Canada, US Hold Fresh Trade Talks as August 19 Tariff Deadline Nears 
Trump Orders U.S. Navy to Return to Steam Catapults for Aircraft Carriers 
Canada-US Trade Talks Gain Momentum Ahead of Aug. 19 Tariff Deadline 
Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death by Syrian Court 
Trump Signs Order to Cut Routine Childhood Vaccines 
Taiwan Flags AI-Assisted Cyberattacks Targeting Government Agencies 
Israel Warned US of Alleged Iran Plot to Assassinate Trump 
U.S. Military Operations Killed 153 Civilians in 2025, Pentagon Says 
Albanese Says AUKUS ‘Full Steam Ahead’ After Trump Call 
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile as US-South Korea Drills Near 
Nigel Farage Faces Count Binface in Clacton Election Test 
Meloni Loses Ground Among Young Italian Voters Ahead of 2027 Election 
Rebecca Cooke to Challenge Derrick Van Orden in Key Wisconsin Race 
North Korea Slams US-South Korea Drills, Vows Stronger Nuclear Deterrence 
Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death After Syria Regime Collapse 
Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Democratic Senate Nomination 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Two mass shootings have already occurred in the US, increasing calls for gun control or reform. Joe Biden has announced half-dozen executive actions in response to the gun violence that is plaguing the country.
Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, Biden announced the executive actions he is taking to advance gun reforms while also challenging Congress to pass new laws on gun safety. Despite Biden’s announcement of executive actions, lawmakers at the Capitol have yet to reach a consensus, making gun safety and control a highly debated topic in the chambers. This is especially evident as the Democratic party holds thin majorities in both the House and the Senate, with the Senate being evenly split.
“They can do it right now. They’ve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, but they have not passed a single new federal law to reduce gun violence,” said Biden. “Enough prayers, time for action.”
This announcement follows weeks after two mass shootings occurred in Atlanta and Colorado. It also comes in the wake of a most recent shooting that occurred in South Carolina, as a local doctor and two children were among the five victims according to authorities.
With an evenly divided Senate, the Democratic party would require total unity to be able to pass the recent gun-related bills by the House. The party’s majority powers hang in the balance as West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, who has stated that he has opposed the two bills that were passed. In an op-ed piece, Manchin has also opposed the increasing calls by his fellow Democrats to eliminate or weaken the Senate filibuster.
In other news, the Biden administration is looking to request $715 billion for the Pentagon this coming year. This would be higher than the current level but below the numbers projected by the Trump administration in its final budget. The amount increased in the budget may draw criticism from both parties as Republicans seek to increase the budget and progressive Democrats who want to implement budget cuts in that department.
The White House is expected to release the general outline of its fiscal 2022 budget submission on Friday.
