MORNING NEWS BRIEF [January 05, 2022]

HOT NEWS

1. The UN hoped that Russia’s consultations with the U.S., NATO and the OSCE would lead to the de-escalation of tension and stressed their support for high-level dialogue. Source: TASS
2. NATO Chief has scheduled a special meeting of the bloc’s ambassadors and top Russian officials for next week, citing the need for dialogue to prevent open conflict with Ukraine. Source: U.S. News & World Report
3. WHO reported more emerging evidence of the Omicron variant that it affects the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms and low fatality rate than previous variants. Source: Reuters

WORLD

1. The U.S., Norway, Britain and the EU warned Sudanese military to not support the new PM unless there is the support from the civilians and threatened to withhold economic aid. Source: Reuters
2. Kazakhstan’s government resigned from office amid mass protests across the country over the gas price hikes and the imposed state of emergency, triggering instability. Source: TRT World
3. Miami Court charged a former Colombian military officer and 20 others for  their involvement in the assasination plot to kidnap or kill the Haitain President. Source: BBC

REGIONS

1. South Korean and Japanese militaries report that North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast to boost their military capability in countering external risks. Source: SCMP
2. A senior South Korea diplomat will hold talks with Iranian side and the world powers in Vienna in a bid to breakthrough the issues of frozen Iranian assets held in South Korea. Source: CNA
3. Malaysian PM dismissed speculations of an imminent shuffle in the Cabinet and stressed his priority to solve the flood and COVID-19 emergency in the country. Source: The Straits Times

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia’s PM and Indonesian side stressed their optimism to bring back ASEAN centrality and a peaceful solution to the Myanmar crisis during his visit to the country on Jan 7. Source: The Phnom Penh Post
2. Cambodia is projected to achieve 4.8 percent economic growth in 2022, as per capita GDP is expected to reach USD 1,842, compared to USD 1,730 in 2021. Source: Khmer Times
3. Cambodia’s PM said that Cambodia collected USD 4.5 billion in revenue from tax and customs in 2021, stressing on the positive performance of the country’s economy. Source: AKP