MORNING NEWS BRIEF [DECEMBER 15, 2020]

HOT NEWS

1. Turkey is preparing to send a new ambassador to Israel after it had recalled its envoy following the killing of Palestinians in Gaza Strip in 2018. Source: Eurasia Review
2. The UN proposed to send new envoys to mediate the conflicts in Libya and the Middle East, if there are no objections from the 15 members of the UNSC. Source: Reuters 
3. The U.S. Electoral College vote has officially declared Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential election with a total of 306 votes. Source: CNA

WORLD

1. The U.S. imposed sanctions against Turkish defence agency for the installation of the Russia air-defence system, which had caused tension between Ankara and NATO’s allies. Source: Wall Street Journal
2. The UK ministers are planning to impose an online safety bill that detects the illegal and harmful content aimed at promoting terrorism and spreading fault information of COVID-19. Source: BNN Bloomberg
3. Russian Sputnik V vaccine was reported by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute to have reached 91,4% effectiveness in each of the three control points of the clinical trials. Source: teleSUR

REGIONS

1. Chinese FM told the U.S. to stop politicizing economic and trade, and stretching force on national security that suppressed foreign businesses, especially Chinese. Source: Shanghai Daily
2. The parliament of South Korea has approved a bill that banned the anti-North Korea propaganda leaflet, any printed goods, and the loudspeaker broadcast in DPRK. Source: Shanghai Daily
3. The Phillipines planned to finalize their negotiations with Sinovac Biotech Company to acquire the 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine and hoped to be delivered by March. Source: The Straits Times

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia government committed to preserve Angkor Wat’s heritage, as the country celebrated the 28th anniversary of Angkor Wat being listed as the world heritage site. Source: Cambodianess
2. The Contact Tracing teams of MoH said they are working to detect how and when the first two patients of the 28 November community became infected to identify patient zero. Source: Khmer Times 
3. 98 percent of the total population in the rural area, nationwide, has gained access to the electricity which marked the positive progress of the Rural Electrification goals. Source: AKP