Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
Trump Attends Dover Ceremony Honoring U.S. Personnel Killed in Syria 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
North Korea has suffered an outbreak of COVID-19 over the weekend for the first time in two years since the pandemic started. Pyongyang has reported more deaths from the coronavirus amidst a nationwide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the virus.
In a report by Reuters, North Korea said Sunday that around 42 people died from the COVID-19 outbreak that has now plagued the nation as the country implements a nationwide lockdown.
This follows days after Pyongyang reported Thursday last week that the nation is fighting an “explosive outbreak” of the coronavirus which has since raised concerns that COVID-19 may devastate the isolated nation that does not have testing capabilities nor a vaccination program.
North Korean state media outlet KCNA said the nation is taking “swift state emergency measures” to keep the epidemic under control. However, Pyongyang has not signaled to accept international vaccines to inoculate the population.
“All provinces, cities, and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units, and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted,” KCNA reported over the weekend.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the spreading of COVID-19 placed his country in “great turmoil” and called to fight to stop the outbreak of the virus.
Even as lockdowns were implemented, the state media outlet reported that Kim and other senior officials of his government attended the funeral services for Yang Hyong-sop. Yang was a former de facto head of state during his father Kim Jong-il’s regime.
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 in North Korea, South Korea’s Yonhap news outlet said that Seoul’s presidential office believes Pyongyang may be ready for another nuclear test. Should it be confirmed, it would be North Korea’s seventh nuclear weapon test.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office also said Friday last week that Seoul is planning to provide North Korea with COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies following the reports of the first outbreak.
“We will discuss detailed plans for assistance with North Korea,” said Yoon’s spokesperson in a statement.
