China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
This week marks a big achievement by the Biden administration halfway through Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office as the new president. Biden officially signed into law his sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
Biden signed the bill into law at the White House Oval Office Thursday, a day earlier than expected, following the House’s swift passage of the final version of the bill. The House’s second approval of the bill also comes several days after the Senate passed the bill. The passage was done on party lines as both House and Senate Democrats moved the sweeping relief package forward without a single vote of support from their Republican counterparts. This would mark the first significant legislative achievement by Biden and his administration.
Biden did not take questions from the media that were present during the signing. However, he made a primetime address to the public hours later, marking the first anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdowns in the country. Vice President Kamala Harris was also present at the signing of the bill.
“In the weeks that this bill has been discussed and debated, it is clear that an overwhelming percentage of the American people -- have made it clear they strongly support the American Rescue Plan,” said Biden in his remarks prior to the signing. “Their voices were heard.”
The $1.9 trillion package includes $1400 stimulus checks to American households, increased funding for vaccine distribution efforts, funding to help schools reopen safely, as well as extended unemployment benefits until September, among many other aspects. Despite the signing taking place a day earlier than expected, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain tweeted that the administration would still hold a celebration of the bill’s passage with congressional leaders on Friday.
During his primetime address, Biden discussed the administration’s response to the pandemic so far. Biden expressed optimism that the country can somewhat go back to normal by July in time for Independence Day. In order to be able to reach the goal of going back to some kind of normal by that time, Biden recently directed all the states to make all American adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations by May 1.
