Israel told the U.S. that if Hezbollah harms Israeli civilians as part of its retaliation for the assassination of its top military commander, the Israel Defense Force's response would be disproportionate, two Israeli officials said.
Why it matters: Israeli officials say they don't want an all-out war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and are now trying to draw a clear line to define what would compel Israel to escalate the conflict and risk a war.
Three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, this week were canceled over threats of a terror attack, event organizer Barracuda Music said in a social media post Wednesday.
The big picture: The shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of the European leg of Swift's Eras Tour were called off after authorities said they arrested two people who were connected to a possibleplot for an attack.
Some Democrats pushed Kamala Harris to pick Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro because of worries about Shapiro's positions on the Israel-Hamas war. But Walz's pro-Israel stances are largely similar to those of other Democrats.
The big picture: Walz, like the Biden-Harris administration, has sought to thread the needle when discussing the conflict.
The U.S. has over two dozen silver medals going into the final week of the Olympics but whether second place is considered a win or loss is complicated for athletes.
Why it matters: Athletes who spend years preparing for their moment at the Olympics often find that second place is the hardest position to be in, if not in their own minds then from the reaction of fans and the media.
Algerian Imane Khelif won her semifinal match on Tuesday advancing to the gold medal match in the women's welterweight boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics.
Why it matters: Khelif, who is not transgender and has long competed in women's boxing — including at the Tokyo Olympics — has nonetheless found herself the center of an international firestorm amid questions about her gender.
Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, its top official in Gaza who is the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, to head its political bureau after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh by Israel last week in Tehran, according to an official statement.
Why it matters: The move anchors Sinwar's status as the top — and perhaps even sole — decision maker in Hamas both inside the Palestinian territories and in the diaspora.
Editor's note: This is part of a monthly series spotlighting Latinos who are making a mark in their communities.
Ricardo Cervantes is a co-founder and the CEO of La Monarca Bakery, which includes 12 retail locations in Los Angeles and nationally distributed products. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, he has a degree from Stanford Business School and lives in Los Angeles with his spouse.
Why do you do what you do? My co-founder Alfredo and I met in school in the U.S. and we both shared fond memories of growing up eating pan dulcein Mexico. We started our company not just to make pan dulce, but to create a welcoming place with a distinctive cultural social mission and advancement opportunities in Hispanic communities.
1. Venezuela's regime yesterday started a criminal investigation against opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, opening the door to their arrest.
The attorney general's office says Machado and González committed alleged insurrection in a statement yesterday asking for the armed forces to refrain from repressing anti-government protesters.
The Venezuelan government, which claims President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected for a third term without showing proof, has in the past jailed several opposition candidates and figures.
A stellar final round from Australian Arisa Trew allowed the 14-year-old to grab the gold medal in women's park skateboarding, finishing ahead of Japan's Cocona Hiraki and Britain's Sky Brown, who both matched their medal results from Tokyo.
Why it matters: The sport features some of the Olympics' youngest competitors, some of whom aren't yet teenagers.
Team USA runner Nikki Hiltz finished third in their preliminary heat of the 1500-meters on Tuesday, advancing to Thursday's semifinals.
Why it matters: Hiltz, who was assigned female at birth and competes in the women's category, identifies as transgender and nonbinary and is among just a few such athletes competing at the Paris Games.
The growing risk of twin calamities — recession and war — is suddenly looming over the U.S. election.
Neither life-altering event is inevitable. But each could imperil Vice President Kamala Harris' ascendant campaign at a critical moment.
Why it matters: For the next 90 days, Republicans intend to treat Harris as the incumbent. That means saddling her with every crisis consuming the headlines, even when her role as vice president is murky or minimal.
President Biden and Vice President Harris were told by their national security team on Monday that it is still unclear when Iran and Hezbollah are likely to launch an attack against Israel and what specifically the attack might entail, three U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Biden administration officials say they are working to prepare for countering the possible attacks and mobilizing diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to try tominimize their retaliation for the assassinations by Israel of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah's top military commander in Beirut.
