MORNING NEWS BRIEF [July 19, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. The Washington Post reported that an Israeli private firm called NSO group spied on activists, journalists and politicians around the world using cellphone malware. Source: France 24
2. The leader of Belarusian opposition arrived in the U.S. to discuss the move by the U.S. to impose new restrictions on Minsk, including the sectoral sanction to join the EU sanctions. Source: TASS
3. Algeria called on their ambassador in Morocco for a consultation after Morocco’s envoy to the UN expressed his support for self-determination for Algeria’s Kabylie region. Source: The Times of Israel

WORLD

1. Russia maintained their contact with the Taliban movement to try to convince them to negotiate with the Afghan government while implementing the UNSC resolutions. Source: Sputnik
2. The Afghan government and the Taliban have committed to further peace talks at a higher level as both sides agreed to provide humanitarian assistance across the country. Source: Deutsche Welle
3. Nepal’s new PM won a confidence vote in parliament amid COVID19 crisis, days after the Supreme Court reinstated the house of representatives that was dissolved in May. Source: Reuters

REGIONS

1. Japanese PM will hold a first in-person summit with his South Korean counterpart on Friday, expecting to discuss a host of issues that have strained relations over generations. Source: Reuters
2. China and Russia vowed to propose aid to Afghanistan, as Tablian’s ongoing offensives and the withdrawal of foreign troops threaten instability across their borders. Source: Nikkei Asian Review
3. Egypt and  Chinese signed a letter intended for cooperation on joint production of 1 million doses of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines in Egypt. Source: People’s Daily

CAMBODIA

1. PM Hun Sen reaffirmed that Cambodia will vaccinate 2 million adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years old to build herd immunity and reopen schools from secondary level. Source: AKP
2. Cambodia’s total garment exports from SEZs was valued at USD357.8 million in the first semester of this year, a year-on-year increase of 1.4 percent. Source: Khmer Times
3. Cambodia Trade e-market is slated to launch in late July or early August, aiming to promote business and sale of Cambodian goods and products in national and international markets. Source: Khmer Times