MORNING NEWS BRIEF [August 09, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. Belarusian FM stated that the U.S. former security adviser said Belarus and Ukraine needed to be admitted into NATO in order to avoid a grey zone between Russia and NATO. Source: TASS
2. The EU negotiators expressed their optimism on the possibility of reviving the nuclear deal with Iran despite Iranian hardliner new president. Source: Politico
3. The Taliban is continuing to capture Afghan cities, including Kunduz and other regional capitals, a move that came just weeks before the complete withdrawal of the U.S. troops. Source: The Globe and Mail

WORLD

1. The UN secretary general repeatedly called for a peace settlement on the Blue Line border between Lebanon and Israel to avoid further tension and miscalculation. Source: Xinhua Net
2. Latvain FM expressed his concerns that the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2021 military drills and migrations crisis on Belarusian-EU border may pose threats to NATO and Russia’s ties. Source: Sputnik
3. The UK Foreign Ministry warned its citizens of a worsening security situation in Afghanistan and advised them to leave the country immediately as fighting intensifies. Source: Deutsche Welle

REGIONS

1. China’s new ambassador to the U.S. called for bilateral cooperation to jointly develop vaccines and combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic despite strained ties. Source: SCMP
2. Hong Kong’s Justice Secretary revealed the city’s plan to adopt China’s anti-sanction law into its mini constitution, as foreign pressure to put sanctions on this city ramped up. Source: The Straits Times
3. Kim Jong-un has deployed military to carry out relief work in the areas which were hit by heavy rain amid the concerns over the national economic crisis and food shortage. Source: Al Jazeera

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia pledged to coordinate ASEAN-EU relations based on multilateralism, equality, mutual respect and win-win cooperation as the Kingdom will chair the bloc next year. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. PM Hun Sen affirmed Cambodia’s position in strengthening and promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity within ASEAN during the celebration of the ASEAN Day 2021. Source: AKP
3. The Cambodia-U.S. two-way trade valued at almost USD 4 billion in the first semester of 2021, a year-on-year increase of 32.8 percent despite the pandemic crisis. Source: The Phnom Penh Post