Fishermen representing five Cambodian communities will publicly express their support for a ban on gillnet use in a ceremony highlighting the importance of the Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin. The event organised by the Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of the Mekong River Dolphin Eco-tourism Zone, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/communities-want-to-ban-gillnet-use-to-protect-dolphins/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The government approved the Lower Sesan 2 dam project in Stung Treng province without any prior consultation with the most affected communities in Sesan district, where at least 5,000 people stand to be displaced, rights groups and villagers said yesterday. a study published earlier this <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sesan-dam-approval-angers-villagers-human-rights-groups/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The company of Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky, who is currently being detained by Cambodian authorities after a maritime incident off the coast of Preah Sihanouk province last week, is being investigated by the Russian Interior Ministry for fraud, according to a statement on the ministry’s <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/detained-russians-company-under-investigation-for-fraud/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

International tourist arrivals to Cambodia increased nearly 28 per cent during the first quarter of the year compared with the corresponding period of 2011, Ministry of Tourism data shows. The country drew more than 995,000 tourists from abroad during the three-month period, up from 778,467 a year earlier, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/vietnam-visitors-drive-tourist-stats/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A fActory supplying shoes for GermAn sports brAnd PumA hAs experienced no mAss fAintings And seen overAll productivity improve since it stArted providing meAls to its workers lAst yeAr, A PumA representAtive And A fActory officiAl sAid yesterdAy. Workers At Huey Chuen (CAmbodiA) Corp. Ltd. in <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/pumA-fActory-reAps-rewArds-of-pAying-for-workers-meAls/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Lao government’s refusal to halt the construction of a controversial mainstream Mekong dam is “making a mockery” of an agreement between the four Mekong countries, international conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said yesterday. Though Laos had agreed in December to suspend construction of the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/wwf-says-work-on-dam-in-laos-mocks-mekong-accord/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

CPP Senator and business tycoon Ly Yong Phat last week continued to offer families in Koh Kong province cash compensation to get them to drop out of a lawsuit against two sugar cane plantations he once owned, according to villagers. But villager Phann Khly yesterday <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/senator-offers-cash-compensation-to-evictees/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

More than 300 workers from the Tropicana Casino and resort in Banteay Meanchey provinces’s Poipet town obeyed a court order to end striking and return to work yesterday and official said. Hong Prakorb, a provincial official for the Labour Ministry said more than 200 workers <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/strikers-know-when-to-fold-em/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The town of Chilliwack in the Canadian province of British Columbia is indeed far, far away from the town of Takhmao in Kandal province. But, the cities have entered into a perhaps unlikely partnership to help Takhmao make the most of its location and resources <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/from-the-great-white-north-to-takhmao/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

K (Cambodia), an authorised dealer of Isuzu Motors, opened a new showroom near Phnom Penh International airport yesterday that will be the cornerstone for Isuzu Motors’ planned long-term investment in the Kingdom, a K (Cambodia) official said. “The new showroom for Isuzu vehicle is to serve <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/isuzu-distributor-opens-showroom-near-airport/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Rough[ly] 40 representatives of some 370 families locked in a years-long land dispute with a rubber concessionaire in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district demonstrated outside the Phnom Penh offices of adhoc yesterday to publicise their situation. The villagers, many of whom are family members of soldiers <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/pursat-land-dispute-makes-hay-in-capital/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cassava farmers in Banteay Meanchey province had to import seeds from Thailand this season in response to rapidly-changing weather conditions that interfered with seed growth. Te Haing, a cassava farmer in Banteay Meanchey who planted more than 1,000 hectares this season, told the Post yesterday that <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cassava-farmers-rely-on-thai-seed-imports/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The final day of former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith’s trial on Friday saw heated argument between lawyers and witnesses over who was responsible for shootings that injured three garment factory workers at a demonstration last year. More than 20 witnesses testified during the three days <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/bandith-trial-ends-with-prosecutor-accusing-two/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The US Department of State on Monday called on Cambodian authorities to carry out a full investigation into “all credible reports” of election malfeasance, saying that it was “concerned” by various issues taking place both on, and leading up to, last Sunday’s vote. at a press <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/us-calls-for-review-of-election-irregularities/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

In the light of growing tensions between North and South Korea, officials from the Ministry of Labour will head to Seoul on Thursday for a weeklong visit to inform Cambodian workers on emergency evacuation procedures. an estimated 25,000 Cambodians, a figure that includes roughly 5,000 illegal <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/seoul-visit-as-tensions-mount/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Ministry of Interior has said six Cambodians were shot dead by Thai forces in the course of a month, in a rare report outlining the impact of the ongoing trade in luxury rosewood, and authorities’ efforts to curb it. The report also says that <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/six-cambodian-loggers-killed-in-one-month/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A new microfinAnce institution (MFI), ORO FinAncecorp Plc, is set to open in CAmbodiA, According to the director-generAl of the NAtionAl BAnk of CAmbodiA (NBC). CAmbodiA AlreAdy hAs 35 registered MFIs, According to A recent report by the CAmbodiA MicrofinAnce AssociAtion (CMA). LAst week, the <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/new-mfi-to-lAunch-operAtions/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The government wants to play a bigger role in helping local businesses remain competitive and, to this end, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) has launched a new award to recognise companies that have achieved high produc-tivity standards. Ten companies will be awarded in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/mime-launches-business-award/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Unions representing more than 15,000 members have called for justice for three women ahead of round two of legal action against their alleged shooter, deposed Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith. Bandith, who is accused of shooting the three workers during a protest at a factory in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/court-takes-another-crack-at-bandith-case/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

About 5,000 gArment workers from A fActory in Kompong Speu province, which mAnufActures clothing for U.S sports giAnt Nike, yesterdAy blocked NAtionAl RoAd 4 demAnding AdditionAl AllowAnces, such As trAnsport And mAternity bonuses, A union representAtive sAid. The protest At SAbrinA (CAmbodiA) GArment MFG Corp., in <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/500-protest-for-benefits-in-kompong-speu/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>