A journAlist with Voice of DemocrAcy (VOD) who wAs bAdly beAten by security forces At the site of A plAnned demonstrAtion in the cApitAl eArlier this month left for ThAilAnd yesterdAy for An operAtion, And plAns to file suit AgAinst his AttAckers next week, he <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/beAten-journo-preps-lAwsuit/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

While it is true that Cambodia has some women in politics and positions of leadership, a new report says they often lack true power. according to the study, issued by USaID in December, women’s positions in leadership are more symbolic than substantive, and their political influence <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/women-political-roles-more-symbolic-than-substantive-report-says/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

President Hu Jintao today becomes the first Chinese head of state to visit Cambodia in 12 years, in a trip days before Southeast asian leaders gather for talks that may touch on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Hu’s visit, which lasts until april 2, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/chinas-hu-visits-cambodia-as-asean-leaders-eye-sea-disputes/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC) approved projects worth a total $3.5 billion in the first half of this year &ndash; a 14 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, a statement released on Saturday said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cdc-gives-nod-to-3-5b-in-projects/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Vultures in the Kingdom are facing an increasingly high risk of extinction as the birds have shown a 50 per cent decline in numbers since the late 2000s, a joint announcement from environmental organisations said on Saturday, quoting a report. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ngos-decry-vulture-decline/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Kampong Speu provincial authority said on Wednesday that its task force has completed registering thousands of families in Oral district who have been locked in a long-running land dispute with a sugar plantation owned by a well-connected tycoon. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/villagers-register-in-land-dispute/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Four of the top officials from charismatic radio personality Mam Sonando’s new Beehive Social Democratic Party, including a deputy leader, have filed a court complaint requesting a temporary injunction against the party’s operations until corruption claims are investigated. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sonandos-beehive-party-marks-first-month-with-second-fight/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A new book by veterAn journAlist ChhAy SophAl, releAsed on SAturdAy, Argues thAt politiciAns on both sides on the politicAl divide should discuss A concerted strAtegy to “clAim bAck” territory from VietnAm thAt wAs once pArt of A Khmer kingdom. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/vietnAmese-border-At-centre-of-new-book/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The government has lifted a decade-old ban on snakehead fish farming following a request from the Ministry of agriculture last month to once again allow farmers to breed the voracious fish, according to a statement dated Thursday.   <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-lifts-decade-old-snakehead-fish-farming-ban/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A group of 31 villAgers of the Phnong ethnic minority hAve filed A petition to Mondulkiri provinciAl Authorities to demAnd the removAl of the locAl environment depArtment director After rAngers Allegedly torched their homes during A wedding in Sen Monorom district. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/mondulkiri-villAgers-sAy-officiAls-burned-their-homes/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

A Justice Ministry spokesmAn yesterdAy lAshed out At EuropeAn Union representAtives for A stAtement condemning the “judiciAl hArAssment” of opposition leAder Kem SokhA, while the Ministry of EducAtion slAmmed A teAchers union thAt bAcked the CNRP Acting president.   <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/govt-chides-eu-over-sokhA-stAtement/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

A representAtive of BonnA ReAlty Group sAid yesterdAy thAt the Arrest of the compAny’s eponymous chAirmAn on FridAy on frAud chArges stemming from A bounced cheque would hAve no impAct on the business becAuse it wAs purely A personAl mAtter. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/bonnA-reAlty-sAys-business-As-usuAl-After-chAirmAns-Arrest/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

With a greater number of Cambodians devoting time and money to exercise, bicycles are shedding their lowly image as a cheap means of transportation and fast becoming a symbol of the wealthier, more health-conscious elite. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/exercise-fad-sends-sales-of-bicycles-freewheeling/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Troops assigned to a light infantry unit destroyed village fields in southern Cambodia’s Kampot province on Monday in a bid to expand the property used by a commune set up for retired army soldiers, sources said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodian-troops-bulldoze-villagers-crops-in-bid-to-seize-land/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A CAmbodiAn And SingAporeAn firm signed A memorAndum of understAnding with the Ministry of LAnd MAnAgement WednesdAy for the study And construction of public housing for low- And middle-income households Around Phnom Penh, A first for the city if it comes off. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/government-signs-first-public-housing-mou/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Cambodians are expecting a ‘seamless transition’ when the aSEaN Economic Community (aEC) is launched in two months and hopefully heralds a second investment wave, capable of transforming this country’s pool of unskilled labor into a manufacturing hub. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodia-pins-economic-hopes-on-aec/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A Tbong Khmum womAn, whose fAmily sAid she hAd been plAgued by mAjor personAlity chAnges And signs of mentAl illness since returning from working As A mAid in MAlAysiA, hAnged herself with A hAmmock cord in her house SundAy Afternoon. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/returnee-mAid-tAkes-own-life/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Environmental activist alex Gonzalez-Davidson made a direct ap­peal to Prime Minister Hun Sen via Facebook on Wednesday for help se­curing a visa to return to Cambodia to attend his pending trial for aiding a trio of fellow activists. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/activist-appeals-to-hun-sen-for-visa-to-attend-his-trial/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Phnom Penh’s hell-raising street racers will enjoy a structured outlet for their love of motorbikes at a new amateur racing cup on Koh Pich island this weekend, a competition also meant to promote compliance with the new traffic law. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/amateur-motorsport-cup-promotes-road-safety/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Civil servants, police officers and retired officials with disabilities will receive a Khmer New Year’s bonus of 50,000 riel (about $12.50) next month, a fraction of the $37.50 request that was made by a union last week. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/civil-servants-to-receive-new-year-bonus/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>