prosperous and secure.
Watches, daggers and cricket ice cream: Asian summit treats
A custom wristwatch from Cambodian leader Hun Sen at the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, a foot-long dagger at the G-20 meetings in Bali, and cricket ice cream and Thai noodles with worm sauce at the APEC talks in Bangkok.
Myanmar tops Asian summit's agenda as global issues loom
Southeast Asian leaders are convening in Cambodia, faced with the challenge of trying to curtail escalating violence in Myanmar while the country’s military-led government shows no signs of complying with the group’s peace plan.
China stresses ties with Southeast Asia in Cambodia meeting
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is stressing his country’s efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries at a meeting with their foreign ministers, which comes as Beijing seeks to expand its influence in the region.
SE Asia urges US, China to avoid provocation over Taiwan
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is calling for calm in the Taiwan Strait, urging against any “provocative action” in the wake of a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that has infuriated Beijing.
Myanmar executes ex-lawmaker, 3 other political prisoners
Myanmar has carried out its first executions in nearly 50 years, hanging a former lawmaker, a democracy activist and two other political prisoners who had been accused of a targeted killing after the country’s military takeover last year.
China, Cambodia break ground on port, dismiss US concerns
Chinese and Cambodian officials have broken ground on a contentious naval port expansion project, dismissing American concerns it could provide Beijing with a strategically important military outpost on the Gulf of Thailand.
China, Cambodia breaking ground on joint port project
Cambodian and Chinese officials will break ground this week on the expansion of a port facility that the U.S. and others worry will be used by Beijing as a naval outpost on the Gulf of Thailand, but the government has denied that any Chinese military presence will be allowed.
Cambodians vote in local election amid intimidation, threats
Cambodians are voting in local elections that are their first chance to go to the polls since the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen swept a 2018 general election that was widely criticized as unfair.
China's security deal with Solomons raises alarm in Pacific
A security alliance between China and the Solomon Islands has sent shudders throughout the South Pacific, with many worried it could set off a large-scale military buildup or that Western animosity to the deal could play into China’s hands.
Myanmar says it won't attend ASEAN foreign ministers meeting
Myanmar says it will not participate in this week’s meetings in Cambodia of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, spurning an invitation to send a non-political representative instead of its chief diplomat.
Cambodia defends leader's trip to Myanmar as 'positive step'
Cambodia’s foreign minister has defended Prime Minister Hun Sen’s trip to Myanmar, the first by a foreign leader since the military takeover plunged the country into turmoil, though there was little evidence the mission yielded any immediate breakthrough.
Anger as Cambodia's Hun Sen meets Myanmar military leader
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar to revive peace efforts after last year’s military takeover is provoking an angry backlash among critics, who say he is legitimizing the army’s seizure of power.
Cambodia activist briefly detained after protest in shackles
Cambodian security forces have briefly detained a Cambodian-American lawyer who is a prominent rights activist as she walked barefoot near the prime minister’s residence in the capital of Phnom Penh.
Cambodia reopens 2 weeks early, buoyed by high vaccine rates
Cambodia has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers two weeks earlier than originally planned, as it emerges from a lengthy lockdown bolstered by one of the world’s highest rates of immunization against COVID-19.
Cambodia dismisses US sanctions as 'politically motivated'
Cambodia is dismissing as “politically motivated” sanctions imposed by the United States on two senior defense officials over allegations of graft, accompanied by a broader warning of systemic corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.
Autistic Cambodian teen, jailed for online comments, freed
An autistic Cambodian teenager has been released from prison after serving time for posting comments critical of the government on social media in a case that has attracted international attention.
Cambodian activist decries delayed release of autistic son
A Cambodian activist has denounced a delay in releasing her autistic teenage son, who has been imprisoned for comments critical of the government he made on social media.
Brunei says Myanmar still 'integral' to ASEAN despite rebuke
The sultan of Brunei says Myanmar remains an integral part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the bloc hopes its military government will work with an ASEAN envoy to defuse the political crisis triggered by its seizure of power in February.
Latest: Northern Nevada hospitals swamped with COVID cases
The Nevada Hospital Association is urging people to avoid going to emergency rooms except in true emergencies, especially in northern Nevada where a resurgence in coronavirus infections is running double the rate in the Las Vegas area.
Ex-Khmer Rouge official appeals genocide verdict in Cambodia
The last living leader from the inner circle of Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime is in court seeking to overturn his conviction on genocide charges before a long-running international tribunal.
Thailand builds another field hospital for virus-hit Bangkok
Health authorities in Thailand are racing to set up a large field hospital at one of Bangkok’s airports as the country sees new highs in coronavirus infections and deaths.
China defends Cambodia relations after US expresses concern
China says its relationship with Cambodia has made positive contributions to regional peace and stability, after the U.S. expressed concerns about the presence of the Chinese military in the country.
Cambodia's Angkor site shut for 2 weeks to curb coronavirus
Cambodia is shutting its most popular tourist destination, the centuries-old Angkor temple complex, to visitors for two weeks to help curb the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
The Latest: Texas state judge upholds Austin's mask mandate
Doug Ducey said the site switch will maintain the state’s vaccination program’s presence in southeastern Maricopa County while protecting staff, volunteers and people getting vaccinated. Greece is currently grappling with a surge in coronavirus infections which has seen many hospitals run by the state health system reach capacity. 23, a total of 42,028 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed on the island nation of around 900,000 people, of which 248 died due to COVID-19. Kate Brown said those groups will now be eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5. ___PHOENIX — Arizona on Friday reported 571 new coronavirus cases and 24 deaths as the number of virus-related hospitalizations remained fairly stable.
The Latest: Oklahoma opens second phase of COVID-19 vaccines
(AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)MEXICO CITY — Mexico has received its first shipment of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. ___WASHINGTON — The White House now says it expects to catch up by mid-week on deliveries of coronavirus vaccine doses that were delayed by severe weather. AdBeginning March 1, anyone aged 55 to 64 will be allowed to get a COVID-19 vaccine. ___OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma opened its second phase of coronavirus vaccinations on Monday, providing inoculations to public school teachers and staff and to adults of any age with illnesses that make them susceptible to the virus. There have been 419,853 coronavirus cases and 4,203 deaths due to COVID-19 in Oklahoma since the pandemic began, the state health department reported.
The Latest: Jump in cases worries S. Korea as holiday starts
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 504 new coronavirus cases for the latest 24-hour period. Although coronavirus cases stayed relatively low in Japan last year compared to the United States and Europe, infections have been climbing recently. Kate Brown says outdoor contact sports, including high school football, can resume this week amid a decline in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. On Wednesday, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute reported 8,072 new virus cases and 813 deaths in 24 hours. ___MADRID — Spain’s official 14-day rate of coronavirus cases has fallen to 584, from a peak of 900 two weeks ago.
Asia Today: 6 dead in pandemic unrest at Sri Lanka prison
Inmates have staged protests in recent weeks at several prisons as the number of coronavirus cases surges in the facilities. About 50 prison guards have also tested positive. Sri Lanka has reported a total number of 22,988 coronavirus cases, including 109 fatalities. — India has recorded 38,772 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, driving its overall total to 9.43 million. India is second behind the U.S. in total reported coronavirus cases.
The Latest: Vietnam has 1st local transmission in 89 days
(AP Photo/Hau Dinh)HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnamese authorities are conducting intensive contact tracing after the country’s first confirmed local transmission of the coronavirus in 89 days. The flight attendant tested positive on Saturday, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The new case ended Vietnam’s streak of 89 days without any known local transmission of the virus. The country has reported 1,347 coronavirus cases, including 35 deaths. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Monday on Twitter that the record comes ahead of an “anticipated Thanksgiving acceleration” in coronavirus cases.
Asia Today: Cambodia tracks contacts after family infected
Of the 115 infections reported Sunday, 24 were untraceable. Hong Kong has reported 6,239 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, with 109 deaths. — India has reported 41,180 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with the daily toll staying below the 50,000-mark for the fourth week. He traveled to South Korea on Thursday. China has so far reported a total of 86,512 confirmed coronavirus infections, with 4,634 deaths.
Cambodia begins mass trial of opposition activists
Theary Seng, center, a Cambodian-American lawyer gestures as she enters the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Theary Seng, who has long been one of the most outspoken critics of Hun Sen and his government, is one of the best known defendants living in Cambodia. Hun Sen has been in power for 35 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime. On Wednesday, the U.N. human rights expert on Cambodia expressed serious concerns about the trial. “The mass trials of CNRP activists appear to be politically motivated, lacking clear legal grounds and constitute a serious violation of the due process rights, firmly established by international human rights law,” said Rhona Smith.
Cambodia bans state-organized events in capital over virus
Szijjarto tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Thailand for an official visit, Thai and Hungarian officials said Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (Pool Photo via AP)PHNOM PENH – Cambodia on Wednesday banned all state-organized events in the capital and a neighboring province for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of people connected to a Hungarian official's visit tested positive. Two Hungarian ambassadors, to Thailand and to Cambodia, are among those who have tested positive since Szijjarto's visit. Thai authorities said Tuesday that a Hungarian diplomat in Bangkok tested positive for the virus, the only local case in Thailand so far linked to Szijjarto. The 53-year-old Hungarian diplomat in Bangkok was sent to an infectious disease facility for treatment and isolation.
Asia Today: Sri Lanka to strictly enforce virus regulations
A Sri Lankan woman prepares to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)COLOMBO – Sri Lanka police will strictly enforce mask and social distancing requirements and punish violators starting Monday as other anti-virus measures are eased to reduce the economic pain. “From today onwards, we will strictly enforce this law and will arrest those who defy these rules,” Rohana said. Sri Lanka has counted 13,929 COVID-19 patients with 35 deaths since the pandemic began. Both figures have been increasing because of two recent clusters that account for more than 9,900 of the total infections.
A worried Asia wonders: What will Joe Biden do?
As Americans celebrate or fume over the new president-elect, many in Asia are waking up to the reality of a Joe Biden administration with decidedly mixed feelings. (AP Photo/Lintao Zhang, Pool, File)TOKYO – As Asia comes to terms with the reality of a Joe Biden administration, relief and hopes of economic and environmental revival jostle with needling anxiety and fears of inattention. Now, as Biden looks to settle tumultuous domestic issues, there’s widespread worry that Asia will end up as an afterthought. A Biden White House won’t “risk antagonizing a country that is widely viewed in Washington as America’s best strategic bet in South Asia,” he said. ___Foster Klug, the AP's news director for the Koreas, Japan, Australia and the South Pacific, has covered Asia since 2005.
Asia Today: India's virus cases jump on New Delhi resurgence
With 8.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, India is the second worst-hit country behind the United States. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)NEW DELHI – India’s coronavirus outbreak increased by more than 50,000 cases Thursday amid a resurgence of infections in the capital. Nerves are frayed in New Delhi after it reported a record 6,842 new cases in the past 24 hours. With 8.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, India is the second worst-hit country behind the United States. Indonesia has reported more than 425,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the largest in Southeast Asia and second only to India’s 8.3 million in all of Asia.
Hungary's foreign minister tests positive for coronavirus
Szijjarto tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Thailand for an official visit, Thai and Hungarian officials said Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (Pool Photo via AP)BANGKOK – Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and trade tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Thailand for an official visit, Thai and Hungarian officials said Wednesday. The 42-year-old foreign minister will return on one plane and the other members of his party in a separate aircraft, Anutin said. The Hungarian news agency MTI, citing the chief press officer at Hungary’s foreign ministry, confirmed that Szijjarto tested positive for the coronavirus. During his visit, Szijjarto paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and the ministers of commerce and agriculture.