Iran Rejects U.S.-Backed Ceasefire as Trump Escalates Military Threats, Oil Tops $100 
US-Mexico USMCA Talks Advance as Auto Rules Remain Major Sticking Point 
US Investigates Moonshot Over Alleged Use of Advanced AI Chips and IP Theft 
Russia Says It Hit Ukrainian Ports, Cargo Ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk 
US-Backed Pediatric HIV Treatment Drops After Foreign Aid Changes, Study Finds 
Trump Administration Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners 
Trump Administration Opens Civil Rights Probes Into Five U.S. Medical Schools Over Admissions 
Juan Orlando Hernandez Seeks Dismissal of Honduras Charges After Trump Pardon 
EEOC Drops Penn Subpoena in Antisemitism Probe, Investigation Continues 
Trump Pushes Election Security Message at Georgia Rally Ahead of Midterm Senate Race 
US, Solomon Islands Deepen Ties as Peace Corps Set to Return After 25 Years 
US Military Completes 13th Straight Night of Iran Strikes as Trump Warns of Further Action 
ASEAN Forum Puts Middle East Conflict, South China Sea Tensions in Spotlight 
US Plans Closer Coordination With Erik Prince-Linked Security Firm in Haiti Amid Drone Strike Concerns 
Amish Shah Wins Arizona Democratic Primary in Key U.S. House Race 
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week has joined both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in calling for a ban of Russian oil and energy products from entering the US. Pelosi has urged House Democrats to support the ban.
Pelosi made the announcement through a memo Sunday night, the same day the White House released a statement regarding aid to Ukraine and also urging Congress to stop accepting Russian oil into the country. Pelosi said that the House of Representatives is exploring legislation that would further isolate Russia from the global economy. However, Pelosi also made clear that this legislation that Congress is set to pass will not affect global markets, despite the rising gas prices in the country.
“The House is currently exploring strong legislation that will further isolate Russia from the global economy,” said the memo. “Our bill would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products from the United States, repeal normal trade relations between Belarus and the United States, and take the first step to deny Russia access to the World Trade Organization. We would also empower the Executive to raise tariffs on Russian imports.”
Pelosi sent the memo to House Democrats following US President Joe Biden’s request for Congress to authorize $10 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic assistance for Ukraine. Congress will vote on the legislation, but with Biden’s stance that no US troops will be deployed to Ukraine.
In other related news, Pelosi has given her endorsement to Democratic California Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass is one of the frontrunners among candidates to succeed Mayor Eric Garcetti. Pelosi endorsed Bass in a video message.
“Karen fights to meet the kitchen table needs of Los Angeles families and of families across America,” said Pelosi. “What keeps you up at night is what keeps her up at night.”
Bass has also received the endorsements of her fellow Democratic colleagues in Congress, including Reps. Jimmy Gomez, Norma Torres, and Lou Correa. Recent polls have shown Bass in the lead despite a big portion of voters in Los Angeles who are undecided.
