MORNING NEWS BRIEF [December 31, 2021]

HOT NEWS

1. In a phone call between Biden and Putin regarding Ukraine’s situation, Putin warned that any new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine would be a colossal mistake. Source: BBC
2. Ukrainian Navy held a periodic naval exercise known PASSEX with French Navy in the Black Sea to improve the interoperability and coherence of naval crews. Source: China.org.cn
3. Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson called on the U.S. to abandon its hypocritical double standards and stop using freedom as a way to interfere in Chinese domestic affairs. Source: People’s Daily

WORLD

1. Putin signed a law to ratify the agreement between Russia and Tajikistan that will create an integrated regional air defense system as a part of the CIS joint air defenses. Source: TASS
2. The French government decided to lift travel transit allowing Britoins who return to their home in the UK to drive through France, after receiving dismay from thousands of travellers. Source: France24
3. Turkey’s Civil Aviation Authority stated that seven European countries barred Turkish passengers from entering their countries, following the Omicron variants concerns. Source: Egypt Independent

REGIONS

1. The EU called for international arm embargos Myanmar and announced the tightening of its own sanctions on the junta, following a massacre that killed some 35 people. Source: Al Jazeera
2. Taiwan pledged to take legal actions Nicaragua, following this country’s seizure of Taiwanese embassy while planning to transfer the embassy to China. Source: The Straits Times
3. Brunei announced that their county will remove all countries in the Travel Green List starting from 1 January 2022 amid concerns over the Omicron variants. Source: The Straits Times

CAMBODIA

1. Turkey said that it is seeking Cambodia’s assistance in helping it become the next dialogue partner of ASEAN at the Press Conference on ASEAN Chairmanship 2022. Source: Khmer Times
2. H.E. Prak Sokhonn held a video conference with the UN’s special envoy and agreed that the Myanmar-led political process is crucial to ending violence in Myanmar. Source: AKP
3. Bilateral trade between Cambodia and the EU was reported to increase by 11 percent, accounting for USD 3,482 million, in the first eleven months of 2021. Source: AKP