MORNING NEWS BRIEF [SEPTEMBER 02, 2020]

HOT NEWS

1. China urged U.S. to respect the one-China policy and to cease contact with Taiwan, following the announcement on the U.S.-Taiwan new bilateral economic dialogue. Source: China.org.cn
2. The U.S. said they will join the global effort in defeating the virus but not in finding a vaccine in order to avoid being constrained by multilateral organizations like WHO. Source: Al Jazeera
3. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Lebanon will reform a new government within two weeks as Lebanon marked 100 years of its existence. Source: France 24

WORLD

1. Facebook revealed that a Russian influence operation posing as a pseudo media organization called Peace Data has been targeting left-wing voters in the U.S. and UK. Source: Reuters
2. Turkey slammed the U.S. for partially removing arm embargoes on Cyprus, adding that such a decision will complicate the resolution of the Cyprus issue. Source: Sputnik
3. German FM Heiko Maas called for legislative council elections in HK and withdrawal of its security law, while urging China for access to international observers to visit Xinjiang. Source: SCMP

REGIONS

1. India and China held the second day of talks amid the tensions at Himalayan border as the two countries accused each other of provocative military actions. Source: Al Jazeera
2. Malaysia will restrict entry of long-term immigration pass holders from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as these countries recorded high COVID-19 cases. Source: The Bangkok Post
3. Brunei and Singapore have agreed on launching a green lane for essential and safe resumption of cross-border movement and the application will open from Sept. onwards. Source: The Straits Times

CAMBODIA

1. The U.S. Amb. to Cambodia reassured that Washington will support demining efforts in Cambodia until 2025, adding that $160M has been donated since 1993 for such cause. Source: AKP
2. Cambodia’s milled rice export reportedly accounted for 448,203 tons in the first eight months of 2020, an increase of 31 percent compared to the same period last year. Source: Xinhua Net
3. The former director of the Khmer Rouge’s S-21 interrogation center in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng, commonly known as Duch, has passed away at the age of 78. Source: Khmer Times