Why it matters: Religion has long been a powerful force in society, touching politics, art and daily life. The rise of nonbelievers and people with no religious affiliation is diminishing its influence.
Jailed Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her fight against women's oppression and her championing of human rights.
The big picture: The prize also "recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who... have demonstrated against the theocratic regime's policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women," including those who participated in massive protests against the death of Mahsa Amini in Iranian police custody last year, the committee said.
The warning from Sudan is dire: Nearly six months of war have created a deepening health crisis that could lead to hundreds — if not thousands — of more deaths if the fighting does not end.
The big picture: The near-total collapse of Sudan's health system underscores how the consequences of war extend far beyond the fighting — often leading to more suffering and devastation that will likely continue long after a conflict ends. That's especially true in vulnerable countries, where already strained health systems quickly buckle when fighting breaks out.
Prosecutors in Venezuela issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Juan Guaidó, the former opposition leader who's exiled in the U.S., and asked Interpol to issue a red notice.
State of play: Guaidó, who was once recognized by the U.S. and dozens of other countries as Venezuela's legitimate president, said the "accusations of the Maduro Dictatorship" of treason, usurpation of functions, money laundering and association with a view to committing a crime were "false."
Hollywood writers with disabilities say the deal to end the 148-day writers' strike could help address specific issues that impact them the most.
The big picture: Roughly 20% of Americans live with a disability, yet less than 1% of Hollywood writers are disabled, according to the Inevitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates and provides fellowships for writers with disabilities.
Joan Baez, a Mexican American counterculture folk singer who participated in some of the most critical moments of the Civil Rights Movement, is the subject of a personal and revealing newdocumentary.
The big picture: Baez, 82, has rarely opened up about her family, her tumultuous relationship with Bob Dylan, or mental health challenges. The film is scheduled to be released in select New York theaters Friday and elsewhere on Oct. 13.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R–Iowa) will travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the next few days heading a bipartisan congressional delegation, her office told Axios.
Why it matters: Ernst's trip to the Middle East comes amid a push by the White House to get a mega-deal with Saudi Arabia and Israel in the next few months before the presidential elections consume President Biden's agenda.
