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1. Rhee Chang-yong officially took office as new head of Bank of Korea on Thursday. He indicated tightening monetary policy to stabilize the economy.

2. Russia test-fired a new nuclear capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, “Sarmat” on Wednesday, amid extreme tensions over Ukraine.

3. South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases tallied 90-thousand 8-hundred-67 on Thursday. The number of the deaths stands at 1-hundred-47 on the same day.

1. The IMF lowered South Korea’s 2022 economic growth outlook to 2.5%, while raising inflation projection up to 4% on Tuesday.

2. The Biden administration plans to announce an additional 800 million dollar military aid package for Ukraine in a few days.

3. South Korea saw 111-thousand 3-hundred-19 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday. The authorities said they will decide whether to lift the outdoor mask mandate at the beginning of May.

1. President Moon Jae-in said in his social media on Tuesday that the April 19 Revolution served as a fuse that ignited the development of democracy in South Korea, marking its 62nd anniversary of the revolution. 

2. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong held a meeting with U.S special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, on Tuesday in Seoul. The two agreed on close cooperation for the North’s return to dialogue. 

3. South Korea tallied 118-thousand 5-hundred-4 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The United States has lowered the travel alert on South Korea to Level 1 from the highest tier of level 4 .

1. South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases stands at 47-thousand 7-hundred-43 on Monday. All anti-virus restrictions, except for mask mandates, have been lifted as of today.

2. South Korea and the United States kicked off the combined military drill on Monday, which will continue for nine days.

3. The South Korean government decided to join CPTPP last week. Malaysia on Monday welcomed South Korea’s bid to take part in the mega free trade pact in the Asia-Pacific region.

1. The South Korean government has announced on Friday that it will fully lift the current social distancing measures, except for the mask mandates starting from next Monday. Meanwhile, the number of new COVID-19 cases today stands at 125-thousand 8-hundred-46.

2. North Korean media outlets said Friday that it will celebrate the 110th year anniversary of the late Kim Il-sung’s birthday with fireworks. However, there is no indication that it conducted a military parade.

3. The Moon administration nominated former judge Kim Pil-gon as a standing commissioner of the National Election Commission on Friday, explaining that it came after consultations with the incoming administration’s transition team.

1. The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rates to 1.5% on Thursday, the highest level in about three years to control increasing inflation pressures, as consumer prices jumped over 4% last month.

2. North Korean media outlets announced on Thursday that Kim Jong-un promoted a number of military officials a day before the 110th anniversary of the late Kim Il-sung’s birthday, in an effort for unity.

3. The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in South Korea tallied 148-thousand 4-hundred-43 on Thursday. The number of critically ill patients stands at 9-hundred-62, below 1-thousand in 38 days.

1. President-elect Yoon Suk-yoel announced his second list for cabinet members, including Park Jin as foreign minister and Kwon Young-se as unification minister.

2. The United States’ annual country report on human rights practice criticized the North Korean regime’s systematic violation of human rights.

3. South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 cases stands at 195-thousand 4-hundred-19 on Wednesday. The authorities said that the accumulated number of deaths reached 200-thousands as of today.

1. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday that he met former president Park Geun-hye in his visit to Daegu and Gyeongbuk region.

2. U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived at the international waters of the East Sea on Tuesday, as South Korea and the U.S. kicked off its preparatory drills today.

3. South Korea saw 210-thousand 7-hundred 55 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 1-hundred-71 people succumbing to the virus on the same day.

1. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy delivered his speech at the South Korean parliament today. He requested more support for military equipments from South Korea.

2. President-elect Yoon Suk-yoel announced eight cabinet members on Sunday, including Choo Kyung-ho, who will be doubling as Deputy Prime Minister and finance minister.

3.  South Korean new COVID-19 infections stands at 90-thousand 9-hundred-28 today. Meanwhile, rapid antigen tests are no longer available at public health centers starting from today.

1. A list of the Yoon administration's cabinet will be released next week. Meanwhile, the Defense ministry began its relocation process for the presidential office today.

2. The U.N. General Assembly suspended Russia on Thursday from its Human Rights Council over the reports of massacre of Ukranian citizens.

3. South Korea tallied 205-thousand 3-hundred 33 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.  The authorities projected that the total caseload of COVID-19 patients will surpass 15 million today.