Axios

As European countries moved away from coal and nuclear over the past decade or so, they became increasingly reliant on natural gas imported via pipelines from Russia.

By the numbers: Russia provided around 40% of the EU's gas supply as of 2020 and more than 50% of Germany's.

The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions Thursday against Iranian companies for their involvement in the production and transportation of unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters: The U.S. said last month that Russia received an initial batch of Iran-produced military drones to deploy on the battlefield in Ukraine, which signified deepening ties between the two countries.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96 on Thursday after more than 70 years of leading the United Kingdom and its commonwealth realms.

The big picture: The queen was Britain's longest-serving monarch, having worked with 15 U.K. prime ministers during her tenure. She recently scaled back her duties due to her advanced age.

Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at the age of 96, reigned for seven decades and was the U.K.'s longest-serving monarch.

The big picture: The queen, who saw fifteen prime ministers serve during her reign, had scaled back her public appearances in recent years due to concerns over her age and mobility. Her son Charles, 73, is now the U.K.'s king.

Queen Elizabeth II died at 96 on Thursday, ending her seven-decade rule over the U.K. and its commonwealth realms.

The big picture: She was Britain's longest-serving monarch, becoming the first to mark her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — this year. Her son Charles, 73, is now the U.K.'s king.

Latinas in and around Aspen, Colorado, are increasingly running for — and winning — elected office, a notable trend in the affluent and traditionally white-dominated mountain communities of this battleground state.

Why it matters: Latinos help build and run this area's famous ski resorts. But they've traditionally held little political power.

Members of the royal family gathered in Scotland on Thursday after Buckingham Palace said that doctors were "concerned" about Queen Elizabeth II's health.

Driving the news: The palace said doctors had recommended the Queen "remain under medical supervision" at Balmoral Castle and that the 96-year-old monarch is "comfortable" for the time being.

The Pentagon's acting inspector general told two Republican senators he'll conduct a review regarding a whistleblower's allegations that the Biden administration evacuated and brought to the U.S. hundreds of individuals whose names appeared on a Defense Department watch list, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The nonpartisan watchdog's evaluation could provide new ammunition for GOP lawmakers who have already signaled plans to hold hearings on the administration's controversial Afghanistan exit if they win control of Congress in November.

The European Central Bank announced the largest interest rate hike in the central bank’s 24-year history on Thursday as the eurozone battles record inflation stoked by an energy crisis.

Details: The ECB said it would hike rates by three-quarters of a percentage point, following a smaller — though still historically large — half-point increase in July.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during a visit to Kyiv Thursday that the U.S. will provide $2.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine and 18 other European countries that are "potentially at risk of future Russian aggression."

Why it matters: The new aid comes after Ukraine launched its first major counter-offensive at the end of last month to retake Russian-occupied Kherson in the country's south.

MIXCO, GUATEMALA — Two wide-eyed schoolgirls in uniforms watched in silence from their doorway early one morning last week as armed national police, working in partnership with U.S. officials, raided a neighbor's cinder block home to seize evidence of a fraudulent visa-making operation.

Why it matters: The suspect, working under the alias “Robocop,” was the target of a special group of Guatemala's national police who are trained by U.S. Homeland Security officials to crack down on migrant and drug smuggling, human trafficking, fraud and other crimes that impact American security.

Canadian police said the second suspect in the stabbing deaths of 10 people in the province of Saskatchewan died in custody on Wednesday.

The latest: Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said at a briefing that Myles Sanderson went into "medical distress" following his arrest on Wednesday afternoon and was taken to a local hospital, where he died.