MORNING NEWS BRIEF [October 21, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. UN’s nuclear watchdog IAEA has set up a special team to study the safety and legal implications of the controversial AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Source: RT
2. U.S. President expressed concerns over China’s hypersonic missiles after a media report that Beijing had tested it in August, despite China’s refusal of the report. Source: Kyodo News
3. U.S., UK and France have condemned North Korea at an urgent UNSC meeting that the country has launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in its weapons programs. Source: France24

WORLD

1. Russia, China, the Taliban and Pakistan held talks in Moscow to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan and to jointly work on the unfreezing of Afghan foreign assets. Source: TASS
2. New Zealand and Britain Prime Ministers held a video conferencing to discuss bilateral trade relations, in which both sides agreed in principle to establish a free trade agreement. Source: Reuters
3. Canada is expected to reveal a vaccine passport plan, including immigration, public health, transportation and other services to prove proof of vaccination, on Thursday. Source: Reuters

REGIONS

1. North Korea stressed that their recent submarine-launch of a ballistic missile did not target Washington and reassured the U.S. not to worry about it. Source: Yonhap News Agency
2. The Philippines issued a diplomatic protest over the Chinese ships that provoked their patrolling ships in the SCS and called on China to comply with international law. Source: Nikkei Asian Review
3. South Korea is seeking to join the rank of advanced space-faring nations as they attempt to fly a 1-tonne payload into orbit using their domestically developed rocket. Source: CNA

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia and South Korea will sign a bilateral Free Trade Agreement early next week, aiming to open up fresh avenues in trade and investment between both sides. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. Cambodia’s exports to Vietnam were valued at around USD 3.7 billion in the first nine months of this year, as the two nations’ bilateral trade reached USD 7.2 billion. Source: Khmer Times
3. Transport Minister urged the U.S. companies to join bidding on infrastructure projects and building quality physical infrastructure in the Kingdom. Source: AKP