TL/DR: Between Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, the socialist PSUV party has been in power for 25 years.
The rundown: The government-controlled electoral authority has declared Incumbent Nicolás Maduro the winner of Venezuela's presidential election after a campaign marred by intimidation and other irregularities. The opposition has disputed his victory, while the U.S. has expressed "serious concerns" about the election's results. Here's what we know.
Why it matters: Maduro has run the country for 11 years, during which Venezuela has plunged into a deep economic collapse that has triggered a mass exodus. About a third of the country's population is estimated to have left since his ascent to power. The opposition disputes the results, claiming their candidate, Edmundo Gonzáles, won with 70 percent of the vote, supported by independent exit polls and quick counts. Irregularities, such as moving polling stations and removing opposition witnesses, marred the election.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Venezuela Election: 'Iron Lady' Machado Bids to End Maduro's 11-Year Rule
What happens now? Gonzáles has asked electoral authorities to present all the voting tallies printed by voting machines at the 30,000 polling stations nationwide. The NCE has yet to provide the tallies.
TL/DR: Tensions have risen between Israel and Hezbollah since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
The rundown: An Israeli drone strike killed two people and wounded three more in southern Lebanon today, according to Lebanese civil defense, as Israeli officials considered their response to the rocket strike on the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children. Here's what the Israeli Minister said after the alleged Hezbollah attack.
Why it matters: Late Sunday, Israel's security cabinet gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government the authority to determine the 'manner and timing' of its response to the rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that claimed the lives of 12 people, including children. Israel and the United States blamed Lebanon's Hezbollah for Saturday's strike, but the group has denied any role. The Israeli military said its air defenses downed a drone that crossed from Lebanon into the area of Western Galilee on Monday.
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Trump Says Attack on Israel 'Almost Entire Fault' of Biden and Harris
What happens now? Flights at Beirut's international airport have been canceled or delayed as airlines responded to the possibility of an Israeli response.
TL/DR: A national telephone and online survey of 1,074 likely voters from July 22 to 24 found that Trump had a 7-point lead over Harris.
The rundown: Last Sunday, President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, positioning her to likely appear at the top of the Democratic Party's ticket. As a new candidate, here's how she matches up to Republican nominee Donald Trump, according to three large aggregate polls.
Why it matters: With 100 days until Election Day on November 5, aggregate polls from The New York Times, The Hill, and RealClearPolitics show Trump leading Harris at a smaller margin than her predecessor Biden before his exit. Of the three aggregate polls, RealClearPolitics shows the smallest gap between Trump and Harris, with Trump ahead by 1.7 percentage points at 47.9 percent and Harris at 46.2 percent. Before his exit, Biden was down 3.1 percentage points, at 44.8 percent, with Trump at 47.9 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Kamala Harris' Approval Rating Surges as Donald Trump's Falls
What happens now? The presidential election is determined by Electoral College votes rather than the popular vote. Candidates must secure 270 electoral votes to win the presidency, which is not always accurately reflected in national aggregate polls, as state-specific victories are necessary to secure electoral votes.
TL/DR: In the Pacific region, Australia, Japan, and South Korea benefit from Washington's extended deterrence.
The rundown: On Sunday, the United States reaffirmed its "nuclear commitment" to defend its security ally Japan by reinforcing extended deterrence, which defied China's demands on nukes. Learn more.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Japan held a "two-plus-two" ministerial meeting in June on extended deterrence for the first time in Tokyo. The two countries have been coordinated on this nuclear issue primarily through the working officials level Extended Deterrence Dialogue, or EDD, since 2010. Both nations condemned North Korea for pursuing nuclear weapons programs and criticized Russia's compromising arms control and global nonproliferation regime. Meanwhile, Beijing has decided to speed up the development of strategic deterrence forces.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Putin Issues Nuclear Warning Over US Missiles
What happens now? The U.S. and Japan planned to compile their first joint document on extended deterrence within the year. It will be specific about what circumstances Tokyo should face for Washington to retaliate with its nukes. The Federation of American Scientists estimated that another 100 tactical nukes, which are stored in the U.S., would be used to support allies in Northeast Asia.
TL/DR: Indian and Pakistani officials tell Newsweek they want to work with either party, but the outcome may prove consequential.
The rundown: Officials from India and Pakistan tell Newsweek they are preparing to work with either presumptive Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican nominee former President Donald Trump in pursuit of stronger ties. Find out more.
Why it matters: If confirmed by her party, Harris would become the first U.S. presidential candidate of Indian heritage. Her ancestral village, Thulasendrapuram, celebrates her chances. Harris has also used these ties to criticize India on human rights. The U.S.-India partnership thrived under Trump, who reinvigorated the Quad and established strong relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump also had a positive relationship with Pakistan's Imran Khan, who was ousted in April 2021. Harris's past Kashmir remarks remain notable in Pakistan.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows Nuclear Powers Around the World
What happens now? As the U.S. navigates a rocky road to November, tumult is gripping Pakistan. Massoud Khan, Pakistan's outgoing ambassador, ultimately expressed his sincere hopes for a smooth process, recognizing that volatility felt in Washington would likely resound worldwide. Meanwhile, the U.S.-India relationship has trended toward even closer ties, something Harris has advocated for as well.
How Tiny Homes Could Help Solve America's Homelessness Crisis
Shelter villages of tiny homes have popped up across the U.S. in recent years, as the small structures have started to be seen by many advocates as a promising solution to solve homelessness .
Perhaps unsurprisingly at a time when mortgage rates are still hovering around the 7-percent mark and home prices remain historically high, tiny homes are also becoming an attractive option for many Americans who are not experiencing homelessness, but would like to buy a property that won't break the bank and dissolve their savings.
According to Gregg Colburn, an associate professor at the University of Washington, the recent "acceleration of the housing affordability crisis is clearly related and associated with the rising levels of homelessness that we've seen" in the past few years.
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