Drone and missile barrages launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway, delaying humanitarian aid and imposing millions of dollars of extra costs.
Why it matters: U.S. and allied firepower has failed to stem the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden attacks, which are bolstered by an Iranian regime eager to arm its proxies.
President Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday in an effort to prevent the recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah from turning into an all out war, two Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Amid the highly sensitive push to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group would dramatically exacerbate the regional crisis and draw the U.S. deeper into the conflict.
Pope Francis made history Friday as the first pontiff to speak at the Group of Seven meeting in Fasano, Italy, where he discussed his concerns with artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: The pope has long urged caution around AI, calling it "a fascinating tool and also a terrifying one," during his remarks Friday even as he acknowledged its potential applications in medicine, labor, culture, communications, education and politics.
The Biden administration announced sanctions on Friday against the Israeli right-wing organization "Tzav 9" for blocking humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza, two sources with knowledge of the decision told Axios.
Why it matters: The flow of aid into Gaza has been hampered in recent weeks by numerous factors, including the closure of the Rafah corridor. Efforts by right-wing Israeli activists to block convoys coming from Jordan — with the apparent support of some senior politicians — have made matters worse.
Elephants come up with names for one another, according to a new study.
Why it matters: "Vocal production learning is a critical prerequisite for language, so this could help us understand how language itself arose," said the study's lead author, Michael Pardo, of Colorado State University and Save the Elephants, on X.
