The fighting in Sudan is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crises in the northeast African country and the nations taking in large numbers of refugees fleeing the conflict — all at a time when UN aid plans for those countries are severely underfunded.
Driving the news: Less than 14% of the UN humanitarian response plans for Sudan and Chad are funded. Just 24.8% of the response plan for South Sudan has the needed funds.
Why it matters: DeSantis, considered Trump's top rival for the GOP nomination, is expected to announce his presidential exploratory committee in the coming weeks.
The U.S. is imposing sanctions on the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the intelligence arm of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), plus four IRGC leaders, for their roles in the wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens, senior U.S. officials told reporters on Thursday.
Why it matters: The officials said this was the first of multiple rounds of sanctions in the works to punish and deter those who would hold Americans hostage. The practical implications of this step are unclear as both organizations are already under U.S. sanctions.
The Koch-backed LIBRE Initiative named a George W. Bush administration alum its new CEO as the group eyes growing its reach with Latinos, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The move by the libertarian-leaning organization comes as both parties vie for Latino voters, especially as the 2024 election gears up.
Why it matters: According to a new scientific analysis, climate change sparked by human emissions are exacerbating the region's arid conditions, as well as the suffering of tens of millions of people.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used his speech in Jerusalem on Thursday to emphasize his pro-Israel credentials ahead of his expected bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
Why it matters: This is DeSantis’ fourth visit to Israel. His office branded the four-leg trip as an "international trade mission," but it's also been an opportunity for DeSantis to spotlight his foreign policy and diplomatic credentials as a likely presidential hopeful.
Fugees rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel was convicted Wednesday for his role in a multibillion-dollar scheme to ransack Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB.
The big picture: After a trialfeaturing high-profile witnesses including Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Michel was found guilty on 10 counts — including conspiracy, acting as an agent of a foreign government and witness tampering.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday that he could face life in prison on new charges that Russian authorities have leveled against him.
Why it matters: Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critics, is already serving combined prison sentences of more than 11 years.
Several UN agencies and international aid groups issued a series of dire warnings this week as the humanitarian situation in Sudan worsened amid 11 days of fighting between the Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary group for control of the country.
The big picture: More than 450 people have been killed and at least 4,072 people have been injured since the fighting between the Sudanese military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted. Several hospitals have been forced to close, aid agencies have suspended or significantly scaled back their operations and the country is facing growing shortages of basic supplies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskysaid on Wednesday that he'd had a "long and meaningful call" with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Why it matters: It was the first known call between Xi and Zelensky since Russia invaded Ukraine. Xi has offered himself as a mediator in the conflict, but he made a lengthy state visit to Moscow and has offered diplomatic cover for the invasion.
President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will sign a declaration on nuclear coordination during Yoon's visit to Washington this week in response to "provocations" from North Korea, senior U.S. officials briefed reporters.
Why it matters: North Korea's nuclear breakthroughs and unprecedented increase in missile testing have inflamed debate in South Korea about whether the country can still entrust its security to its nuclear-armed ally in Washington. In the new "Washington Declaration," Biden will announce new measures to coordinate with Seoul and deter Pyongyang, while Yoon will re-commit to non-proliferation.
Driving the news: Biden administration officials did not identify the suspect's name, but said he was a leader of the ISIS Afghanistan chapter known as Islamic State-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, and that he was killed in early April.
