MORNING NEWS BRIEF [April 30, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. Bulgaria has declared a Russian persona non grata and alleged Moscow links to a series of blasts at its arms depots and poisonings of three Bulgarian citizens and an arms trader. Source: Deutsche Welle
2. The U.S. Secretary of State will travel to Ukraine next week after the soaring tensions between Moscow and Kiev over the crisis in the Donbass region. Source: Reuters
3. A proposed law that requires Google, Facebook, and Twitter to remove contents on terrorism gained approval from the EU lawmakers despite concern from rights group. Source: Reuters

WORLD

1. NATO has started the withdrawal of its 9,600-strong mission in Afghanistan after President Joe Biden made a decision to end Washington’s longest war. Source: CNA
2. The U.S. will remain open and hopeful for bilateral engagement with Russia via communication to not further escalate the frailed ties between the two countries. Source: Sputnik
3. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan held a meeting to issue a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to cease the armed fires on the conflict that took place in April. Source: TASS

REGIONS

1. China warned the U.S. against its imposing democractic ideals, emphasizing that Washington is politicizing and violating the market principle of fair competition. Source: CNA
2. The U.S., Japan and South Korea are preparing a foreign ministerial trilateral talks next week during the G7 meeting in the UK to discuss North Korea’s nuclear crisis. Source: Reuters
3. Indonesia labeled Papuan separatists as terrorists after an Indonesia’s top intelligence chief was killed by the separatist group amid mounting tension between both sides. Source: France 24

CAMBODIA

1. Indian expects to boost export and enhance trade and commercial relations with Cambodia as both countries are preparing for talks on bilateral free trade agreement. Source: Khmer Times
2. The ruling party’s spokesman denounced a claim from Amnesty International regarding the  lockdown measures, saying that no one is starving in Cambodia. Source: Khmer Times
3. Cambodia has temporarily prohibited the imports of frozen meat and meat productions from India until further notice as India has been severely hit by COVID-19. Source: Khmer Times