Ministry awards sand dredging lots to 3 firms
The Mines and Energy Ministry on Thursday announced the winners of its public auction to award four sand dredging licenses along a stretch of the Mekong River where there is a buildup of silt. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ministry-awards-sand-dredging-lots-to-3-firms/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-awards-sand-dredging-lots-to-3-firms-89313/
CPP claims hundreds of defections from opposition
The ruling CPP held a ceremony on Saturday in Oddar Meanchey province to welcome 564 new members in what it says was a mass defection from the CNRP due to dissatisfaction with the opposition party. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cpp-claims-hundreds-of-defections-from-opposition/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Aun Chhengpor
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cpp-claims-hundreds-of-defections-from-opposition-90584/
Progress seen on trafficking
Less than a month after Cambodia was handed the second-lowest rating in the United States’ annual Trafficking in Persons report, a senior official is “optimistic” the Kingdom can eventually move up the ranking. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/progress-seen-on-trafficking/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/progress-seen-trafficking
Military police officers arrested for blocking forestry officials
Forestry AdministrAtion officiAls detAined two militAry police officers And A third mAn on TuesdAy for Attempting to stop them from trAnsporting A hAul of illegAlly logged wood to their heAdquArters in KrAtie City, officiAls sAid SundAy. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/militAry-police-officers-Arrested-for-blocking-forestry-officiAls/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/military-police-officers-arrested-for-blocking-forestry-officials-92360/
‘Bored’ of advice of the West, Hun Sen praises his own leadership
Prime Minister Hun Sen addressed a dinner of powerful businessmen Saturday night, claiming he could be a “professor” to Western leaders, who are beginning to bore him with their advice. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/bored-of-advice-of-the-west-hun-sen-praises-his-own-leadership/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/bored-of-advice-of-the-west-hun-sen-praises-his-own-leadership/2930224.html
MB selects strategic partner for commercial joint venture bank in Cambodia
MB and Shinsei Bank have signed a master agreement on the establishment of a commercial joint venture bank in Cambodia on Dec. 2. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/mb-selects-strategic-partner-for-commercial-joint-venture-bank-in-cambodia/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50981817/mb-selects-strategic-partner-for-commercial-joint-venture-bank-in-cambodia/
Forest Falls in Ratanakkiri to the Tune of Chainsaws, Trucks
LUMPHAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, RAtAnAkkiri Province &ndAsh; From behind the corrugAted metAl wAlls of DAun Penh Agrico’s wood depot, the rAspy buzz of A chAinsAw rAttled through the surrounding forest on MondAy Afternoon. As the chAinsAw revved And cut, A heAvy-duty truck pAcked full of long, sAwn <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/forest-fAlls-in-rAtAnAkkiri-to-the-tune-of-chAinsAws-trucks/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Zsombor Peter and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/forest-falls-in-ratanakkiri-to-the-tune-of-chainsaws-and-trucks-49134/
As mosques are replaced, Cham minority could see heritage fade
Cambodia is home to some 400,000 Cham Muslims. The ethnic group, like many others, suffered terrible losses during the Khmer Rouge regime. Lives were lost and cultural landmarks destroyed. Now, as mosques and heritage sites around the country are demolished to make way for more <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/as-mosques-are-replaced-cham-minority-could-see-heritage-fade/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Poppy McPherson and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/7days/mosques-are-replaced-cham-minority-could-see-heritage-fade
Hun Sen Asks UN Envoy to Help End Cambodia’s Political Crisis
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on a U.N. special envoy to press the country’s opposition to rejoin parliament and negotiate an end to the country’s political stalemate since disputed July elections, an official said Wednesday. Hun Sen met with U.N. special envoy for human <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/hun-sen-asks-un-envoy-to-help-end-cambodias-political-crisis/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Radio Free Asia News Staff
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/intervention-01152014162154.html
Commander accused of corruption
A NAtionAl MilitAry Police tAskforce hAs opened A corruption investigAtion AgAinst BrigAdier GenerAl Kong SAokun, PreAh ViheAr provinciAl militAry police commAnder, who is suspected of funnelling About $20,000 from the RoyAl CAmbodiAn Armed Forces. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/commAnder-Accused-of-corruption/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/536087/commander-accused-of-corruption/
Laos announces another controversial dam on the Mekong
The Laos government has announced plans for a fourth major dam on the Mekong mainstream just months after the feasibility of another of its hydroelectric projects was thrown into question by a delayed power deal. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/laos-announces-another-controversial-dam-on-the-mekong/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
David Boyle
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/laos-announces-another-controversial-dam-on-the-mekong/4445034.html
CDC approves new steel plant in Kampong Speu
A project to build A $31-million steel-processing plAnt in KAmpong Speu province wAs recently greenlighted by the government, According to An Announcement by the Council for the Development of CAmbodiA eArlier this week. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/cdc-Approves-new-steel-plAnt-in-kAmpong-speu/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
May Kunmakara
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50505077/cdc-approves-new-steel-plant-in-kampong-speu/
Pursat authorites raid sawmill
Pursat provincial authorities on Wednesday raided a sawmill operating without a licence and confiscated 21 logs totalling 13 cubic metres at Kset Borei village in Phnom Kravanh district’s Santre commune, while the owner escaped. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/pursat-authorites-raid-sawmill/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pursat-authorites-raid-sawmill
Chinese firm inks deal with SNTP on electricity supply in Preah Sihanouk
The China Machine-Building International Corporation (CMIC) – affiliated to Sinomach subsidiary CNEG – has signed a cooperation agreement with Cambodia’s SNTP Company on providing electricity in Preah Sihanouk province, according to a company press release. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/chinese-firm-inks-deal-with-sntp-on-electricity-supply-in-preah-sihanouk/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/chinese-firm-inks-deal-sntp-electricity-supply-preah-sihanouk
Cambodia launches campaign to end child labor in brick industry
Cambodia has launched a campaign to end child labor in the brick industry by 2020, a move industry observers cautiously welcome while expressing doubts the goal will be achieved, and calling for more structural changes. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodia-launches-campaign-to-end-child-labor-in-brick-industry/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Leonie Kijewski
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/cambodia-launches-campaign-to-end-child-labor-in-brick-industry/5074617.html
Koh Kong urged to solve land dispute
An officiAl with Koh Kong’s provinciAl lAnd depArtment sAid yesterdAy thAt the depArtment will cooperAte with the Industry Ministry to resolve A lAnd dispute cAse between A group of civil servAnts And their superior. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/koh-kong-urged-to-solve-lAnd-dispute/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Ven Rathavong
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50502316/koh-kong-urged-to-solve-land-dispute/
GDP pledges to have Kem Sokha released
The Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) held its first major rally of the campaign period in the capital on Tuesday while pushing a platform that included a promise to eliminate treason charges from the Criminal Code. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/gdp-pledges-to-have-kem-sokha-released/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Ben Sokhean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/gdp-pledges-have-kem-sokha-released
Sanctuary rangers impound timber
Environmental rangers on Monday seized a pile of timber hidden in the forest behind a house in Pou Chrei commune’s Me Pai village in Mondulkiri province’s Pech Chreada district following reports from villagers. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sanctuary-rangers-impound-timber/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sanctuary-rangers-impound-timber
Tourism board mulling fresh tourism strategy
Cambodia Tourism Marketing and Promotion Board, a joint institution between the government and the private sector, is studying a new strategy to attract more foreign visitors to the Kingdom, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/tourism-board-mulling-fresh-tourism-strategy/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/tourism-board-mulling-fresh-tourism-strategy
Campaign calls to stop sexual harassment in the workplace
A cAmpAign to stop sexuAl hArAssment At the workplAce will be At the center of efforts to curb violence AgAinst women over the next yeAr, NGO representAtives sAid At A meeting with government officiAls SundAy. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/cAmpAign-cAlls-to-stop-sexuAl-hArAssment-in-the-workplAce/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Meghan Tribe
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/campaign-calls-to-stop-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-98235/