Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan submitted Sweden's NATO bid to parliament,the UN warned that over 114M people are displaced worldwide,Russian lawmakers approved a bill to leave the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty,and Moscow claimed it tested its ability to launch a "massive" nuclear strike.In other news, Israel conducted a "targeted raid" into the Gaza Strip,Hamas released two Israeli hostages,and Israel called for the resignation of UN Chief António Guterresand rejected a UN resolution for a ceasefire.Meanwhile, US Sec. of State Antony Blinken warned Iran against any attacks on US troops,the US struck two Iranian-linked facilities in Syria,and Sudan's warring sides resumed peace talks.Elsewhere, Taiwan said 15 Chinese planes entered its air defense zone,China accused the US of exaggerating its military threat,and China replaced its defense minister.

On Tuesday, Russia continued its offensive in the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka as Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to maintain military pressure on Crimea.This came the same day that Ukraine reportedly used US-provided long-range ATACMS missiles on the Russian-controlled city of Berdiansk in strikes that allegedly destroyed several Russian helicopters and munition depots.On Wednesday, Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo issued a joint statement claiming that North Korean weapons had reached Russia, warning that the alleged shipments could violate several UN resolutions.On Thursday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán defended his decision to meet with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin at China's Belt and Road Forum after facing criticism from several EU leaders.Meanwhile, prominent Russian anti-war activist Olga Nazarenki died in hospital after reportedly suffering a "fall from a height..

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the US,Biden met with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,Spain's Socialist and Sumar parties reached a coalition deal,Argentina's presidential election headed for a runoff,and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto entered the nation's presidential race.Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to join GB News,former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang died at 68,Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas claimed that three incidents that damaged a gas pipeline and two telecom cables are "related,"and the US sought the forfeiture of a sanctioned Russian businessman's $300M yacht.

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson was nominatedand elected House speaker,Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips announced his challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination,and former Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters announced his run for the House.Meanwhile, former Pres. Donald Trump was fined a second time for violating a gag order in the New York civil fraud case,a third former Trump lawyer pleaded guilty in the Georgia election case,GOP Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to 10 new fraud charges,and Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman confessed to falsely pulling a fire alarm.In other news, several Republicans called on the Biden administration to amend its foreign aid package to split funding for Ukraine and Israel,Texas sued the Biden administration for cutting its razor wire barrier on the US-Mexico border,and a judge ruled that Georgia's congressional map is illegal.

Georgia upheld its six-week abortion ban,Iceland's Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir joined a women's strike for equality,a South Korean court upheld a ban on same-sex relationships in the military,Japan's top court ruled that the country's rule requiring sterilization to change genders is unconstitutional,and the National Hockey League reversed its ban on colored stick tape to express support for social causes.Meanwhile, a study warned that racism is on the rise in the EU,Iranian state media claimed that a teenager who was allegedly assaulted by police is now brain dead,and a girl's education activist was released from jail in Afghanistan.

A mass shooting in Maine killed 18,a man suspected of killing a Maryland judge was found dead,Detroit police found no evidence that the murder of a Synagogue president was a hate crime,and an off-duty US pilot was accused of attempting to tamper with a plane's engine mid-flight.Meanwhile, Spanish police seized $64M worth of ancient jewelry taken from Ukraine,and two British police officers were fired over the stop and search of two Black athletes.

The US economy rose at its fastest rate in two years,and the United Autor Workers union expanded its ongoing strike to a Stellantis pickup truck plant before reaching a provisional deal with the automakerand a tentative labor agreement with Ford.

Meta was sued by 33 US states over claims that it negatively impacts kids' mental health,three Chinese drugmakers were accused of using endangered animal parts in their products,and Chinese authorities reportedly opened a tax investigation into Taiwan-based iPhone maker Foxconn.

A deadly hurricane struck Mexico,Storm Babet left at least seven people dead in the UK,a study warned that the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is "unavoidable,"and several top Biden officials reportedly openly disagreed with the administration's decision to resume oil and gas leasing.

A study found that Tai Chi may slow Parkinson's symptoms,Zimbabwe continued to struggle amid a cholera outbreak,and an Australian court found that cruise ship operator Carnival Corp. misled passengers about its COVID risks.

China sent its youngest-ever crew to space.

The world's oldest dog died at 31 in Portugal..