US News

• A new law in northeastern Italy gives the government the power to arrest people who refuse Covid treatment. [Link]
• CENTCOM top Gen. Kenzie says he did not see a “causative link” between the alleged Russian bounties to the Taliban and the deaths of US soldiers in Afghanistan. [Link]
• A majority of Americans believe that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban to kill US soldiers and support sanctions in response. The polling also showed 81% of Americans view Putin as a threat. [Link]
• The US announces it will officially leave the World Health Organization in July 2021. [Link]
• Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaigns are pushing Iran and Venezuelan closer together. [Link]

NATO

• Tensions rise between NATO members France and Turkey over a naval incident. France attempted to intercept a ship it believed was smuggling weapons to Libya. Turkish ships interfered and allowed the ship to escape. [Link]

Korea

• The US top North Korean negotiator Stephen Biegun traveled to South Korea to meet with officials on potential talks with North Korea. North Korea rejected the idea of talks. [Link]
• Trump says he would meet with Kim Jong-un again. [Link]

Middle East

• The UK resumes weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. [Link]
• Turkey claims a bomb attack near the Syrian border was carried out by the YPG. Six people were killed in the attack. [Link]