MORNING NEWS BRIEF [AUGUST 10, 2020]

HOT NEWS

1. The Five Eyes Alliance urged Hong Kong’s government to lift a political ban on barred opposition candidates so that they can join in the parliamentary election race. Source: BBC
2. Pentagon Chief said the reduction of troops in Germany is not a withdrawal but simply a relocation of troops further east along Russia’s border to ensure collective security. Source: RT
3. Lebanese police fired tear gas to disperse the protest on the second day of anti-government protest, calling for the government to resign over the deadly warehouse blast. Source: Reuters

WORLD

1. More than 30 world leaders gathered in a virtual meeting hosted by French and pledged a $298 million emergency relief fund for Lebanon to recover from the recent explosion. Source: Arirang
2. Venezuela announced the relaxation of its restrictive health measures in some regions in order to gradually revive the country’s economy amid the on-going pandemic. Source: teleSUR
3. Afghan grand assembly of elders approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners accused of the major crimes, a milestone toward peace talks between the government and militants. Source: BBC

REGIONS

1. Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media tycoon, was arrested under the recent security law for acting jointly with foreign forces and assisting democracy supporters. Source: CNA
2. Prime Minister Abe said Japan is going to avoid declaring another State of Emergency in order to save the economy that was heavily trampled down by the pandemic. Source: Bloomberg
3. Approximately 1,000 Thai protesters gathered in Bangkok’s commercial district after two protest leaders were arrested on charges of sedition and violation of emergency decree. Source: Reuters

CAMBODIA

1. PM called upon global leaders to consider reopening cross-border travel and trade routes among countries and recover the most-hit sectors in their respective countries. Source: Khmer Times 
2. PM urged the world to consider providing COVID-19 vaccines as public goods and to acknowledge the necessity of global cooperation in fighting against the pandemic. Source: Fresh News 
3. According to the MoH, Chikungunya diseases were identified in 15 provinces with around 1,400 confirmed cases but adding that 90 percent of patients had fully recovered. Source: Khmer Times