Axios

China's government issued a warning to "foreign forces" after Taiwan reported a record 28 Chinese military planes flew over the self-governed island's airspace Tuesday, per Reuters. Why it matters: The statement and deployment of aircraft including fighter jets and bombers comes after G7 leaders issued a statement Sunday urging the...

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos. New York lifts most COVID restrictions as state hits 70% vaccination threshold. At least 70% of New York adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday, meaning all state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions are lifted effective immediately.

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) rejected a push from the right in a divisive vote on Tuesday, electing a president who has prioritized racial reconciliation and approving a measure that rejects any view of racism as "anything other than sin," AP reports. Why it matters: Ed Litton, as the new...

A second former student was convicted Tuesday over the 2019 mass shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch, including for the murder of a teenager who tried to stop the attack. Details: Devon Erickson, 20, was convicted in Douglas County of more than 40 charges after a jury deliberated for 4.5 hours following a three-week trial, per the Denver Post.

Israel's military said it carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday over "incendiary balloons" launched in the Palestinian territory. Why it matters: It's the first major flare-up since last month's fragile ceasefire ended 11 days of flighting between Israel and Hamas. It also comes just days after Israel's new coalition government led by Naftali Bennett took power.

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's nomination to be a U.S. ambassador completes his metamorphosis from national icon to political figure. Why it matters: After saving all 155 passengers and crew in the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" plane crash, Sullenberger became a sort of Anthony Fauci of aviation: a trusted public figure with international name recognition.

House progressives have a message for President Biden ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: talking is good. Driving the news: Fifteen members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are writing to Biden on Wednesday to encourage him to work with Putin on a range of issues, from arms control to climate change, Axios has learned.

I had the rare opportunity to watch Vladimir Putin in action during my four-year stint serving as a senior communications aide to former Secretary of State John Kerry. Why it matters: From his timing to his baiting techniques and his postgame spin, Russia's president commands an array of tactics aimed at putting U.S. leaders on the defensive and in response mode — and has decades of experience fine-tuning them.

The number of meetings between U.S. and Russian presidents has dwindled in recent years, according to State Department data. Why it matters: Any get-together is momentous if only for the participants. U.S. presidents have met with Russian dictators during World War II. The nations' leaders have signed arms deals, discussed Ukraine and reports of election interference by Russia in U.S. elections.

Nestled in a recent press release from the Treasury Department announcing new staff appointments was a familiar name within the White House, the son of President Biden's counselor and longtime aide, Steve Ricchetti. Why it matters: J.J. Ricchetti will serve as a special assistant in Treasury's Office of Legislative Affairs....

Jared Kushner has signed a book deal with Broadside Books on his time as a senior adviser in the administration of his father-in-law, former President Trump, the conservative imprint of HarperCollins announced Tuesday. The big picture: The book will be published in early 2022, Broadside Books said in an emailed...

The House passed a bill Tuesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to all law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, with 21 Republicans opposing the bill. Why it matters via the Washington Post: "[T]he vote underscored the still-lingering tensions in Congress amid efforts by...

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday it is seeking a $25.5 million fine from Air Canada for failing to provide timely refunds to thousands of customers. Why it matters: The COVID-19 pandemic forced airlines to cancel or delay flights, causing refund requests to spike. What they're saying: Since March...

The Senate voted via unanimous consent on Tuesday to pass a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. The big picture: Juneteenth is already commemorated in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The day memorializes when the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learned about their freedom on June 19, 1865, more than 2.5 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the Civil War ended.

Sports betting giant DraftKings is getting nailed by a prominent short-selling firm whose research has prompted declines in buzzy companies like Nikola and Lordstown Motors. The big picture: Shares of DraftKings plummeted as much as 12% — though it reversed some of those declines. Details: Hindenburg Research alleges SBTech —...

A tidal wave of household names — like Robinhood and Krispy Kreme — is about to hit the public market. Why it matters: Jitters that spooked some would-be public companies last month didn't last. Investors are now bracing for a summer "scorcher" that will reignite the IPO boom and likely fuel a record year.

It's easy to spot an autonomous test vehicle in your neighborhood: it looks a bit like Frankenstein, with sensors bolted to the sides and roof. But as self-driving technology matures, sensor design is streamlining, too, bringing AVs closer to market acceptance. Why it matters: The AV industry is waiting for...

On June 18 at 12:30pm ET, Axios executive editor Sara Kehaulani Goo and Axios Today host Niala Boodhoo will unpack the historical significance of Juneteenth and discuss Black political power in the U.S., featuring Harvard University professor Annette Gordon-Reed. Register. Go deeper. On June 16th at 12:30pm ET, Axios climate...

South Africa is tightening restrictions on public gatherings and liquor sales, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Tuesday, blaming a rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, AP reports. The big picture: The country's 7-day rolling average of new daily cases has jumped from 6.69 per 100,00 people on May 31 to 12.71...

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to formally trigger the budget reconciliation process on Wednesday, setting Democrats up to ram the White House's American Jobs and Family Plans through the Senate via a simple majority vote in July. Why it matters: Announcing this strategy now could be dangerous to...