Ecuador Imposes 30% Tariff on Colombian Imports Amid Border Security Tensions 
United States Officially Exits World Health Organization, Raising Global Public Health Concerns 
Trump Launches U.S.-Led Board of Peace to Oversee Gaza Ceasefire and Expand Global Role 
Trump Says $2,000 Tariff Dividend Possible Without Congress Approval 
U.S. Backs Iraq’s Move to Detain ISIS Fighters, Urges Global Repatriation 
Trump Withdraws Canada Invitation to Board of Peace Initiative 
New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District 
Taiwan President Offers Cooperation With Ukraine to Combat Sanctions Evasion 
Somaliland President Meets Eric Trump and Israeli President at Davos to Seek Recognition and Investment 
Trump Drops Tariff Threat After NATO Talks on Greenland’s Future 
NATO, Trump, and Arctic Security: Greenland Talks Highlight Rising Russia-China Concerns 
Japan Snap Election Sparks Bond Yield Surge as Parties Clash Over Fiscal and Monetary Policy 
Japan Government Bond Rout Deepens as Election Spending Fears Shake Markets 
U.S. Steps Aside as Syria Reclaims SDF-Held Territory in Power Shift 
Supreme Court Signals Doubts Over Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook 
Colombia Suspends Electricity Exports to Ecuador as Trade and Security Dispute Escalates 
This week marks one year since the shooting at a spa in Atlanta, Georgia where the victims were mostly of Asian descent. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of Congress commemorated the anniversary of the tragic event.
Pelosi joined the lawmakers who are part of the Congressional Asian American Pacific American Caucus in commemorating the anniversary of the shootings in front of the Capitol, addressing the event that took place last year. Three Asian-owned spas were gunned down with eight victims, six of which were Asian women, killed.
Several other lawmakers noted that while the shooting was horrific, other acts of violence towards Asian Americans have continued to occur. Pelosi also cited the statistics of anti-Asian bias, explaining that around three-quarters of Asian American and Pacific Islander women are facing discrimination or racism in the past 12 months and pushed for hate crimes legislation.
This also comes as, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, anti-Asian rhetoric became more evident by referring to the coronavirus as the “China virus” or “Kung flu.” Other members of the caucus such as Senator Mazie Hirono, and Reps. Ted Lieu and Mark Takano recalled stories of Asian-Americans who have been attacked.
“This is why with the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Congress took historic action to help stamp out hate and hold offenders accountable, delivering new resources to expedite the review of hate crimes and empower the individuals to come forward,” said Pelosi. “As we remember those stolen from us by hate, Congress will continue fighting to combat racist violence in all of its forms.”
Democratic congresswoman Judy Chu, who chairs the caucus, praised the Biden administration’s handling of the hate crimes and urged the public to stand with the Asian community in the country.
In other related news, Pelosi also marked St. Patrick’s Day by reading aloud a poem written by U2 lead singer Bono at the annual Friends of Ireland lunch in DC. Bono’s poem referenced Irish mythology and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Most of us, always, whether we’re in Ireland, here, wherever it is, Bono has been a very Irish part of our lives,” said Pelosi at the event, where she also introduced President Joe Biden.
