The single-party National assembly sat for the second day of its third plenary session Wednesday, discussing two of eight chapters of the draft law on the Organization and Functioning of the Courts. The CPP-only parliament&mdash;minus 55 boycotting opposition CNRP lawmakers-elect&mdash;convened to discuss the first of three <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cpp-lawmakers-lash-out-at-critics-of-one-party-assembly/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the 2018 bribery convictions of five current and former staffers of human rights group adhoc, concluding the appeal process in a criminal case that critics have said failed to substantiate the charges. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/supreme-court-upholds-2018-adhoc-5-bribery-convictions/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Government official Dy Panha received 30.79 hectares of land in northeastern Mondulkiri province cut from forest cover in a September sub-decree released publicly earlier this year.  <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/prime-ministers-relative-receives-30-hectares-of-mondulkiri-forest-land/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

China has emerged as the world’s biggest importer of Cambodian milled rice, now accounting for more than half the market share &ndash; versus just 3% a decade ago &ndash; and is expected to further strengthen its dominance going forward. Insiders point out that traders who <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/china-emerges-as-biggest-importer-of-cambodias-agri-products/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Child labor and debt bondage continue in Cambodia’s brick factories, according to a report published Monday by the human rights group Licadho. The organization also found garment waste from international brands such as Reebok, Old Navy and adidas fueling kilns in brick factories. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ngo-licadho-finds-child-labor-debt-bondage-in-cambodias-brick-factories/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Though authorities have called on residents to move to higher ground, those in some of the worst flooded areas of Cambodia said yesterday that they had neither the means nor the ability to do so. Instead, they said, they will remain in their rapidly flooding <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/heads-above-water/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

growing behind his party’s call for an independent probe into claims of fraud and other irregularities in the country’s recent elections. Speaking in Washington following his visit to Europe, Sam Rainsy said that governments and parliamentarians in the European Union, the United States and several other <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/international-support-growing-for-cambodian-polls-probe-sam-rainsy/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The price of durian from Thailand has risen sharply this year, leading to shrinking profits for fruit vendors in Phnom Penh as demand from China for the spiky, pungent fruit grows more robust. On Sihanouk Boulevard, fruit vendor Heng Sovanna said that since March, the price <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/vendors-hit-as-price-of-thai-durian-imports-rise/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

This year’s subdued Water Festival festivities in the capital, where traditional boat races were cancelled, has resulted in a bump in tourism in the provinces as Cambodians use the three-day holiday to visit their families, enjoy cultural activities and lounge on beaches.“It was unusually quiet <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/for-festival-any-water-will-do/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

 A journAlist in PreAh ViheAr province sAys he wAs beAten up by An Army commAnder After he AccidentAlly witnessed whAt he suspected to be the illegAl trAnsportAtion of timber. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/preAh-viheAr-journAlist-AssAulted-by-militAry-commAnder/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

 Nine Boeng Tamok lake residents face charges of “intentional acts of violence and obstruction of public officials” and were placed under court supervision following a February 21 warrant issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal court. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/nine-boeng-tamok-residents-placed-under-court-supervision-face-additional-charges/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Kandal village residents protested on Thursday against the filling in of land near their homes at the $1.5 billion airport development project, with a company official saying they were only filling the homes of three people who had agreed to leave the site. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/kandal-residents-protest-new-land-filling-near-airport-development/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

 Three Bunong indigenous family members were arrested by Mondulkiri provincial police on Sunday over a land dispute in Chamkar Te Village, Spean Thmor Commune. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/police-arrested-3-bunong-over-land-dispute-in-mondulkiri-province/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

“The agriculture sector today is still playing significant role in promoting local production growth, job creation, and contributing to the poverty reduction of the people.  at the same time, the agriculture sector will continue the basic role for economic growth and socio-economic development in Cambodia in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/agriculture-contributes-to-helping-cambodias-economic-growth-pm-hun-sen/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Despite the return of police checkpoints around Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning ahead of the opposition CNRP’s latest protest against July’s still-disputed national election, most demonstrators coming in from the provinces were let through. Typifying what turned out to be a lighter security touch compared to <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/protesters-move-largely-unhindered-by-police-checkpoints/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Seng Pha, 63, is unable to read the leaflets of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) posted on the wall of her wooden house, but she recognizes one of the candidates running for commune chief, out of a total of 35, in Boeung Kak II commune. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/railway-families-remain-uncertain-as-commune-election-candidates-silent-on-their-relocation/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

 Some 200 unions and federations have accused two prominent independent labor organizations of inciting its members to leave and establish a new union. The claim was denied by one of organizations, which said it has never trained members of any of the signatories &mdash; many <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/with-vague-details-pro-government-unions-accuse-labor-groups-of-inciting-members-to-form-new-union/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

 A new LICADHO report detAiling the murders of 26 women And five children between JAnuAry 2020 And June 2022 by current or former intimAte pArtners reveAls the persistence of domestic violence And flAws in lAw enforcement. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/report-points-to-inAdequAte-enforcement-legAl-flAws-As-reAsons-for-entrenched-domestic-violence/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

 Living in a small concrete house with his wife and two young children, one kilometer away from Takhmao Bridge, ex-Giant Ibis Transportation employee Or Chanthy, 45, contemplates life’s challenges. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/giant-ibis-unions-fight-remains-as-the-company-goes-back-on-promise/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

 A report by NGO SAhmAkum TeAng TnAut OrgAnizAtion (STT) reveAled thAt people who Are forcibly evicted from their homes without proper resettlement Are burdened with debt, hAve low Access to food, while children experience disruptive educAtion And Are subject to child lAbor. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/stt-report-forced-evictions-in-phnom-penh-kAndAl-tAkeo-pushed-people-into-debt-crisis/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>