America in Brief | The Epoch Times - Aman Shanti News – India, UP, Technology & Automobile News

US–Canada Trade War

U.S.-imposed 50 percent tariffs on Canada took effect on Aug. 22 after the two countries failed to reach an agreement following days of negotiations, with Canada now implementing countermeasures.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carey announced on Aug. 22 that counter-tariffs will go into effect on Sept. 8.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on July 20 on approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods, saying the United States was being unfairly treated regarding U.S. alcohol, automotive, and dairy exports.

Trump delayed the tariffs for three days as they neared implementation on Aug. 19, after the two countries came to the table but could not reach an agreement by the Aug. 22 deadline.

Carey said Canada would match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar.”

Supreme Court Gives Nod to White House Ballroom

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has given Trump the go-ahead to continue construction of the 90,000-square-foot White House Ballroom after a lower-court judge halted it earlier in the year.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon blocked the construction on March 31, saying that Trump had exceeded his authority in his construction plans, which belong to Congress.

The preservation group, National Trust for Historic Preservation, filed a lawsuit after Trump began demolition to make way for the $400 million project in late 2025, accusing him of damaging a site of national heritage.

Construction cranes are seen from the Washington Monument on the site of the former East Wing of the White House on April 17, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Construction cranes are seen from the Washington Monument on the site of the former East Wing of the White House on April 17, 2026. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

US National Debt Reaches $40 Trillion

The U.S. national debt has reached $40 trillion for the first time in the nation’s history, more than doubling in size in just under a decade.

Major effects on the economy this century were driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2020, and the global financial crisis of 2007–2009.

The debt has risen dramatically since the early 2000s, mostly due to major tax cuts and growth in spending, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and, most recently, Iran.

Increases in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have also added to costs, with the United States the largest healthcare spender globally, nearly double that of most advanced nations.

An electronic display in Washington shows the U.S. national debt on Aug. 19, 2026. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) — An electronic display in Washington shows the U.S. national debt on Aug. 19, 2026. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

More Than 15,000 Infected By Parasite

A parasitic illness outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce has now surpassed 15,716 cases in the United States, with cases reported in 47 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Aug. 18.

Cases of cyclosporiasis, a condition that causes diarrhea, have been recorded since May 1, and the CDC believes they are the result of several outbreaks.

The largest outbreak began in late June, when people fell ill after visiting Taco Bell restaurants, and it was traced to the Cyclospora parasite found in iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms de México.

Packages of Taylor Farms salad greens are displayed at a Safeway store in Kings Beach, Calif., on July 16, 2026. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — Packages of Taylor Farms salad greens are displayed at a Safeway store in Kings Beach, Calif., on July 16, 2026. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Judge Strikes Down Ghost Gun Rule

A Texas judge has struck down a rule that restricted the manufacturing of so-called ghost guns—privately made guns assembled from parts.

The Frame or Receiver rule addressing ghost guns defined the main parts as convertible firearm parts; therefore, they should be subject to the same regulations as normal firearms that contain a serial number and require a background check.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued this rule in August 2022 to address the rise in popularity of ghost guns, commonly made with 3D printers, as a way to regulate them.

U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor, in the case of Defense Distributed et. al. v. Blanche, struck it down as being too vague and violating the Second Amendment.

A person holds a 3D-printed ghost gun during a statewide gun buyback event held by the office of the New York State Attorney General in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 29, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images) — A person holds a 3D-printed ghost gun during a statewide gun buyback event held by the office of the New York State Attorney General in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 29, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images

Trial Success for New mRNA Cancer Vaccine

A new mRNA cancer vaccine being developed by Moderna and Merck appears to be successful in trials.

It has met its goals in a Phase 3 clinical trial that reached 1,137 people to treat the skin cancer Melanoma.

This is the first case of its kind.

“These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research. For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient’s cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement.

It could be available as early as 2027.

A sign marks the headquarters of vaccine maker Moderna in Cambridge, Mass., on April 28, 2022. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) — A sign marks the headquarters of vaccine maker Moderna in Cambridge, Mass., on April 28, 2022. Brian Snyder/Reuters

FBI Arrests Woman Over Bomb Plot

The FBI has arrested a woman in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the New York State Capitol in Albany, involving the ISIS terrorist group.

Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, New York, had allegedly conducted a number of reconnaissance operations around the Capitol, and had intended to blow up the Capitol using a homemade explosive device that was intended to kill lawmakers.

Bowie had allegedly sworn allegiance to ISIS and was unknowingly working with undercover FBI agents to prepare for the attack when they arrested her.

She was allegedly planning to flee to Syria after the bombing to join ISIS.

Her social media accounts portrayed various anti-American and pro-Islamic messages.

One message read “Praise be to Allah for September 11th.”

Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, New York, was captured on surveillance while doing reconnaissance on the New York State Capitol. Bowie was arrested Aug. 19, 2026, and was charged with plotting an ISIS-inspired bomb plot at the New York State Capitol. (U.S. Department of Justice) — Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, New York, was captured on surveillance while doing reconnaissance on the New York State Capitol. Bowie was arrested Aug. 19, 2026, and was charged with plotting an ISIS-inspired bomb plot at the New York State Capitol. U.S. Department of Justice

Member of Extremist Group Sentenced

A member of the violent extremist group “764” has been sentenced to 77 years in prison for the production of child sexual abuse material and animal crushing videos.

Kyle William Spitze, 27, of Friendsville, Tennessee, was described by authorities as one of the original members of the extremist groups “Harm Nation” and “764,” defined as terrorist groups by the United States.

The “764” network is defined as Nihilistic Violent Extremism by the Department of Justice and is known for sextortion, providing and spreading child sexual abuse material online, as well as violence.

The group is described as an international, decentralized online network operating on gaming platforms that coerces young victims into joining their cause, using methods like doxing and swatting as tools to control its victims.