Taiwan President Lai Defends Global Engagement During Eswatini Visit Amid China Criticism 
Rising Tensions in US-Europe Relations Amid Trump Policies and Iran War 
Poland Sees No Delays in U.S. Patriot Missile Defense Deliveries Despite Stockpile Concerns 
Japan Eases Arms Export Rules, Opening Door for Potential Ukraine Defense Support 
Australia Launches Public Hearings on Bondi Beach Shooting and Rising Antisemitism 
US Gaza Coordination Overhaul Raises Concerns Over Ceasefire and Aid Efforts 
Kim Jong Un Highlights Youth Role in North Korea’s Military and Political Agenda 
U.S. Fast-Tracks $8.6 Billion Arms Sales to Middle East Allies Amid Rising Tensions 
US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Growing Rift with European Allies 
FEMA Reinstates Employees After Dissent Letter, Signaling Shift in Workforce Stability 
Japan Signals Potential Shift on Arms Exports, Opening Door to Ukraine Support 
Ukraine Drone Strikes Hit Russian Oil Port Primorsk and Naval Targets 
U.S. Weapons Delays Raise Concerns Among European Allies Amid Iran Conflict 
Iran Proposal on Strait of Hormuz and U.S. Blockade Faces Rejection from Trump 
Russian Forces Advance Toward Kostiantynivka as Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine 
Judge Rules Use of Military Lawyers in Civilian Prosecutions Is Lawful 
Democrats are turning their attention to other urgent pieces of legislation to pass through Congress, including the stalled Build Back Better proposal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she does not “subscribe” to a set deadline, sidestepping the deadline that Progressive Democrats hope to meet.
Speaking at an infrastructure event in San Francisco, Pelosi said that the March 1 deadline by Progressive Democrats for the Build Back Better Act is “an aspiration,” but also noted that the House has other pieces of legislation that it needs to bring up and vote on, such as the CHIPS act and the omnibus bill.
“We will pass the bill when we have the votes to pass the bill, and we cannot stop pressing for that,” said Pelosi, who noted that passing Build Back Better is important.
“I hope they’re right. I don’t subscribe to any particular date,” added the House Speaker regarding the March 1 deadline. The White House also had a similar answer as Pelosi. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that no deadline has been set yet, sidestepping the March 1 date.
Pelosi’s remarks appear to indicate that Democrats still do not have the votes needed to pass the social and climate infrastructure bill, which makes up the bulk of US President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. The bill has previously passed the House among party lines but has since stalled in the Senate as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said he could not support the bill, drawing backlash.
Since that time, Biden has acknowledged that not everything that Democrats want will be able to make it to the bill and that the legislation would likely be broken up into parts. Nevertheless, Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Pramila Japayal has urged the Senate and the White House not to let the bill remain stalled for too long.
In other related news, Pelosi spoke with Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te and Taiwan’s ambassador to the US Hsiao Bi-Khim in a virtual conference. Pelosi and Lai discussed security issues, the economy, and the shared values of both nations. The House Speaker raised concerns about the situation at the Taiwan Strait, and the human rights abuses in China, according to Hsiao.
