Nearly four years after pipe bombs were planted outside the Democratic and Republican parties' headquarters in Washington, D.C., the FBI on Thursday released new information and footage on the suspect.

The big picture: A Republican-led congressional panel issued a scathing report on the FBI's "failure to identify" the person who placed these undetonated devices on Jan. 5, 2021, on the same day as the bureau released the new details in the case.

• Former Capitol Police chief Steven Sund testified in 2021 that he believed bombs were planted on the eve of the Jan. 6 riot as a diversion intended to draw law enforcement resources away from the Capitol as violence escalated.
• However, investigators have not found clear evidence that this was the case.

Zoom in: Among the new evidence the FBI on Thursday shared for the first time was the estimated height of the suspect whose gender investigators have yet to determine: about 5 feet 7 inches tall.

• The newly released footage shows the suspect leaving a bomb outside the Democratic National Committee HQ.
• A narrator notes in the new video that the suspect was "wearing distinctive Nike Air Max speed turf shoes" and that "fewer than 25,000 of these shoes were sold between August 2018 and January 2021."

By the numbers: The FBI has "assessed more than 600 tips" and conducted more than 1,000 interviews that "have helped us advance the investigation, but they have not led us to identify the suspect," per a statement from David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the bureau's Washington field office.

What they're saying: The Committee on House Administration's oversight panel said in its report the FBI initially "yielded a promising array of data and revealed numerous persons of interest."

• Then resources were later diverted and "there has been little meaningful progress toward the apprehension of the suspect," according to the report.
• Representatives for the FBI did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Watch the FBI appeal in full, via YouTube:

Flashback: FBI increases reward to $500K for info on pipe bombs outside RNC, DNC headquarters

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas' entrance on Wednesday, killing the driver and wounding seven people, law enforcement officials said.

The big picture: Clark County/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a Wednesday afternoon briefing that "camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars" were found in the back of the truck. It wasn't immediately clear how they ignited.

• Investigators discovered via tracking through Tesla's charging stations that the truck was rented in Colorado using Turo, the car rental app that was also used in the New Orleans attack that killed at least 15 people.
• McMahill said there was no immediate indication of a connection between the two events, but "we are investigating every aspect of this."
• President Biden said in televised remarks Wednesday evening that law enforcement officers were investigating whether there was "any possible connection" between the Tesla Cybertruck explosion and the New Orleans attack. "Thus far, there's nothing to report on that," he said.

State of play: Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on his X platform earlier Wednesday that he had "confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself."

• The LVMPD said in a Wednesday morning statement on X urging people to avoid the area that officers were investigating the incident.
• Biden directed his team to offer any federal assistance needed in the incident, per a White House pool report Wednesday afternoon.
• Musk said in another post that the "whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now" and he'd post more information as soon he learned more.
• Musk, who will co-lead President-elect Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), added: "We've never seen anything like this."
• Video from the scene shows the Cybertruck engulfed in flames just outside the entrance to the hotel.
• McMahill said at a Wednesday briefing that the person inside the vehicle had died and that it was reported that those wounded in the incident had minor injuries.

What we're watching: "We're very well aware of what has happened in New Orleans with the event that occurred there and the number of victims there and the additional IEDs," McMahill said, in reference to the Bourbon Street pickup truck attack.

• "So as you can imagine, with an explosion here on iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe," he said.
• "We're looking for secondary devices ... there does not appear to be any further threat to our community now."

What they're saying: Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, shared a company statement on X noting the electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas.

• "The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority," added the second-eldest son of the president-elect.
• "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism."
• Representatives for the FBI, the Trump Organization, the White House and the president-elect did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

The FBI found more than 150 homemade bombs during a raid on a Virginia farm when they arrested a man on a firearms charge, federal prosecutors allege.

The big picture: Preliminarily assessments of the haul seized from Brad Kenneth Spafford's Isle of Wight County farm indicate it's "the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history," per a court filing from federal prosecutors. His defense lawyers say there's no evidence that he planned to commit any acts of violence.

• The 36-year-old Spafford allegedly used pictures of President Biden "for target practice," prosecutors said in the memorandum of support, filed Monday in U.S. federal court in Norfolk, seeking to keep Spafford in detention.
• The FBI found pipe bombs in a detached garage and in a backpack in the home's bedroom that was labeled "#nolivesmatter" — an apparent reference to an extremist movement that promotes violence.

Context: The movement "promotes targeted attacks, mass killings, and criminal activity, and has historically encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse," per an August threat assessment from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

Zoom in: Spafford was taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act after being arrested on Dec. 17. More charges were expected to be filed.

• Defense lawyers called for Spafford's immediate release in a Tuesday filing.
• "There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical," they wrote.

What we're watching: The federal judge overseeing the case said Spafford should be released under certain conditions including electronic monitoring, but agreed to keep him in detention while government lawyers appeal the decision, per VPM.

U.S. cities joined millions of people around the world in New Year's celebrations ringing in 2025 on Wednesday.

The big picture: Countries in the Asia-Pacific region were the first to mark New Year's Day, with Auckland, New Zealand, the first major city to see Jan. 1, 2025.

Go deeper: Paid prenatal leave, child influencer protections, no taxes on rent: New 2025 laws

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos and details of New Year's celebrations around the world.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned Tuesday of "illegitimate activity" that he said threatened the independence of judges.

The big picture: Roberts outlined in his annual year-end report areas of concern including violence, intimidation, disinformation and "threats to defy lawfully entered judgments."

• The chief justice wrote that within the past few years "elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard" for federal court rulings.
• "These dangerous suggestions, however sporadic, must be soundly rejected. Judicial independence is worth preserving," he added.

The intrigue: Roberts did not name anyone as an example.

• However, the Reagan-appointed U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth spoke out against public figures who've tried to "rewrite history" by describing imprisoned Jan. 6 rioters as "hostages" after President-elect Trump and some of his allies described them as such.
• Meanwhile, President Biden criticized a Supreme Court majority decision that Roberts wrote, which ruled in Trump's Jan. 6 case that presidents have immunity for "official acts." The case was dismissed after the Republican leader won November's election.

State of play: Roberts in his report raised concern about violence against judges across the U.S., noting that in 2005 and 2020, "close relatives of federal judges were shot to death by assailants intent on harming the judges who had handled their cases."

• He noted that in 2022 and 2023, state judges in Wisconsin and Maryland were murdered at their homes.
• "These tragic events highlight the vulnerability of judges who sign their names to the decisions they render each day and return home each night to communities, where they remain involved as neighbors, volunteers, and concerned citizens," Roberts wrote.

Zoom in: "Public officials, too, regrettably have engaged in recent attempts to intimidate judges — for example, suggesting political bias in the judge's adverse rulings without a credible basis for such allegations," Roberts said

• "Within the past year we also have seen the need for state and federal bar associations to come to the defense of a federal district judge whose decisions in a high-profile case prompted an elected official to call for her impeachment," he wrote.
• "Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed," Roberts added.
• "Public officials certainly have a right to criticize the work of the judiciary, but they should be mindful that intemperance in their statements when it comes to judges may prompt dangerous reactions by others."

Read the 2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary in full, via DocumentCloud:

Flashback: Chief Justice John Roberts urges "humility" on AI

The U.S. is sending Ukraine $5.9 billion in military aid and budget support, the Biden administration announced on Monday.

Why it matters: It's part of President Biden's pledge for a "surge" in aid for Kyiv before he's succeeded by President-elect Trump, who's criticized the U.S. givingUkraine military assistance.

• "At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in this war over the remainder of my time in office," Biden said in a statement announcing $2.5 billion in security assistance for Kyiv on Monday.

Driving the news: The aid will include an additional $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package, per Biden's statement.

• Elsewhere, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced the U.S. has made available $3.4 billion in direct budget support for Ukraine, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department.

What he's saying: "I've directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible — including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons," Biden said in his statement.

Go deeper: Biden pledges more U.S. arms to Ukraine after Russia's Christmas attack

A South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-Yeol on Tuesday morning local time, Yonhap News Agency first reported.

Why it matters: The warrant related to Yoon's brief martial law declaration this month that sparked widespread protests and shocked allies would mark the first time one has been issued for an incumbent president in South Korea, per local media.

Driving the news: The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials confirmed in a media statement that Seoul Western District Court had approved the warrant.

The big picture: Yoon was impeached and suspended from presidential duties for his surprise martial law declaration, but he maintains he acted out of concerns about "pro-North Korean" elements when he made the emergency declaration.

• South Korean police announced earlier this month they were investigating Yoon for possible insurrection and he has, through his lawyers, denied the allegations.
• Yoon could face life in prison or the death penalty if he were charged and convicted of such offenses because presidential immunity doesn't extend to insurrection or treason in South Korea.

Go deeper: South Korean president hit with travel ban after martial law mayhem

A state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will take place on Jan. 9 at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the White House announced.

The big picture: President Biden has called for a national day of mourning that same day for his longtime "dear friend," who died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday at age 100, per a White House statement.

• Funeral proceedings for the Democrat are set to be held in Georgia and Washington, D.C., in the leadup to the national state funeral, which the cathedral said will be invitation-only and closed to members of the public but broadcast live on its YouTube channel.
• The Carter Center has set up a website detailing the funeral plans.

What to expect: A motorcade will bring Carter's body from Plains to the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, where he'll lie in repose during the weekend before being flown to D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

• Biden said last year that Carter had asked him to deliver his eulogy.
• The U.S. Northern Command commander will be the combatant commander responsible for the conduct of the funeral, per a statement from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
• The task force has posted a full breakdown of the funeral schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 4: The state funeral begins with the arrival of the Carter family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Ga., at 10:15am, per the JTF-NCR.

• A hearse carrying Carter's remains will travel in a motorcade from the medical center, through Plains, to his boyhood home for a brief pause in front of his family's farm at 10:50am, where the National Park Service will render a salute and ring the farm bell 39 times.
• The procession will continue to Atlanta at 10:55am, where it will stop at Georgia's State Capitol for a moment of silence with Gov. Brian Kemp, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, other officials and Georgia State Patrol troopers at 3pm.
• Carter's remains will be transported to the Carter Presidential Center for a service at 4pm, after which he'll lie in repose so mourners can "pay their respects" from 7pm to 6am daily until the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, per the JTF-NCR post.

Jan. 7: "Carter departs the Carter Presidential Center one last time" at 9:30am to fly with family from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., at 10:40am to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, arriving at 12:45pm, according to the JTF-NCR.

• Carter's body will be transferred with ceremony to the hearse upon arrival before the parties will travel by motorcade at 1:15pm to the U.S. Navy Memorial. There, his remains will transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for a funeral procession to the U.S. Capitol at 2pm.
• "Upon arrival at the U.S. Capitol, the late president is carried by military body bearers into the Rotunda where members of Congress will pay their respects during a service at 3pm," per the JTF-NCR. "Carter will then lie in state while the military maintains a guard of honor. The public is invited to pay their respects as he lies in state from 7 p.m. to midnight."

Jan. 8: The late president will lie in state and members of the public can pay their respects from 7am that day until 7am on Jan. 9.

Jan. 9: "Carter departs the U.S. Capitol with ceremony for his last time" at 9am, according to the JTF-NCR.

• The motorcade then travels to Washington National Cathedral "for a brief arrival ceremony" at 9:30am, followed by the National Funeral Service at 10am.
• Carter and his family will travel at 11:15am after the service to Joint Base Andrews, Md., for his final journey home to Georgia, arriving at Fort Moore at 2pm.
• A motorcade including Carter's hearse will then travel to Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, arriving at 3:30pm, with a private funeral service at held at 3:45pm.
• After the service, there will be a private interment at the Carter residence at 5:20pm.
• "The public is invited to line the motorcade route as Carter and his family travel through his beloved hometown of Plains, Georgia to the late president's final resting place," the JTF-NCR post says.
• "Prior to interment, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter's naval service and time as commander-in-chief shortly after the motorcade's arrival at the residence."

What else is happening: U.S. flags will fly at half-staff on all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels for 30 days.

• Biden issued an executive order Monday to close all executive departments and federal agencies on Jan. 9 "as a mark of respect" for Carter.
• Financial markets will be largely closed for the national day of mourning.

Flashback: The last state funeral for a U.S. president was for George H.W. Bush in 2018, which Carter attended with the five other living presidents.

Go deeper: White House solar panels still power Carter's environmental legacy

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Azerbaijan has demanded that Russia admit its guilt over a Christmas Day plane crash that killed 38 people, the country's President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday.

The big picture: Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev for the Azerbaijan Airlines crash occurring in Russian airspace, but a Kremlin statement made clear he wasn't accepting responsibility for the incident.

• The crash happened near the Kazakh city of Aktau after flight J2-8243 had diverted following attempts to land in Chechnya's capital Grozny, Russia, where the Kremlin has said Russian air defense systems were firing to repel Ukrainian drones.

Driving the news: "We can clearly say today that the plane was shot down by Russia. This is a fact, and no one can deny this fact," Aliyev said in a state TV interview, according to a transcript posted to the president's website.

• "We are not saying that this was done intentionally, but it was done," he added.

Zoom in: Aliyev said Azerbaijani officials had "clearly expressed our demands" to their Russian counterparts.

• "First of all, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Secondly, it must acknowledge its guilt," he said.
• "Thirdly, those responsible must be punished, brought to criminal responsibility, and compensation must be paid to the Azerbaijani state, to the injured passengers and crew members. These are our conditions," Aliyev added.
• "The first of these was fulfilled yesterday. I do hope that the other conditions will also be accepted."

Go deeeper: What to know about the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash

A severe storm system that's killed at least four people as it unleashed multiple tornadoes was moving into parts of the central-southern Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast on Sunday.

The big picture: Dozens of tornadoes were reported across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas over the weekend, causing delays and some cancelations at airports across the region during a busy weekend of holiday travel.

• Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed the deaths of one person in Adams County and another in Lowndes County from the extreme weather, along with multiple injuries as officials assessed storm damage across the state.
• Another person died in a storm-related accident on a road in Iredell County, North Carolina, and the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that one person was killed and four others were injured in the Liverpool area south of Houston, Texas, where a suspected tornado struck on Saturday.

Zoom in: Just north of Houston, the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said on Facebook that EF-3 tornado damaged over 300 structures and left eight to 10 people with minor injuries.

• Widespread damage was also reported in Athens, Ala., where the National Weather Service said on X Sunday preliminary information showed EF-1 tornado damage with estimated 100 mph wind speeds "with a max path width of 160 yards."

Zoom out: The Storm Prediction Center had issued a rare "moderate risk" outlook, or level 4 out of 5 on the threat scale, for parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, along with a high-end "Particularly Dangerous Situation" tornado watch for southeastern Arkansas, central and southwestern Louisiana, southwestern Mississippi and southeastern Texas on Saturday.

Between the lines: Climate change is increasing the frequency and magnitude of precipitation extremes, studies show.

• Research indicates that climate change impacts conditions in which thunderstorms form and may be leading to larger outbreaks, though fewer of them, by adding to the instability of the atmosphere while simultaneously cutting back on wind shear.
• And when both ingredients are present in enough abundance, major outbreaks can occur, Axios' senior climate reporter Andrew Freedman notes.

Go deeper: What we know about how climate change affects tornado outbreaks

President Joe Biden said former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Sunday at age 100, represented "what it means to live a life" with "meaning and purpose, a life of principle, faith and humility."

The big picture: The two Democrats' enduring friendship began after then-Sen. Biden endorsed Carter for president in 1976. On Sunday, the president shared how the former president and his wife, the late former first lady Rosalynn Carter, were there for him when his son Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015.

What he's saying: Biden said the death of his "dear friend" was a "sad day," but it brought back "an incredible amount" of good memories of a "remarkable leader," who was a statesman and humanitarian.

• "It was not only his policies," said Biden, who remembered the Carters as "very kind."
• It was "his character, his decency," continued Biden, who described Carter as an example of "simple decency."
• He added: "Can you imagine Jimmy Carter walking by someone who needs something and just keeps walking? Can you imagine Jimmy Carter referring to someone by the way they look or the way they talk? I can't. I can't."
• While some could see Carter as "a man of a bygone era with honesty, character, faith and humility," Biden said he saw him as "not only of our times, but for all times" — someone who embodies "the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away."

More from Axios:

• Jimmy Carter's life in photos
• 10 memorable Jimmy Carter quotes
• "A man of great character": All 4 living presidents pay tribute to Jimmy Carter

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that then-Sen. Biden was not the first person to endorse Carter for president in 1976.

President Biden, President-elect Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were among those leaving tributes on Sunday to former President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100.

The big picture: Biden and first lady Jill Biden said they had the honor of calling Carter a "dear friend" for over six decades and remembered him as "a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism."

• "With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us," Biden said in the statement.
• "He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe."
• Biden remembered at a briefing later Sunday how the late president and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, were there for him when his son Beau Biden died. "Jimmy Carter is an example of ... simple decency, simple decency," he said.

Zoom in: Biden, then a Delaware senator, gave Carter his first endorsement for president in 1976 and the two built a lasting friendship. Biden visited the Carters in their Plains, Georgia, home in 2021 as the former president was unable to attend Biden's inauguration.

What they're saying:

Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that Carter's life was "a testament to the power of service" — as a lieutenant in the Navy, the 76th governor of Georgia, and the 39th U.S. president.

• "He reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion," said Harris, the last presidential candidate Carter voted for after his son revealed that the former president was hoping to live long enough to vote for the VP.
• "I will always remember his kindness, wisdom, and profound grace. His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come. Our world is a better place because of President Carter."

Obama on X called Carter "a remarkable man," who "taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service."

Trump wrote on Truth Social that those who've "been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History."

• He added: "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude."

Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a joint statement remembered Carter for his commitment to civil rights and for living to "serve others — until the end."

• Bush and former first lady Laura Bush said in a statement that Carter was "a man of deeply held convictions," who "was loyal to his family, his community, and his country" and "dignified the office" of president of the U.S.
• "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency," they said. "His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations."

What's next: Biden directed that Jan. 9 be a national day of mourning for Carter and U.S. flags will fly at half-staff on all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels, per a Sunday night White House statement.

• Biden said in his earlier statement that he will order a full state funeral for Carter, though no additional information was immediately announced.

More from Axios:

• Jimmy Carter's life in photos
• 10 memorable Jimmy Carter quotes
• How Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden built an enduring friendship

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from the White House, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush.

The original Popeye and Tintin characters will enter the public domain when their copyright expires next week, along with thousands of other comics, books, songs and films.

Why it matters: Any creator will have the legal right to use the iconic characters in new works as they see fit from New Year's Day, as long as it's the 95-year-old comic strip versions. Filmmakers are already working on three Popeye horror movies.

The big picture: In addition to copyrighted works from 1929 entering the U.S. public domain, Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain, writes that intellectual property protection will also expire on sound recordings from 1924 on Jan. 1, 2025.

• That applies to "The Karnival Kid," in which Mickey Mouse speaks for the first time. Copyrights on the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the silent film "Steamboat Willie" expired this year.
• Mickey debuts his familiar white gloves and speaks his first words in "The Karnival Kid," "Hot dogs! Hot dogs!" Jenkins notes in her online post.

What else we're watching: The Marx Brothers' first feature film will enter the public domain, as will Alfred Hitchcock's first sound movie, "Blackmail."

• In song, the copyrights will lift on George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Arthur Freed's "Singin' in the Rain."
• Books to enter the public domain will include Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" and Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own."

Fun fact: The character Buck Rogers "first appeared in 1929 and is public domain in 2025, but technically the futuristic space hero has already been copyright-free for decades, despite claims that he was still copyrighted," Jenkins writes.

• "This is because the copyright registration for the Buck Rogers comic strip was not renewed, so that its copyright expired after 28 years. Also, the original version of the character was actually introduced in a novella as 'Anthony Rogers' in 1928; that character has long been public domain as well."

Go deeper: Mickey and Minnie Mouse lose copyright protection

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday vehemently denied President-elect Trump's claims of Chinese interference in the Panama Canal.

Why it matters: Trump has accused Panamanian authorities of charging "exorbitant" shipping rates and cited the increasing dominance of China's government in trade throughout the Americas as a reason to take control of the Panama Canal, one of the world's most crucial pieces of infrastructure that the U.S. ceded in 1999.

Driving the news: The president-elect doubled down in a Christmas Day message, writing on Truth Social: "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal."

What they're saying: "There is absolutely not any interference" from China or any other nation in the operation of the canal, Mulino said during a Thursday briefing, emphasizing that Panama is open for business equally to all interested parties.

• "If they're Chinese, if they're Costa Rican, if they're American, all are welcome who want to invest in the country. There is no discrimination here in foreign investment," he said.
• "There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God," added an animated Mulino, addressing Trump's post directly. "It's nonsense. There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal."
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Between the lines: China's government has in recent years heavily invested in operations in the Canal Zone, raising concerns about its neutrality.

• It's the primary source of products going through the Colón Free Trade Zone, a free port in Panama dedicated to re-exporting a variety of merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean, noted the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2021.
• Beijing's "increasing presence in and around the Canal has made the waterway a flashpoint for U.S.-China competition over spheres of influence," added the CSIS in the report.

Go deeper: Trump demands return of Panama Canal if rates aren't cut

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more context.

Authorities in Kazakhstan are investigating the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in the country, which killed 38 people and injured 29 others on Christmas Day.

The big picture: Flight J2-8243 was diverted while en route from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, to Grozny in southern Russia.

• Images of the incident shared online show the Embraer 190 aircraft catching fire and splitting apart as it crash-landed near the Kazakh city of Aktau.
• The Kremlin is warning against "hypotheses," but aviation security analysts say it's "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile system over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014, per AFP.

The latest: "We have have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday.

• The U.S. has offered its support to the Kazakhstan- and Azerbaijan-led investigation, Kirby said.
• Azerbaijan Airlines corroborated that the plane experienced "physical and technical external interference" per an early investigation, CNN reported.

State of play: Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning for the victims on Thursday, as Kazakh officials told the media that investigators had found the plane's black box at the crash site.

• A Kazakh official told reporters Thursday that an onboard cylinder containing oxygen exploded moments before the crash.
• A survivor told Russian media he remembered the pilot twice trying to land in dense fog over Grozny and then "the third time, something exploded, some of the aircraft skin had blown out."

Situation report: Chechnya, where Grozny is located, is one of several areas where Russian air defense systems have targeted Ukrainian drones, officials said.

• Chechen media reported Wednesday that Russian forces were repelling drone attacks in the region.

Between the lines: "Azerbaijan Airlines flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system," said Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm based in the U.K., in an alert to clients that was shared with the media, which cited Kyiv's statement also accusing Russia's military of being behind the crash.

• Other factors included "circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia," said Osprey, which has provided analysis for carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines suspended flights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Justin Crump, of risk advisory firm Sibylline, told the BBC: "It looks very much like the detonation of [a Russian] air defense missile to the rear and to the left of the aircraft, if you look at the pattern of shrapnel that we see."

Zoom in: Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson wrote that the firm had issued over 200 alerts on drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war.

• If confirmed, it could prove to be a case of mistaken identity involving Russian units that have not been properly trained and fired "negligently against Ukraine's use of drones," the official said.

What they're saying: "It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by state media.

• "We, of course, will not do this, and no one should do this. We need to wait until the investigation is completed."

Go deeper: Dutch court convicts three for Malaysian Airlines MH17 plane crash

Editor's note: Axios' April Rubin contributed reporting.

Beyoncé performed a medley of hits from her record-breaking "Cowboy Carter" album during Netflix's first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show on Wednesday.

The big picture: Guests at the show in Houston, Texas, during the break at the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game included Post Malone, Shaboozey, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy, and Beyoncé's elder daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Go deeper: Beyoncé makes history again with "Cowboy Carter"

President Biden on Wednesday denounced Russia's large-scale Christmas Day attacks on Ukraine that damaged critical energy infrastructure and vowed to continue a U.S. surge in weapons deliveries to Kyiv.

The big picture: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X called the attacks "inhumane," while Russia's Defense Ministry said the "long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities" in Ukraine had achieved the goal of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's forces.

• At least one person in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region died and six others in Kharkiv were injured during the attacks, according to local officials.

What they're saying: "The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people's access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid," Biden said in a statement.

• "In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way," added Biden, who will be succeeded by President-elect Trump next month.
• "I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in its defense against Russian forces."

Trump's pick for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia also criticized the assault. "Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day," Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg said on X.

• "Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord's birth is wrong. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region."

Go deeper: Russia says it's using bitcoin to evade sanctions

President Biden and President-elect Trump both delivered warm Christmas messages as a change in presidential administrations nears, though the Republican leader went on to take aim at Canada, the Panama Canal and Greenland.

The big picture: Biden in a post to X acknowledging this would be the last time as president he'd wish the nation a Merry Christmas said he hoped the U.S. would "continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency."

• He later said in a message wishing a happy Hanukkah, "As Hanukkah begins, may it shine from menorahs around the world."

Meanwhile, Trump began on Truth Social by wishing a Merry Christmas to all and posted a video with Melania Trump paying tribute to Christianity and thanking Americans who keep the U.S. safe. He later extended his holiday wishes in a post to Chinese soldiers that he claimed were "lovingly, but illegally," operating the Panama Canal.

Zoom in: Trump did not elaborate further on these claims. Instead, he moved on to single out "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada," whose citizens he said paid taxes that were "far too high."

• If Canada "was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World," said Trump, who in a later post wished a Merry Christmas to "Radical Left Lunatics."
• "Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!" added Trump, who will be sworn in as president on Jan. 20.

Context: Trump's remarks build on earlier comments about Panama, Canada and Greenland.

• He's floated the idea of the U.S. taking ownership of Greenland and suggested annexing Canada amid border security negotiations in a pitch that Axios' Dave Lawler notes is designed, at least in part, to needle Prime Minister Trudeau.
• And he's said the Panama Canal should be returned to the United States if Panamanian authorities don't lower fees for U.S. ships.

Flashback: Biden, Trump deliver starkly different Fourth of July messages

Bird flu cases in Washington have spread to an animal sanctuary, resulting in the deaths of 20 big cats and forcing the center into quarantine until further notice.

The big picture: Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton is working closely with public health officials to monitor workers and animals after the presence of bird flu (HPAI) was confirmed in some big cats at the sanctuary, per a statement on its website.

• The center confirmed in a Friday Facebook post that the virus had killed five African servals, four bobcats, four cougars and two Canada lynx. One Amur/Bengal tiger, a Bengal cat, an African caracal, a Geoffroy's cat and a Eurasian lynx also died of bird flu.
• The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in a statement warning that bird flu cases were on the rise in the state confirmed two cougars in Clallam County contracted the H5N1 strain of the virus.

Zoom in: The sanctuary said in a Dec. 2 Facebook post earlier this month that it would temporarily close because some of its big cats were "experiencing unknown illness" and confirmed four days later that bird flu had been detected in the animals.

• "We are heartbroken to share that animal health officials have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among over half of our wild felids as of December," per a Friday Facebook post from the nonprofit that houses big cats previously not well looked after or whose owners could no longer care for them.
• Mark Mathews, founder and director of the sanctuary, told the New York Times on Tuesday that the animals' deaths occurred from late November to mid-December.
• The center has removed 8,000lbs of frozen food and had begun the weeks-long task of disinfecting the area, per the NYT.

What we're watching: The cause of the outbreak was not immediately known, but the center noted on Facebook that bird flu "spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by carnivorous mammals that ingest birds or other products."

• Cats "are particularly vulnerable to this virus, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but progress rapidly, often resulting in death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions," the post added.

What they're saying: "This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals," the sanctuary said in its post.

• Mathews told the NYT they'd "never had anything like it." The big cats "usually die basically of old age," not something like this "pretty wicked virus," he said.
• "It looks like the virus has taken its course," he added. "We're just trying to make [one of the animals] that's incapacitated now just a little stronger."

What's next: The sanctuary aims to reopen in the new year, per the center's website.

Zoom out: A pet food company in Oregon this week issued a voluntary recall of its raw and frozen products, as state officials investigate the bird flu death of an indoor cat that they linked to its food.

• Meanwhile, Los Angeles County health officials are investigating the H5 bird flu deaths of four house cats that consumed recalled raw milk.

Go deeper: CDC reports first severe human case of bird flu in U.S.

A pet food company in Oregon has issued a voluntary recall of its raw and frozen products, as state officials investigate the bird flu death of a cat that they linked to its food.

The big picture: Northwest Naturals' recall of its 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe brand also prompted Los Angeles County health officials to warn pet owners not to feed their animals raw food.

Driving the news: Testing conducted by health officials confirmed a house cat in Washington County, Ore., "contracted H5N1 and died after consuming the raw frozen pet food," per a statement the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) issued on Tuesday.

• "Tests confirmed a genetic match between the virus in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat," the statement added.

Details: The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with "Best if used by" dates of May 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026, per a statement from Northwest Naturals.

• The product was sold through distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
• Public health officials are monitoring household members who had contact with the dead cat, but the ODA said no human cases of HPAI had so far been linked to this incident.

What they're saying: "We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food," said ODA State Veterinarian Ryan Scholz in a statement.

• "This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other."

Zoom out: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in its advisory that it recently confirmed H5 bird flu in four house cats that consumed recalled raw milk and became sick and died in incidents currently under investigation.

• "Public Health is also investigating additional possible cases of H5 bird flu in three house cats from a different household," the department said.
• "Public Health is awaiting confirmatory testing. These cats were not known to be exposed to raw milk, however public health is investigating other possible sources of infection, including raw meat."

Go deeper: CDC reports first severe human case of bird flu in U.S.