Benny Gantz, a prominent member of Israel's war cabinet, called on Wednesday for early elections to be held in September — before the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks that shook the country.
Why it matters: This is the first time since Oct. 7 that Gantz, a retired army general who currently leads in the polls by a wide margin, has called for early elections.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's delegation drove from Paris to Brussels on Wednesday because of unspecified mechanical issues with a variant of Boeing's 737 jet assigned to him, according to the press pool traveling with him.
Why it matters: Blinken hasn't recently had great luck with aircraft, as earlier this year he also got stuck in Switzerland for a few hours because of a malfunction with a Boeing C-40 operated by the U.S. Air Force.
The big picture: Though the killing of international aid workers reverberated widely, the conflict has exacted an immense human toll in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since October.
A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan, killing at least nine people and wounding nearly 1,000 on Wednesday morning, according to Taiwan's fire department.
The big picture: Taiwan's National Fire Agency said the deaths occurred in Hualien County, near the strongest quake in 25 years' epicenter, as the island's Central News Agency reported hundreds of residents were trapped beneath partially collapsed buildings in the city of Hualien.
The big picture: The Israeli strike that killed the aid workers comes amid a widening rift between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden, who has steadfastly supported Israel in the conflict.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan postponed a planned trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a potential mega-deal that would include Saudi normalization with Israel.
The latest: White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Sullivan was recovering from a "cracked rib," which has affected his ability to travel. Kirby said it was a "minor accident of his own" and "was not caused by anybody."
President Biden's condolence call to José Andrés after Israeli strikes killed seven of his aid workers delivering food in Gaza underscores just how powerful a voice the celebrity chef has become.
Why it matters: When Andrés speaks, Washington listens.
The deep divides between the U.S. and Israel over Israel's planned operation in Rafah were evident in a virtual meeting between senior officials from both countries, three sources with direct knowledge of the meeting told Axios.
Why it matters: An operation in the city, where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering, has become one of the most contentious issues between the U.S. and Israel around the war in Gaza.
President Biden said Tuesday that Israel's government "has not done enough to protect aid workers" in Gaza during its war with Hamas.
The big picture: Biden issued one of his strongest statements on Israel yet following a call with José Andrés in which he offered his condolences for seven staffers from the chef's World Central Kitchen NGO who were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.
President Biden expressed condolences to chef José Andrés in a call on Tuesday and vowed to urge Israel to protect aid workers after seven staffers from Andrés' World Central Kitchen were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said.
Why it matters: Monday's deadly strikes have sparked backlash around the world and inside the White House. They also led to the suspension of a maritime aid route into Gaza, which was key to international humanitarian relief efforts.
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call Tuesday to discuss a variety of economic, military and political issues related to the U.S.-China bilateral relationship.
Why it matters: It's the first time Biden and Xi have spoken one-on-one since their meeting at the APEC summit last November. The conversation is a part of an effort between the two world powers to maintain communication.
Diverse stories must prevail over the staggering rise in attempted book bans, Dominican American author Julia Alvarez tells Axios Latino.
Why it matters: Attempted book bans in public libraries in the U.S. increased by 92% in 2023, per the most recent annual review from the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.
U.S. school districts are facing a pandemic funding cliff this year that threatens students learning English as a second language.
Why it matters: One in five K-12 students in the U.S. speaks a language other than English at home, and 10% of the student population is enrolled in language development services, according to TNTP, an education research and advocacy organization.
Seven aid workers from chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Monday, the NGO said in a statement.
The big picture: Andrés' organization has been leading the efforts to get food to Gaza by sea, and has delivered tons of supplies to the enclave via a ship from Cyprus over the past few weeks.
The number of Chinese-manufactured internet-connected devices on U.S. corporate networks continues to grow despite Washington's attempts to curb their presence, according to a report out Tuesday shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: As tensions between the U.S. and China rise, officials have grown wary of the Chinese government's ability to tap its manufacturers operating within its borders to collect information about American users and businesses.
The United Arab Emirates is pausing its involvement in the maritime aid corridor to Gaza until Israel assures aid workers in the enclave will be protected, sources close to the UAE government told Axios.
Why it matters: The announcement comes after seven humanitarian workers with the nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday. The UAE is the main funder of the organization's aid route that has been leading efforts to get food by sea to Gaza, which the United Nations has warned is on the verge of famine.
The U.S. told Iran that it "had no involvement" or advance knowledge of an Israeli strike on a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed a senior Iranian general, according to a U.S. official.
The big picture: The rare message shows the Biden administration is deeply concerned that the Israeli strike could lead to a regional escalation and the resumption of attacks by pro-Iranian militias against U.S. forces.
