10 things you need to know today: July 9, 2023

1. Biden to meet with British leaders en route to NATO summit

President Biden will make a stopover in the U.K. on Sunday en route to a NATO summit in Lithuania. While in London, he will meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, where the war in Ukraine is expected to be among the key discussions. Biden is also set to host a meeting with King Charles III, where the pair will see each other for the first time since the funeral of Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. Climate change will be at the top of the agenda, given Charles' propensity for environmental affairs. The meeting will also be a chance to smooth over Brexit sentiments from the Irish-rooted Biden, which angered some British supporters.

The Guardian USA Today

2. At least 22 killed following airstrike in Sudan as civil war looms

At least 22 people were killed on Saturday following an airstrike in Sudan, as warring military factions in the African nation continue a conflict that is now entering its 12th week. The airstrike hit near the city of Omdurman in Sudan's western region, and was initiated by Sudan's army as part of ongoing large-scale assaults. Despite multiple prior ceasefires, the violence throughout Sudan has continued, with the army battling the paramilitary RSF group even amidst international calls for peace. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the airstrike, and warned that Sudan was teetering with a "full-scale civil war," saying there was an "utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing."

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Reuters BBC News

3. Iowa GOP sets key presidential caucuses for Jan. 15, 2024

The Iowa Republican Party announced Saturday that it would hold its presidential caucuses on Jan. 15, 2024, unveiling the date for the GOP's first-in-the-nation caucuses in the race to name a presidential nominee. The Jan. 15 date is approximately three weeks earlier than the last two election cycles, which were both held on the first Monday in February. However, Politico noted that Jan. 15 is not unprecedented in its earliness, as Republican caucuses in Iowa in 2008 and 2012 were held just two days after New Year's. Iowa's move is the latest in a line of restructured primaries from both the Democrats and Republicans in order to gain an early edge.

Politico The New York Times

4. Zelensky marks 500th day of war from Snake Island

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the 500th day of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Saturday with a video from Snake Island honoring his soldiers. In a video posted to social media, Zelensky said he was "grateful to everyone who fought here against the occupiers," adding that he "commemorated the heroes who gave their lives in this battle — one of the most important during the full-scale war." Snake Island became infamous early during the war, after Russian forces overtook Ukrainians on the island. As a Russian ship called via radio for a Ukrainian surrender, soldiers replied, "Russian warship, go f--k yourself," which became a rallying cry throughout Ukraine. The island was recaptured by Ukraine a few months later.

The Kyiv Independent BBC News

5. Netanyahu pressing ahead with Israeli judicial reform

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to advance a slate of unpopular judicial reforms in his country on Monday, despite renewed protests against these changes. Netanyahu appeared to become impatient with the protesters over the weekend, as he summoned his cabinet for a meeting on the handling of the demonstrations by law enforcement. The reforms, which would vastly overhaul the country's judiciary by allowing Netanyahu's government to overrule the Supreme Court, have been widely unpopular since they were first proposed. While Netanyahu had previously delayed moving ahead with the reforms as a result of national uproar, he now looks poised to continue with the overhaul's legislative process.

Reuters

6. Lawsuit dismissed seeking reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre

A lawsuit that sought reparations for victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre was dismissed on Friday, effectively bringing an end to the case. The lawsuit had been filed in 2020 by the last three survivors of the massacre, which occurred in 1921 and saw mobs of angry white men destroy Black-owned businesses and homes in Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood. Hundreds of people were estimated to have been killed. The three living victims, who ranged in age from 102 to 109, had sought financial restitution for the ongoing legacy of racism left by the event. However, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be refiled in state court.

The Oklahoman NBC News

7. Texas sheriff surrounded by corruption allegations after hunt for mass shooter

A Texas sheriff who came to national prominence following a mass shooting has been at the forefront of corruption allegations for years, according to an investigation published Sunday by The Associated Press. The investigation alleged that the office of San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers has "long neglected basic police work while pursuing asset seizures that boost its $3.5 million budget but don't always hold up in court." The investigation also noted that the county paid $240,000 in 2020 to settle a whistleblower dispute accusing Capers of misconduct. Capers became well-known for helming the manhunt for Francisco Oropeza, who allegedly shot and killed five members of a young family during a nationally publicized mass shooting.

The Associated Press

8. Pope Francis to name 21 new cardinals

Pope Francis on Sunday announced that he would name 21 new cardinals, elevating a group of clergymen to the highest ranking in the Catholic Church. The ceremony to install the new cardinals will be held on Sept. 30, and will be the ninth time since Francis became pope in 2013 that he will name a new batch of cardinals. The new cardinals come from a wide range of countries, including Italy, Argentina, the United States, Hong Kong, Spain, Tanzania, Portugal, and more. At least 18 of the 21 selected will be eligible to participate in the conclave to choose the next pope when the time comes.

Reuters

9. US soccer star Megan Rapinoe announces retirement following World Cup

US soccer legend Megan Rapinoe announced Saturday that she would be retiring at the end of the National Women's Soccer League season, just days before she is set to lead Team USA in the Women's World Cup. Rapinoe, widely considered one of the greatest American-born soccer players ever, made the announcement on Twitter, saying she "never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever." She added that she was leaving the game with "a deep sense of peace & gratitude." Rapinoe will look to help Team USA secure a third consecutive world championship when the Women's World Cup begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

The Washington Post

10. Ousted West Virginia coach claims he never retired, demands job back

Bob Huggins, the former West Virginia University basketball coach, is demanding his job back weeks after his resignation, claiming he never formally resigned and will sue the university if he is not reinstated. Huggins left his post at WVU last month after being arrested for a DUI in Pittsburgh, where he allegedly blew a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit. However, an attorney for Huggins is claiming that the coach never officially resigned, and intends to retake his old job following a stint in rehab. The university, which has installed an interim coach, said it would not reinstate Huggins and will defend itself against "spurious accusations."

ESPN