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A Myanmar military court sentenced the country's ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her former adviser, Australian economist Sean Turnell, each to three years in prison on Thursday, per AP.

Details: Suu Kyi and Turnell, who was previously an associate professor in economics at Sydney's Macquarie University, were sentenced under a secrets law, a Myanmar military official told AP. 

The big picture: Suu Kyi is already in prison after being sentenced to a total of 17 years in several different cases, which mostly relate to corruption. 

The Nobel laureate was charged after the military overthrew the government in a coup in February 2021, when Turnell was also detained.

The pair has always denied any wrongdoing.

What they're saying: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement condemned Thursday's sentencing and called for Turnell's "immediate release," noting he was tried in a closed court that Australian officials diplomats were denied access to.

"We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for Professor Turnell until he has returned to his family in Australia," she said.

"Professor Turnell is internationally respected for his work to support the people of Myanmar and their economic development."

 Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Myanmar court issues jail terms to Aung San Suu Kyi and Australian economist

Suu Kyi is already in prison after being deposed in a 2021 military coup.

Myanmar's then-State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the UN's International Court of Justice on December 11, 2019 in the Peace Palace of The Hague,.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi looks at The Hague in 2019. Photo: Koen Van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Aung San Suu Kyi

A Myanmar military court sentenced the country&#x27;s ousted leader, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Aung San Suu Kyi" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/12/06/myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-sentence-prison" data-vars-content-id="1d8d8f2a-8911-41e1-afa1-d0115cc2d0e5" data-vars-headline="Myanmar court issues jail terms to Aung San Suu Kyi and Australian economist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/12/06/myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-sentence-prison" target="_self">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>, and her former adviser, Australian economist Sean Turnell, each to three years in prison on Thursday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per AP" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/business-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-government-and-politics-34eda95ba2f20c578a545c6742cd9eac?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_06" data-vars-content-id="1d8d8f2a-8911-41e1-afa1-d0115cc2d0e5" data-vars-headline="Myanmar court issues jail terms to Aung San Suu Kyi and Australian economist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/business-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-government-and-politics-34eda95ba2f20c578a545c6742cd9eac?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_06" target="_blank">per AP</a>.Details: Suu Kyi and Turnell, who was previously an associate professor in economics at Sydney&#x27;s Macquarie University, were sentenced under a secrets law, a Myanmar military official told AP.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

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President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) fled his home on Monday to avoid being served with a subpoena in a lawsuit related to abortion rights funding, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

Of note: Paxton tweeted that he left with his wife, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton, in order "to avoid a stranger lingering outside my home and showing concern about the safety and well-being of my family."

Details: Ernesto Martin Herrera, a process server, arrived at Paxton's home in the morning with the goal of serving the subpoena for a federal court hearing Tuesday in the suit brought by nonprofits seeking to fund out-of-state abortions for Texans, according to the sworn affidavit.

A woman identifying herself as Angela Paxton answered the door and told him her husband was on the phone inside the home, but was in a "hurry to leave," per the filing. So he said he'd wait and nearly an hour later saw the attorney general leave the house.

"As soon as he saw me and heard me call his name out, he turned around and RAN back inside the house through the same door in the garage," Herrera wrote.

Moments later, Angela Paxton left the home and got inside a truck in the driveway before being joined by her husband, who ignored Herrera calling his name and the vehicle drove off, according to the filing.

What he's saying: "This is a ridiculous waste of time and the media should be ashamed of themselves," Paxton tweeted in response to a Texas Tribune report on the court filing.

"All across the country, conservatives have faced threats to their safety — many threats that received scant coverage or condemnation from the mainstream media."

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Texas AG flees his home to avoid subpoena, court filing claims

Ken Paxton said he left "to avoid a stranger lingering outside my home."

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, US, on Friday, Aug. 5.

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas in August. Photo: Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Texas

Texas Attorney General <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ken Paxton (R)" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/25/texas-bar-lawsuit-ag-paxton-2020-election" data-vars-content-id="23d1142c-97ef-443e-b003-3910180ee0f2" data-vars-headline="Texas AG flees his home to avoid subpoena, court filing claims" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/25/texas-bar-lawsuit-ag-paxton-2020-election" target="_self">Ken Paxton (R)</a> fled his home on Monday to avoid being served with a subpoena in a lawsuit related to abortion rights funding, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an affidavit" data-vars-click-url="https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d58928b9bcb034f0cdfb2673e8a9c627/Fund%20Texas%20v%20Paxton%20Return%20of%20Service.pdf?_ga=2.53200872.1785754670.1664252005-2043066947.1663647944" data-vars-content-id="23d1142c-97ef-443e-b003-3910180ee0f2" data-vars-headline="Texas AG flees his home to avoid subpoena, court filing claims" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d58928b9bcb034f0cdfb2673e8a9c627/Fund%20Texas%20v%20Paxton%20Return%20of%20Service.pdf?_ga=2.53200872.1785754670.1664252005-2043066947.1663647944" target="_blank">an affidavit</a> filed in federal court.Of note: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Paxton tweeted" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/1574608678854205440" data-vars-content-id="23d1142c-97ef-443e-b003-3910180ee0f2" data-vars-headline="Texas AG flees his home to avoid subpoena, court filing claims" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/1574608678854205440" target="_blank">Paxton tweeted</a> that he left with his wife, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton, in order &quot;to avoid a stranger lingering outside my home and showing concern about the safety and well-being of my family.&quot;

Data: National Hurricane Center; Map: Jared Whalen/Axios

Ian strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane just before making landfall over western Cuba on Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

State of play: The now-major hurricane continued to strengthen after making landfall in Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, the NHC said in a 4:30am tweet. The storm's outer rain band began on Monday night lashing coastal areas of Florida, where it could hit as a Category 4 hurricane as early as Wednesday. 

"Hurricane-force winds are expected in west-central Florida beginning Wednesday morning. Heavy rainfall may cause flash, urban, and small stream flooding over Florida this week," the agency added.

What else to watch: Ian's expected to remain a major hurricane over the southeastern  Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, according to the NHC's 2am outlook. 

Hurricane warnings were in effect for several Cuban provinces and in Florida from Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, and the Dry Tortugas.

A tropical storm warning was issued for the lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge westward to Key West and from Flamingo to Englewood, along with three Cuban provinces.

Forecast heavy rainfall for Florida due to Hurricane Ian.

Forecast heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ian. Photo: NOAA

The big picture: President Biden declared a federal state of emergency for multiple Florida counties over the weekend, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a statewide emergency.

Evacuation orders were issued and school closures announced across Florida and Cuba Monday.

Tampa International Airport said it's closing and suspending operations from 5pm Tuesday due to the hurricane threat.

What they're saying: DeSantis noted at a Monday news conference that Ian would cause "a huge amount" of storm surge. 

"You're going to have flood events. You're going to have a lot of different impacts," he said.

Context: Hurricanes are becoming more intense and damaging due to human-caused climate change, which enables them to shed heavier amounts of rainfall, Axios' Andrew Freedman notes.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Ian, now a major hurricane, threatens Cuba and Florida

Ian strengthened into a Category 3 storm ahead of an expected landfall in Cuba.

hurricanes

Extreme weather

Ian strengthened into a Category 3 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major hurricane" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida" target="_self">major hurricane</a> just before making landfall over western Cuba on Tuesday morning, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Hurricane Center" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574648913734160384/photo/1" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574648913734160384/photo/1" target="_blank">National Hurricane Center</a>.State of play: The now-major hurricane continued to strengthen after making landfall in Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, the NHC said in a 4:30am <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tweet" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574678606126583809" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574678606126583809" target="_blank">tweet</a>. The storm&#x27;s outer rain band began on Monday night lashing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coastal areas" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/NWSMiami/status/1574576479681257487" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/NWSMiami/status/1574576479681257487" target="_blank">coastal areas</a> of Florida, where it could hit as a Category 4 hurricane as early as Wednesday.

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

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Japan honored its assassinated former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Tuesday with a state funeral in Tokyo, attended by scores of dignitaries, including Vice President Kamala Harris.

The big picture: Security was tight at the rare state funeral for the country's longest serving prime minister, who was fatally shot  in the city of Nara in July, due to massive protests as multiple opposition lawmakers boycotted the event.

Vice President Kamala Harris (C) arrives for the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 27, 2022 at the Budokan in Tokyo.

Vice President Kamala Harris (center) arriving for Abe's state funeral at the Budokan in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: Franck Robichon — Pool/Getty Images

Thousands of people were seated inside the Nippon Budokan arena for the ceremony and thousands others lined up outside to pay their respects, but several thousand have also protested the event, the BBC reports.

Context: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Abe should be honored with the state funeral due to his record of service. 

But some have raised concerns that such occasions are tinged with prewar imperial ties, and there's been outrage at the cost of the event as well as the ruling party's links to the ultra-conservative Unification Church, per AP.

Zoom in: Abe's killing thrust the South Korea-founded church and its ties to his and Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party into the spotlight as his suspected assassin blamed it for bankrupting his mother and he resented what he saw as the late leader's promotion of the organization.

Kishida has formally apologized for the links and reshuffled his cabinet to purge it of members connected to the church while denying its conservative policies influenced his party.

Protests as Japan honors assassinated former PM Abe with state funeral

Vice President Kamala Harris was among scores of dignitaries at the Tokyo event.

People pay their respects to the assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe outside the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP via Getty Images

Shinzo Abe

Japan honored its assassinated former prime minister, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shinzo Abe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/08/former-japanese-prime-minister-collapses-during-speech" data-vars-content-id="77821d53-da40-4b12-9527-be8a6a0a4c09" data-vars-headline="Protests as Japan honors assassinated former PM Abe with state funeral" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/08/former-japanese-prime-minister-collapses-during-speech" target="_self">Shinzo Abe</a>, on Tuesday with a state funeral in Tokyo, attended by scores of dignitaries, including Vice President Kamala Harris.The big picture: Security was tight at the rare state funeral for the country&#x27;s longest serving prime minister, who was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fatally shot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/08/shinzo-abe-japan-assassination-world-reactions" data-vars-content-id="77821d53-da40-4b12-9527-be8a6a0a4c09" data-vars-headline="Protests as Japan honors assassinated former PM Abe with state funeral" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/08/shinzo-abe-japan-assassination-world-reactions" target="_self">fatally shot</a> in the city of Nara in July, due to massive protests as multiple opposition lawmakers boycotted the event.

Hurricane Ian was pummeling communities across the Florida Peninsula on Thursday morning, a day after making landfall as a major Category 4 storm.

The big picture: Ian weakened to a Category 1 storm overnight, but it was still posing a serious threat with its heavy rains, powerful winds, storm surge and life-threatening flooding as it churned toward Georgia and South Carolina, knocking out power to over 2 million Floridians in its wake.

The scene in Fort Meyer, Florida, after hurricane Ian swept through Sept. 28.

Fort Myer, Florida, after Hurricane Ian swept through on Sept. 28. Photo: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A man runs to a sheltered spot through the wind and rain from Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida.

A man runs to a sheltered spot through the wind and rain from Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

People wade through an area of Tampa inundated with floodwaters on Sept. 28. Photo: Ben Montgomery/Axios

A blown down street sign is seen as the eye of Hurricane Ian passes by in Punta Gorda, Florida on September 28.

A blown down street sign is seen as the eye of Hurricane Ian passes by in Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images

Flooding in St Lucie, Florida, after Hurricane Ian struck.

Photo: St Lucie Sheriff's Office/Port Lucie Police/Twitter

Go deeper: Climate change made 2020's hurricanes wetter

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In photos: Hurricane Ian's impact across Florida

The storm poses a serious threat as it churns its way toward Georgia and South Carolina.

A woman gets help climbing from a muddy area in Tampa, Florida, United States on September 28.

A woman gets help climbing from a muddy area of Tampa, Florida, on Sept. 28. Photo: Ben Hendren/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Hurricane Ian

Climate change

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hurricane Ian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida" data-vars-content-id="cecdd338-c5c1-47e6-9ffb-921b2dff5ff7" data-vars-headline="In photos: Hurricane Ian&#x27;s impact across Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida" target="_self">Hurricane Ian</a> was pummeling communities across the Florida Peninsula on Thursday morning, a day after making landfall as a major Category 4 storm.The big picture: Ian weakened to a Category 1 storm overnight, but it was still posing a serious threat with its heavy rains, powerful winds, storm surge and life-threatening flooding as it churned toward Georgia and South Carolina, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="knocking out power" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-florida-power-outage" data-vars-content-id="cecdd338-c5c1-47e6-9ffb-921b2dff5ff7" data-vars-headline="In photos: Hurricane Ian&#x27;s impact across Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-florida-power-outage" target="_self">knocking out power</a> to over 2 million Floridians in its wake.

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In photos: Hurricane Ian's impact across Florida

Myanmar court issues jail terms to Aung San Suu Kyi and Australian economist

Ian, now a major hurricane, threatens Cuba and Florida

Protests as Japan honors assassinated former PM Abe with state funeral

Texas AG flees his home to avoid subpoena, court filing claims