MORNING NEWS BRIEF [December 23, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. The UNSC agreed to adopt a resolution to facilitate humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, stressing that the aid would not violate sanctions imposed on Taliban-related entities. Source: Al Jazeera
2. EU has launched legal action against Poland over a ruling by the country’s constitutional court that challenged the supremacy of EU law, posing an escalation within the bloc. Source: Euronews
3. WHO Director General said the coronavirus pandemic would end in 2022 as he believed that we should be all well aware of it and how to handle it after two years in. Source: UN News

WORLD

1. U.S. Security Advisor said that the negotiation on Iranian nuclear deal may be exhausted within weeks as the U.S. envoy held talks to discuss Iran and other issues with Israel. Source: Deutsche Welle
2. The State Department acknowledged the man arrested in Turkey who had tried to sell a fake diplomatic passport to a Syrian national to be a U.S. citizen, but denied he was a diplomat. Source: RT
3. Russia will begin negotiations with the U.S. and NATO in January, after it released draft security agreements denying membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet nations. Source: The Hill

REGIONS

1. China is concerned about and firmly opposed to Japan’s recent decision to release the nuclear-contaminated water into the sea and its proceedings with the preparatory work. Source: China.org.cn
2. Myanmar’s oldest rebel force urged the international community to help establish a “no-fly zone” near the Thai border after the civilians were targeted by military air strikes. Source: CNA
3. Thailand has temporarily suspended its COVID-19 quarantine-free travel policy due to fear of the Omicron variant, after fully opening for international travelers in November. Source: The Diplomat

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia and Vietnam have committed to bolster cooperation in defence and security, citing to respect each others’ independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. The Royal Government launched a Strategic Framework and Programmes for Economic Recovery in the Context of Living with COVID-19 in a New Normal 2021-2023. Source: AKP
3. Cambodia will export 400.000 tonnes of milled rice to China under a new quota starting from December 2021 as so far Cambodia’s milled rice has been exported to 41 countries. Source: Khmer Times