The U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak is drawing new warnings from public health experts about the impact of the Trump administration's global health policies, including the dismantlement of USAID and itswithdrawal from the World Health Organization.
Why it matters: While officials are rushing to get resources to stricken parts of Africa, infectious disease experts fear the administration's other actions are weakening critical networks needed for a rapid response in a densely populated, politically unstable part of the world.
House Democrats are one step closer to finally getting a successful Iran war powers vote as their last holdout plans to flip and at least one Republican says they may follow suit.
Why it matters: While the vote would be largely symbolic — President Trump could veto the measure — Democrats believe it would be a crucial rebuke of the conflict.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a new effort to reach a deal with Iran in a difficult call on Tuesday, three sources said, with one source saying Netanyahu's "hair was on fire" after the call.
Why it matters: A revised peace memo was drafted by Qatar and Pakistan with input from the other regional mediators to try to bridge the gaps between the U.S. and Iran, the sources said. It comes with Trump vacillating over ordering a massive strike on Iran and holding out for a deal.
New reports underscore how electric vehicle sales are rising globally even as they've dropped sharply in the U.S. — and how the Iran war could lead even more people to buy them.
Why it matters: EVs help displace oil use and lower emissions. Petroleum price spikes from the Iran war appear to be boosting sales in some places, too.
Investors went on a stock-buying binge earlier this month, even as inflation worries increased, finds the latest release of Bank of America's influential global fund managers' survey.
Why it matters: The outsize optimism helps explain the run-up in stock prices over the past few weeks.
All 50 states have average gas prices above $4 a gallon, AAA said Wednesday, with seven now topping $5 a gallon.
Why it matters: As the war with Iran approaches the three-month mark, soaring fuel prices are costing Americans millions of dollars a day, crushing small business profits, and driving a surge in inflation.
An Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa is fueling concern about another global health crisis.
Why it matters: WHO this week declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, but experts say the chances of a global pandemic remain slim.
Inconsistent budgets are undercutting the U.S. military's ability to influence opinions and curry favor in Africa, according to the American commander in the region.
Why it matters: Both Russia and China have embedded themselves across the continent. Extremism once synonymous with the greater Middle East also now booms there.
TAIPEI — There's a postmortem playing out here after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned President Trump to be careful on Taiwan, and Trump responded with ambivalence about U.S. arms sales and the island's chances in any conflict.
Why it matters: Some Trump advisers left the summit thinking a Chinese move on Taiwan was growing more likely. But in Taipei there was no panic, at least on the surface.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Cuban Independence Day on Wednesday with a Spanish-language video message to the people of the island that blamed their "unimaginable hardships" on their communist leadership.
Why it matters: This is the first time Rubio has addressed the Cuban population directly as secretary of state. It's part of the Trump administration's multi-layered pressure campaign targeting Havana.
