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National

The U.S. Justice Department recently informed the Israeli Justice Ministry that the FBI has opened an investigation into the death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed in May while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli officials said Monday. 

Why it matters: Such an investigation is highly unusual. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz called the FBI decision "a grave mistake" and said Israel will refuse to cooperate. 

The investigation could lead to a U.S. request to investigate the soldiers who were involved in the operation — a request Israel would almost certainly reject. 

The investigation could also lead to tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government. 

Driving the news: The FBI decision to open an investigation into the case was first reported on Israel’s Channel 14 on Monday. 

Five sources briefed on the issue, including four Israeli officials, confirmed to Axios that DOJ notified the Israeli Justice Ministry about the decision. The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly speak on the issue.

What they're saying: Gantz said later Monday that "the U.S. Justice Department decision to investigate the tragic death of Shireen Abu Akleh is a grave mistake."

"The IDF conducted an independent and professional investigation. I have made it clear to the U.S. government that we won’t cooperate with any external investigation and won’t allow any interference in Israel’s internal affairs,” he added. 

White House National Security Council spokesperson referred Axios to the DOJ. 

“Our thoughts remain with the Abu Akleh family as they grieve this tremendous loss. Not only was Shireen an American citizen, she was a fearless reporter whose journalism and pursuit of truth earned her the respect of audiences around the world," the NSC spokesperson added.  

The DOJ did not reply to a request for comment. 

Between the lines: The administration has faced pressure by dozens of congressional Democrats and Abu Akleh's family to do more to ensure accountability. More than 20 Democratic senators signed a letter calling for an independent FBI investigation.

U.S. Sen Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said in a statement that "this is an overdue but necessary and important step in the pursuit of justice and accountability in the shooting death of American citizen and journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh."

Flashback: Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera correspondent, was wearing a bulletproof vest marked "press" when she was killed.

The Palestinian Authority and her family accused the Israeli military of intentionally targeting her. 

The IDF concluded in September she was most likely killed in "unintentional fire" from an Israeli soldier who did not realize she was a journalist. The findings were a shift from the IDF's initial position that it was not possible to know who shot Abu Akleh.  

The Biden administration said in early July that Abu Akleh was likely killed by unintentional Israeli fire, but a ballistics test of the bullet fragment removed from her body was "inconclusive." 

Citing witnesses, as well as visual and audio evidence, independent investigations by several news organizations, including the Washington Post, AP and the New York Times, found that it was likely that an Israeli soldier fired the fatal shot.

A probe conducted by the UN human rights body came to a similar conclusion.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout. 

FBI opens investigation into killing of Palestinian American Shireen Abu Akleh

Israeli officials said they would refuse to cooperate.

A Palestinian student from An-Najah University holds a picture of Shireen Abu Akleh during a protest in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Nov. 6.

A Palestinian student from An-Najah University holds a picture of Shireen Abu Akleh during a protest in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Nov. 6. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel

Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

The UN General Assembly on Monday approved a resolution saying Russia must be held accountable for violations of international law related to the war in Ukraine, including by paying war reparations.

Why it matters: The vote on the non-binding resolution is largely symbolic, but the support for the text is yet another indication of Russia's isolation on the world stage following its invasion of Ukraine. 

Ninety-four countries voted to approve the measure, while 14 nations, including China and Iran, voted against it. Some 73 countries abstained. 

Between the lines: The resolution did not receive the overwhelming level of support some of the previous measures got.

The General Assembly had previously adopted four resolutions condemning Russia's actions since the war began, including "deploring" Russia's aggression against Ukraine, condemning Russia for creating a "dire" humanitarian situation, suspending Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council, and condemning Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories.

The big picture: The resolution, co-sponsored by dozens of nations including the U.S., reaffirms the UN General Assembly's support for the “sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity” and calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

The resolution adds that Russia must be held accountable for any violations of international law and "must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts."

It also states there is a need to create "an international mechanism for reparation for damage, loss or injury" stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine and recommends member nations, in cooperation with Ukraine, create an "international register” to document evidence and claims of "damage, loss or injury" to Ukrainian citizens and the state.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

UN General Assembly calls for Russia to pay Ukraine war reparations

Russia "must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts."

Residential areas of Mykolaiv, Ukraine following Russian missile strikes. Photo: Nina Lyashonok / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine

Russia

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) signaled Monday she will vote to elect GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker, criticizing efforts by other right-wing Republicans to challenge his bid as "risky" and a "bad strategy."

Why it matters: Greene, despite a history of incendiary statements and conspiracy theories that led to the removal of her committee assignments in 2021, is one of the most influential Republicans in the House.

McCarthy has invested heavily in his relationship with Greene, meeting with her weekly and promising to reinstate her committee assignments if Republicans take back the majority. 

Greene's defense of McCarthy at a time when he's so vulnerable will be richly rewarded if he becomes speaker — likely with a plum position on the powerful House Oversight Committee. 

What they're saying: "I actually think that's a bad strategy when we're looking at having a very razor-thin majority, with potentially 219 [seats], we're talking about one vote," Greene said on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast in response to reports of a speaker challenge by House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

Greene warned that some moderate Republicans could join forces with Democrats and elect outgoing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) — a fierce Trump critic who lost her GOP primary as a result of her impeachment vote — to the speaker position, which requires 218 votes.

"We've already been through two years where we saw Republicans — Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — cross over and join the Democrats and produce a Jan. 6 committee," Greene said.

"The danger is this, do we want to watch a challenge for Speaker of the House simply because the 'Never Kevin' movement — just like we've seen a 'Never Trump" movement — do we want to see that challenge open the door to Nancy Pelosi handing the gavel to Liz Cheney?" 

Context: The Constitution does not technically require the speaker to be a member of the House, although every speaker in history has been.

What to watch: Some right-wing members and outside conservative groups have called on McCarthy to delay House leadership elections, which are set to take place on Tuesday despite the final makeup of the House still being undecided. 

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Marjorie Taylor Greene breaks with far-right allies on McCarthy challenge

"I actually think that's a bad strategy when we're looking at having a very razor-thin majority."

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kevin McCarthy

Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Marjorie Taylor Greene

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

World leaders have come and gone. Now lower level ministers at COP27 in Egypt must wrestle with the thorniest issues dividing rich and poor nations on the climate crisis in order to craft an agreement. 

Why it matters: The decisions made in Sharm el-Sheikh could help determine whether the Paris warming limit of 1.5°C permanently fades into the distance, or if nations commit to sweeping actions to keep it alive. 

Driving the news: The crucial second week of the summit comes as a new scientific report reveals the world is still headed in the wrong direction on fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. 

Emissions are likely to reach an all-time high this year, with a 1% increase over last year, according to the Global Carbon Project, an international research effort.  

Zoom in: “I can’t say that I see much optimism out of these numbers,”  Glen Peters, a study coauthor and a researcher at CICERO in Oslo, told Axios. 

"There's not even a hint of a decrease at least in the last 10 years." 

Global fossil CO2 emissions are now more than 5% above 2015 levels when the Paris Agreement was struck, he said.

Taking into account historical emissions, the Global Carbon Budget analyzes how much more CO2 countries could emit before the Paris Agreement's temperature targets are exceeded.

Threat level: The findings are stark, concluding that at current emissions rates, the world has just nine years before exceeding the budget for the 1.5-degree warming target, and 30 years for the 2-degree target.

To meet a midcentury net-zero goal, emissions would need to steadily decline annually by about the same margin as they did during the pandemic year of 2019, the study notes.

The intrigue: It is against this backdrop that diplomats must negotiate an offramp away from an increasingly dystopian future. Every single word will be contested by bleary-eyed ministers, and the talks are already running behind. 

“There has not been a huge amount of progress on the negotiations themselves,” Alex Scott of E3G, told Axios from Egypt. She said the leaders’ summit at COP27 showed support for accelerating climate action but lacked many new commitments. 

State of play: Potential flash points around the summit text include whether and how the Paris targets are incorporated, particularly the 1.5°C goal. 

There's also the potential mention, as at COP26, of the need to cut fossil fuel use. Coal, the most carbon-intensive power source, may be singled out. 

The matter of climate damages also looms large, with the wild card of whether an agreement commits countries to establishing a new funding mechanism. 

Also, Scott said many countries are pushing for more details and greater funding to help developing nations adapt to the effects of climate change. 

"The adaptation finance point is really one to watch," she said. 

Between the lines: An external factor that may shape the COP27 outcome is the G20 meeting currently underway in Bali, Indonesia. The leaders of China and India are present there, after skipping COP27.

The interaction between the two confabs introduces more volatility to the COP27 dynamics, and could affect instructions given to government ministers for the final text, Scott said. 

Emissions tracking at all-time high as leaders meet at COP27

Climate negotiators are wrestling with the toughest challenges that divide rich and poor nations.

Illustration of the COP27 logo next to smoke stacks and abstract shapes. 

COP27

Climate change

Breaking climate science and policy coverage as extreme weather events reshape communities. Keep tabs on the race to a low carbon economy, which may be bumpy as governments, climate tech startups and major oil and gas companies race to find their niche amid the changing energy landscape.

Energy & Climate

China

Axios China

BALI, Indonesia — President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed during a meeting today to establish regular channels of communication between key officials and to carefully manage the U.S.-China relationship going forward.

Why it matters: The meeting, held on the sidelines of the G20 summit, marked the first time the two leaders have met since Biden became president and seems to have met the Biden administration's stated goal of establishing guardrails to responsibly manage competition between the two superpowers.

What they're saying: The two leaders "agreed to empower key senior officials to maintain communication and deepen constructive efforts on these and other issues," according to the White House readout. 

"We're going to compete vigorously but we are not looking for conflict," Biden said in a Monday evening press conference, adding they had "an open and candid conversation" about their respective intentions and our priorities. 

Xi made a surprisingly candid admission that the state of U.S.-China relations was "not what the international community expects from us," according to the readout from the meeting provided by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that the relationship needs to be put "on an upward trajectory."

Details: Biden emphasized that America's one-China policy — officially not taking a public position on if the U.S. would come to Taiwan's defense — has not changed, despite his repeated claims over the past year that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in case of attack from China. 

Between the lines: "This is a positive sign that after almost two years in which the two sides have mostly talked past each other and focused on strengthening their respective negotiating hands that they are now ready to engage each other on a number of issues," said Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst at International Crisis Group.

Biden and Xi say U.S. and China should compete "responsibly"

The two leaders agreed to establish regular channels of communication between key officials.

Axios

Monday's top stories

FBI opens investigation into killing of Palestinian American Shireen Abu Akleh

UN General Assembly calls for Russia to pay Ukraine war reparations

Marjorie Taylor Greene breaks with far-right allies on McCarthy challenge

Emissions tracking at all-time high as leaders meet at COP27

Biden and Xi say U.S. and China should compete "responsibly"

The week the crypto dream died

Buildings are banning e-bikes amid deadly battery fires

The human race at 8 billion

John Kelly says Trump wanted to "get the IRS on" James Comey

Black Panther sequel brings momentum back to the box office

Iran court sentences protester to death