Four Democratic U.S. senators made an unannounced trip to Odesa, Ukraine, marking the first congressional visit to the Black Sea port since the war began nearly four years ago.
Why it matters: Led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the lawmakers used the trip to get on-the-ground briefings on the war and to call for Congress to pass new sanctions on Russia.
A war between the United States and Iran is looming — and there are several factors suggesting President Trump might push the button soon.
The big picture: Trump has been trying to strike a nuclear deal with Iran since he retook the White House last year. But after abandoning a previous round of talks and ordering strikes last June, Trump may be about to repeat that pattern on a larger scale.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for new talks on moving away from fossil fuels that would bring energy producers to the table.
Why it matters: It's fresh evidence officials hope to adapt the UN climate process to move far beyond pledges and find new avenues to spur on-the-ground steps.
Why it matters: The Catholic Church, which has emerged as an increasingly vocal bulwark of resistance to Washington, is echoing skepticism shared by other European countries about Trump's new international body.
Most Americans say race doesn't drive their daily decisions, even as the country feels more divided than ever, a new national survey finds.
Why it matters: Politics and social media amplify racial division. But in daily life — at work, in friendships and in families — Americans report far more interracial contact, and far less race-based decision-making, than the national mood suggests.
The Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realize. It could begin very soon.
Why it matters: A U.S. military operation in Iran would likely be a massive, weeks-long campaign that would look more like full-fledged war than last month's pinpoint operation in Venezuela, sources say.
This year's Winter Olympics are doubling as a proving ground for how artificial intelligence can help athletes train, organizers shuffle events, and fans experience a centuries-old celebration of what humans can physically do.
Why it matters: The same technology reshaping the world is also transforming an event that brings the world together.
The Ukrainian people would reject a peace deal that involves Ukraine unilaterally withdrawing from the eastern Donbas region and turning it over to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios in an interview Tuesday.
Why it matters: As Zelensky was speaking to Axios, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were meeting for a third round of direct talks in Geneva. The main sticking point is control of the Donbas, around 10% of which is still in Ukrainian hands.
The euro —its future in disarray barely a dozen years ago — is back.
Why it matters: European leaders are trying to carve out a bigger global role for their currency in a Trump-shaped world order. If they are successful, it could chip away at America's biggest economic advantage: the outsize demand for dollars and U.S. debt.
The U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday "made progress," but "there are still a lot of details to discuss," a U.S. official told Axios.
The latest: After negotiations with President Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the Iranians offered to come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals "to address some of the open gaps in our positions," the official said.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson died Tuesdayafter a career in activism and politics during a national transformation in civil rights and inequality, where he worked alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and made a historic presidential run.
Through the lens: Here's a look at some of Jackson's most memorable moments, from rallying Black residents devastated by riots in Los Angeles to meeting Nelson Mandela after being released from prison.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights icon who spent his career fighting against racial inequality and injustice, and who made two historic runs for the presidency, died Tuesday, his family said in a statement. He was 84.
The big picture: Jackson leaves behind an expansive legacy, starting with his time alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to founding Operation Rainbow PUSH on the South Side of Chicago.
New Mexico lawmakers launched an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch Tuesday over allegations the late convicted sex offender trafficked and sexually abused girls and women at the sprawling property outside Santa Fe.
The big picture: It's "critical" that the first full investigation into what happened at the ranch provides a platform to "uncover the truth" about what happened there and for survivors to see justice, state Rep. Andrea Romero (D) tells Axios.
President Trump said he is going to be "involved indirectly" in the second round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran that will take place in Geneva on Tuesday.
Why it matters: The meeting tomorrow between Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi could be a make or break moment that will signal whether the two countries are moving towards an new nuclear deal or towards a war.
