MORNING NEWS BRIEF [September 30, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. French Foreign Minister asserted that the new security deal between Australia, Britain and America, known as AUKUS, displayed a logic of consistent military confrontation. Source: TASS
2. Algeria has summoned the French Amb. to notify on the formal protest following France’s unilateral decision to cut the number of visas available to Maghreb nationals. Source: U.S. News & World Report 
3. A new report by the WHO revealed that the COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Middle East, Western Pacific and the Americas decreased at least 10% in the last week. Source: teleSUR

WORLD

1. Russia and Turkey held talks on deterring the violence in Northwest Syria and the potential expansion sale of military defence systems to Ankara despite the U.S. objection. Source: The Globe and Mail
2. France accused the UK for not honoring the EU-UK pact on the post-Brexit trade deal, after the application to request for fishing in British waters was rejected. Source: The Epoch Times
3. The EU-US TTC held discussions on transatlantic trade on supply chains and deterring authoritarian actors despite France’s anger over the AUKUS submarine deal. Source: Deutsche Welle

REGIONS

1. North Korea has warned the U.S. that they will boost their nuclear capabilities that could evade the U.S. defense system after claiming that it successfully tested hypersonic missiles. Source: The National 
2. China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN has called for the eradication of the Cold War mentality as a precondition for a complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Source: CGTN
3. Myanmar’s currency has lost its value of more than 60 percent, causing the spike in food and fuel prices since the military junta seized power in a coup d’etat back in February. Source: CNA

CAMBODIA

1. MoI and China’s Ministry of Public Security agreed to continue the cooperation on transnational crimes prevention, including illegal online gambling and drug trafficking. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. The Information Minister revealed that the draft law on access to information, which received wide participation from a full range of stakeholders, has reached the final review. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
3. ADB approved a loan of USD 82 M for the improvement of national and provincial roads in Prey Veng and Kandal to boost trade along the GMS Southern Economic corridor. Source: Khmer Times