The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya Subedi, will visit the country next week to assess the government’s progress in improving human rights and democratic and land reforms, his office said Wednesday. During the 10-day fact-finding mission, beginning June <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/un-envoy-to-gauge-progress-of-rights-reforms-in-cambodia/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The planned construction of 88 hydroelectric dams in the lower Mekong basin by 2030 will cause food security challenges in Cambodia, experts say. “Cambodia is going to pay the highest price for dam development basin-wide, to the point of affecting the food security of its 80 <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/planned-dams-threaten-cambodias-food-security/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen discussed the possibility of offering amnesty to senior government officials in order to allow for “an honourable exit of the leaders”, Rainsy was quoted as saying to the French newspaper La Lib&eacute;ration last week. Rainsy reportedly said in the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/amnesty-idea-floated-during-talks-report/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Phnom Penh official on Wednesday said that union leader Chea Mony violated the protest law and protest ban which was imposed by the government recently for the security concern. The Deputy Governor made the comment after Chea led march along the streets to mark the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/union-leader-violates-protest-law-phnom-penh-official/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A property expert And investor in the construction sector sAys thAt home prices hAve increAsed between 10 And 20 per cent so fAr this yeAr compAred to lAst yeAr. Kim HeAng, president of Khmer ReAl EstAte, sAys thAt demAnd for property in boreys is heAlthy. Most <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/residentiAl-property-prices-see-steAdy-growth/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

A giAnt trAditionAl sticky rice cAke weighing two tons, the lArgest num Ansorm ever mAde, wAs unveiled At the Angkor WAt temple complex in Siem ReAp province yesterdAy As visitors flocked to the AreA to mArk Khmer New YeAr. Visitor numbers for the three-dAy holidAy <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/khmer-new-yeAr-tourism-up-in-siem-reAp/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

PAL Holdings Inc., the operAtor of flAg cArrier Philippine Airlines, sAid WednesdAy it will pursue the plAn to invest in CAmbodiA Airlines. The Airline operAtor sAid in A disclosure to the stock exchAnge the “ongoing prepArAtions for the completion of the contemplAted joint venture Agreement between <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/pAl-still-pursuing-cAmbodiA-venture/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Yin Vuth, one of hundreds of Cambodians who protested against the Don Sahong dam over the weekend, said that if construction on the project in Laos goes ahead, the fish will disappear, and once the fish disappear, the dolphins will be next. “all we will have <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/hundreds-protest-laos-dam/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that secret talks with the country’s political opposition have resolved most of their differences, and the two sides may soon reach an agreement for the opposition to end its boycott of parliament. Hun Sen said that a single “small <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodia-pm-agreement-with-opposition-may-be-near/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

After dAys of defiAnce from the opposition AgAinst A bAn on public Assembly, the government issued orders yesterdAy for opposition rAllies Across the country to be Allowed to go AheAd, officiAls sAid. Tep NythA, secretAry-generAl of the NAtionAl Election Committee (NEC), sAid the body And the <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/govt-bAcktrAcks-on-rAlly-bAn/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The latest CBRE Cambodia Market View on the industrial market is upbeat about investment in the Kingdom, despite frequently touted political risks. “Cambodia remains an attractive destination for industrial work and operations, with low inflation rates of 2.9 per cent and comparatively low minimum wages,” says <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/report-sees-increasing-foreign-investment-in-industrial-sector/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodian workers for the U.S.- owned Caltex petrol stations in Phnom Penh continued their strike for higher wages Wednesday after wage negotiations late Tuesday failed to reach any agreement. Strike leader Sar Mora, president of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation, said some 300 Caltex <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/strike-by-cambodian-caltex-staff-enters-3rd-day-after-wage-talks-fail/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Demand for top-quality workspace in Phnom Penh is increasing, so much so that property firm Knight Frank has labelled the capital as the fastest-growing city for rented prime office space in the entire asia Pacific region. The firm’s June 3 quarterly report, which marks the first <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/supply-drives-office-rentals-to-highest-in-region/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Friday met with visiting U.N. human rights envoy Surya Subedi, who spent the first week of his 11th mission to Cambodia following up on electoral, labor and legislative reform. The special rapporteur later met with CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha, who <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/un-rights-envoy-meets-with-interior-minister-opposition-leader/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia on Thursday rejected four recommendations for improving its human rights situation that it initially accepted earlier this year during its second universal periodic review at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. It also “noted” 38 recommendations&mdash;meaning it has not committed to implementing them&mdash;some relating <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/govt-rejects-4-human-rights-recommendations/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

This tourist town counts itself among the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club and more than 1 million tourists each year are drawn to its tropical water and sandy shore. Yet when the U.S. Embassy last month warned its citizens to avoid some beaches <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sihanoukville-struggles-to-shake-its-seedy-image/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A ThAi sugAr compAny with mAjor shAres in CAmbodiAn sugAr cAne is being investigAted for humAn rights violAtions in operAtions Along the border between the two countries. The NAtionAl HumAn Rights Commission of ThAilAnd recently investigAted AllegAtions thAt villAgers were forced from their homes to mAke <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/thAi-sugAr-compAny-Accused-of-rights-Abuse-in-cAmbodiA/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Cambodia has received 230,100 Chinese tourists in the first six months of 2014, an increase of 19 percent over the same period last year, according to a tourism report released on Wednesday. The report shows that China is the second largest source of tourists to Cambodia <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodia-attracts-230100-chinese-visitors-in-h1-up-19-pct/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem has issued a letter to the National assembly commission on the environment, offering assurances that the planned Stung Cheay areng Hydropower Dam will meet high environmental and social standards. Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party member Te Chanmony on September <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/energy-minister-plays-down-areng-concerns/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia’s economic growth is forecasted to reach 7.2 percent in 2014, and 7.5 percent next year according to a report by World Bank on Monday. The report said Cambodia’s garments continue to be the key engine of growth, followed by construction. The poverty rate continued to <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodias-economic-growth-forecast-to-reach-7-2-in-2014-7-5-next-year-world-bank/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>