MORNING NEWS BRIEF [June 22, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. The EU slapped a third round of sanctions on eight Myanmar officials and three companies linked to the military to its blacklist over the Feb. coup and repression on protesters. Source: Reuters
2. Iran’s president-elect is eyeing to resume the negotiations with world powers in a bid to revive a 2015 nuclear deal but stating that the ballistic missile program is non-negotiable. Source: BBC
3. Armenian acting Prime Minister remained in power in the snap parliamentary election despite being held accountable for the military defeat in Nagorno-karabakh enclave. Source: Reuters

WORLD

1. The U.S., the EU, Britain and Canada collectively imposed sanctions on a number of Belarusian officials over the forced landing to arrest the dissident journalist. Source: France 24
2. Russia and the U.S. will explore the possibility to reopen embassies as both leaders agreed that diplomats should return to their posts and discuss the current prospect of bilateral ties. Source: TASS
3. The UK will begin negotiations to join a Trans-Pacific deal which would remove 95% of tariffs between members, a move to get closer to fast-growing economies after Brexit. Source: The Straits Times

REGIONS

1. The U.S. is seeking a positive response from DPRK to its outreach and offers to meet anywhere at any time without preconditions to discuss the nuclear program crisis. Source: Yonhap News Agency
2. State Councilor and FM Wang Yi called on the EU counterpart to cohere to the strategic autonomy and the practice of multilateralism to promote a stable and long-term relations. Source: CGTN
3. Duterte threatened to jail people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as the country struggled with the worst outbreaks in Asia and slow inoculation progress. Source: CNA

CAMBODIA

1. Cambodia FM will meet his British counterpart to discuss bilateral ties, multilateralism within ASEAN framework, including other regional and international issues. Source: Khmer Times
2. Cambodia will join the Asia Pacifc High-Level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation to discuss an effort to combat the pandemic, socio-economic recovery and beyond. Source: AKP
3. Cambodian authorities lifted restrictions on the import of frozen tems and meat from India as the samples were tested negative for COVID-19. Source: The Phnom Penh Post