Iran Demands Lebanon Be Part of Any Ceasefire Deal With Israel and the U.S. 
Maduro Faces Rare Narcoterrorism Charges in U.S. Court 
Chinese Universities with PLA Ties Found Purchasing Restricted U.S. AI Chips Through Super Micro Servers 
G7 Summit 2026: South Africa Excluded Amid U.S. Pressure, Kenya Invited Instead 
WTO Reform Talks Begin in Cameroon Amid Global Trade Tensions 
Taiwan Arms Deal on Track Despite U.S.-China Summit Uncertainty 
G7 Foreign Ministers Gather in France Amid Global Tensions and U.S. Policy Uncertainty 
US Military Eyes 10,000 Troop Surge to Middle East Amid Iran Nuclear Tensions 
Jay Bhattacharya to Continue Leading CDC as White House Searches for Permanent Director 
Iran-U.S. Negotiations: Tehran Reviews American Peace Proposal Amid Ongoing Gulf Conflict 
SMIC Allegedly Supplies Chipmaking Tools to Iran's Military, U.S. Officials Warn 
Iran Allows Oil Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz Amid U.S. Negotiations 
Trump Pauses Iran Strikes as Peace Talks Stall Amid Military Buildup 
FEMA Reinstates $1 Billion Disaster Prevention Grant Program After Court Order 
China Opens Door to Stronger U.S. Trade Ties Amid Rising Tensions 
Russia Strikes Kharkiv and Izmail as Cross-Border Drone War Escalates 
U.S. Praises Kurdistan's Role in Oil Markets Amid Iran War Fallout 
South Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings passed away last April 6, with a memorial ceremony at the Capitol this week. Vice President Kamala Harris joined other Congressional leaders to celebrate Hastings’ life.
Harris joined other congressional leaders and colleagues of Hastings to pay tribute to the late Florida Congressman, who was elected back in 1992. Hastings passed away last April 6 at the age of 84, two and a half years after first getting diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Hastings was also the longest-serving Florida Congressmember at the time of his death.
Harris sat on the front row of the Statuary Hall during the memorial service but did not deliver any remarks. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, congressional Democratic leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and two of Hastings’ close colleagues from the Florida delegation and from both parties paid tribute to the late representative. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, not many congressional members were present at the service.
On the day of Hastings’ passing, Harris said he “welcomed me into the Congressional Black Caucus when I was still new to the Senate. He exuded the kind of warmth and good humor that not only put me at ease but encouraged me to speak my mind.” Back in 2019, Hastings endorsed Harris during her presidential bid. When Joe Biden all but formally secured his presidential nomination by the Democratic party, Hastings urged Biden to select Harris as his running mate.
In other news, Harris commemorated World Earth Day on social media and said that she is proud to have science back in the White House. Harris shared how her mother, who is a known scientist, raised her to appreciate science while noting the danger of climate change in the world. Prior to Harris’ tweet, Biden announced that the US would be reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52 percent by 2030 as part of the efforts to fight climate change.
“My mother was a scientist and raised me to appreciate the power of science. On this #EarthDay, I am proud that science is back in the White House,” tweeted Harris.
