The passing of Queen Elizabeth II — and the ascent of King Charles III to the throne — comes as several Commonwealth nations are re-evaluating their relationship to the British monarchy.
The big picture: Multiple Commonwealth countries — a voluntary association of 56 countries, many of them republics that used to be under British rule — may sever ties with the monarchy over its legacy of colonialism.
Sylvia Mendez has dedicated much of her life to ensuring that the legacy of her parents' landmark school desegregation crusade on her behalf be remembered. But, at the age of 86, she's ready to pass the torch, she told Axios.
Why it matters: Mendez was at the center of the 1947 Mendez v. Westminster case that ended legal school segregation in California and helped set up the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation decision.
A far-right Italian politician's recent social media stunt highlights the continued discrimination and threats Roma people face in Italy and across Europe.
Driving the news: Alessio Di Giulio, a politician in Italy’s far-right League party, posted a video last week with a Roma woman on the streets of Florence, telling voters that if they cast their ballots for the party in elections later this month they’ll “never see her again.”
There's a growing fear that historic, supersized interest rate adjustments simultaneously underway by global central banks will leave a devastating mark on the world economy.
Why it matters: Major economies are enacting a series of escalating rate increases, each trying to quash domestic inflation. But taken together, the risk is a global economic freeze.
The big picture: The pandemic and tight labor market are empowering more workers to organize for better conditions across the country and within new companies, including Starbucks and Amazon.
China's President Xi Jinping met with Russia's leader Vladimir Putin in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit Thursday.
Why it matters: Their first in-person encounter since Russian forces launched their Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine marks a show of diplomatic support for the Russian president after Ukrainian troops forced his forces to retreat from much of Ukraine's northeast, even as Putin acknowledged that Beijing may have "questions and concerns" regarding the war.
Nearly two days of clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan came to an end late Wednesday with the introduction of a ceasefire between the two countries.
Driving the news: The fighting raised fears of another war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, the site of a decades-long dispute.
R&B singer R. Kelly was convicted by a federal jury Wednesday for child pornography and sex abuse charges, per AP.
Driving the news: The monthlong Chicago trial ended with Kelly, 55, found guilty of three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Doha on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Qatar — the first by Sisi since he took office in 2013.
Why it matters: The visit comes as countries in the region continue to seek to decrease tensions after the end of the 2017 Gulf rift that saw Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain impose a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar.
Sven Koopmans, the European Union special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, officially complainedto the Israeli Foreign Ministry that he has not recently gotten high-level meetings in Israel, according to a summary of the meeting Axios obtained.
Why it matters: The EU envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is appointed by the 27 member states of the European Union and reports to representatives in Brussels.
The Biden administrationwantsIsrael and the Palestinian Authority to strengthen their security coordination in order to prevent further escalation in the occupied West Bank, a top State Department official said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The Biden administration is highly concerned that the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank could lead to a serious crisis, including the collapse of the Palestinian Authority.
Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a trip to Central Asia on Wednesday, his first time leaving China since January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why it matters: The trip is aimed at helping Xi shore up his standing as a geopolitical statesman and comes ahead of an October meeting of Communist Party leaders in which Xi is expected to secure a third term in office, per the New York Times.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed a series of proposals to combat Europe's energy crisis during her annual state of the union speech on Wednesday, promising the EU's enduring solidarity with Ukraine.
Why it matters: Previously heavily reliant on natural gas from Russia, the west's sanctions on Russia have drastically upended Europe's energy supply.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit on Wednesday to the northeastern city of Izyum in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, which was recently recaptured from Russian control as part of Ukraine's counter-offensive.
Why it matters: Izyum was a major logistical hub for Russian forces in the north of Ukraine.
