Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Antonio José Seguro Poised for Landslide Win in Portugal Presidential Runoff 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Israel Approves West Bank Measures Expanding Settler Land Access 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Election Win, Shaking Markets and Regional Politics 
Ghislaine Maxwell to Invoke Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee Deposition 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Trump Congratulates Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi After Historic Election Victory 
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party Wins Thai Election, Signals Shift Toward Political Stability 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Facing pressure from the Biden administration and from the public, members of Congress and the Senate are being urged to pass the COVID-19 relief aid. As the death toll of the pandemic in the US has topped 500,000, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a moment of silence at the House floor in remembrance of those who perished from the coronavirus.
Pelosi announced to have a moment of silence on the House floor Monday in honor of the 500,000 Americans who died from COVID-19 despite the ramped-up efforts of vaccine distribution. This comes as the House is expected to take up President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. The numbers also come a little over a year since the first reported cases of COVID-19 were found in the US.
“The chair asks all members in the chamber as well as members and staff throughout the Capitol to rise for a moment of silence in remembrance of more than 500,000 Americans who have passed away from the COVID-19 virus,” said Pelosi.
Even as the numbers have already reached 500,000, there has been a sharp decline in deaths as of late. The rate of transmission has also been falling especially as more and more people are getting vaccinated. Biden, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also held a memorial service at the White House to commemorate the deaths from COVID, the second memorial service Biden has held to mark the deaths.
Pelosi previously announced her plans to establish a 9/11-type commission to look into the Capitol riots last January 6. Pelosi was previously reported to be at odds with House Republicans regarding the membership of the said commission as the House Speaker’s initial recommendation was to have seven Democrats and four Republicans make up the independent group.
However, leaders of the 9/11 commission themselves, Republican Tom Kean and Democrat Lee Hamilton both warned Pelosi against the move. The 9/11 commission was praised as being one of the best instances of bipartisan oversight in modern history. Kean and Hamilton stressed that Republican voters will not accept the findings of the commission if it was mostly Democrat-driven.
