A blank sheet of paper has become a worldwide symbol, Axios World author Dave Lawler reports.

Why it matters: "The white paper represents everything we want to say but cannot say," one protester told Reuters.

• In China, students and others protested harsh COVID rules with sheets of paper that pose a subtle challenge to the authorities.
• In Hong Kong, protesters used blank signs to protect against laws deeming pro-democracy slogans an act of sedition or terrorism.
• In post-Ukraine invasion Russia, individuals were detained after standing in public squares with blank signs — or miming that they were holding "invisible" signs.

Zoom out: “I think the white paper is itself a form of protest about the lack of freedom of expression in China," Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Axios' Han Chen.

• When any protest message could get you in trouble, "displaying sheets of white paper is kind of like the ultimate protest against this fear," she says.

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The world's largest active volcano, Mauna Loa on Hawaii's Big Island, is erupting for the first time since 1984, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

• Many newer residents weren’t around when Mauna Loa last erupted, AP reports. The island's population has nearly doubled since 1980.

Above: Lava at the summit, seen by remote cameras.

• Go deeper.

1. ⚽️ Above: A World Cup spectator jumped onto the pitch in Qatar today, holding a rainbow flag and wearing a Superman T-shirt with messages supporting Ukraine and Iranian women.
2. The white gunman who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket pleaded guilty to state charges. Go deeper.
3. Multiple Houston schools were closed today in response to a city-wide boil water notice affecting more than 2 million people. What you need to know, by Axios Houston.
4. Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi filed for Chapter 11. Go deeper.
5. Elon Musk is going to war with Apple over ad spending and the App Store, Axios Media Trends author Sara Fischer reports.
6. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is running to chair the RNC, he told Steve Bannon today. Go deeper.

Backstory on the doggie video game you saw in Axios AM ... What might sound like a joke is actually a project that could have health benefits for dogs’ brains, Axios Gaming author Stephen Totilo reports.

• Joipaw’s game prototypes run on a saliva-resistant touch-screen console that pups play with their snouts.
• When the dogs succeed, the console dispenses treats.

The bottom line: "The most difficult step" has been getting dogs to start playing without peanut butter on the screen, Joipaw co-founder Dersim Avdar says.