DOJ Sues Virginia Over Law Enforcement Mask Ban 
South Korea Ballot Shortage Sparks Protests, Election Fraud Claims, and Calls for Rerun 
US Plans NATO Force Reduction in Europe Amid Defense Burden Dispute 
Peru Election 2026: Fujimori Holds Narrow Lead as Contested Votes Face Review 
Viktor Orban Re-Elected as Fidesz Leader After Election Defeat 
South Korea Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to 30 Years Over Martial Law Plot 
Lebanon Resists Iran Pressure as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Talks Stall 
Trump Nominates Jay Clayton as DNI Amid FISA Surveillance Dispute 
US Appeals Court Keeps Trump’s 10% Global Tariff in Effect During Ongoing Legal Battle 
Kremlin Says New EU Sanctions Won’t Hurt Russian Banks 
Senior Haitian Security Official Kidnapped as Gang Violence Escalates in Port-au-Prince 
North Korea Slams U.S. Missile Sale to South Korea, Warns of Rising Regional Tensions 
IMF Advances Ukraine Loan Program, Clears $690M Disbursement 
Trump Says Iran Peace Deal Near as Markets Rally and Oil Prices Fall 
France Hosts Israeli-Palestinian Peace Conference to Revive Two-State Solution 
JCPOA Nuclear Deal Explained as U.S. Nears Potential New Iran Peace Agreement 
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun Defends Taiwan-China Engagement During U.S. Visit 
Following the Tokyo Olympics come the Paralympic Games that will also take place in Japan’s capital. This time, Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff will be leading the US delegation to the sporting events.
US President Joe Biden has announced that Emhoff will be making his first overseas engagement as the second gentleman by leading the US delegation to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The events were delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as countries are facing a surge in cases due to the Delta variant. Emhoff will be attending the opening ceremony on August 24, and along with him will be Raymond Greene, who is leading the US Embassy in Tokyo until an ambassador is appointed and sworn in.
Emhoff’s attendance also follows first lady Dr. Jill Biden’s leading of the US team in the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo. Dr. Biden met with the Japanese Prime Minister and the Emperor. Dr. Biden also attended some of the games before returning to Washington.
Emhoff has so far been touring the country to promote the Biden-Harris administration’s agenda. The most recent tour was to promote COVID-19 vaccinations, encouraging people to get vaccinated against the disease. There is still a significant portion of Americans that are vaccinated or have refused to take the vaccine.
4,400 athletes with disabilities from 160 countries will be competing in over 20 sporting events. The events will also be adhering to the COVID-19 protocols, similar to the recent Olympic games.
Previously, Harris spoke with the new Israeli President Isaac Herzog this week over the phone, congratulating Herzog for his election. The readouts of the conversation from both their offices said that Harris reaffirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to the security of Israel while reiterating the importance of US-Israel relations.
A readout from Harris’s office also stated that she reiterated the importance of the US’s pledge to seek the two-state solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The readout from Herzog’s office made no mention of the conflict and instead said that they focused on the US’ support for normalizing the ties between Israel and other Arab nations.
