Ukraine

The developments that matter out of Beijing.

China

The developments that matter out of Kabul.

Afghanistan

The developments that matter out of Pyongyang.

North Korea

The developments that matter out of Tehran.

Iran

The developments that matter out of Moscow.

Russia

The developments that matter out of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Israel

What matters about the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.

Brexit

The stories that most affect the U.S. Latino community on both sides of the border, in collaboration with Noticias Telemundo.

Latin America and Latinos

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

National

Top U.S. officials are considering drastic measures — including barring some asylum seekers and surging prosecutions of illegal border crossings — in preparation for an end to the pandemic-era Title 42 border policy, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Some of the ideas under serious consideration echo controversial immigration policies from the Trump administration. Others could expand legal avenues for migrants and asylum seekers in the region to enter the U.S.

That some of these approaches are being considered at the highest levels of government reflects the Biden administration's desperation to get a handle on unprecedented efforts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Top officials from the White House National Security Council, Department of Homeland Security, State Department and Justice Department have been involved in the discussions. Some of the potential actions would require cooperation from multiple agencies, according to two U.S. sources familiar with internal discussions.

Driving the news: A federal judge is forcing border officials to stop using Title 42 on Dec. 21.

Catch up quick: The Trump-era policy — continued under the Biden administration — cites public health concerns to allow Border Patrol to immediately expel migrants at the border without the chance for asylum.

U.S. officials anticipate the loss of the tool and the narrative that there are "open borders" will lead to a jump in the already-high number of border crossings. Preparations for this scenario have been underway.

Actions to expand legal pathways for migrants and asylum seekers and crack down on people who do not enter the U.S. at legal entry points were discussed in detail as recently as a Cabinet-head level meeting on Monday, according to the two sources familiar.

The intrigue: The planning comes as House Republicans gear up for investigations into the administration's handling of the border — and a potential impeachment inquiry into DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

What they're saying: "As we prepare to transition to the next phase of our work to manage the border in a safe, orderly, and humane way, the Department of Homeland Security will continue to double down on these proven strategies," a Biden official told Axios, listing various efforts by the administration to tackle irregular migration.

"At the same time, we’re eyes wide open to the reality that, despite all the progress we’ve made, we’re continuing to work within the constraints of a decades-old broken immigration system that Republican officials refuse to allow us to fix," the official added.

Details: Officials are moving toward a multi-pronged approach involving both carrot-and-stick domestic measures and continued diplomatic requests for countries to do more on asylum and border controls. Two measures being considered appear similar to controversial Trump policies. 

One proposal would bar from asylum single adults who illegally cross the border and have not first applied for legal pathways offered by the U.S. or protection in other countries they traveled through. They would be placed in the expedited removal process.

There would be exceptions for extreme circumstances, although the specifics of those exceptions are unclear.

Another proposal calls for a surge in criminal prosecutions for single adults who have done nothing other than illegally cross the border — with a focus on those who evade Border Patrol. One source, however, said this would be a tough sell for the Justice Department.

To incentivize people to apply and enter the U.S. legally, officials are looking at raising the 24,000 person cap on the number of Venezuelans who can be paroled via a new process started last month. The process forces back to Mexico those who instead attempt to cross the border illegally.

The perceived success of this program has inspired much of the administration's planning for post-Title 42, sources said, indicating the program is set to continue even without Title 42 as the mechanism for returning people to Mexico.

The number of Venezuelans attempting to cross the border has dropped significantly since its implementation, according to DHS officials.

Officials are looking to expand the program to Nicaraguans, who like Venezuelans are often difficult to return to their home country due to frosty government relations. Any expansion would greatly depend on cooperation with Mexico or other countries to host people the U.S. kicks back.

Officials are also eyeing an increase of refugee resettlements from the Western Hemisphere as another legal pathway for migrants to pursue before they can access the asylum process at the border.

Lastly, the administration wants to use an app owned and managed by Customs and Border Protection to allow migrants to schedule a meeting at a legal entry point ahead of time, according to one source with direct knowledge of the idea.

Reality check: The volume of people already attempting to enter the U.S. at the southern border will complicate any efforts to overhaul policy.

Limited space and resources at Border Patrol stations, detention spaces or Mexican shelters could still prompt officials to release people into the U.S. while they await lengthy immigration proceedings.

Some of the proposals eyed by the administration would require significant resources and coordination with foreign governments to get off the ground.

The bottom line: Stretched-thin U.S. agencies find themselves preparing for another potential surge of migrants and asylum seekers at the border. 

Meanwhile, policymakers are yet again trying to thread the needle — enforcing order and immigration laws while creating a humane system for those seeking humanitarian protection.

Scoop: Biden administration eyes border overhaul as Title 42 ends

Some of the ideas echo controversial policies from the Trump administration.

Border patrol agents take people into custody next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence

Border patrol agents take people into custody next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

Illegal immigration

Politics & Policy

A woman accused of helping dismember and dispose of the body of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, a soldier who was sexually harassed and killed on a Texas military base in 2020, pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Driving the news: Cecily Aguilar, 24, pleaded guilty to four charges, including one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas.

Background: From April 22, 2020, through July 1, 2020, Aguilar assisted Spc. Aaron Robinson in "corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating and concealing evidence—that is, the body of Vanessa Guillen—in order to prevent Robinson from being charged with and prosecuted for any crime," the U.S. Attorney's Office said citing court documents.

Aguilar also altered and destroyed information contained in a Google account belonging to Robinson, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

During the investigation into Guillen's disappearance, Aguilar made four materially false statements to federal investigators, per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

What's next: A sentencing date for Aguilar has not yet been set.

She faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

Woman pleads guilty for role in Vanessa Guillén's death

She is accused of "corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating and concealing evidence– that is, the body of Vanessa Guillen."

Supporters of murdered U.S. Army Private First Class Vanessa Guillen are seen during a rally in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 2020. Photo: Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images

United States Army

While many in the United States were watching the U.S. men's soccer team defeat Iran in the World Cup on Tuesday, the Biden administration announced a massive potential arms sale to the tournament's host country Qatar, AP first reported.

Driving the news: The U.S. State Department approved a potential sale of $1 billion worth of arms to Qatar during the game.

Details: Qatar requested to buy 10 "Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS) System of Systems," 200 "Coyote Block 2 interceptors" and other military equipment, per a statement. 

Additionally, five U.S. government officials and 15 contractor representatives will be assigned to Qatar for five years to support the implementation of the purchased military equipment. 

What they're saying: "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the State Department said in the statement.

"The proposed sale will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing electronic and kinetic defeat capabilities against Unmanned Aircraft Systems."

The department also said the sale "will not alter the basic military balance in the region" and there will be "no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness."

The big picture: Qatar has been beset by accusations of human rights abuses against migrant workers, drawing worldwide protests that have overshadowed this year's tournament.

U.S. approves $1 billion arms sale to Qatar during USMNT World Cup match

The State Department said the sale "will not alter the basic military balance in the region."

Flags of the U.S., Qatar and Iran are seen in the rafters of the Al Thumama Stadium during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Nov. 29, in Doha, Qatar. Photo: Matthew Ashton-AMA/Getty Images

Qatar

Chicana DJ "Old School Becky Lu" grew up listening to Art Laboe's syndicated radio show. Now, she's taking over as host following Laboe's death in October at the age of 97. 

Why it matters: The percentage of radio disc jockeys who are Latino is declining, according to data gathered by Zippia.com, a job posting website.

Latinos make up just 14.1% of radio disc jockeys in the U.S. Only 36% are women — a percentage that is also declining. 

Catch up quick: Dart Entertainment announced shortly after Laboe died that Becky Lu, whose real name is Rebecca Luna, would continue his oldies radio show that airs on 14 radio stations in California and Arizona.

"The Art Laboe Connection Show" allows listeners to call or email in dedications to loved ones in prison or those living far away. Laboe maintained a loyal following during the nearly eight decades he was on air.  

Luna, who is the chair of the Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Palm Desert, California, began co-hosting with Laboe during the pandemic.

What they're saying: Luna said callers were initially unsure of her when she first joined Laboe.  

"But eventually, they warmed up, and Old School Becky Lu became her own personality," Luna tells Axios.

Luna said Becky Lu, like Laboe, didn't judge the listeners and lets them share their emotions over the air.

The backstory: Luna grew up in California's Coachella Valley in a Mexican American family that always listened to oldies, she says.

Laboe, born to an Armenian-American family, was a favorite in her house because of his connection to the Mexican American community.  Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California in part by organizing live events with different racial and ethnic groups, and he promoted Latino artists.

Luna said she sees Becky Lu as a trailblazer who aims to help fellow Latinas by giving them a voice.

Subscribe to Axios Latino to get vital news about Latinos and Latin America, delivered to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

New “old school” host takes over Art Laboe’s show

The percentage of radio disc jockeys who are Latino is declining, according to data gathered by Zippia.com.

The late Art Laboe and Rebecca Luna, aka "Old School Becky Lu," pose for a photo in 2019.

The late Art Laboe and Rebecca Luna, aka "Old School Becky Lu," pose for a photo in 2019. Photo: Courtesy of Dart Entertainment

Hispanic and Latino Americans

Media

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

The man who helped shape the Mesoamerican story in the latest Black Panther installment hopes the movie will inspire more people to seek out Indigenous history.

Background: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" introduces Namor, a decades-old comic book character, with a revised backstory rooted in Mayan and Aztec history. He is played by Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta Mejía

Details: Gerardo Aldana y Villalobos, an author and professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was in charge of making sure Namor's reimagined background was historically accurate.

Aldana tells Axios Latino he worked with the crew before there was even a script, helping create a backstory for any detail that might show up on screen.

He suggested the name Talokan for Namor's underwater kingdom, wrote glyphs that tell Namor's story for the sets and made sure the wardrobe choices fit with materials the Mayan used.

Aldana says it was invigorating to work with a Hollywood team angling to faithfully portray a topic he feels other films have botched.

Of note: Director Ryan Coogler invited Aldana to play a small role in one of the movie's early scenes, with Angela Bassett.

The big picture: Aldana says having a major blockbuster respectfully and faithfully show aspects of Indigenous culture can be an educational tool.

Lessons on Indigenous histories and cultures from across the Americas, including Native American history, are absent from many  U.S. school curricula.

"The hope is people recognize that there's so much more to learn and be appreciative of," Aldana says. 

"Maybe we can inspire a new generation of kids to see ancient Mesoamerica in a completely different way. And that is mind-blowing."

 Subscribe to Axios Latino to get vital news about Latinos and Latin America, delivered to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

How a professor helped shape "Black Panther" sequel's Mesoamerican story

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" introduces Namor with a revised backstory rooted in Mayan and Aztec history.

Gerardo Aldana drawing Mayan hieroglyphs 

Gerardo Aldana drawing Mayan hieroglyphs during a visit to Popolá, Yucatán, in 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Gerardo Aldana

Movies

Axios from Tel Aviv

The government of Thailand notified the Israeli government that it received a commitment from Iran not to conduct attacks against Israeli targets on Thai soil, according to an Israeli Foreign Ministry cable and two Israeli officials briefed on the matter.

Why it matters: Thailand is a major tourism destination for Israelis, and Israeli officials have accused Iranian operatives several times in the past decade of attempting to conduct attacks on Israelis in the country. 

Last June, Thai media outlets reported that Thailand's security forces were on high alert due to concerns about possible Iranian agents in the country, and the arrest of an Iranian agent in nearby Indonesia.

Behind the scenes: On Nov. 15, the political director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Aliza Bin-Noun, met with a senior Thai Foreign Ministry official in Bangkok, according to a copy of the diplomatic cable seen by Axios. 

The official briefed Bin-Noun on a trip he took to Tehran in August, in which the main issue discussed was security.

According to the Israeli cable, the senior Thai diplomat said he had asked the Iranians to reiterate a commitment, first made one year earlier but not publicly known until now, not to target Israelis in Thailand, and the Iranians stressed that they would adhere to that commitment.

Two Israeli officials confirmed the account but spoke on condition anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the meeting. 

Thailand's Ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya told Axios this account was inaccurate but would not specify which aspects. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “We don’t comment in the media on the contents of diplomatic conversations."

The big picture: Over the last year, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has claimed to have thwarted numerous plots against Israeli officials, businessmen and tourists in countries including Turkey, Georgia and Cyprus.

Israel is particularly concerned about potential attacks on its citizens overseas because the Iranian government has threatened to avenge the assassinations of several Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, for which it blames Israel.

Iran has repeatedly denied targeting Israelis in third countries, dismissing reports of an alleged plot against Israeli tourists in Istanbul this summer, for example, as "baseless."

Flashback: Three Iranians were imprisoned for an attempted bomb attack in Thailand in 2012, a day after Israeli diplomats were targeted in India and Georgia. 

They were released in 2020 as part of what the Thai government called a prisoner transfer that included the release of Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was arrested in Iran in 2018.

Scoop: Iran committed to Thailand that it won't target Israeli tourists, cable says

Thailand is a major tourist destination for Israelis.

An El Al Israel Airlines plane at Bangkok airport. Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty

The USMNT's win-or-go-home match against Iran has become more than a game amid heightened geopolitical turmoil.

Catch up quick: Iran's morality police, tasked with enforcing strict codes around women's dress and behavior, arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September for improperly wearing her hijab. Amini died in custody, allegedly after being beaten by officers.

Her death was the catalyst for the uprising that has erupted across the country as citizens protest women's lack of rights. At least 450 protesters have been killed, and another 18,000 arrested.

President Biden said "we're gonna free Iran" in a speech this month, and the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned multiple Iranian officials for their anti-protest behavior.

State of play: Iranian soccer players have continually supported the protesters, covering their uniforms before a September friendly and refusing to sing the national anthem before their World Cup opener.

Some players have remained close with top government officials, though, with two staging a controversial photoshoot with the president at his office days before leaving for Qatar.

The Iranian government on Monday threatened players' families with imprisonment and torture if they fail to "behave" before today's game, CNN reports.

The latest: In its own act of protest, U.S. Soccer removed the Islamic Republic's emblem from the Iranian flag in a since-deleted social media post this weekend to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights," per AP.

Iran responded by calling for the USMNT to be expelled from the World Cup.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter apologized for the post on Monday, saying he and his players had no idea it was coming.

Flashback: The last World Cup match between the U.S. and Iran in 1998 is considered one of the most politically charged ever, with the nations referring to each other as "The Great Satan" and an "outlaw state." Iran won that match, 2-1, to knock out the Americans.

Geopolitical tensions loom over U.S.-Iran World Cup match

The USMNT's win-or-go-home match against Iran has become more than a game.

An Iran fan protests during Iran's match against Wales. Photo: Youssef Loulidi/Getty Images

world cup

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Just about 24 titles in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry are by Latino or Hispanic artists. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is trying change that. 

The big picture: Latinos are severely underrepresented in all media, from movies to literature and journalism. 

Driving the news: The CHC on Monday submitted a list of 33 songs and albums for consideration in the 2023 registry, shared first with Axios Latino. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), a CHC member, has for years pushed to increase representation of Latinos in media. 

The list, curated from suggestions made on social media and elsewhere, includes "Amor Eterno" by Juan Gabriel, a staple at Mexican American parties; "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira; Rage Against the Machine's self-titled album; "El Rey" by Vicente Fernández and "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano. 

The CHC focused on artists who aren't already on the registry.

Details: Every year since 2002 the Librarian of Congress, with help from the National Recording Preservation Board, picks 25 titles that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old, according to the Library. 

The deadline for public nominations for the 2023 registry passed, but the board has been in touch with Castro and will consider the nominations, Steve Leggett, program director for the board, tells Axios. 

Because of the requirement that titles be at least 10 years old and can date back to the earliest recordings, the registry currently reflects a time when "Latinos were not given commercial opportunities" and were a smaller share of the population, Leggett said via email. 

"To fill this gap, we do make special efforts to uncover recordings by Hispanic artists and other diverse artists of color," Leggett added. 

What they're saying: "I want for the contributions of our musicians to be recognized and celebrated in the way that they deserve, because they have made a mark in America," Castro said. 

What's next: The National Recording Preservation Board will meet next week to discuss the submissions, and the 2023 registry will be announced in late March or April.  

Dozens more Latino musicians nominated to Library of Congress registry

Just about 24 titles in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry are by Latino or Hispanic artists.

Illustration of a record with a map of Latin America on it.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Three Nigerian men who survived an 11-day journey from Lagos to Spain's Canary Islands while stowed away on the rudder of an oil tanker were rescued by the Spanish coast guard on Monday, AP reported.

Driving the news: The Maltese-flagged Alithini II, a chemical and oil tanker,  arrived in Las Palmas Port in Gran Canaria on Monday after leaving Nigeria on Nov. 17, according to Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking website.

A photo distributed by the Spanish coast guard on Tuesday showed the three men perched on the ship's rudder.

The three men were taken into the port and attended to by medical services, the coast guard tweeted Monday.

The men showed symptoms of dehydration and hypothermia, and one remained hospitalized on Tuesday, AP reported.

The big picture: Dangerous crossings from Africa to the Canary Islands have increased significantly since late 2019 after authorities instituted tighter checks on Mediterranean routes, per the Guardian.

The men face being returned home in accordance with stowaway laws unless they are able to claim asylum in Spain, Reuters reported.

Spanish data showed that migration by sea to the Canary Islands jumped 51% in the first five months of the year compared to last year, per CNN.

In 2021, about 22,500 migrants crossed by sea from the West African coastline to the Canary Islands and more than 1,100 died at sea, according to the Red Cross.

Nigerian stowaways survive 11-day journey to Canary Islands on rudder of ship

The men face being returned home in accordance with stowaway laws unless they're able to claim asylum in Spain.

The three stowaways perched on the rudder of the Alithini II.Photo: Salvamento Maritimo

Migrants

The Chinese government and international labor laws have failed to protect Chinese laborers working in state-backed infrastructure projects overseas, according to a new report.

Why it matters: Overseas workers can be caught in a no man's land between China's labor laws and those of host countries, putting thousands of workers at risk of exploitation.

What's happening: Chinese laborers working on Chinese state-funded infrastructure projects abroad may be subject to deceptive job ads, passport retention, wage withholding, physical violence and lack of contracts, according to the report by U.S.-based nonprofit China Labor Watch.

Such experiences indicate forced labor, according to the UN's International Labor Organization. The agency declined to comment for this story.

The China Labor Watch report focused on China's Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects across Eurasia and other parts of the world. Most BRI projects are supported with capital through the Chinese government.

In July, the U.S. State Department documented forced overtime, physical violence and contract irregularities among workers on BRI projects, calling these abuses "forced labor." The U.S. called on all BRI-participating countries to closely scrutinize the working conditions in related projects.

By the numbers: There were nearly 1 million overseas Chinese workers at the end of 2019, but their numbers dropped to less than 600,000 at the end of last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chinese government data.

Yes, but: Many undocumented Chinese workers aren't included in these statistics, according to the report.

What they're saying: "The Chinese government bears the primary responsibility for the forced labor and abuses among its overseas workers," Li Qiang, founder and executive director of China Labor Watch, told Axios, adding a goal of the report is to influence China's labor policies.

"Beijing seems to have shifted the blame to individual companies, but it's very important to note that these BRI projects are backed by the state," he added.

The other side: Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Beijing encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate overseas based on international rules and local laws.

"We oppose groundless accusations and urge relevant parties to stop making up excuses to smear the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Details: China Labor Watch contacted more than 2,000 workers in eight BRI countries for this report, including Algeria, Serbia and Indonesia.

In a survey of more than 300 Chinese workers employed at several companies in Indonesia, the group found a clear pattern of labor abuse. About half of the workers reported no income at the time, and nearly 60% of them were working illegally on business, tourist or investment visas, the report said. The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower didn't respond to requests for comment.

Many workers told China Labor Watch that they tried to file complaints with the Chinese consulates in their host countries, but they were told to negotiate with employers themselves, the report noted.

Chinese workers at a copper mine in Serbia told local media BIRN last year they worked 12 hours per day and were otherwise confined to their living quarters. They also said they were forced to hand over their passports.

Between the lines: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the plight of many Chinese workers overseas, the report said. 

For example, employers took advantage of prohibitively expensive airfares to return home to keep workers past the contract end date.

How it works: A major factor for abuse is outsourcing, the report said. Much like infrastructure projects in China, almost all BRI projects are subcontracted, which ultimately puts the responsibility for worker conditions on individual foremen.

"These firms should not be permitted to simply outsource the exploitation of the workforce and then plead ignorance," Aaron Halegua, a New York-based lawyer and an expert on labor rights and human trafficking, told Axios.

The report emphasized that each host country has its own laws and policies regarding foreign workers, and conditions for Chinese workers vary from place to place. 

But even in countries with strong legal protection for foreign workers, such as Serbia, bilateral agreements with China that suspend domestic labor laws for Chinese workers and lax enforcement of protective policies can still expose them to abuse.

What’s next: The report made several policy recommendations to improve Chinese workers' conditions in BRI-related projects.

It recommended China ratify several international labor treaties, including the Migration for Employment Convention and the Migrant Workers Convention.

Report: Chinese workers overseas trapped in state-backed projects

Many Chinese workers overseas have been saddled with debt and unable to return home, a new report said.

World

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