Biden Meets With Prime Minister of India: President Joe Biden met at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home prior to the official start of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India. The two leaders reportedly sought to strengthen their relationship to further progress their partnerships in computer chips, telecommunications, higher education, access to shipping lanes in the Indo-Pacific and the reduction of carbon emissions.
Biden and Modi last met in Washington, D.C. in June, where they discussed climate change, health care, space and various private sector projects.
The two leaders remain very much at odds with one another on issues such as the war in Ukraine, freedom of the press and religious discrimination. Read more at Associated Press.
Bernie Sanders Agrees to Hold Confirmation Hearing for NIH Nominee: As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been in a months-long standoff with the Biden administration over the cost of prescription drugs. Sanders' standoff involved refusing to hold a confirmation hearing for Monica Bertagnolli, the Biden administration's nominee to lead the National Institute of Health (NIH), until Sanders received a robust plan from the White House that would lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Bertagnolli was nominated in May, but the top post of the NIH for which she is nominated has been vacant since December of 2021, with Lawrence Tabak serving as the interim director ever since.
Sanders stated that he plans to hold a confirmation hearing in October. Read more at The Hill.
North Korea Announces Submarine Capable of Nuclear Attacks: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un revealed at a ceremony on Friday the country's first submarine that is allegedly capable of launching nuclear weapons.
Analysts believe it is the same Soviet-era Romeo-class submarine that Kim Jon Un had inspected in 2019 and has since been modified to be able to carry nuclear weapons. Joseph Dempsey, a researcher at the International Insitute for Strategic Studies, stated that the newly-announced submarine will have a few vulnerabilities, including being noisy, slow and having limited range.
It remains unclear whether the submarine is operational or capable of firing nuclear-capable missiles because it was unveiled in a shipyard and has not yet been tested to public knowledge. Read more at BBC News.
Former Proud Boys Leader Sentenced to 22 Years in January 6th Case: Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Tarrio's sentencing marks one of the highest-profile prosecutions related to the Capitol riot and also marks the longest sentence issued thus far in cases related to the riot
Tarrio was found guilty in May of seditious conspiracy. Read more at Axios.
Russian Drones Strike Vital Grain Port in Danube River: Russian drones hit port infrastructure in the Danube River that is critical to Ukraine's grain exports. The Danube River has become Ukraine's main route for exporting grain since July. Two civilians were injured in the bombings. Read more at Reuters.
U.S. Appeals Court Reprimands Biden Administration for Violation of First Amendment: The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction restricting how the government can communicate with social media companies. The panel of judges stated that the administration's efforts to flag what it considered to be false and harmful content about COVID and the 2020 election likely amounted to violations of the First Amendment.
The panel further stated that officials from the Biden administration had engaged in a broad pressure campaign that was designed to coerce social media companies into suppressing speakers, viewpoints and content that were viewed unfavorably by the administration.
The Biden administration has argued that the injunction was too broad and vague, stating that it would impede the government's efforts to address threats to public welfare. Read more at NPR.org.
6.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Morocco, 296 Declared Dead: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in the High Atlas Mountains in central Morocco late Friday evening, followed by a 4.9 aftershock 19 minutes later. 296 people have been confirmed dead in the provinces of al-Haous, Marrakesh, Quarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant. Read more at BBC News.
Mass Shootings in US: This week, Gun Violence Archive reported a total of 12 mass shootings resulting in 42 victims injured and 11 victims dead.
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