China will view further U.S. arms sales, official travel to Taiwan or naval activity near the self-governing island as provocations that will further destabilize relations and prevent progress on other issues, Beijing's ambassador to the U.S. warned Tuesday.
Why it matters: Ambassador Qin Gang said if Washington doesn’t "show restraint" in the wake of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, there will be "another round of tensions" — and no dialogue on issues like climate change and nuclear security.
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told ABC News on Tuesday he is "optimistic" about the United States bringing imprisoned Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan back from Russia through a prisoner exchange.
Why it matters: Richardson, also a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has been involved in the negotiated releases of several Americans detained abroad through the Richardson Center for Global Engagement.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Tuesday warned Americans not to allow Republicans to "pretend" that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan wasn't "set in motion" by former President Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Why it matters: This week marks one year since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, an event that kick-started a decline in President Biden's polling numbers and was seized by Republicans as a defining issue.
Cartel attacks on unarmed civilians in Mexico last week have raised fears of growing narcoterrorism, or the targeting of public places to instill fear and show control.
What happened: At least 10 people, including a 12-year-old caught in the crossfire, were killed during gun battles in Ciudad Juárez on Thursday, according to authorities. The majority were bystanders.
A new collection of recreated vintage Mexican baseball hats almost instantly sold out when it went on sale last week, illustrating the hunger fans have for uncovering the forgotten history of the ball game in Latin America.
The big picture: Historians, fans and activists in recent years have worked to uncover the history of the key roles Latinos in the U.S. played in the formation of the game.
China's 20th Party Congress, when President Xi Jinping is expected to be selected for a highly unusual third term, will be held in Beijing within a few months.
Why it matters: The congress will likely consolidate Xi's hold on power, signaling at least another five years of the hardline domestic authoritarianism and aggressive foreign policy he ushered in during his first two terms.
A Russian ammunition depot in Crimea was rocked by explosions on Tuesday, injuring two people and spurring the evacuation of thousands of nearby residents.
Why it matters: This is the second time in a week that Russia's war in Ukraine has reverberated through Crimea. Last week, a series of explosions at a Russian air base in southwest Crimea destroyed several Russian planes.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused predecessor Scott Morrison Tuesday of "an extraordinary and unprecedented trashing of our democracy" after it emerged the former leader quietly took on extra ministerial powers.
Why it matters: Albanese said he's seeking legal advice as Morrison faces calls to resign as a member of Parliament after News Corp. Australia reported that Morrison "secretly swore himself in" as joint minister for the treasury, finance, health, home affairs and resources from March 2020 to May 2021.
The CDC updated its monkeypox guidance on pets after a new study reported that a dog tested positive for the virus in France.
Why it matters: Monkeypox infection among domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, had never previously been reported, note researchers from Sorbonne University in the study, published in The Lancet medical journal.
Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are threatening to subpoena the State Department over the Biden administration's flawed withdrawal from Afghanistan in anticipation of taking back the majority in the midterms.
Why it matters: Winning the House would give Republicans subpoena power for the first time since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan one year ago, providing the GOP with new investigative tools to probe a key pain point in Biden's presidency ahead of 2024.
