MORNING NEWS BRIEF [June 04, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. The US has expanded a blacklist of fifty-nine Chinese firms with alleged ties to China’s defense or surveillance technology sector, a move that will come into effect in August. Source: Deutsche Welle
2. France has decided to pause joint military operations with Malian forces after the country’s second coup in nine months, saying that the coup d’etat is unacceptable. Source: France 24
3. The EU will place additional sanctions on the Myanmar military government as the bloc targets both individuals and entities that represent the economic interests of junta. Source: CNA

WORLD

1. Russia urged the OSCE SMM to monitor NATO’s Sea Breeze 2021 exercise that involved Ukraine as there have been reports on plans of delivering weapons to Ukraine. Source: TASS
2. The UK will announce the free trade deal with Norway although the agreement has not been reached but the digital trading provisions will be included to expand the trade partnership. Source: Bloomberg
3. Libya and Spain expressed their willingness to bolster bilateral cooperation to strengthen security and stability in the Mediterranean and assist Libya’s democratic transition. Source: China.org.cn

REGIONS

1. Envoys of ASEAN have arrived in Myanmar and will be holding talks with the military junta leader as the country is crippled with unrest that has paralyzed the economy and stability. Source: France 24
2. Japan’s ruling party lawmakers advised Japan and the U.S. to revise their defense strategies to focus on the potential hostility involving China, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. Source: Nikkei Asia
3. HK’s police will patrol the streets to prevent the gathering to commemorate Tiananmen crackdown as the critics said it marked the end of HK’s freedom of speech and assembly. Source: Reuters

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodian NA President and his Vietnamese counterpart pledged to strengthen mutual cooperation between two legislative branches  for post-COVID-19 economy recovery. Source: AKP
2. UNDP, Australia and other development partners in Cambodia vowed to continue their support for social welfare within the Kingdom amid COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
3. Cambodia joined other ASEAN member states to conclude talks with the EU on ASEAN-EU air transportation deal, citing that it could expand the direct flights to the EU. Source: The Phnom Penh Post