Axios

Israel will allow the UN to send experts to the northern Gaza Strip to evaluate the conditions for the future return of displaced Palestinian civilians, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said on Tuesday after his meetings with Israeli leaders.

Why it matters: While necessary, the move will only modestly advance the broader U.S. goal of allowing more than 1 million Palestinians who evacuated to the southern parts of the enclave to go back to their homes.

An Italian company that provides upholstery to automakers BMW, Jaguar, and Porsche says it will no longer buy leather from suppliers that invade forests in an Indigenous region of Paraguay.

The big picture: The Pasubio Group announced the decision late last month after years of the Ayoreo people's lobbying, saying it will do its part to help stop the deforestation of the Paraguayan Chaco, also known as the Patrimonio Natural y Cultural Ayoreo Totobiegosode (PNCAT).

Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, after months of uncertainty, is poised to be inaugurated this Sunday, but experts say some of his political foes will likely continue trying to hinder his administration.

The big picture: Arévalo ran on an anti-corruption platform, making him popular among voters who distrust politicians, some of whom have faced allegations or have been convicted of various types of wrongdoing.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The support of Taiwan's opposition party for the one-China principle can't bring true peace and could lead to Taiwan becoming like Hong Kong, rival Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate William Lai told reporters on Tuesday ahead of this weekend's election.

The big picture: Taiwan's relationship with China is a key issue this year as Beijing has increased its pressure on the island.

Russian authorities said on Tuesday that a U.S. national had been arrested on drug charges, making him the latest American to be detained in the country, AP reports.

Why it matters: Since the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Department of State has repeatedly warned Americans to leave Russia and refrain from visiting the country over fears that the Russian government is targeting Americans for detention.

Saturday's presidential election in Taiwan will be one of this year's most watched contests, as voters head to the polls to choose a new leader who will chart the future of the island's relations with China —a decision that will be felt far beyond the Indo-Pacific.

Why it matters: Taiwan is a potential U.S.-China flashpoint. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that China has the right to take Taiwan, by force if Beijing deems necessary.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says it's pouring $35 million into a campaign to engage with Black, Latino and Asian American and Pacific Islander voters ahead of this year's elections.

Why it matters: Democrats, including President Biden, have slowly been bleeding support among many of these voters.

Israeli officials will tell Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Tuesday that Israel won't allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza if Hamas doesn't agree to release more hostages, according to two senior Israeli officials.

The big picture: Making progress toward the return of Palestinians to their homes and ensuring they are not forcibly displaced from Gaza is one of the goals of Blinken's talks in Israel this week.

The world's number No. 1 risk this year is "The United States vs. itself," Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer writes in "Top Risks 2024" on Monday.

Driving the news: "With the outcome of the vote essentially a coin toss (at least for now), the only certainty is continued damage to America's social fabric, political institutions, and international standing," Bremmer said.