Nearly one-third of Ukraine's population have been displaced since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion six months ago, according to United Nations refugee agency data.
State of play: More than 6.6 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded across Europe and about the same number are displaced inside Ukraine.
The British special envoy for Syriatold Israeli officials during a visit to Jerusalem several weeks ago that the Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military targets is "probably the only thing that works in Syria," Israeli Foreign Ministry officials briefed on the meetings told Axios.
The big picture: The Israeli air force in recent years conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against targets mostly connected to Iran and Hezbollah.
The U.S. has been pressing the Israeligovernment to uphold a commitment it made to President Biden to ease travel delays for Palestinians across the main border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, three senior Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Biden announced during his visit to the region last month that Israel had agreed to facilitate 24/7 access for Palestinians to the Allenby Bridge by Sept. 30. But senior Israeli officials expect to miss that deadline.
The deep political deadlock in Iraq has entered its 10th month with no solution in sight and fears there could be a violent escalation.
Why it matters: Many are concerned the political crisis — the longest in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein — will lead to a flare-up of armed conflict on the streets between supporters of the different parties.
The Biden administration has urged the Palestinian Authority not to pursue a vote at the UN Security Council on gaining full UN membership, stressing it will likely veto any such move, U.S. and Palestinian sources said.
Driving the news: The Palestinian Authority announced several weeks ago it will renew its push to gain full UN membership during the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday that the Biden administration sent its response to Iran's comments on the EU draft agreement that would restore the Iran nuclear deal.
Why it matters: The U.S. move is another step toward a deal, though there are still gaps between the parties on several issues. It's not clear whether there will be another round of negotiations as a result of the U.S. response.
Fighting erupted in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region on Wednesday between government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, ending a months-long ceasefire.
Driving the news: Both sides blamed each other for the outbreak in fighting, with each saying the other had attacked first, Reuters reported.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, which is both Ukraine's Independence Day and the six-month mark since Russia's invasion began. He was pictured walking through the city alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Why it matters: The show of support comes as Zelensky has warned against public gatherings to mark the holiday because of the risk of "Russian provocations and brutal strikes." Johnson, who is in his final days as prime minister, has been a vocal advocate of arming and supporting Ukraine.
Ukrainians on Wednesday observed both the six month mark since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion as well as the 31st anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union.
The big picture: Earlier this week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned against large gatherings on Independence Day in anticipation of possible Russian attacks.
Just over half of the people in the U.S. believe it should continue to support Ukraine until the complete withdrawal of Russian troops, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Why it matters: Wednesday marks six months since the start of the war, with Russia currently occupying one-fifth of Ukraine.
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced that the U.S. will provide Ukraine with nearly $3 billion in additional military aid as Ukraine marked six months since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion as well as its independence day.
Why it matters: Although earlier aid packages focused on fulfilling Ukraine's immediate needs for weapons and ammunition, this package is intended to ensure Ukraine's medium- to long-term defense capabilities, funding contracts for weapons and equipment that may not be used for one to two years, AP reported.
Some countries are showing stronger support for Taiwan in response to China's growing pressure on the self-governing island.
Why it matters: Beijing's show of force against Taiwan in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit shocked many democratic governments and seems to have backfired — at least for now — by pushing some countries closer to the island.
China is using “wolf warrior” diplomats, foreign and private media, and social media influencers to "flood" online spaces and manipulate the global narrative on Xinjiang, the State Department warns in a new report.
Why it matters: The report, set to be published Wednesday, highlights what the Biden administration says is a large-scale coordinated scheme by Chinese government-directed or affiliated actors to "dominate global discourse on Xinjiang" and "discredit independent sources reporting" on the treatment of ethnic Uyghurs in the region.
When Vladimir Putin began his invasion six months ago, Ukrainians defiantly tallied each night their defenses had held. Now, Ukraine and its western backers are contemplating how far ahead the fighting could still stretch.
The big picture: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he would not agree to freeze the conflict where it stands, with Russia occupying one-fifth of his country. Putin too seems intent on pressing on despite his own enormous losses.
Ukraine has enlisted a stable of American and European PR firms to lure business back to the war-torn nation, even as Russian forces continue to occupy swathes of territory in the east and south.
Why it matters: Russia's invasion — which began exactly six months ago Tuesday — has decimated the Ukrainian economy, causing over $110 billion in direct damage and billions more in dried-up foreign investment, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.
The U.S. military said it launched "precision airstrikes" against Iranian-backed groups in eastern Syria early Wednesday.
Driving the news: President Biden directed the strikes in Deir ez-Zor, which "targeted infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
