Souvenir vendor Ly Ratana is optimistic that the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) will bring more tourists to Siem Reap province, home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, so his business will grow again.
Ratana, who has sold a variety of souvenirs at the Old Market in the eponymous Siem Reap town for more than a decade, said his business was severely hurt during the COVID-19 pandemic and even now, tourist numbers to the province are still far low compared to the pre-pandemic era.
“The opening of this new airport is the expectation of Siem Reap residents, who depend on the tourism sector,” he told Xinhua on Thursday.
Invested by the Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia), an affiliate of China’s Yunnan Investment Holdings Ltd., the 700-hectare airport, designed in traditional Cambodian architecture style, was inaugurated by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday.
Situated in Sotr Nikum district, about 40 km from the Angkor park and more than 50 km from Siem Reap town, the 4E-level international airport will be able to handle 7 million air passengers per annum from 2024 and up to 12 million passengers annually from 2040.
With a 3,600-meter runway, the SAI is currently Cambodia’s biggest airport and is the main gateway to Angkor park, one of the Southeast Asian country’s most popular tourist attractions.
Ratana believes that the new airport has a strong potential to attract more tourists.
“This new airport is much bigger than the old one, so probably there will be more direct flights that will bring more tourists,” he said.
On October 28th and 29th, 2023, the "Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2023 Powered by dwango" was grandly held in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This event is one of the largest Halloween events in Japan, attracting over 20,000 cosplayers each year.
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the event notably expanded the scale of its highlight, the "Ike-Haro Cosplay Parade". On stage, the "Niconico Cosplay Collection" allowed participants to showcase their proud cosplay creations, and the regular program "Halloween with Family" catered to families. Additionally, there were areas where beginners could easily experience cosplay, and the "Cosplayer Gachi Photography" project, where visitors could take photos of popular cosplayers. These diverse and engaging activities led to a record-breaking attendance, surpassing 140,000 visitors.
The event not only highlighted the allure of cosplay culture but also provided a perfect opportunity for families and friends to enjoy memorable times together. The anticipation for the next event is already high, promising even more excitement and participation.
The large cosplay event "Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2023 Powered by Dwango" (abbreviated as "Ike-Haro 2023") was held in the east exit area of Ikebukuro, Tokyo. "Ike-Haro 2023" was packed with attractions including a cosplay parade through the streets, gatherings, and various stage events, drawing a record attendance of 141,000 cosplay fans over two days. Enthusiasts could be seen enjoying photography and socializing in various locations.
Peeking into the photo shoot areas set up at Ikebukuro Sunshine City and Ike-Sun Park, it was evident that "NIKKE: Goddess of Victory" was a popular choice among cosplayers at "Ike-Haro 2023." Groups of friends gathered to enjoy "matching" cosplays, and some "NIKKE" layers prepared multiple outfits to enjoy two different cosplay patterns in one day. It was striking to see the long lines that formed in various places to take photos of them.
ភាគហ៊ុនអាស៊ីតាមដាន Wall Street កើនឡើងមុនការសម្រេចចិត្តរបស់ Fed
Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday after Wall Street advanced to claim back some of the ground it gave up in another losing month.
Investors are awaiting a decision later Wednesday by the Federal Reserve on interest rates and updates on the state of the US economy. The overwhelming expectation is that the Fed will keep its overnight interest rate steady. The bigger question is how long it will keep that main rate high.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index added 2.4 percent to 31,601.65 a day after the Bank of Japan held back from any major changes to its near-zero interest rate policy, though it adjusted its controls on government bond yields.
The dollar weakened against the Japanese yen, trading at 151.28 yen. It jumped on Tuesday after the Japanese central bank’s decision.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng edged less than 0.1 percent higher, to 17,126.70. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.1 percent to 3,023.08.
South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1 percent to 2,301.56 and the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.9 percent to 6,838.30.
European futures were higher early Wednesday. Inflation that has been wearing on European consumers fell sharply to 2.9 percent in October, its lowest in more than two years as fuel prices fell and rapid interest rate hikes from the European Central Bank took hold. But that encouraging news was balanced by worrisome official figures showing economic output in the 20 countries that use the euro shrank by 0.1 percent in the July-September quarter.
Tuesday on Wall Street, the S&P 500 gained 0.6 percent to 4,193.80. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4 percent to 33,052.87 and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5 percent, to 12,851.24.
More than 80 percent of the stocks in the S&P 500 strengthened. It closed October with a loss of 2.2 percent for the month. That’s its third straight monthly drop, the longest losing streak since the COVID-19 pandemic froze the global economy at the start of 2020.
Pinterest jumped 19 percent after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Arista Networks was one of the strongest forces pushing the S&P 500 upward, climbing 14 percent after also reporting a stronger profit for the summer than Wall Street had forecast.
Most big US companies have reported stronger profit for the summer than expected, and Caterpillar also joined them. But the heavy machinery maker’s stock sank 6.7 percent after analysts focused on a slowdown in orders and growing inventories at dealers.
VF Corp., the company behind Vans, Timberlands and other brands, dropped 14 percent after it reported weaker profit than expected.
Higher bond yields have taken a toll, since they knock down prices for stocks and other investments, while slowing the overall economy and adding pressure on the entire financial system. The 10-year Treasury yield, which is the centrepiece of the bond market, has jumped from less than 3.50 percent during the spring to more than 5 percent recently, touching its highest level since 2007.
The 10-year Treasury yield ticked higher to 4.91 percent early Wednesday from 4.89 percent late Monday. The Fed has already pulled its main overnight interest rate above 5.25 percent to its highest level since 2001. It’s been saying it will make upcoming moves based on what data say about inflation and the job market, where the worry is that too-strong growth could give inflation more fuel.
Reports on the economy Tuesday came in mixed. One said that growth in wages and benefits for US workers slowed during the summer, compared with year-earlier levels, but not by as much as economists expected.
Another report said that confidence among US consumers weakened last month, but not by as much as economists expected. Strong consumer spending has helped the economy avoid recession, but it could also fan inflation. In other trading, US benchmark crude oil advanced 48 cents to $81.50 a barrel. It lost 29 cents on Tuesday to $81.02. Brent crude, the international standard, picked up 65 cents to $85.67 a barrel.
ភាគហ៊ុនអាស៊ីភាគច្រើនបានកើនឡើងខ្ពស់កាលពីថ្ងៃពុធបន្ទាប់ពី Wall Street បានកើនឡើងដើម្បីទាមទារមកវិញនូវដីមួយចំនួនដែលវាបានបោះបង់ចោលនៅក្នុងខែដែលបាត់បង់មួយផ្សេងទៀត។
Are you someone who has a desire to become super rich in the shortest amount of time? Do you know the feeling of being a successful entrepreneur who uses their wits and clever schemes to make it rain? Then this latest Japanese TV show is for you. It is a bit impractical, to be honest, but still a very enjoyable watch for the weekend. Based on a manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami, first published in the magazine Big Comic Superior, Trillion Game, originally produced by TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System), made it to Netflix last weekend.
Haru Tennoji (Ren Meguro) and Manabu Taira (Hayato Sano) are two very different friends. Haru is an excellent communicator who is loved by all people, regardless of age or gender. Manabu is a computer genius, but his social awkwardness makes him a reject at every job interview. When Haru is offered a job with the nation’s largest IT company, Dragon Bank, he turns down their offer.
Instead, Haru Tennoji decides to start his own business with his friend. They named the company Trillion Game because their goal is to earn one trillion dollars. Haru seems like an easy-going person, but he is actually ambitious and will do anything for success. With Manabu’s talent, Haru carries the duo on a journey full of hurdles but also thrills and excitement, with his philosophy, “Fake it until you make it!”
Trillion Game is not a normal rags-to-riches story. With an already good story from a popular manga, the live-action series does an excellent job of bringing the story alive. The suspense, plot twists, and humour are all there – well-balanced and beautifully executed. Some may describe its elements as “unrealistic” or “impractical”, but is the dramatic part not the key to creativity, particularly for a Japanese manga?
All actors get a fair share when it comes to contributing to the show – except for Ren Meguro, who plays the leading role. He is a perfect imitation of the Haru character, specifically depicted in his sudden change of personality as well as bluffing to get out of trouble in many moments. His smile may look cheeky and cheesy, which is kind of bothersome to some viewers, but overall, he is the backbone of the show, just like his character in the manga series.
If you are someone who often finds themselves bored by typical dramas and only has limited free time, then this drama is a perfect must-watch this weekend.
Haru Tennoji (Ren Meguro) និង Manabu Taira (Hayato Sano) គឺជាមិត្តពីរនាក់ផ្សេងគ្នា។ Haru ជាអ្នកប្រាស្រ័យទាក់ទងដ៏ល្អម្នាក់ដែលត្រូវបានមនុស្សគ្រប់គ្នាស្រលាញ់ មិនថាអាយុ ឬភេទអ្វីឡើយ។ Manabu គឺជាមនុស្សពូកែកុំព្យូទ័រ ប៉ុន្តែភាពឆ្គាំឆ្គងក្នុងសង្គមរបស់គាត់ធ្វើឱ្យគាត់បដិសេធរាល់ការសម្ភាសន៍ការងារ។ នៅពេលដែល Haru ត្រូវបានផ្តល់ការងារជាមួយក្រុមហ៊ុន IT ដ៏ធំបំផុតរបស់ប្រទេសគឺ Dragon Bank គាត់បដិសេធការផ្តល់ជូនរបស់ពួកគេ។
ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ Haru Tennoji សម្រេចចិត្តចាប់ផ្តើមអាជីវកម្មផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនជាមួយមិត្តរបស់គាត់។ ពួកគេបានដាក់ឈ្មោះក្រុមហ៊ុនថា Trillion Game ដោយសារតែគោលដៅរបស់ពួកគេគឺរកបានមួយពាន់ពាន់លានដុល្លារ។ Haru ហាក់ដូចជាមនុស្សងាយស្រួល ប៉ុន្តែតាមពិតគាត់មានមហិច្ឆតា ហើយនឹងធ្វើអ្វីក៏បានជោគជ័យ។ ជាមួយនឹងភាពប៉ិនប្រសប់របស់ Manabu Haru នាំអ្នកទាំងពីរធ្វើដំណើរទៅកាន់ផ្លូវដែលពោរពេញដោយឧបសគ្គ ប៉ុន្តែក៏មានក្តីរំភើប និងរំភើបផងដែរ ជាមួយនឹងទស្សនវិជ្ជារបស់គាត់ "ក្លែងបន្លំវារហូតដល់អ្នកធ្វើវា!"
foodpanda is the most preferred app for food as well as grocery delivery in the Kingdom, according to the latest market study conducted by the business strategy and development firm Aquarii BD (Cambodia). Other prominent food apps in the Kingdom are Nham 24, Grab, Meal Temple, E-GetS, Muuve, Instafood KH and The Speed Delivery.
foodpanda, owned by Berlin-based Delivery Hero, allows customers to order and get food delivered to their homes across many Cambodian cities including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Takhmao, Kampong Cham, Kampot, Sihanoukville, Poipet, Pursat, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Takeo and Svay Rieng.
It first entered the Kingdom’s app economy in the year 2019 and since then it has become the most popular food app in the country, according to various surveys, and remains the most preferred choice for expatriates in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
foodpanda has been cooperating with a wide range of food business outlets encompassing restaurants, coffee shops and food stores, which enables customers to have a wide range of choices when it comes to the culinary fare of their preference. There are also many timely promotion schemes offered by the app, which is available in both Khmer and English languages.
“Demand for food and grocery deliveries have not dropped to pre-pandemic levels. Restaurants sign up with food delivery apps or offer self-delivery, while consumers are educated on the food and grocery delivery practices,” aquariibd.com observed.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Mohammed Thaslim, who owns restaurants in Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, said the gradual transition into the app economy has been a boon for the food sector, especially during the post-pandemic period.
“The situation wasn’t really good until a few months ago. Hotel and restaurant sector was the most affected in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap during the pandemic period as the sector heavily depended on tourism.
The Cambodian currency, Khmer Riel (KHR), is now accepted for exchange with other currencies at Travelex money exchange counters in Singapore’s Changi Airport.This is the first time that the Riel has been available for exchange outside of Cambodia.
Travelex, a market leading foreign exchange brand, has partnered with the National Bank of Cambodia to start trading Cambodia’s national currency, the Khmer Riel, at Singapore’s Changi Airport, Travel said a statement early this week.
The move is a result of an effort of the National Bank of Cambodia to promote the use of the Cambodian currency. It is also a sign of the growing international recognition of the Cambodian Riel.
“Khmer Riel is now available at Travelex counters at Changi Airport T2 and T3,” commented Ms. CheaSerey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia.
The acceptance of the Riel at Changi Airport is expected to make it easier for travellers to and from Cambodia to exchange their currency. It will also help to promote the use of the Riel among tourists and investors.
This is a significant development for the Cambodian economy, and it is likely to boost the country’s tourism and investment sectors.AKP-CheaVannak
