The U.S. and Germany separately announced on Wednesday they would send battle tanks to Ukraine after pressure from NATO allies and Ukraine to supply the advanced armored vehicles as Kyiv prepares for a possible new Russian offensive.
Why it matters: The U.S. decision to supply Abrams M1 tanks and the German announcement on the Leopard 2 tanks is a major boost for Ukraine, which has pleaded with the West for months to send more advanced weaponry as it tries to take back territory from Russia.
RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan last week wasbleakand didn't make much progress, Palestinian officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The meeting's tenor reflects the current low point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. TheU.S. has expressed concern over the Israeli government's policies in the occupied West Bank, and Palestinians have warned the situation is only set to get worse.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday that the Biden administration is concerned about his judicial overhaul plan and the effect it might have on Israel’s democratic institutions, three senior U.S. and Israeli officials with knowledge of the meeting told Axios.
The big picture: When Sullivan prepared for his trip to Jerusalem, the new Israeli government’s judicial plan wasn’t at the top of his priorities for the meeting and many inside the administration didn’t think the U.S. should weigh in on it.
Mass protests. International condemnation. The sacking of a trusted minister. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first month in office has been nothing short of chaotic.
Why it matters: Even before Netanyahu was sworn in, the Biden administration had expressed concern over what the most right-wing government in Israel's history would mean for the Palestinians and U.S.-Israel relations.
The Biden administration asked Israel for the old Hawk anti-aircraft missiles it has in storage in order to transfer them to Ukraine, three Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Israel has so far rejected most U.S. and Ukrainian requests to provide advanced and defensive weaponry to Ukraine over concerns that such a move could create tensions with Russia and harm Israeli security interests in Syria.
GAUTENG, South Africa — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced a new joint U.S. – South African task force on wildlife trafficking to "follow the money" from poaching and then work to seize proceeds from any illegal sales.
Why it matters: Yellen used the announcement to emphasize the central theme of her 10-day trip: working closely with American institutions is the best way for African countries to grow their economies and improve living standards.
Pope Francis in an interview with AP published Wednesday called laws that criminalize homosexuality "unjust."
Why it matters: The pope's remarks build on his earlier expressions of support for the LGBTQ community, which has traditionally been marginalized by the church.
Anti-government protests in Peru are entering their second month, with growing concern among human rights groups and political observers that the deadly police crackdown on demonstrators is leading to democratic backsliding in the country.
State of play: About60 people have died and more than 700 have been injured in the past month as protests have spread from rural areas to all over the nation.
The Washington Post slammed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday after he downplayed slain columnist Jamal Khashoggi's credentials as a journalist, calling Pompeo's remarks "vile falsehoods."
Driving the news: In his new memoir, "Never Give An Inch," published Tuesday, Pompeo criticized the media’s coverage of Khashoggi’s brutal murder at the hands of Saudi Arabia.
From press freedom to the judicial system, Beijing is seeking to erode the traditional political rights that once made Hong Kong the only free Chinese city.
The big picture: Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has already been crushed, but the city's institutions are not yet as compliant as those in mainland China.
TAIPEI, Taiwan —Fewer and fewer Chinese Muslims in Taiwan practice the religion of their ancestors. The grandson of a famous Chinese Muslim general is trying to keep the faith alive.
The big picture: Chinese Muslim communities in Taiwan are small and dispersed, which can make it difficult to transmit their traditions across generations. But a recent wave of migrants from southeast Asia have infused new vitality into Islamic life in Taiwan.
China's shrinking population highlights the need for the country to build a more efficient and robust workforce, but analysts tell Axios that it won't be an easy task.
Why it matters: China's nearly 1 billion working-age population already peaked in 2014 and has dipped in the last few years. By 2100, China is projected to have a workforce size of less than 400 million, according to UN data last July. Harnessing the potential of existing workers will be key to maintaining economic productivity, experts say.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman on Tuesday and committed to maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem, according to a senior Israeli official.
Why it matters: It was Netanyahu's first foreign trip since he returned to the prime minister post a month ago. It was also the first meeting between the two leaders, whose relationship had been strained when Netanyahu was last in power, since June 2018.
Several high-profile Ukrainian officials were fired or resigned on Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to contain allegations of corruption.
Why it matters: The shakeup, the government's largest since the start of the war last February, comes at a critical moment as Western nations debate whether to send tanks to Ukraine in accordance with requests from Kyiv.
The eastern Horn of Africa just saw an unprecedented fifth straight failed rainy season on record, making it the longest and most severe drought in 70 years of precipitation data.
The region is likely headed for a sixth poor rainy season this spring, a new forecast warns.
Why it matters: The drought has tipped the region, which encompasses much of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, into widespread severe food insecurity. It has also driven Somalia to the brink of famine.
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" breakout star Tenoch Huerta called out colorism in the film and television industry during an event at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this past weekend.
Details: Huerta, who made the remarks at a Latinx House event, said Latinos with lighter complexions are cast more often than actors with darker complexions, like him.
Every January, members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists update the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic tracker of the world's proximity to total human-caused destruction.
While the Doomsday Clock was first used to represent the danger posed by nuclear weapons, it has since evolved to take into account the risks posed by climate change, bioweapons, and disinformation.
