Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Axios he is concerned about recent threats by senior U.S. Republican lawmakers to cut aid to Ukraine if they win control of the House in next month's U.S. midterm elections.
Why it matters: Any U.S. cuts to Ukraine aid would deal a significant blow to Kyiv and could alter the course of the war.
The U.S. Treasury issued new sanctions on Wednesday against a slate of Iranian individuals and two companies in connection to the government's ongoing crackdown on protests over the death of Mahsa Amini and efforts to suppress digital freedom in the country.
Why it matters: The sanctions were issued on the 40th day since Amini's death, a significant day in Shiite Islam that marks the end of the traditional mourning period.
Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the start of annual drills of Russia's strategic nuclear forces on Wednesday, which involved the use of nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.
Why it matters: The routine exercises come amid heightened fears concerning Russia's claims that Ukraine plans to detonate a "dirty bomb" on its own territory.
Nearly all of the children on earth will experience more frequent heat waves by 2050 as the earth's climate crisis ramps up, according to a new UNICEF report.
Why it matters: Heat waves pose a threat to children because they are less capable of regulating their body temperatures than adults.
Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (ABZ) during a recent trip to Israel expressed concerns to opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu about the possibility of ultra-right extremists being included in a new government if he wins the upcoming elections, threesources briefed on the meeting told Axios.
Why it matters: Netanyahu's relationship with ABZ dates back to 2012. Eight years later, they signed a peace treaty between the two countries. It's seen as Netanyahu's biggest political achievement as prime minister.
Fossil fuel "addiction" is rapidly worsening climate change as the related effects of extreme weather leave 98 million people facing severe food insecurity and heat-related deaths surge, a new report warns.
The big picture: The burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil and natural gas that cause toxic air pollution kills some 11,800 Americans and about 1.2 million people globally every year, according to the report, published in the medical journal The Lancet Tuesday ahead of next month's UN Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.
President Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed policy on Russia, Ukraine, China and outstanding issues over Northern Ireland and the European Union Tuesday, the White House said.
Driving the news: In their first call since Sunak became prime minister, the leaders "discussed their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the need to maintain momentum toward reaching a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol," per a White House readout.
The gunman who killed two people at a St. Louis high school Monday had an AR-15-style rifle and what appeared to be more than 600 rounds of ammunition, Police Commissioner Michael Sack said Tuesday.
Driving the news: Authorities also found a handwritten note from the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, in which he spoke about conducting the school shooting, Sack said.
Virgin Australia is offering travelers the chance to turn the dreaded middle seat into a lottery ticket.
Driving the news: The airline announced the launch of the “Middle Seat Lottery” Monday to transform the “middle seats on the airline’s domestic flights from the least favourite to the most fun and wonderful.”
Two top security officialsassumed powerful positions in a Chinese Communist Partyleadership shuffle at the 20th party congress, which ended on Sunday.
Why it matters: By bringing China's top security chiefs closer to his inner circle, Chinese President Xi Jinping will further centralize his control over the country's already expansive security apparatus, which is aimed at crushing domestic opposition and neutralizing perceived foreign threats.
Poynter's digital literacy project MediaWise is broadening its training to battle online misinformation in Spanish.
Why it matters: Per a Nielsen report last year, Latinos spend more time than other groups on most social media apps and messaging, where poorly sourced information can go viral and Spanish-language misinformation often sits unchallenged.
Billionaire businessman Elon Musk is wielding significant geopolitical power with his global internet Starlink satellites.
Why it matters: Private spacecompanies are meeting — and often exceeding — the capabilities of governments, giving not just technological but also geopolitical power to those who operate them.
Climate change is among Latinos' leading concerns heading into next month’s midterm elections, according to an Axios-Ipsos Latino poll in partnership with Noticias Telemundo.
Why it matters: Latinos in the U.S. are especially affected by the consequences of climate change, with many living in areas prone to heat waves, floods and air pollution.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed tacit criticism about Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for his rhetoric on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his attitude towards Russian President Vladimir Putin during his time as Israel’s prime minister.
Why it matters: There is a chance that Netanyahu's bloc could win a 61-seat majority in the Knesset, which would allow him to form a government less than 18 months after being ousted from office.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai was found guilty by a Hong Kong court of two fraud charges on Tuesday. He's one of the most prominent pro-democracy voices to be prosecuted in the region following sweeping protests in 2019.
Why it matters: The guilty verdict marks a huge loss for press freedoms in Hong Kong, where the government has pushed to stamp out pro-democracy voices after passing a draconian national security law in 2019.
Rishi Sunak formally became the U.K.'s prime minister on Tuesday after King Charles III asked him to form a government.
The big picture: Sunak is the country's first prime minister of color and the third person to hold the office this year. Liz Truss officially resigned after 49 days in office, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.
Five Palestinians were killed and more than 20 wounded in an Israeli raid in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. Among those killed was a commander of a local militia and several of its members.
The big picture: The operation focused on the "Lion's Den" militia, which formed in the old city of Nablus and was responsible for the majority of attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in recent months.
