Axios

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid met on Tuesday in New York to discuss boosting bilateral relations after a long diplomatic crisis between the countries.

Why it matters: It was the first in-person meeting between Erdoğan and an Israeli prime minister since December 2008 when the Turkish leader met then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Ankara.

The Biden administration on Tuesday nominated Lynne Tracy, the current U.S. ambassador to Armenia, to become the next ambassador to Russia.

Driving the news: The move follows retiring Ambassador John Sullivan's abrupt departure from the post earlier this month following a three year term in the role.

The Kremlin on Tuesday paved the way for referendums, described by Ukraine as "sham" votes, in separatist territories controlled by Russia that could lead to the annexation of nearly 15% of Ukraine.

The big picture: The planned votes come after Russia suffered one of its biggest setbacks of the war when Ukrainian forces started a lightning counter-offensive earlier this month.

Experts are encouraged by the latest research showing a drastic drop in child poverty — which affects Latinos at much higher rates non-Hispanic white kids — but say key programs must be extended.

The big picture: Overall childhood poverty has been falling for decades and hit a record low in 2021, largely due to pandemic safety net programs like the extended child tax credit. But the end of that and of stimulus checks and free school meals threaten recent gains, experts say.

Once skeptical of America's increasingly hostile stance toward China, the EU and its member states are adopting a cascade of new measures that bring their policies closer in line with those of the United States.

Why it matters: Beijing's push for Europe to adopt "strategic autonomy" from the United States — in the hope the EU would maintain warmer ties with China — now looks like a moot point.

Kicking off high-level week of the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday the "world is in big trouble" as the international community remains "gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction" amid a cascade of humanitarian, security and political crises.

Why it matters: The war in Ukraine is expected to overshadow other new and protracted crises as world leaders meet at this year's UNGA. Guterres in his speech urged leaders to not lose sight of the fact that other "conflicts and humanitarian crises are spreading — often far from the spotlight."

NEW YORK — The war in Ukraine is set to dominate this week's UN General Assembly meeting, overshadowing other global dilemmas like food security, climate change and other political and humanitarian crises around the world.

Why it matters: The Biden administration is intent on keeping up the pressure on Moscow, but some developing countries and aid groups have expressed concern that diplomatic skirmishes over the war will undermine a key opportunity to address other crises that deserve attention.

High-level week at the UN General Assembly kicks off Tuesday morning with speeches from 33 world leaders — but not President Biden. He forfeited the prime U.S. speaking slot (always second behind Brazil) to travel back from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

What to watch: Tuesday's speakers include President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, and President Emmanuel Macron of France. Biden will speak Wednesday.

A Texas sheriff announced Monday evening he's opened a criminal investigation into flights Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) arranged last week that took some 50 Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Driving the news: DeSantis insists the flights were voluntary. But the Bexar County sheriff's office said in an emailed statement that it "has opened an investigation into the migrants that were lured from the Migrant Resource Center" in the county, where San Antonio is located.

American border officials have had over 2 million encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border so far this fiscal year — setting a new record after sustained surges in migration, according to the latest Customs and Border Protection data.

Why it matters: The large numbers of migrants at the southern border continues to be a logistical, humanitarian and political challenge for the Biden administration. Republicans have pounced on the issue, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently flying migrants and asylum seekers to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

India's cheetah population died out 70 years ago. As of Saturday, they're back.

How it happened: Namibia, which is home to a third of the world's remaining 7,000 cheetahs, sent an initial eight cats to mark Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. More will soon be on the way.

Ecuador's interests are best served by "balanced" relations with the world's two superpowers, President Guillermo Lasso told Axios in a wide-ranging interview Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Flashback: One year ago, Lasso's ambassador to Washington told Axios that U.S. indifference was forcing Ecuador and other Latin American countries to turn to Beijing. "China is waiting, saying, ‘We’re here. We’re giving you money.’ They want control of course, but they don’t say that," Ambassador Ivonne Baki had said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she delivered a "clear message of America's commitment to Armenia" on Monday following her visit to the country over the weekend.

Why it matters: During the trip, which came days after Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Armenia, Pelosi condemned Azerbaijan's "illegal and deadly" attack on the country's sovereign borders.