MORNING NEWS BRIEF [JANUARY 27, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. French officials told Iran that they should refrain from initiating any provocative act and maintain their commitment on JCPOA if Iran wants the U.S. to return to the deal. Source: Sputnik
2. President Biden talked via a phone call with President Putin to uphold the arm control accord and normalize the US-Russian relations for global security and stability. Source: Sputnik
3. A COVID-19 victim’s son in China demanded a meeting with the WHO experts, saying that they should speak with the families as their voices are restrained by the government. Source: The Guardian

WORLD

1. Tunisian Parliament approved the request to reshuffle the Cabinet in response to protests joined by hundreds of young people who sought regime change. Source: Reuters
2. Germany is considering taking drastic measures by further decreasing the international air traffic to zero due to the concern of the danger of virus mutation. Source: The Straits Times 
3. Britain’s COVID-19 death toll has passed 100,000 cases as England Chief Medical Officer said there will be more deaths before the mass vaccination program takes place. Source: The Straits Times

REGIONS

1. China said they will conduct military exercises this week in the South China Sea, in response to the U.S. aircraft carrier that had sailed through the disputed area. Source: Al Jazeera
2. Thailand’s opposition parties will initiate a petition on the constitutional court aiming to impeach at least five cabinet ministers on the suspicion of irregularity. Source: Bangkok Post
3. The Philippines reported the first case of the local transmission of the British’s new variant of coronavirus, prompting President Duterte to abandon plans that allow people to go out. Source: CNA

CAMBODIA

1. PM Hun Sen donated another seven months of his salary, which equals USD15,674 in total, to help the country combates the coronavirus crisis via the Ministry of Health. Source: Khmer Times
2. Newly created Cambodia Reform Party’s leader Ou Chanrath said he may dissolve his party if the requests from Kem Sokha to have his political ban lifted is successful. Source: Khmer Times
3. Cambodia’s population has reached a total of 15.55 million and 7.98 million of whom are female, according to the national report of General Population Consensus 2019. Source: AKP