The emir of Qatar will meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss Afghanistan as well as contingency plans to provide natural gas to Europe in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Europe's reliance on Russia for 40% of its natural gas is undermining Biden's attempts to coordinate "massive" sanctions to be imposed from both sides of the Atlantic if Russia invades. The White House wants Qatar to help ensure European countries can enforce tough sanctions without risking an energy crisis.
Twenty-three people have tested positive for COVID-19 on an Australian aid ship bound for Tonga, Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton confirmed on Tuesday.
Details: The ship, the H.M.A.S. Adelaide, was delivering aid to Tonga in response to a tsunami and a volcanic eruption that devastated the country and left at least three people dead.
After falling sharply in late 2021 due to COVID outbreaks and real estate worries, Chinese consumer confidence stabilized in January, according to a new survey by Morning Consult.
Why it matters: "Economic disruptions in China could potentially spill over to present headwinds to the global economy," the report states.
10 days out from the Olympics, athletes around the world are battening down the hatches in hopes of making it to Beijing COVID-free.
Why it matters:The Beijing bubble — a closed-loop system meant to shut off the outside world entirely — is the strictest ever created for a global sporting event.
Russian financial authorities added oppositional leader Alexei Navalny and several of his allies to the country’s registry of terrorists and extremists, freezing their bank accounts, according to AP.
Why it matters: Navalny and his allies' additions to the list, and several other recent actions against human rights organizations and independent media, are the latest displays of the Kremlin cracking down on political dissent. They are a sign that those who advocate for reforms in Russia risk being labeled as terrorists.
The tide of public opinion may be turning against the Justice Department's China Initiative, as more cases fall apart and more of the researchers charged are speaking out.
The big picture: Chinese government-linked economic and industrial espionage in the United States is a real concern, but the China Initiative's flaws may be overshadowing the problem it was intended to address.
The U.S. is facing another era of great power rivalry — this time with China as well as Russia.Policymakers should learn everything they can from Cold War history to avoid repeating its mistakes, an American historian writes in a new book.
Why it matters: Long-term competition can exhaust a nation and cause deadly conflict if handled poorly, but fallout can be limited and higher ideals can gain a stronger footing if competition is handled well.
Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have sent a letter to NBC Universal executives voicing concerns about "the extent of influence the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) may have over NBCUniversal’s coverage of the games."
Why it matters: The human rights abuses committed by the CCP have been the subject of intense scrutiny ahead of this year's Winter Games in Beijing. Activists last year sent a letter to NBC executives urging the network to cancel plans to cover the Olympics.
To determine if lawmakers, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, broke COVID restrictions, London police said Tuesday they are investigating parties held at Downing Street in 2020.
Why it matters: Johnson has faced calls to resign, even from members of his party, over the gatherings at the height of Britain's strict COVID lockdown.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has placed 8,500 U.S. troops on "heightened preparedness to deploy" to eastern Europe in case NATO activates its rapid-response force over tensions with Russia, the Pentagon announced Monday.
Why it matters: No decisions have been made to deploy U.S. forces, but the heightened alert level will allow the military to rapidly shore up NATO's eastern flank in the event that Russia invades Ukraine. The Pentagon warned that Russia has shown "no signs of de-escalating," and continues to amass troops on Ukraine's borders.
Seven American sailors were injured when a U.S. Navy fighter jet crashed on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during operations in the South China Sea on Monday.
Driving the news: The U.S. F-35 jet's pilot "safely ejected from the aircraft" following the "landing mishap" that occurred during routine flight operations, per a statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Australian Open organizers on Tuesday reversed a ban on T-shirts supporting Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai following widespread criticism.
Why it matters: Tennis Australia's announcement came less than 24 hours after the governing body defended the decision to ask fans last Friday to remove "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts, citing a ticket policy prohibiting political clothing, per the BBC.
The United States has committed an increasing amount of foreign assistance to Ukraine over the years — with no other European or Eurasian nation receiving more since 2015, according to data from ForeignAssistance.gov.
The big picture: When it comes to military support in particular, the U.S. committed to more than $600 million just last year — and more than $2.7 billion since 2014. With the current threat from Russia, Ukraine — and Congress — are now pushingfor more.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday separately called for classified briefings on the brewing crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
Why it matters: The move comes as tensions between the two nations continue unabated and a Russian invasion appears increasingly likely.
