MORNING NEWS BRIEF [December 20, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. Egyptian security service held talks with the Palestenian side to seek for de-escalation and to ease the movement through the Rafah crossing and initiative construction. Source: Sputnik
2. Chilean Left-leaning candidate, Gabriel Boric Font won the Presidential election making him the youngest elected President in Chilean history. Source: Xinhua Net
3. The EU said that Britain’s refusal to compromise on Brexit was untenable and to not let the Conservative party plot to determine his replacement for David Frost. Source: Reuters

WORLD

1. German Bundestag’s Foreign affairs committee said that Russia’s initiative on security guarantees demanding NATO to halt their eastward expansion is unacceptable. Source: TASS
2. The UN Secretary General condemned the Lebanese government for paralyzing the country due to the corruption and the nepotism which left the people to suffer. Source: France24
3. Azerbaijan, with the mediation from the EU, has handed over ten servicemen to Armenia who were detained during the clash to prevent the provocation by Armenian forces. Source: TASS

REGIONS

1. HK casted ballots for the new city lawmakers under Beijing’s new patriots only rule, a political blueprint imposed on HK in response to the massive pro-democracy protests. Source: CNA
2. India seeks to expand cooperation with the Central Asian countries to provide assistance to Afghanistan and ensure the need for an inclusive government in the country. Source: Bloomberg
3. Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to hear the verdict in her trial for illegally importing walkie-talkies without license that could potentially jail her for decades. Source: The Straits Times

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia will reiterate its effort to achieve a consensus on the CoD for the SCS, as the chair for 2022 ASEAN Summit and urged all the claimants to engage in the negotiations. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. Japan donated more than 300,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Cambodia yesterday as part of the COVAX Facility in addition to its previous one million doses donation. Source: Khmer Times
3. PM Hun Sen launched a strategy that called on his officials to conduct Sport Diplomacy as the country is set to host the 32nd Southeast Asian Game in 500 days. Source: Thmey Thmey