The U.S. State Department remained tightlipped Monday about claims that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was close to being freed in a prisoner swap when he died.
Why it matters: The Biden administration has held that the Russian government is to blame for Navalny's death, but the circumstances surrounding it remain murky, particularly following the unconfirmed report of the proposed prisoner swap.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet security agency director Ronen Bar visited Cairo last week to reassure their Egyptian counterparts that Israel will take steps to ensure an operation in Rafah will not create an influx of Palestinian refugees into Egypt, two U.S. officials briefed on the issue told Axios.
Why it matters: The high-level visit by the most senior officer in the Israeli military signals the importance the Israeli government is giving to its security relationship with Egypt, which has already warned that the displacement of Palestinians to the Sinai Peninsula would lead to a rupture in its relations with Israel.
Hungary's parliament on Monday approved Sweden's accession to NATO, clearing one of the final hurdles for the country to join the military alliance.
Why it matters: NATO has been key to the U.S.-led effort to counter Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the defensive alliance has long been central to maintaining security and U.S. interests in Europe.
Byju's last year was India's most valuable startup,worth $22 billion. And the ed-tech company was prized beyond its price, offering remote tutoring in a country where over half the population lives in rural areas.
Fast forward: Byju's is now the dumpster fire that other dumpster fires look at with pity.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh resigned on Monday amid growing pressure by the U.S. and Arab countries on President Mahmoud Abbas to conduct wide-ranging reforms, including injecting "new blood" into the Palestinian Authority's leadership.
Why it matters: Shtayyeh's resignation had been expected for weeks. U.S. and Arab countries want to see a "revitalized" Palestinian Authority that can stabilize itself in the occupied West Bank and play a role in the management of post-war Gaza.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia began its invasion.
The big picture: It's the first time Zelensky has publicly confirmed the number of Ukrainian military deaths since Russia started its full-scale invasion two years ago.
