HOT NEWS
- President Putin called for a bilateral dialogue between Russia and the EU with a more positive agenda to strengthen the frail relations that prompted the trade ties to fall. Source: Reuters
- The U.S. Homeland Security Dept. issued a national terrorism alert with a warning of the heightened threats from domestic violent extremists after the Capitol assault. Source: CGTN
- The UK will impose mandatory quarantine measures for the arrivals from the red list countries, requiring travelers to stay at the government-designated hotels for 10 days. Source: Xinhua Net
WORLD
- The U.S. State Department confirmed that President Biden has suspended the foreign arm sales for incoming leadership to review, especially on the Saudi Arabia arm sales. Source: Sputnik
- The EU demanded the pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca to supply more COVID-19 vaccines from the UK plants after it failed to uphold the promise in the first quarter. Source: BBC
- Pfizer and Biotech have confirmed that their vaccines lose a bit of effectiveness against the new virus variant from South Africa, after the study conducted by U.S. drugmakers. Source: The Straits Times
REGIONS
- Japanese PM said that he had agreed with the U.S. President via a phone conversation to strengthen their bilateral alliance amid China’s rising military and economic power. Source: CNA
- President Xi said Hong Kong must always be governed by patriots, following the recent arrest of 50 opposition political figures and activists under the new national security law. Source: The Straits Times
- A North Korean’s former acting ambassador to Kuwait defected with his family to South Korea in September 2019, according to the South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Source: AP
CAMBODIA
- Cambodia is expected to receive 20M doses of COVID-19 vaccines, 11M doses of which are donated, and the first 7M doses will arrive via the UN-backed COVAX facility. Source: Khmer Times
- Indian Ambassador said that she has informed the Indian government to provide COVID-19 vaccines assistance to Cambodia upon PM Hun Sen’s request. Source: Fresh News
- JICA provided a USD30 million fund for two pedagogical institute expansion in Phnom Penh and Battambang province to improve the quality of human resource development. Source: AKP