MORNING NEWS BRIEF [August 23, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. The UK will push world leaders to consider imposing economic sanctions on the Taliban when the G7 convenes a meeting to discuss the events in Afghanistan. Source: The National
2. Iran has called on Japan to unblock the frozen Iranian assets worth up to 5 billion dollars in Japanese banks in the midst of the U.S. imposed sanctions. Source: Sputnik
3. The Russian Embassy in London urged the British government to drop their anti-Russian confrontation otherwise the UK will face the tit-for-tat response to any hostile acts. Source: TASS

WORLD

1. The German Chancellor and Ukrainian President discussed peace efforts in Eastern Ukraine as Berlin committed not to let Russia use a new gas pipeline as a weapon. Source: ABC News
2. The Turkish President held a phone talk with the Greek PM to discuss developments in Afghanistan, as both sides raised concerns over a potential imigration fleeing the Taliban. Source: AP
3. Israeli aircrafts striked at Hamas sites in Gaza in response to the cross-border clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli soldiers which critically wounded Palestine civilians. Source: The Guardian

REGIONS

1. Japanese FM held talks with Iranian President at Tehran aimed to boost bilateral relations and further diplomatic efforts to stabilize and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Source: The Independent
2. The U.S. special envoy for DPRK will hold a meeting with ROK to seek ways to bring Pyongyang back to the talks over their nuclear weapons and ballistic programs. Source: VOA
3. Kamala Harris has arrived in Singapore to hold a series of meetings aiming to boost bilateral ties with Southeast Asia that was overshadowed by the situation in Afghanistan. Source: Bloomberg

CAMBODIA

1. The Cambodian government has launched the Roadmap on Science, Technology, and Innovation 2030 to foster digitalization in order to achieve its 2030 and 2050 vision. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. Another 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which is a donation from the Chinese government, is expected to land in the Kingdom on August 23. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
3. The MFAIC announced the revocation of the travel restriction on the Vietnamese nationals who are staff and experts of Vietnamese companies after one month of execution. Source: AKP