Around the world in 43 seconds

🌏📝 Pelosi is headed to Asia, and no one knows if she’ll visit Taiwan. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a statement yesterday confirming she’ll lead a US congressional delegation to Asia this week, visiting Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan to discuss trade, the pandemic, climate change, security, and "democratic governance" – but made no mention of a long-rumored trip to Taiwan. Beijing has warned there will be consequences if Pelosi travels to Taiwan, including a Defense Ministry statement implying the country might use military force in response. China held live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday.

🇺🇦 The Russia/Ukraine war is entering a new phase. After months of Russia making slow gains in Ukraine’s east, the conflict is shifting to the south. Ukraine officials say they’re launching a counteroffensive – with the help of Western weapons – to take back the southern port city of Kherson, an important strategic objective.

🇪🇸 Shakira, a-near-a… to prison time, potentially. Spanish prosecutors are seeking an eight-and-a-half year jail term if the Colombian pop star is convicted in a trial over allegedly failing to pay about $15 million in taxes between 2012-14. She rejected a settlement deal early last week, opting for a trial.