The CNRP was forced to hold a downsized version of a seminar for incoming elected officials led by party president Kem Sokha at its headquarters in Kompong Chhnang province on Monday after provincial authorities refused to allow a larger gathering. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cnrp-seminar-blocked-by-kompong-chhnang-governor/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen returned from a three-day trip to China yesterday, all but confirming in a statement what observers have long theorised: that Cambodia now sees China’s backing as a bulwark against Western criticisms over its rights record. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/pm-praises-china-after-trip/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Electronic equipment supplier Eltek Valere Ltd. filed a complaint Wednesday with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against mobile operator Mfone, demanding the company pay the $3.7 million it owes to Eltek from a previous GSM contract, a lawyer for Eltek said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/electronics-supplier-files-complaint-against-mfone/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Just as a solution to a two-week-long dispute at two SL Garment factories seemed over on Saturday, the company’s owner issued a statement refusing to recognise an agreement that had lured more than 5,000 employees back to work. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sl-factory-owners-deny-agreement/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Four Boeung Kak women convicted to two-and-a-half years in Prey Sar prison went on a hunger strike yesterday as their husbands and children led a 200-strong rally outside, the husband of imprisoned village representative Tep Vanny told the Post. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/boeung-kak-women-on-hunger-strike/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A KAmpong Speu judge releAsed the vice-president And A member of the Free TrAde Union on bAil yesterdAy After the court questioned the two About their Alleged roles in A violent demonstrAtion At SAbrinA GArment fActory. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/questions-over-strike-violence/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

A villAge chief in Siem ReAp who wAs sentenced on TuesdAy to A yeAr in prison for levelling privAte property to construct An office building will retAin his position &ndAsh; At leAst until his AppeAl heAring is over, A commune officiAl sAid yesterdAy. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/despite-jAil-villAge-chief-retAins-title/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Phnom Penh municipality launched the capital’s second bus line yesterday, running for 68 stops from the night market to Takhmao town in Kandal province. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/second-public-bus-line-revs-up/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Twenty Cambodian fishermen forced to work on a trawler in Indonesia have been rescued, while a pair of Cambodian brides extricated from abusive relationships in China have been repatriated, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign affairs on Thursday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/twenty-fishermen-two-brides-rescued-abroad/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Anti-drug police officers Arrested nine foreign nAtionAls in A sting on A rentAl house on SundAy, Accusing the men of involvement in A drug-trAfficking ring cAtering to other foreigners in the vicinity of Phnom Penh’s CentrAl MArket, police sAid yesterdAy. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/foreign-nAtionAls-held-in-drug-rAid/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday will charge six construction workers and a company manager in connection with a building site accident that killed a woman on Sunday, while work on the site has been suspended on government orders, officials said Tuesday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/building-work-halted-as-workers-face-charges-over-accident/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodians in Washington raised more than $15,000 for the Kantha Bopha Hospital on Saturday, at an event sponsored by the Cambodian Embassy. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodians-in-washington-fundraise-for-childrens-hospital/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A 10-yeAr-old girl wAs killed in­stAntly when A piece of unexploded ordinAnce (UXO) detonAted un­der the heAt of A brush fire in in Kompong Speu province’s OrAl district on SundAy Afternoon, her commune chief sAid MondAy.   <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/girl-killed-by-uxo-explosion-in-kompong-speu/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Prime Minister Hun Sen has formed a 20-person committee to plan a sprawling memorial in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva district to ensure that his legacy is preserved for generations to come, according to a government order and officials on the committee. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-planning-massive-memorial-to-hun-sens-legacy/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a new directive last week putting the Ministry of Mines and Energy in charge of all aspects of approving sand dredging operations in a move that one official said would help clear out a backlog of license requests. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/hun-sen-puts-mines-ministry-in-control-of-sand-dredging/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The National assembly will vote this week on a proposal to reform the National Election Committee (NEC) to make it a constitutional institution, a key prerequisite of the deal that ended the country’s political deadlock. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/nec-amendment-changes-to-constitution-on-agenda/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Police and environment officers in Mondolkiri province on Sunday confiscated more than 3,000 lengths of luxury-grade timber found inside a wildlife sanctuary but have yet to determine if it belongs to a Chinese company with a land concession in the area. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/more-than-3000-luxury-logs-found-in-wildlife-sanctuary/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Representatives from an ethnic Bunong community in Mondolkiri province filed a complaint with a district governor against a commune police chief on Thursday after he allegedly cleared trees belonging to villagers in Pech Chreada district’s Krang Tes commune, officials said Friday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/bunong-accuse-police-chief-of-clearing-trees/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Residents on Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar peninsula embroiled in a land dispute with tycoon Pung Khieu Se’s Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation were to submit a petition to City Hall today following a new compensation offer from the authorities last week. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ocic-pitch-disappoints-chroy-changvar-disputants/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia has signed off on a draft agreement that would lift a moratorium on sending maids to Malaysia, imposed four years ago amid widespread reports of abuse, and is waiting for the Malaysian government’s approval, a Labor Ministry official said Tuesday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-approves-pact-to-send-maids-to-malaysia/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>