Cambodia

Cambodian children attend school in floating villages along the Tonle Sap lake via gas-powered boats, but rising fuel prices due to the Iran war are increasing transportation costs. This has caused some students to quit school and begin working. Furthermore, cash-strapped governments across hard-hit Asia struggle to fund essential education initiatives.

The Iran war has caused spikes in gasoline prices, forcing poor families in Cambodia to choose between children's education and basic survival needs like food and fuel. This crisis is compounded by climate change affecting waterways like the Tonle Sap, leading many children to skip school or drop out entirely. The struggle affects multiple regions, including Vietnam, where high diesel costs impacted fishing livelihoods.

OpenAI disrupted a Cambodia-based scam operation using ChatGPT to facilitate investment, romance, gambling, and law enforcement impersonation schemes. The company banned a coordinated network of ChatGPT accounts originating from Poipet, a city in Southeast Asia.

Thailand has rejected a UN human rights expert's report claiming 20,000 people remain displaced by the border war with Cambodia. The expert's findings follow a deadly conflict in July and December that displaced over a million people across the disputed frontier, as Thailand and Cambodia compete for international support.

More than 20,000 Cambodians remain displaced along the Thai border due to ongoing clashes, per a UN expert who highlighted unresolved ceasefire violations and blocked returns. The expert also addressed Cambodia's scam centers and political rights concerns during his visit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leaders from Slovakia, Namibia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Kazakhstan in July 2026, including discussions in Beijing and Shanghai during the World AI Conference. He also hosted North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing after a June meeting with Kim Jong-un. Xi has met 26 national leaders this year, including US President Donald Trump, with three more anticipated.

China has charged Chen Zhi, alleged founder of an online scam network, with intentional injury, potentially subjecting him to the death penalty. Chen, extradited from Cambodia six months ago, was formally arrested on July 6 and linked to the Cambodian Prince Group, which authorities associate with the scam network.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to intensify efforts against transnational online scam networks, noting that criminal groups are evolving into decentralized cells. Authorities have already shut down over 670 illegal scam operations and are expanding international intelligence sharing, including with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The article discusses the rise of self-made billionaires and highlights additional topics covered in a daily podcast, including Cambodia's scam crackdown and Larry the Cat.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss joint efforts against international online scam operations. The U.S. and Cambodia aim to combat scams causing billions in annual losses, with Cambodia hosting an international conference on cyber scams in September.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss closer security cooperation against online scam operations. The UN estimated $114 billion in scam-related losses in the Asia-Pacific by 2025, with Patel also attending a U.S.-Thailand summit on the issue. Cambodia is hosting an international conference in September to combat cyber scams.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss strengthening security cooperation against international online scam operations. The UN reported estimated Asia-Pacific scam losses of $114 billion by 2025, prompting cross-border efforts with Thailand and other nations to combat cybercrime linked to human trafficking and financial fraud.

FBI Director Kash Patel met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to discuss joint efforts against online scam operations. A UN report estimates $114 billion in scam-related losses for the Asia-Pacific by 2025, as criminals shift operations to evade law enforcement. Cambodia will host an international conference on combating cyber scams in September.

Victims of transnational online scams in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand lost up to US$114.1 billion last year, according to a UN report. The losses tripled from 2023, with Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia and Myanmar, identified as hubs for fake romance and cryptocurrency investment scams.

Cambodia and Thailand have unresolved a 25-year dispute over a shared area in the Gulf of Thailand, hindering the development of significant energy resources. The region faces high energy costs and increasing demand, making the underdevelopment of these resources seem impractical.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute after meeting both leaders. The dispute caused the deadliest fighting in over a decade, resulting in over 100 military and civilian deaths, with a ceasefire in December 2025 largely holding but both sides accusing each other of breaches.

A user reported an email scam involving Bitcoin requests through Outlook, despite securing their dormant account with password changes, two-factor authentication, and removing connected apps. The scam included fake threats of distributing compromising content, with login attempts traced to multiple international locations.

Cambodia aims to reduce dependencies while maintaining connectivity, reflecting the complex interplay of economics, trade, and geopolitics in Southeast Asia. The country's investment in transport logistics has become a key political and diplomatic focus.

Britain's mobile phone signal is worse than that of Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Romania. Additionally, London's download speeds are slower than those in war-torn Kharkiv.

Cambodian villagers express fear over a US$43 million tiger reintroduction plan, citing past tiger attacks. Tigers were declared extinct in Cambodia a decade ago, with the last confirmed sighting captured via camera trap.

Eswatini accepted 11 people deported from the US under a bilateral agreement to host third-country nationals, with the government stating their rights will be protected during temporary stays. The Trump administration has sent thousands of deportees to countries like Eswatini, Central African Republic, and Congo, drawing criticism over transparency and human rights concerns.

ASEAN military observers have visited the Thai-Cambodian border to assess damage and document claims as Bangkok and Phnom Penh continue to accuse each other of violating a ceasefire. The delegation toured contested areas and listened to competing narratives following last year’s clashes, which resulted in over 100 military casualties.

The article discusses the rise of online dating scams, detailing an individual's experience with a fraudster who impersonated an Asian woman on a social platform. The scammer, later revealed to be linked to a gambling site in Macau, attempted to lure victims into a 'pig butchering' scam, with the author exposing her but noting her continued activity on Telegram.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leaders from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Belarus, and North Korea in June 2026. He hosted 20 national leaders in Beijing this year, including Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, highlighting China's growing global influence amid geopolitical tensions.

An estimated $300 billion in oil and gas reserves is located under overlapping territory in the Gulf of Thailand. Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia is complicated by political tensions over a separate land border dispute.

The article discusses the high win rate of bets on military operations as a potential indicator of insider trading and reports on Cambodia's efforts to track down looted antiquities.

The article highlights a high win rate of bets on military operations, potentially indicating insider trading, and reports on Cambodia's efforts to track down looted antiquities.

Crowns and precious jewels believed to have been worn by ancient Khmer royalty were tracked down to a pub parking lot outside London.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court is set to rule on the treason appeal of two journalists, Phorn Sopheap and Pheap Pheara, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison for posting border clash photos. The case has drawn international criticism over judicial independence and freedom of speech.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court is set to rule on the appeal of two journalists who were convicted of treason and jailed for photos. The decision is expected to be announced on Thursday.

Cambodia is cracking down on cyber scam compounds linked to human trafficking, freeing thousands of workers. However, many freed workers are now stranded without shelter or a way to return home.

A report by APG highlights cyber scam hubs in Southeast Asia linked to human trafficking. Government data shows 6,998 Indians were rescued from these hubs since 2022, with significant numbers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar.

Cambodia's crackdown on scam centers has left thousands of foreign workers stranded in Phnom Penh. Victims of trafficking now face a new crisis as they roam the streets without support.

Cambodia's crackdown on scam centers has left thousands of foreign workers stranded in Phnom Penh. The situation has created a secondary crisis as victims of trafficking now face uncertainty.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court upheld the incitement conviction of opposition politician Rong Chhun but suspended the remainder of his prison sentence, allowing him to remain free while barring him from politics for years.

Cybercrime accounts for over 30% of all offenses in the Asia and South Pacific region, driven by digital infrastructure growth and organized criminal networks. Phishing, AI-enhanced scams, and deepfake technologies are key tactics, with scam centers in countries like Cambodia and the Philippines generating billions annually.

Liu Ren, a central figure in a criminal group led by Chinese tycoon Chen Zhi, was extradited from Cambodia to China by Chinese police. Chen, accused of transnational fraud by both Beijing and Washington, had directed Liu to found the group in 2016.

A skirmish along the Thailand-Cambodia border in May 2025 escalated into a major military conflict. A ceasefire is now in place, with recent ASEAN and bilateral talks offering hope, but the humanitarian crisis persists despite the peace deal.

South Korea has charged 23 individuals for cryptocurrency laundering linked to a $11.1 million phishing scam operated by a Cambodia-based group. The suspects are accused of moving funds on behalf of the overseas fraud network.

Rong Chhun, a top adviser to the Nation Power Party in Cambodia, is appealing his incitement conviction, which barred him from politics for four years. The conviction, part of a pattern of legal actions against critics, followed his meeting with villagers displaced by government projects. His supporters demand his release, citing tensions with Thailand and economic struggles.