Axios

President Biden said Friday that the U.S. does not know where at least three missing Americans are in Ukraine, and stressed that other Americans should not travel to the country during Russia's ongoing, unprovoked invasion.

Driving the news: The Department of State confirmed Thursday that at least three Americans who traveled to Ukraine to assist the country's military effort against Russia have gone missing.

Americans aren't the only ones unhappy with how things are going. Consumer sentiment around the globe hasn't been this bad since 2009, when the world was mired in a historic recession.

Why it matters: Rising prices are pressuring household budgets and pushing down consumer confidence in a slew of nations, a sign that households may tighten their belts and spending will dry up.

The British government on Friday approved an extradition order to hand over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to American authorities.

Why it matters: The decision brings the decadelong legal fight over Assange's extradition closer to an end — but WikiLeaks said it would appeal and has 14 days to do so.

The European Union's executive arm on Friday recommended Ukraine for candidate status a day after key European leaders endorsed the plan on a visit to Kyiv, AP reports.

Why it matters: The recommendation is the first step in what could be a long process for Ukraine to join the bloc. Moving forward with the accession process requires a unanimous vote of the 27 member states, per AP.

One in three senators is urging the Pentagon not to downgrade the post of the official in charge of security coordination with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: This comes after Axios contributing correspondent Barak Ravid first reported that the Pentagon is considering downgrading the post of the official from the rank of three-star general to that of a colonel to reduce the number of generals and admirals in accordance with the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

Evidence from Mariupol indicates "serious" and "gross violations" of international humanitarian and humans rights laws occurred during the battle for the city and the remaining residents now face a "dire" situation, a top UN official warned Thursday.

Driving the news: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva residents have limited access to basic utilities and services including medical care and "risks of infectious disease, including cholera are being reported" in the Russian-occupied port city.

A third American who traveled to Ukraine during Russia's military invasion appears to have gone missing, the State Department confirms.

The big picture: The families of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, and Alexander Drueke, 39, said Wednesday that the two U.S. veterans from Alabama had gone missing in Ukraine. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a briefing Thursday that there were "reports of one additional American whose whereabouts are unknown."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with Politico Thursday that he raises LGBTQ+ rights in meetings with Saudi officials "invariably, in every conversation," but stood by President Biden's planned July visit to Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters: The kingdom has criminalized same-sex sexual activity, which can carry the death penalty, and sets a range of severe restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights.

A new poll of nine big countries finds a strong preference for the U.S., rather than China, to be the leading superpower.

Why it matters: The Eurasia Group Foundation (EGF) poll is the latest signal that many around the world are viewing China's rise with trepidation.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday unveiled new sanctions against a network of Iranian petrochemical producers, as well as front companies in China and the United Arab Emirates that help support the brokering of international sales of Iranian petrochemicals.

Driving the news: The new sanctions come as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have hit a stalemate.

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv Thursday and expressed support for granting Ukraine candidate status for accession to the European Union.

Why it matters: Zelensky this week urged Western countries to quickly deliver more arms as Ukraine attempts to fend off Russian forces in the country's east.

A fisherman confessed to the killing of missing British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and led police to a site with human remains, Brazilian police said Wednesday, per AP.

Driving the news: The grim development came 10 days after the pair went missing, sparking a search that involved the police, army and navy, per the BBC.

The Netherlands' security service said Thursday it uncovered a plot by a member of Russia's military intelligence service to use a false identity to infiltrate the International Criminal Court (ICC) through an internship.

Why it matters: Netherland's security service said the man would have had access to the headquarters and systems of the ICC, which is investigating war crimes committed during Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Federal prosecutors in New York have moved to seize more than $5.3 million from the U.S. bank account of sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, according to a court document filed Wednesday.

Driving the news: The seizure relates to Malofeyev's indictment in early April by the Department of Justice, which announced at the time that it would seek to seize "millions of dollars from a U.S. financial institution" as proceeds traceable to the violations.

A senior leader of the Islamic State militant group has been captured in Syria during a U.S.-led coalition raid, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Driving the news: "The detained individual was assessed to be an experienced bomb maker and facilitator who became one of the group's top leaders in Syria," per a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, which noted no civilian or military member was harmed during the operation.

There are now a record 100 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes, according to the U.N.

The big picture: That number — which represents more than the total population of France, Turkey or Vietnam — means 1 in every 78 people on earth has been forcibly displaced. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated the crisis.