Iraq clash over cleric, Pakistan flood assistance, Biden visits Pennsylvania

On Aug. 30, 2022, a cleric in Iraq is calling for peace among his supporters participating in deadly clash, the United Nations and Pakistan will appeal for emergency flood assistance, and President Joe Biden will visit swing state Pennsylvania.

Iraqi cleric center of deadly clash – Supporters of Iraqi religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr continued to storm government offices and foreign embassies in Iraq on Tuesday. Clashes have killed at least 30 and wounded more than 400 others. The unrest broke out yesterday when the cleric announced his resignation from politics. The cleric has now called for peace in a televised speech telling his followers they had one hour to leave. Iran closed its borders to Iraq presumably out of concern the violence could spread.

Appeal for Pakistan flood assistance – The United Nations and Pakistan are set to appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help those displaced by historic flooding in the country. The floods have killed more than 1,150 people since mid-June. Nearly half a million others have been displaced.

President Biden visits Pennsylvania – President Biden is set to talk crime in the important swing state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday. The White House said Biden will use the visit to call out Republicans for opposing a ban on assault-style weapons. A bipartisan gun safety bill was signed into law earlier this year. However, Biden has repeatedly said more needs to be done.