Pandemic seen rolling back conditions in Asia garment factories

Reuters

2020-10-21 21:38:10

• Paddy Barrett is happy to be home with St Pat’s having had the best and worst experience of his life living in Cambodia

  PADDY BARRETT described Cambodia as the best and worst experience of his life. But he is happy to be back among familiar faces with familiar targets. Defender Barrett, 27, has returned to the League of Ireland with St Pat’s after three years away in the US and, briefly, Cambodia. The...Read Full StoryCambodiaFootballCincinnatiPhnom PenhWork From HomeRich KidsThe League Of IrelandAsianPorscheIndy ElevenSunSportSt PatDefender BarrettHappyConor NestorPaddy Barrett

• Cambodia's Covid cluster cases now 477

  The Ministry of Health on March 7 reported 34 more cases of Covid-19, with three imported and 31 linked to the February 20 community transmission. The three imported cases are all Cambodian UN peacekeepers who arrived from Africa via India on February 21. Among the 31 cluster cases are one...Read Full StoryCovidUnAfricaIndiaPublic HealthPhnom PenhChinaTransmissionThe Ministry Of HealthUNVietnameseCambodiansChinesePreah Sihanouk ProvinceCountry

• First COVAX vaccines arrive in Cambodia from India

  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia on Tuesday received its first batch of 324,000 coronavirus vaccine doses from India that are part of the World Health Organization’s COVAX initiative, as the country expands its immunization program with the goal of inoculating a majority of its population this year.Health Minister Mam Bunheng was at the airport to receive the shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine. Prime Minister Hun Sen will be given the first dose on Thursday.Cambodia, which has yet to report any virus deaths, received its first shipment of 600,000 doses of a Chinese-produced vaccine on Feb. 7, part of 1 million doses Beijing is donating. The country began its vaccination program on Feb. 10, starting with Hun Sen’s sons, government ministers and officials.The Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh said Monday that the remaining 400,000 doses produced by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. would arrive sometime in April.Hun Sen will receive the Indian-manufactured vaccine because he is 68. In China, the Sinopharm vaccine was approved only for people 18-59 years old because that was the population studied in clinical trials. While there is not yet data on its effectiveness for other age groups, other countries at their discretion may use it for older people.China is Cambodia’s biggest investor and its closest political partner, while Hun Sen is shunned by some Western nations who consider his government to be repressive. Cambodia, in turn, backs Beijing’s geopolitical positions in international forums on issues such as China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.Cambodia has recorded 844 cases of the coronavirus, with no deaths. It reported 24 new cases on Tuesday as it tries to deal with a new surge.The surge was traced back to a foreign resident who broke hotel quarantine on Feb. 4 and went to a nightclub. That caused a slew of infections and led the government on Feb. 20 to announce a two-week closure of all public schools, cinemas, bars and entertainment areas in Phnom Penh.Hun Sen said earlier this month that Cambodia is seeking to reserve 20 million vaccine doses to inoculate 10 million people, roughly two-thirds of its population.In addition to China’s donation, Australia has announced a grant of $28 million to purchase 3 million doses, and Cambodia is set to get 7 million doses through the World Health Organization’s COVAX initiative.CambodiaVaccinesSouth ChinaVaccine DosesPhnom PenhPopulation HealthFirst COVAXAPOxfordCovishieldThe Chinese EmbassyIndianWesternWorld Health OrganizationPHNOM PENHMam BunhengHun Sen

• Cambodia reports 40 fresh Covid cases, tally at 633

  Phnom Penh, Feb 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Cambodia on Wednesday confirmed 40 new Covid-19 cases, pushing the country's tally to 633, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new infections included 38 locally transmitted cases in capital Phnom Penh and southern Kandal province and two imported cases, the statement said, adding that the patients are undergoing treatment at various designated Covid-19 hospitals, Xinhua reported. Cambodia has closed all schools, museums, cinemas and entertainment facilities in ...... Read MoreCambodiaCovidPublic HealthMOHXYZThe Ministry Of HealthXinhuaCapital Phnom PenhSouthern Kandal ProvinceCountryHospitalsMoHTreatmentMuseumsSchools

• Cambodia reopens schools and museums as others lock down

  PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia has started reopening schools and museums as it relaxes a six-week lockdown following a coronavirus outbreak late last year, marking a contrast with some neighbouring countries that are facing new restrictions due to rising COVID-19 cases.The Southeast Asian country of just over 16 million people, one of the least impacted by the novel coronavirus with just 382 infections and no deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, saw a rare cluster of cases in November.On Monday, students wearing masks lined up for temperature checks and hand washing before being allowed to enter the Sovannaphumi primary school in the capital Phnom Penh.While private schools have started reopening this week, students at public schools are due to return next week.At the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former Khmer Rouge torture centre and prison in the capital, staff and “tuk tuk” motorcyle taxi drivers awaited the arrival of visitors.“I am worried that we can get infected, but I see that we Cambodians are following the instructions set by the government on wearing masks, washing hands with alcohol or soap and social distancing,” said Theun Ngor, a 43 year-old tuk-tuk driver.In November, Cambodia put in a place of range of restrictions after a rare outbreak of community transmission linked to a 56-year-old woman who had travelled to the country’s two biggest cities since Nov. 20.As Cambodia loosens curbs, authorities in neighbouring Thailand warned on Monday that the country could face a strict lockdown as infection numbers climbed and spurring it to declare 28 provinces high-risk zones.While welcoming the prospect of more business, a coffee vendor near the Tuol Sleng museum was concerned after hearing that some Cambodians working in Thailand had been infected.“I am so worried that they could spread it here again,” said Ngeth Sokuntheary, 27, as she prepared iced coffee.ThailandGenocideKhmer RougeMuseumsPhnom PenhPrivate SchoolsReutersSoutheast AsianCambodiansPublic SchoolsPHNOM PENHCitiesZonesCountryPrimary School

• Cambodian opposition figures state plan to return from exile

  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Senior executives of the disbanded opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party on Tuesday announced their plan to return from self-imposed exile to fight criminal charges against them in court. The party leaders are among about 130 opposition supporters and other dissidents who are due to be...Read Full Story CambodianDefamationYoutubeUnited StatesYouTubePolitical OppositionOpposition LeadersOpposition PartyState Party LeadersAPParliamentCambodia People 's PartyAmericanAppleRokuHun SenSam RainsyMu Sochua

• Tainted rice wine kills 7 at Cambodian funeral ceremony

  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Seven people died and more than 130 others were hospitalized in Cambodia after drinking rice wine that health authorities believe was adulterated with a toxic substance. The Health Ministry said the incident happened Saturday in a remote rural area of central Cambodia’s Kampong Chhnang province, where...Read Full Story Rice WineCambodianAlcoholic DrinksPhnom PenhKampong Chhnang ProvinceDrinkingThe Health MinistryCentral CambodiaPHNOM PENHVillagersDeathsMethanolHealth AuthoritiesIncidentRural Areas

• With Cher’s help, ‘world’s loneliest elephant’ arrives safely in Cambodia

  The container holding Kaavan the elephant is blessed by monks upon its arrival in Cambodia from Pakistan. (Pool photo / Associated Press)PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The pachyderm dubbed the “ world’s loneliest elephant ” afterlanguishing alone for years in a Pakistani zoo was greeted on his arrival in Cambodia on Monday by chanting Buddhist monks and was then sent on his way to a wildlife sanctuary.The plight of Kaavan the male Asian elephant has captured worldwide attention, including from singer and actor Cher, who has been closely involved in the animal’s rescue and was in Cambodia for its arrival.Like other travelers during these times, Kaavan needed to be tested for COVID-19 before flying. Once the hefty creature’s large metal crate was safely on board, Kaavan was provided with in-flight snacks — 440 pounds of them — for the seven-hour journey. Kaavan appeared not to be stressed out during the flight, eating food and even getting a little bit of sleep standing in the crate, said Amir Khalil, a veterinarian who accompanied the elephant and works with Four Paws, the Vienna-headquartered animal rescue group that organized the move.“He behaves like a frequent flier. The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant,” Khalil said.The 36-year-old, 9,000-pound passenger received a warm welcome on arrival in Cambodia from officials, conservationists and the Buddhist monks, who chanted prayers for Kaavan’s harmony and prosperity.Kaavan, a 1985 gift from Sri Lanka to Pakistan, had been living in the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad with a partner, Saheli, which died in 2012. The zoo fell on hard times, and conditions got so bad that a court in the Pakistani capital ordered the zoo closed in August.Cher’s animal welfare group Free the Wild, has worked with Four Paws and the American syndicated columnist and philanthropist Eric Margolis to relocate Kaavan, a mission that’s cost about $400,000. According to Four Paws, very few adult elephants have ever been relocated by plane, so preparations were arduous.Veterinarians and elephant experts working for Four Paws spent three months in Islamabad, coaching Kaavan three times a day on how to enter and exit the four-ton travel crate safely and without stress. The crate includes a system that can hold up to 53 gallons of urine.Kaavan was also dangerously overweight because of his unsuitable diet of about 550 pounds of sugar cane each day. With Khalil’s help, Kaavan lost 1,000 pounds over the past three months.Kaavan’s wounds are emotional as well as physical. The animal would spend days wagging its head from side to side, a stereotypical sign of boredom and misery in an elephant, said Martin Bauer, a spokesman for Four Paws.The loss of mate Saheli took a toll on Kaavan’s mental health. Elephants are social animals that thrive on the company of other elephants, Bauer explained. For Kaavan, the last eight years have been akin to living in quarantine — something the world has come to understand all too well amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.Late Monday, Kaavan was being driven by truck to a camp in northern Cambodia and should be able to leave the crate Tuesday. “Once Kaavan feels at home in a controlled setting, he will be released in a wildlife sanctuary, in Oddar Meanchey province, in the northern section of Cambodia, where some 600 Asian elephants live in peace and tranquility,” said a statement by Neth Pheaktra, a spokesman for Cambodia’s Environment Ministry. “Pachyderms can live for many years, and even at 36, we hope that he will contribute to the gene pool.”Copyright © 1881-2020. Los Angeles Times. Used with Permission.ElephantsPhnom PenhOddar Meanchey ProvinceAsian ElephantAnimal RescueWild AnimalsPakistaniAmericanKaavanNeth PheaktraEnvironment MinistryPachydermsMarghazar ZooLoneliest ElephantNorthern CambodiaCher

• RHB Bank Cambodia launches first RHB Premier Banking Centre

  KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): RHB Bank Cambodia Plc (RHB Cambodia) has launched its first RHB Premier Banking Centre at the RHB head office in Phnom Penh. In a statement today, RHB Bank said its Premier Banking services are exclusively designed to reward affluent customers with special privileges, offering an added touch of prestige and sophistication in serving their financial needs.Read Full Story Rhb BankChief Executive OfficerASEANMalaysiaSingaporeRHB Bank Cambodia PlcRHB CambodiaRHB Head OfficeCambodiansLounge And TravelIPad MiniRM21 .09 BillionPremier Banking ServicesPremier Banking CustomersAsean Countries

• 'World's loneliest elephant' Kavaan arrives in Cambodia with help from Cher

  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Kaavan, dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant” after languishing alone for years in a Pakistani zoo, was greeted on his arrival in Cambodia on Monday by chanting Buddhist monks and was then sent on his way to a wildlife sanctuary. Like other travelers during these times, the...Read Full Story ElephantsSri LankaPhnom PenhPakistaniAsian ElephantAnimal RescueWild AnimalsAmericanNBC NewsMarghazar ZooLoneliest ElephantNorthern CambodiaKaavanPHNOM PENHSocial AnimalsCher

• With Cher's help, 'world's loneliest elephant' arrives in Cambodia

  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The pachyderm dubbed the 'world's loneliest elephant' after languishing alone for years in a Pakistani zoo was greeted on his arrival in Cambodia on Monday by chanting Buddhist monks and was then sent on his way to a wildlife sanctuary. Like other travelers during these times,...Read Full Story CambodiaKenyaPhnom PenhPakistaniAsian ElephantAnimal RescueAmericanMarghazar ZooLoneliest ElephantKaavanPHNOM PENHBuddhist MonksTsavoRescue GroupConservationistsCher