**

According to a letter from His Majesty the King Father Norodom Sihanouk to his son

His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni dated May 25, the scientific name for Sihanouk's

chemotherapy treatment he is currently undergoing in Beijing is RITUXIMAB THERAPY.

** The Ministry off National Assembly - Senate Relations and Inspection has not been

completed yet but it has a nickname already: Krasoon Men Sam An.

** Sources along the riverfront say that rumors are circulating that the Municipality

has a plan to solve the increasingly snarled traffic along Sisowath Quay. Rather

than enforce the no parking regulations or use the old Funcinpec-initiated plan of

making the street one-way, as was done in 1993, the new proposal is to widen the

road by eating up some of the sidewalk along the river.

** On March 21, 2005, the Royal Government passed a decree that lists the following

animals and plants as "symbols" of the Kingdom of Cambodia: Kouprey (Bos

Sauveli), Giant Ibis (Pseudibis Gigantea), Royal Turtle (Batagur Baska), Mekong Carp

(Catlocarpio Siamensis), Sugar Palm (Borassus Flabellifer), and Chicken Egg Banana

(Musa Aromatica).

** Mercy sakes alive! Tempers are getting a bit heated among some donors. Sources

say DANIDA's Mogens Christensen "flew off the handle" and "raked over

the coals" USAID's Paul Randolph at a donor meeting this week. At issue was

USAID's plans to fund a local governance project that would involve working with

the Commune Councils. As many as ten donors - mostly European - have been providing

funds to support and strengthen the Commune Councils. One beef is that the USAID

project will allegedly set up an entirely new parallel structure to that already

in existence. USAID cannot comment publicly on the project as bidding is still underway.

** A new 32MW power plant was inaugurated on June 9 at Stung Meanchey that increases

by 35% the National Grid System's total capacity. The press were invited to cover

the opening, but they had difficulty finding anyone who would answer questions. However,

there was someone handing out a flyer suggesting what questions to ask.

** One company's director says his new secretary is on a steep learning curve. She

came in to his office and told him that "Three women from Hell" wanted

to see him. It turned out they were from Helen Keller International.

** Curious minds want to know what the deal is with the CMAC guys clearing UXOs at

the new Ariston golf course in Sihanoukville?