Axios

New Jersey officials say hundreds of migrants on buses bound for New York City have arrived in the state since Saturday.

Why it matters: Michael Gonnelli, mayor of Secaucus, said it "seems quite clear the bus operators are finding a way to thwart the requirements" of NYC Mayor Eric Adams' recent executive order requiring at least 32 hours' advanced notice of migrant buses arriving in the state.

The fact Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike on Tuesday likely didn't surprise many. Al-Arouri himself had long expected to be killed.

The big picture: The 57-year-old was one of the most wanted men in the Middle East, with close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hezbollah.

Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy chairman of Hamas' political bureau and the commander of the group's military wing in the occupied West Bank, was killed in a drone attack in a Beirut suburb on Tuesday, Hamas has confirmed.

The big picture: Israel hasn't claimed responsibility for the attack, but one Israeli and two U.S. officials told Axios that Israel was behind the strike. The attack is a serious blow to Hamas and could push the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group to escalate its attacks against Israel.

Major elections and debates about abortion and other contentious issues will likely take center stage in Latin America in 2024.

The big picture: El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele is up for re-election despite the country's constitution technically forbidding it. Meanwhile, Mexico is poised to elect its first woman president, and Panama, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and tentatively Venezuela as well will hold presidential elections.

Former President Trump's claim that undocumented immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country" — language echoing the rhetoric of Adolf Hitler — could turn reliably conservative Latino evangelicals against him, a top leader in the faith tells Axios.

Why it matters: Latino evangelicals are one of the fastest-growing segments among an increasingly influential voting bloc. In recent elections, they have helped shift some close races from Democrats to Republicans.

All 379 passengers and crew escaped a Japan Airlines jet that became engulfed in flames on a Tokyo runway on Tuesday after colliding with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft.

Driving the news: The pilot of the Coast Guard aircraft safely got out of the plane but the five remaining crew members on board were killed, per AP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Monday to "intensify the strikes" on Ukraine military targets after his forces bombarded the country with an unprecedented number of Iranian-made drones.

The big picture: The Ukrainian Air Force said in a Telegram post that it shot down 87 of the 90 "Shahed-type" drones on New Year's Eve — part of a wave of Russian military attacks to hit the country since Friday.

Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators gave Israel on Sunday a proposal for a new hostage deal, according to two Israeli officials and one source with knowledge of the proposal.

Why it matters: Israel rejected the proposal, but one of the Israeli officials said the offer shows Hamas is now ready to engage in negotiations on a new hostage deal, even as the fighting in Gaza continues. Hamas has said Israel must end the war before the group would negotiate a new hostage deal.

Israel's Supreme Court on Monday narrowly struck down a controversial law that's part of the Netanyahu government's judicial overhaul and limited the court's ability to review government decisions.

Why it matters: The dramatic ruling could thrust Israel back into a constitutional and political crisis amid the war in Gaza and concerns about a potential war with Lebanon.

Lights flashed, confetti fell and fireworks crackled around the world on Sunday night to mark the arrival of 2024.

Celebrations in photos:

In an ominous start to 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his New Year's address that "reunification" with Taiwan is inevitable — a stronger tone than he used last year.

Why it matters: Beijing claims the self-governing island and its recent military exercises and build-up have raised alarms over a potential invasion. With President Biden vowing to defend Taiwan, that scenario could lead to a superpower confrontation.