AMMAN — Jordan is bracing for some tough times ahead as it prepares to deal with a new Israeli right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Why it matters: Jordan will have to balance its existing strategic water, gas and energy deals with Israel against possible scenarios in which the next Israeli government takes steps against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and against Jerusalem’s holy sites.
Israel's outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday that Israel has the capability to conduct a military operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Why it matters: Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who replaced Benjamin Netanyahu after more than 12 years in power, said that after he assumed office, he discovered “total neglect” when it came to preparing an Israeli military option against Iran.
The Biden administration is closely watching to see who incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu names as Israel'sdefense minister, with some U.S. officials telling Axios they are concerned a politician from a Jewish supremacist party will be appointed to the post.
Why it matters: The minister of defense is the most powerful position in the Israeli government after the prime minister and manages the security relationship with the United States.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected a U.S. request to reconsider pushing for a UN resolution that asks the International Court of Justice to issue a legal opinion on whether the Israeli occupation of the West Bank constitutes a de facto annexation, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The move at the UN won’t have any immediate practical ramifications, but as a new hardline, right-wing Israeli government prepares to take office, it is likely to escalate tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered troops to withdraw to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River on Wednesday, effectively surrendering the key southern city of Kherson.
Why it matters: Kherson was the only provincial capital captured by Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February. Its liberation would represent a remarkable victory for Ukrainian forces.
A coalition of groups using satellite observations, artificial intelligence and machine learning revealed on Wednesday the most comprehensive facility-level accounting of global carbon emissions.
Why it matters: The information can be used by regulators, journalists and investors to put pressure on governments and corporations to cut their emissions.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Nepal's western district of Doti, triggering tremors as far away as India's capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The big picture: Authorities said the quake killed four children and two adults in Doti, as rescuers dug through the rubble to search for survivors in the Himalayan nation, per Reuters.
Why it matters: The 32-year-old WNBA player — whose case has received significant international attention — isbeing transferred to a prison camp within Russia's penal system, where reports of sexual violence, unsanitary conditions and even torture have surfaced in recent years.
The White House denounced WNBA star Brittney Griner's transfer to a penal colony in Russia at a so-far undisclosed location on Wednesday morning.
Details: The transfer process began on Friday, a day after she met with U.S. embassy officials, her attorneys said, per ESPN, which first reported the news.
