U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
The recent shooting in San Jose, California, is the latest incident of gun violence in the country. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the recent shooting and called for Congress to pass legislation regarding gun reforms.
Pelosi released a statement, extending her condolences to the victims’ families. Pelosi’s comments follow a shooting at a Valley Transportation Authority railyard that left around eight people dead, as well as the shooter. The shooter was identified to be a VTA employee, and authorities believe that he died from a self-inflicted wound.
Officials have yet to determine what type of weapon was used in the incident, as well as the shooter’s motives. Nevertheless, Pelosi called on Congress to pass the gun violence prevention bills and that House Democrats will stop pushing for its passage so it could be signed into law. The bills that Pelosi mentioned, HR 8 and HR 1446, also known as the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 and the Enhanced Background Checks of 2021, were passed by the House in March and is up for a Senate vote.
“All Americans join the San Jose community in sadness and shock over today’s horrific mass shooting. As a Californian, I am personally devastated,” said Pelosi in the statement. “Our prayers are with the loved ones of the victims, and our gratitude is with the first responders for their heroic actions.”
In other news, Pelosi, along with the leaders of the Asian American community in San Francisco, highlighted the passage of the COVID-19 hate crimes act that was signed into law. The bill was introduced by Democratic lawmakers Rep. Grace Meng and Sen. Mazie Hirono following the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Signed into law by President Joe Biden last week, the bill would make it easier to report hate crimes as well as reporting resources valuable in many languages and provide grants to state and local governments for hate crime reduction programs.
“From the violence against Chinese railroad workers, Filipino farmworkers, the incarceration of Japanese (people) during (World War II), the burning of Chinatowns, the abuse of Vietnamese fishermen, the violence that we saw 120 years ago in the form of women being trafficked from Asia...to today with shootings, stabbings, beatings, and bullying of our young people,” said Dean Ito Taylor, the API legal outreach executive director. “Our community will not be silent.”
