Axios

Ukrainian forces have “almost left” the besieged eastern city of Severodonetsk after weeks of intense fighting, the city’s mayor said Saturday, Reuters reported.

Why it matters: A full retreat from Severodonetsk would be the most significant setback for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion since losing Mariupol, the southern port city, last month. It’s the last remaining major city in the Luhansk region of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control.

Canada’s startup and venture scene undoubtedly continues to grow and mature, but it has to balance its historical strength as an exporter and international collaborator with its desire to bolster the industry at home.

Why it matters: A thriving tech sector is crucial for any country's economic growth, its ability to retain and attract skilled workers and its efforts to avoid overdependence on other nations.

Authorities in Norway are investigating as an act of terrorism a shooting in a nightlife district in Oslo early Saturday morning in which two people were killed and at least 21 injured, according to the BBC.

Driving the news: A 42-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts in connection with the attack that unfolded at three separate locations, including a gay bar.

The U.S. and Iran in the coming days will resume indirect negotiations in an attempt to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after his meeting with Iran's foreign minister in Tehran on Saturday.

Why it matters: The nuclear talks in Vienna paused months ago after the parties reached a deadlock over Iran’s demand that the Biden administration remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from a U.S. terror blacklist.

Google searches for “how to move to Canada from U.S.” surged on Friday following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, according to Google Trends data.

Why it matters: Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in Canada.

With the Friday's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the U.S. joined only three other countries — El Salvador, Nicaragua and Poland — that have rolled back abortion rights since 1994, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

The big picture: Nearly 60 countries have liberalized their abortion laws — though some only incrementally — over the last 25 years.

Many world leaders and international human rights groups condemned Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and effectively ending all federal protections on abortion in the United States. Others, including the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, praised it.

The big picture: With Friday's decision, the U.S. became a global outlier on abortion rights, joining just three other countries that have rolled back abortion access since 1994, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. In the last 25 years, nearly 60 countries have liberalized their abortion laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade could have wide-reaching consequences for reproductive rights worldwide, human rights groups and global leaders warned Friday.

The big picture: The U.S. has joined only three other countries — El Salvador, Nicaragua and Poland — that have rolled back abortion rights since 1994, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Worsening food shortages around the world could lead to a "catastrophe," UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned at a ministerial conference for food security on Friday.

Driving the news: The world is facing an "unprecedented global hunger crisis," Guterres said, adding that the war in Ukraine has exacerbated "problems that have been brewing for years: climate disruption; the COVID-19 pandemic; the deeply unequal recovery."

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's election in March by just 0.7% of the vote highlighted the sharp divisions in Korean society between generations, income levels and, perhaps most starkly, between genders.

Breaking it down: Yoon benefited from deep discontent among young men, winning 59% of men in their 20s vs. just 34% of women in that age group — by far the largest gender gap in any age group.

Toshiba may receive takeover bids that value the Japanese conglomerate at around $22 billion, or a 26% premium to Wednesday's closing value and slightly higher than last year's failed approach from CVC Capital Partners, according to Reuters.

Why it matters: This reflects renewed private equity interest in Japan, after a period of retreat, and also Japan's newfound embrace of private equity after decades of hostility.

SEOUL, South Korea — For the first time on record, polls suggest Koreans now feel more unfavorably toward China than they do toward Japan, a fellow U.S. ally and the country's former colonial ruler.

Why it matters: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office just six weeks ago, has sent early signals that he intends to mend relations with Japan and take a more critical approach to China — just what the Biden administration wants to hear. But for historical reasons in Japan's case and trade considerations in China's, both shifts will be difficult to execute.

Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by shots fired by Israeli soldiers on May 11, the UN human rights body said Friday after concluding its independent investigation into the incident.

Driving the news: "All information we have gathered … is consistent with the finding that the shots that killed Abu Akleh ... came from Israeli security forces and not from indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.

Ukrainian troops will have to withdraw from the besieged eastern city of Severodonetsk, the regional governor said Friday.

Why it matters: The last remaining major city in the Luhansk region of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control has endured weeks of bombardment by Russia's invading forces.