The Justice Department charged a man on Friday who was tasked with planning an Iranian plot to murder President-elect Trump ahead of the election.
The big picture: U.S. officials have long warned about Iran targeting American leaders. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Friday Iran poses a "grave" threat to the United States' national security.
President-elect Trump told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a phone call on Friday — their first since 2017 — that he will work to end the war in Gaza, according to a statement from the Palestinian presidency and a Palestinian official briefed on the call.
Why it matters: Abbas and Trump had not spoken since Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. embassy there. But the call is the latest sign the Palestinian leadership wants to start fresh with Trump after a bruising four years when he was last in the White House.
Donald Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday included two surprises: Elon Musk was also on the line, and Zelensky was somewhat reassured by what he heard from the president-elect, two sources with knowledge of the call tell Axios.
Why it matters: The new details of the call underscore how influential Musk could be in the second Trump administration, and the uncertainty over how exactly Trump will approach Ukraine.
Nearly 70% of the verified fatalities in Gaza as a result of the Israel-Hamas war are women and children, according to a new report published Friday by the UN Human Rights Office.
Why it matters: The report's findings indicate a "systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law," the UN Human Rights Office said in a press release.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Thursday that North Korean troops have engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.
Why it matters: The clashes represent a stark escalation in the war as President-elect Trump, who has repeatedly criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine and suggested the country instead make a deal with Russia, prepares to reshape U.S. policy in the region.
President-elect Trump's decisive reelection this week poses a major roadblock for countries seeking to address global climate change via the U.N. negotiations process.
Why it matters: With the world now on course to sail past the Paris temperature targets, countries can't wait until 2029 to curtail emissions and get money flowing to the most vulnerable nations.
A federal judge in Texas on Thursday ruled against a Biden administration program for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
Why it matters: The ruling means roughly 500,000 people who lack legal status but are married to a citizen will have a longer process to get a green card. The program, called "Keeping Families Together," would also have benefited stepchildren of U.S. citizens by creating an easier path to citizenship.
Hours after Donald Trump recaptured the White House, at least one major American company is already making plans to shift production out of China.
Why it matters: Trump has threatened to ramp up tariffs on China to put pressure on Beijing, but experts fear a trade war could reignite inflation here at home.
The White House is committed to making sure Ukraine has "everything that they need on the battlefield" during President Biden's limited time left in office, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a Thursday briefing.
Why it matters: President-elect Trump has openly and repeatedly criticized military aid to Ukraine, triggering concerns about what his policy approach to the war-torn nation will look like among NATO allies.
1. Puerto Rico's new governor will be Jenniffer González, who won almost 40% of the votes on Tuesday.
González, who belongs to the pro-statehood New Progressive Party and is the non-voting Puerto Rican representative in the U.S. Congress, campaigned with promises to lower living costs on the island.
2. A last-ditch effort in Mexico to stop a judicial reform that analysts say could break checks and balances and lead to partisan control of the courts failed on Tuesday.
Seven Supreme Court members voted to discuss amendments to the reform, but eight votes were needed. The amendments would've made it so only some judgeships instead of all would be up for election.
Shortly after firing Israel's defense minister, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Biden administration on Tuesday that he's not planning a wider purge of military, security and intelligence leaders, two U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Yoav Gallant was the Biden administration's key partner in Israel as it fights a multifront war in the Middle East. His firing shocked the White House, and the Pentagon and raised questions about the reasons for Netanyahu's national security decisions.
Mexico will need to carefully navigate its relationship with the U.S. in the second Trump administration given his promises of mass deportations, tariffs and threats to send American troops south of the border, experts say.
Why it matters: Mexico is the United States' largest trading partner, and the shared 1,950-mile border also means the bilateral relation is key for dealing with drug and arms trafficking as well as migration flows.
Growing Latino support for some of President-elect Trump's harsh immigration policies is nothing new: Decades ago, anti-immigrant sentiment was the status quo among many Latino civil rights leaders.
Why it matters: Latinos helped propel Trump to the White House despite the racist rhetoric he's used to describe undocumented immigrants and his promises for mass deportations, which historically have swept up some Hispanic U.S. citizens.
The number of Latinos in the U.S. Senate is increasing from five to six — or possibly seven, if Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego wins his bid in Arizona.
The big picture: Latinos' power in the next Congress is still unclear because eight racesin the House remain undecided.
President-elect Donald Trump was backed by 46% of Latino voters Tuesday, surpassing Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush to win the biggest share of the national Latino vote by a Republican presidential contender in modern times, a new exit poll shows.
Why it matters: Trump's historic gains among Latino voters in a range of demographic voting blocs — particularly men — helped push Vice President Harris to the worst showing among Latinos for a Democratic presidential candidate in 20 years.
President-elect Trump wants to put familiar faces on his national security team after being burned during his first term.
Why it matters: Sources said Trump doesn't want former generals on his national security team and prefers businessmen and CEOs — but he's also considering a line-up of loyalists in prominent D.C. positions.
President-elect Trump held his first discussions with world leaders on Wednesday since his presidential election win, as he received a series of congratulatory phone calls.
The big picture: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was "among the first to call" Trump, while India's prime minister and the offices of the Canadian PM and South Korean president also said they had conversations with the Republican leader.
