The UN Security Council is expected to meet on Friday to discuss the war in Gaza after Secretary-General António Guterres in a rare move formally urged the 15-member council to "use all of its influence" to prevent "a humanitarian catastrophe" in the enclave.
The big picture: It is the first time Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter since being appointed secretary-general in 2017. The rule allows the UN leader to bring any matter he believes threatens "international peace and security" to the Security Council. Guterres on Wednesday repeated his call for a "humanitarian ceasefire."
The Department of Justice has filed war crime charges against four Russia-affiliated military personnel, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday.
Why it matters: The charges are the first ever filed under the U.S. war crimes statute and an "important step toward accountability" for Russia's war in Ukraine, Garland said.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julían Castro announced on Wednesday that he is taking the helm of a California foundation focused on empowering Latinos.
Why it matters: Castro, who served as the youngest member of former President Obama's Cabinet, says he plans to give the Latino Community Foundation a national footprint and aims to improve civic engagement and economic well-being for Latinos all over the U.S.
All crew members aboard the U.S. military Osprey aircraft that crashed off the coast of Japan last week have died, the Air Force said Tuesday.
Driving the news: The aircraft was carrying eight passengers when it crashed near Japan's southern Yakushima island, in what was the latest in a series of fatal incidents in recent years involving the Osprey.
This story is part of a series supported by the Pulitzer Center.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — A rare glimpse inside a Chinese service center in Dar es Salaam reveals a dual strategy for Beijing: helping citizens abroad while replicating the tools China uses elsewhere to keep tabs on them.
Why it matters: The center and dozens of others around the world illustrate the long arm of Beijing's influence. They operate under the auspices of a Chinese Communist Party bureau tasked with amplifying political support for the party and marginalizing dissent, raising concerns about the CCP's authoritarian reach into overseas Chinese communities, analysts say.
President Biden on Tuesday had strong words of condemnation for Hamas' treatment of women hostages and on the terror group's refusal to release them.
The big picture: Negotiations over extending a ceasefire collapsed Friday, after Hamas refused to free 10 Israeli women and offered instead to discuss releasing elderly men.
Israel is showing more willingness to discuss plans for Gaza after the war, according to two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of talks this week between the Israeli government and the Biden administration.
Why it matters: President Biden's team has been pressing Israel since the early stages of the war to make a plan for what will happen in Gaza after the conflict that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and has resulted in more than 15,000 deaths in Gaza.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Former Vice President Al Gore railed against COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber on Tuesday after a leaked video showed the UAE climate envoy telling former Republic of Ireland President Mary Robinson there's "no science" behind the push to phase out fossil fuels.
What he's saying: "Do not ever try to mansplain to Mary Robinson — it doesn't work," Gore said at an Axios event on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai.
A curious U.S. ambassador and the American family who patented poinsettia varieties are behind the holiday ubiquity of a plant that originated in Mexico.
Why it matters: The poinsettia, which blooms for only a couple of weeks in November and December, is one of the best-selling flowers worldwide. It’s especially popular in the U.S, where the market grew to $213.7 million in sales last year, according to the USDA. That's a 40% increase from 2020.
The Israeli military expanded its ground operation on Monday night local time in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the Israeli Defense Force said in a statement on Tuesday.
Why it matters: This is a significant development in the war after most of the ground operations in the last 60 days took place in Gaza City and the northern parts of the enclave.
The FBI is "moving quickly" to stop a growing number of reported threats against Jewish and Muslim people across the U.S. amid the Israel-Hamas war, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday.
Household wealth increased significantly for both U.S.-born and immigrant Latinos during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center.
Why it matters: This is the first study of this scale assessing the pandemic's impact on immigrants' financial net worth, and it could help inform policy around future crises. Previous research focused on more narrow metrics of financial well-being.
After a referendum held Sunday, the Venezuelan government says it is initiating "first steps" to take over an oil-rich territory disputed with Guyana, but it's unclear how that might pan out.
State of play: Venezuelan electoral authorities say an overwhelming majority of voters approved a five-question ballot on establishing a state in the disputed Essequibo region.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says the Biden administration has failed to address Republicans' concerns about a "lack of clear strategy" in Ukraine even as it asks Congress to approve for more aid for the country.
Why it matters: Aid for Ukraine's defense against the ongoing Russian invasion has become an increasingly contentious topic among Republicans in Congress as the White House has pushed for continued military assistance.
Shareholders in Origin Energy, one of Australia's largest power producers, have rejected a A$15 billion takeover offer from Canadian investment giant Brookfield.
Why it matters: This is the second major energy deal loss in Australia for Brookfield, which just announced participation in a $30 billion climate fund launched by United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced it has imposed sanctions on several dozen Israeli settlers believed to be involved in attacks against Palestinians, banning them from traveling to the U.S.
Why it matters: The move shows how concerned the Biden administration is about escalating attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank — and that the Israeli government isn't doing enough to prevent the violence.
The most powerful Jewish interest groups in the country have come together to launch the 10/7 Project, a bipartisan effort to fight what they believe is misinformation related to the Israel-Hamas war, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's the biggest unified effort from the Jewish lobbying sector in recent memory.
As world leaders gather for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are soaring to record levels.
The big picture: That's according to new Global Carbon Project, which estimates fossil carbon dioxide emissions of 36.8 billion tonnes in 2023 — 1.1% more than last year, driven in large part by China and India emitting more CO2 as they use large amounts of coal.
In three critical arenas —the halls of Congress, European capitals and on the battlefield — Ukraine's war effort has encountered a storm of stalemates that pose an existential crisis to the country's future.
Why it matters: With much of the world's attention focused on Israel and Gaza, President Biden and NATO's pledge to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes" is at serious risk. The implications could be devastating for Kyiv's democracy.
