Axios

Israel's air defenses, supported by the U.S., mostly neutralized the threat from Iran's approximately 180-ballistic missile attack on Tuesday.

The big picture: Only one civilian was killed, in the West Bank, in one of the most intense aerial attacks Israel has ever faced. Once again, Israel's vaunted air defense systems lived up to their reputation.

President Biden told reporters on Wednesday he wouldn't support Israel striking Iran's nuclear facilities, though he stressed that the U.S. and its Western allies are discussing new sanctions against Iran in response to its ballistic missile attack against Israel.

Why it matters: Israel is preparing to respond to Iran's massive missile attack on Tuesday with attacks inside Iran in the coming days — part of a spiraling tit for tat after Israel assassinated top Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian officials.

Nearly six months after April's rare total solar eclipse, a small sliver of Americans will get the chance to see an annular solar eclipse or a partial eclipse today.

The big picture: An annular solar eclipse — also known as a "ring of fire" eclipse — will be visible from parts of Chile and Argentina with a partial eclipse visible from parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, according to NASA.

Japan has more influence on the U.S. than any other country, according to a new analysis of social media posts, news segments, economic and cultural impact and tourism.

Why it matters: Ukraine, Israel and China have dominated headlines in the last year, but Japan remains top of mind for many Americans due to its longstanding economic and cultural influence in America.

American Jews are contending with a record number of antisemitic hate crimes as they prepare to observe the High Holy Days and mark the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.

Why it matters: Rising hate crimes, expanding military conflict in the Middle East, and inflammatory rhetoric in the presidential election are creating more anxiety in Jewish communities as synagogues and religious schools beef up security and some households downplay celebrations.

Former President Trump on Tuesday referred to brain injuries more than 100 U.S. troops sustained in an Iranian attack on a base in Iraq as "headaches."

The latest: The Harris campaign, in an emailed statement at midnight Wednesday, called Trump "unfit to be Commander-in-Chief" over the remarks, which echoed comments he made in the wake of the January 2020 attack on the base.

Israeli officials staring down all-out regional war tell Axios Israel will launch a "significant retaliation" to Tuesday's massive missile attack within days that could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites.

Why it matters: Israel and Iran have never been closer to opening up a new and far more dangerous front in the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

A growing number of lawmakers is calling for Congress to cut its October recess short following an Iranian missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.

Why it matters: It builds on bipartisan calls from senators and House members in states affected by Hurricane Helene who said Monday that Congress should reconvene sooner than scheduled.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he "plead guilty to journalism" in his first public appearance on Tuesday since being freed from a high-security U.K. prison.

Why it matters: Assange expressed concern before human rights officials from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and alleged heightened censorship and retaliation since his arrest for one of the biggest leaks of classified information in U.S. history.

Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel in a two-wave attack on Tuesday that U.S. and Israeli officials say was largely repelled.

The big picture: This was Iran's largest-scale attack ever against Israel. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israel and the U.S., and there are no reports of deaths inside Israel. One Palestinian civilian was reportedly killed in the West Bank.

1. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado became the first Latin American person awarded the Václav Havel Prize yesterday.

• The prize given by the European Union honors those fighting for human rights and consists of a grant of 60,000 euros.
• Machado said in her acceptance speech, transmitted from Venezuela, that she dedicates the prize to all those fighting for democracy in her country.

2. Bolivia declared a disaster warning yesterday due to continuing wildfires that have spread to two natural reserves and other areas.

• With the declaration, the government of President Luis Arce will be able to dedicate more federal funds to putting out the fires and for recovery efforts.

Hummingbirds and other bird species in the Amaranta reserve in Venezuela. Source: via Noticias Telemundo

Carmen Martínez, a Venezuelan doctor, now cares for small birds, which she says are among the most helpless animals.

State of play: Martínez created the NGO Amaranta Casa de Colibríes years back to set up a forest reserve to maintain the ecosystem of hummingbirds and almost 200 other small-bird species.

• Martínez tells Noticias Telemundo the reserve has been able to fight back as loggers and miners try to take down forest areas.
• Hummingbirds are key pollinators that keep certain plant species alive.

The son and daughter-in-law of the late Martin Luther King Jr. have spearheaded efforts to create a national Black-Latino coalition similar to one the civil rights leader sought to launch before his assassination.

Why it matters: Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, tell Axios now is the right time to start a new "Black-Brown coalition" as income inequality grows and voting rights are under attack.

The number of assaults on U.S. journalists has soared more than 50% so far in 2024 compared to all of 2023, according to a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Why it matters: The vast majority of the 68 assaults documented this year have occurred at the local level during Israel-Gaza war protests.

Colombia's top environment official tells Axios that countries like hers lack critical financial support to transition away from fossil fuels.

Why it matters: Susana Muhamad, Colombia's secretary of the environment and sustainable development, is set to chair international talks on a new biodiversity pact.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia Muslim militant and political group based in Lebanon, looms large in U.S. concerns about a dramatic escalation in the conflict unfolding in the Middle East.

The latest: Israel launched a ground operation into southern Lebanon Tuesday, days after killing Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut.

Mexico on Tuesday is inaugurating its first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist who is facing surging violence, a major constitutional reform and maintaining a key relationship with the U.S.

Why it matters: Mexico is the U.S.' top trading partner — $807 billion worth of goods were exchanged both ways last year — and it's been a critical ally in stemming migration to the U.S.

Israeli officials insist their ground operation in southern Lebanon will be limited in scope and length.

• But Israeli officials said that twice before — in 1982 and 2006. Those invasions of their northern neighbor escalated into far wider, deadlier and more protracted conflicts.

Why it matters: That could happen again.

A 72-year-old U.S. citizen pleaded guilty in a Moscow court to mercenary charges related to fighting for Ukraine against Russia, Russian state media reported Monday.

The big picture: Stephen James Hubbard is the first American facing such charges during Putin's war on Ukraine, per The Guardian.