Sesame Street's decades-long presence on both sides of the border has come full circle with a Mexican American executive producer at the helm for its new season.
Why it matters: Sal Perez is the first Latino to serve in that role, although people of color have had a huge influence for years. The show is in production for its 53rd season.
Russia and Belarus launched their largest joint military exercises ever on Thursday, a day after six Russian warships arrived in Crimea for naval drills that Ukraine says will paralyze commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Why it matters: U.S. officials believe that Russia may use the exercises inside Belarus as cover to attack Ukraine from the north. Ukraine's foreign minister slammed the Black Sea maneuvers as "unprecedented" and a tactic of Russia's "hybrid war" designed to blockade Ukraine's southern ports.
Justin Schoenefeld, Ashley Caldwell and Chris Lillis won gold in mixed team aerial freestyle skiing for Team USA during the Beijing Winter Olympics on Thursday, the country's first win in an aerials event since 1998.
By the numbers: The team scored a total score of 338.34, beating out China and third-place Canada for the long-awaited gold. It was the third gold medal the U.S. won on Thursday in Beijing.
The big picture: The 22-year-old was given a standing ovation at Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium after his free skate, in which he pulled off all five of his quads, performing to a medley from the "Rocket Man" movie soundtrack.
Canada's transport minister said Wednesday that vaccine mandate protests disrupting a key U.S.-Canada border crossing this week are hurting supply chains, as nearby auto factories began halting production.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined a plan Wednesday to end England's remaining domestic coronavirus restrictions — including the requirement to self-isolate after testing positive — later this month.
Why it matters: Though COVID-19 cases have fallen since January, they remain "relatively high," CNN reported.
The White House last Friday held an interagency meeting to discuss the possibility of redesignating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, two sources briefed on the issue told me.
The big picture: Less than a month after he assumed office, Biden rolled back the Trump administration’s designation of the Houthi rebels, arguing it hampered humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people.
A series of stories in an Israeli newspaper about alleged systematic illegal cyber spying by the police against innocent citizens has rattled the Israeli political system.
Why it matters: The police denied almost all of the press reports, but the public uproar could lead to the establishment of an independent national committee of inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge.
The Israeli government recently notified the State Department it wouldn’t oppose a U.S. return to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Israeli and U.S. officials told me.
Why it matters: The new Israeli position paves the way for Congress to vote on the allocation of the more than $500 million needed to pay the U.S. debt to UNSECO and return as a full member.
Israeli government experts believe that a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran will set the amount of time Tehran needs to produce the amount of highly enriched uranium needed for a nuclear bomb to four to six months, a senior Israeli official told me.
Why it matters: This assessment is shorter than the six to nine month breakout time the Biden administration experts calculated, per two Israeli officials familiar with strategic consultations between the U.S. and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged President Biden during a phone call on Sunday not to return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying "nothing will happen if you don't sign it," an Israeli official told me.
Why it matters: A possible U.S. return to the nuclear deal is the biggest point of tension between the Israeli government and the Biden administration.
The Czech Republic eased its coronavirus restrictions Wednesday by canceling a requirement for people to show proof of vaccination to attend public events, bars or restaurants or use certain services, according to AP.
Why it matters: Several European nations have recently eased or ended their COVID restrictions. The moves signal that these countries believe a potential bump in cases from opening back up is unlikely to jeopardize their health services, despite elevated — though rapidly falling — case numbers from the Omicron variant.
Lindsey Jacobellis won the women's snowboard cross on Wednesday to earn the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal of the 2022 Beijing Games.
The big picture: The 36-year-old from Connecticut is the most decorated snowboard cross athlete ever, but this is her first Olympic gold. She's also the oldest Olympian to win a snowboarding medal, NBC Sports notes.
The big picture: The 24-year-old's achievement is all the more remarkable, given he nearly died in a 2016 car crash in rural Idaho that severely injured his brain. He also had broken multiple bones and was placed in a medically induced coma for three days.
A "legal issue" has delayed the medal ceremony for the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee and International Skating Union announced on Wednesday.
The intrigue: No details were immediately given as to why Tuesday's scheduled ceremony for the Russian Olympic Committee team's gold, Team USA's silver and Japan's bronze medals did not take place.
Protests over Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandates shut down the Ambassador Bridge Tuesday, as long-haul trucks and smaller vehicles blocked traffic destined for Canada, officials said.
Why it matters: The bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Canada, is one of the busiest crossings between Canada and the U.S. and a key link for the automobile industry.
After shuttling from Moscow to Kyiv this week, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a set of vague, failed ceasefire agreements signed by Russia and Ukraine seven years ago are "the only path forward" to de-escalating the current crisis.
Why it matters: The Minsk Accords are, in principle, supported by Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany and the U.S. Bridging massive gaps between how each side interprets Minsk has been impossible up to now — yet it's increasingly viewed as the best chance to stave off a catastrophic war in Europe.
