Axios

U.S. national security consulting company Orbis recently delivered to the Israeli government a study on how to securely deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza, according to two Israeli officials.

Why it matters: The U.S. has pressed Israel to get more aid into Gaza, but the breakdown of law and order in the enclave means even the supplies that do enter are frequently looted, and often end up on the black market. Orbis was tasked with delivering a plan to safely distribute the aid.

1. About 130 Venezuelans detained after anti-government protests in late July were released last weekend.

• That includes about 50 young people and groups of women who had been held in high security prisons.
• The opposition attributed the release to the pressure placed on the regime when the cases were elevated to international courts because almost all the detentions had been arbitrary.

2. Large swaths of Honduras are underwater after tropical storm Sara struck the country last Thursday and through the weekend.

• More than 1,700 neighborhoods have been cut off by flooding and destroyed bridges, according to authorities.
• Although Sara did not develop into a hurricane, it brought heavy rains and stayed over Honduras for days, leading rivers and lakes to overflow.

President-elect Trump has vowed to crack down on immigration and start mass deportations on Day 1 of his presidency, but the operation will be difficult to pull off without major structural overhauls.

Why it matters: A backlog of nearly 4 million immigration cases and a shortage of immigration judges and detention centers can hinder quick deportation.

CrowdStrike has identified a brand-new China-linked cyber-espionage operation that's infiltrating telecommunications networks, according to a report first shared with Axios.

Why it matters: China has shown a new willingness to spy on its adversaries using whatever means possible — putting any remaining diplomatic relations between Beijing and the rest of the world in jeopardy.

The late Benny Martinez, a Mexican American civil rights leader who helped organize a historic meeting between LULAC and President John F. Kennedy, now has a post office named after him.

The big picture: The move comes as Latino elected officials push for more buildings and parks to be renamed in honor of important Hispanic figures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine on Tuesday to effectively lower his country's threshold for using nuclear weapons.

Why it matters: The new doctrine suggests Russia could use nuclear weapons to respond to attacks by Ukraine carried out with American support.

Tuesday marks 1,000 days since explosions jolted Kyiv awake on Feb. 24, 2022, Russian troops mounted assaults on three axes, and Ukraine went to war, Axios' Dave Lawler writes.

The big picture: Ukraine halted the Russian offensive far short of Kyiv before launching a counteroffensive. Since then, much blood has been shed for much more limited gains. Now it's Russia that's gaining ground.

Civil liberties advocates worried about President-elect Trump's plan for mass deportations are suing the federal government to get information on how authorities could rapidly remove people from the U.S.

Driving the news: The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles on Monday.

With mere months until President-elect Trump's inauguration, Biden administration officials are in a race against time to safeguard their goals and achievements.

Why it matters: For President Biden — who sought to secure a legacy as the most progressive president since FDR — Trump's second term in the White House threatens to undermine many of his signature achievements.

President Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein said on Tuesday in Beirut that Lebanon and Israel have reached "a moment of decision-making" regarding a ceasefire agreement.

Why it matters: Hochstein traveled to Beirut on Monday in an effort to finalize a deal to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

A global alliance against poverty and hunger was one of the blockbuster agreements made Monday at the launch of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Why it matters: The agreement came during one of the last meetings President Biden is set to have with Latin American leaders — and as uncertainty loomed over how President-elect Trump will handle relations when he takes office.

The Biden administration on Monday sanctioned three private Israeli companies involved in building settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Why it matters: It's a significant broadening of U.S. sanctions against settlers, and the first time sanctions were imposed on private building companies involved in settlement expansion.

Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether Israel's military actions in Gaza legally constitute genocide, according to a book due out this week.

Why it matters: The pope has previously criticized Israel's attacks on Gaza as "immoral" and disproportionate, but had stopped short of calling for an investigation into whether they violate international law.

America witnessed tectonic shifts in politics and society in 2024 that will reshape elections, business, culture and the nation for years to come.

• X displaced Fox News as the most powerful platform for Republicans.
• Elon Musk and tech billionaires emerged as lasting, public forces in U.S. politics.

President Biden approved Ukraine using long-range missiles to fire against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia's territory, multiple outlets report.

Why it matters: It's the first time Biden has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike inside Russia. A source with knowledge of the issue confirmed the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) was only authorized for use in the Kursk area, where North Korean troops have been deployed.