The U.S. declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the outbreak of monkeypox that already has infected more than 6,600 Americans. The announcement frees up federal funding and resources to fight the virus which may cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and pimple-like bumps on many parts of the body.
China says it has conducted “precision missile strikes" in the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments in six zones surrounding the island. Japan says it protested to China after five of the missiles landed inside its Exclusive Economic Zone. The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week.
It has been two months since Doug Burgum, President Donald Trump’s new secretary of the interior and former governor of North Dakota, ordered his staff to review protected federal lands with an eye toward increasing extractive activities such as oil, gas and uranium production. Read moreTrump administration threats hang over northern Arizona’s newest national monument
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to questions sent by Bloomberg that “Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations� and that Moscow “is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this.� Read morePutin agrees to help Trump broker nuclear talks with Iran
Republicans, who narrowly control Congress, are pushing proposals that could sharply cut funding to the government health insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, as a way to finance President Donald Trump’s agenda for tax cuts and border security. Read moreGOP takes aim at Medicaid, putting enrollees and providers at risk