An aide to President Biden says he’s proud of the work the administration has done in Hispanic and other communities as he leaves his job.
The big picture: Adrian Saenz, who also served in the Obama administration, became deputy director for the Office of Public Engagement in early 2021, helping oversee a department tasked with connecting the White House with stakeholders and constituents. He's also a special assistant to the president.
Several senior Iranian officials and politicians have opened the door over the last two weeks to the possibility of producing nuclear weapons — despite the fact that Iran has long maintained it will never do so.
Driving the news: Iran says Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa — a legal Islamic ruling — against nuclear weapons. But in an unusual statement on Tuesday, Iranian MP Mohammad-Reza Sabbaghian Bafghi warned that Parliament could ask Khamenei to revise his fatwa if Iran's "enemies... continue their threats."
Jared Kushner writes in his new book that in early 2020, then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman promised then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Trump administration would support Israel swiftlyannexing parts of the occupied West Bank, but didn’t tell the White House about it.
Why it matters: The crisis that broke out over Netanyahu’s surprise annexation announcement was a watershed moment in the relationship between former President Trump and Netanyahu.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed Taiwan on Wednesday, concluding a highly watched visit that the senior Democrat said underscored the U.S.' "commitment to democracy," even as it angered China.
Why it matters: Pelosi's visit makes her the most senior American lawmaker to travel to Taiwan since 1997. She made the trip despite President Biden's warning last month that military officials advised against it.
OPEC and its allied producers agreed Wednesday to increase oil output next month by around 100,000 barrels per day, a modest boost amid high oil prices and inflation and growing fears of a global recession.
Why it matters: High oil and gas caused by unstable energy supply set off by the coronavirus pandemic and aggravated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have contributed to increased global inflation, though gas prices in the U.S. have recently started to fall since breaching $5-per-gallon in June.
Why it matters: U.S. officials are concerned the nuclear deal is close to becoming irrelevant, as Iran has taken steps to advance its nuclear program and limit the work of UN inspectors.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen in Taipei Wednesday that "now more than ever America's solidarity with Taiwan is crucial."
Why it matters: The meeting further infuriated Beijing, which claims Taiwan and rejects any gesture that seems to treat the self-governing island as an independent nation. Beijing responded by blocking fish and citrus fruit imports from Taiwan and warning airlines to avoid airspace near the island ahead of live-fire military drills this week.
Chinese officials are warning airlines to avoid airspace near Taiwan as it responds to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei ahead of planned live military drills that Taiwanese officials say may amount to a blockade.
Driving the news: The alert describing six areas in the region as "danger zones" notifies airlines of flight restrictions due to the military exercises from Thursday at 12 noon until 12 noon Sunday Hong Kong time, per Bloomberg, as officials in Japan also expressed alarm at Beijing's plans.
The State Department warned Tuesday that there is a "higher potential for anti-American violence" following the U.S. killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Why it matters: The U.S. drone strike against al-Zawahiri in Kabul delivered the most significant blow to the terrorist group since the death of Osama bin Laden, but it has also triggered concern about renewed threats against U.S. citizens as al-Qaeda and its allies consider their next move.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan Tuesday despite threats from the Chinese government that there would be "serious consequences" for the visit.
Why it matters: Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and reacts furiously to any gestures that seem to treat the self-governing island as an independent country. Pelosi, who is the most senior U.S. lawmaker to visit since 1997, tweeted that visit "honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy."
A group of middle school teachers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, decided over a happy hour late last year to quit their jobs and open a cannabis dispensary.
Mexico’s unique campaign — including a social media push — to get owners of stolen artifacts to voluntarily return them is paying off.
State of play: Since launching the #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende (my heritage is not for sale) campaign in 2018, Mexico's government says it has recovered 8,970 items.
Israeli, Lebanese and Biden administration officials appeared upbeat about the possibility of reaching a deal on the maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon after another round of U.S. mediated indirect talks this week.
Why it matters: The dispute is focused on a potentially gas-rich, 330-square-mile area of the Mediterranean Sea off of Israel and Lebanon. The revenues from future natural gas production there could reach billions of dollars.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was back in a Russian court Tuesday for her drug trial while the U.S. attempts to have her released from the country.
Driving the news: Defense experts argued that the examination of the substance inside the vape cartridges Griner had did not comply with Russian law, CNN reports.
China's Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in a statement Tuesday morning, saying it "seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Driving the news: Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has been highly contested, with President Biden saying last month that military officials advised against it.
The global community should create a "United Nations charter 2.0" in which no country has a veto, former Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono said at a conference in Taipei last week.
Why it matters: Calling for a UN alternative was once a fringe idea but has edged towards more mainstream debate since Russia used its Security Council veto to block action against its invasion of Ukraine in February.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — SoaringU.S.-China tensions around House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan highlight parallels — and important differences — with the last major cross-strait crisis in 1996.
The big picture: The 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis was a dangerous flashpoint in U.S.-China relations that was sparked by a high-profile visit and featured a highly public split between the White House and Congress.
President Biden said the U.S. has "delivered" justice after a U.S. drone strike over the weekend killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a key mastermind behind 9/11.
Why it matters: The CIA operation has delivered the most significant blow to al-Qaeda since the death of Osama bin Laden, whom al-Zawahiri succeeded in 2011.
