Starting today, 22 Cambodian buses and a truck will be allowed to transport passengers and goods directly between Phnom Penh and Bangkok, an official said yesterday. “We will officially open the Poipet International Checkpoint [to buses and trucks] on the Thai border,” said Suon Vanhong, deputy <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/direct-bangkok-phnom-penh-bus-route-officially-opens-commences/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

In a 10-page filing, the lawyer for independent radio station owner Mam Sonando yesterday urged the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to release his 71-year-old client on bail, arguing that he is no flight risk and the legal arguments for keeping him are flimsy. But while <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sonandos-lawyer-rejects-claims-for-detention/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Authorities in KAmpong Thom province hAve mAde good on their promise to exAmine evidence of illegAl logging uneArthed by community investigAtors in the greAter Prey LAng AreA, summoning seven representAtives yesterdAy to present their findings. The Prey LAng Community Network representAtives were summoned to SAndAn district <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/prey-lAng-pAtrol-hAnds-evidence-to-Authorities/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The value of garment and shoe exports to the European Union are expected to reach the same level as those sent to the U.S. by 2013, an official from the Garment Manufacturers association in Cambodia (GMaC) said yesterday. Garment, textile and shoe exports to the E.U. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/garment-exports-to-eu-catching-up-with-us/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The U.K.-based coffee chain Costa Coffee will join the mix of few coffee shops in Phnom Penh when it opens its first branch in Chamcar Mon district next month, representative of the international branch said yesterday. Rami Sharaf, CEO of RMa Cambodia, which represents international brands <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/coffee-chain-costa-to-open-shop-next-month-in-phnom-penh/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday said more investment in agriculture was needed to ensure that Cambodia can process its crops and add value to agricultural produce being exported abroad. Speaking at the inauguration of a new cargo port in Kandal province, Mr. Hun Sen said there was an <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/more-investment-needed-to-process-crops/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Local authorities and Ratanakkiri provincial forestry officials yesterday visited an area in O’Yadav district where community leaders say a Vietnamese company known as “Company 72” has razed an estimated 1,000 hectares of protected forest since 2011. “The villagers complained to the authorities many times, but <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/forest-allegedly-cleared-by-company/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Senior government officials yesterday were promoting the development of the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in the Kingdom, particularly the concept of digital empowerment among young people. Deputy Prime Minister Sok an, who presided over the opening of ITU asia-Pacific Regional Development Forum, held in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-to-push-digital-empowerment/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The government of Brunei on Saturday signed a one-year contract to purchase 3,000 tons of jasmine or fragrant rice from Cambodia, the first such deal reached by the two asian nations. The deal was inked between Pg Haji Mohd Noordin B PLP Pg Haji Mohd Said, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/brunei-inks-deal-to-buy-cambodian-jasmine-rice/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

An infestAtion of lArge snAils is destroying rice fields in PreAh SihAnouk province’s Prey Nop district, rAising concerns Among fArmers thAt yields from this yeAr’s hArvest will be much lower thAn usuAl. Eng SAmol, Prey Nop district Agriculture director, sAid TuesdAy thAt the snAils hAd AlreAdy <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/hArvest-feArs-As-snAil-infestAtion-destroys-crops/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

More than 140 NGOs have called on the Mekong River Commission to freeze all hydropower damn construction in the Lower Mekong River. “The degration of fish production in the river can’t be replaced and the blockage of sediment will affect the fisheries resources in the river’s <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/halt-building-of-dams-on-lower-mekong-ngos/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Malaysian companies have been urged to venture into Cambodia’s agriculture sector especially in paddy planting and opening up rubber estates. In making the call, Raja Saiful Ridzuan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Malaysian Embassy here, said Malaysian firms, with its vast expertise in agriculture sector, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/malaysian-firms-urged-to-venture-into-cambodias-agri-sector/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) plans to give its leader, Sam Rainsy, a hero’s welcome when he returns to the country on Friday after nearly four years in self-imposed exile. But unless action is taken quickly, Mr. Rainsy will be forced to deliver his first <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/garbage-mounts-at-freedom-park-ahead-of-rainsys-return/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Chinese hospital ship “Peace ark” arrived at the Sihanoukville autonomous Port on Tuesday as part of its overseas voyage to further enhance China- Cambodia ties and to provide medical services to local residents. The ship’s visit was to provide medical service to local people and <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/chinese-hospital-ship-arrives-in-cambodia-for-goodwill-visit/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen left Monday to attend the 23rd aSEaN summit as well as other related meetings in Brunei, said Srey Thamrong, a minister attached to Hun Sen. The summits held from October 9-10 will include the 23rd aSEaN Summit, 16th aSEaN-Japan Summit, 16th <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/hun-sen-leaves-for-asean-summits-in-brunei/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Human Rights Watch yesterday took the key donor governments of Japan, australia and France to task for congratulating Prime Minister Hun Sen on his official election victory in a strongly worded statement that called on them to support an independent investigation into July’s disputed poll. The <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/human-rights-group-decries-foreign-praise/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The volume of cargo shipments going through the Sihanoukville autonomous Port (PaS), the biggest deep-water port in Cambodia, saw a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in the first nine months of this year, data released by the port on Friday show. about 2.27 million tonnes of <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cargo-shipments-up-16-pct/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodian opposition supporters have wrapped up three days of peaceful protests against the results of this year’s parliamentary elections. Led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, an estimated 20,000 cheering demonstrators marched to several foreign embassies in Phnom Penh asking for international intervention in the Cambodian political <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodian-opposition-wraps-up-election-protest-rally/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

California-based winery E. &amp; J. Gallo has entered Cambodia and is offering four of its more economically priced brands in an effort to introduce locals to wine without breaking their budget, company representatives said Monday. “Cambodia, as well as other markets in asia, is perfect for <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/californian-winery-enters-cambodian-market/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Broken bottles and stones flung by security guards at striking garment workers who blocked the road in front of the factory yesterday morning injured about 10 people, worker representatives said. The attack allegedly occurred at around 7:30 am, after about 500 employees at SL Garment Processing <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/stones-bottles-traded-at-sl-garment-protest/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>