Mossad director David Barnea arrived in Doha on Wednesday to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other officials to discuss the final details of the deal for Hamas to release hostages in return for a pause in the fighting in Gaza, according to two sources with knowledge of the issue.
Why it matters: Barnea was the lead negotiator on the Israeli side. The Israeli foreign intelligence chief's trip to Qatar signals there are still some details to finalize in the deal like how it will be implemented on the ground and the exact time the pause in the fighting will begin.
A roller coaster week in Taiwanese politics saw the presidential race end up right where it started: with four candidates and a clear front-runner. The country's two main opposition parties joined forces only for their new coalition to quickly fall apart.
Why it matters: The top issue on the ballot is Taiwan-China relations. The outcome of the election could shape not just Taiwan's future but also regional security as Beijing aggressively presses its claims over the self-governing island.
The Israeli government and Hamas announced separately on Tuesday they have agreed to a Qatar-mediated deal in which the militant group will free dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza and the release of dozens of Palestinians held in prisons in Israel.
Why it matters: The deal, once implemented, will be the biggest diplomatic breakthrough and the first major pause in fighting since the war began.
Brazil has sweltered through its hottest day since record-keeping began, as an extreme spring heat wave envelopes the country.
By the numbers: The town of Araçuaí, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, beat the nation's previous record from November 2005 on Sunday when the temperature reached 44.8°C (112.6°F), per Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology.
The University of Tampa and a Florida school district have joined a growing list of colleges and K-12 school districts being investigated by the Department of Education over alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The big picture: In light ofthe Israel-Hamas war and the resulting uptick in antisemitic and anti-Muslim threats on college campuses, the Education Department has reiterated schools' responsibility to comply with a federal civil rights law that addresses discrimination.
The planet likely briefly exceeded a key warming threshold on Friday and Saturday for the first time since at least the beginning of instrument records, new data shows.
Driving the news: The indication that Friday and Saturday were the first two days on record to have a global average surface temperature above 2°C when compared with preindustrial levels, emerged first from a dataset maintained by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
Secretary of State Tony Blinken is planning to travel to Israel early next week for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials about the war in Gaza, two sources with direct knowledge of the trip told Axios.
Why it matters: This will be Blinken's fourth trip to Israel since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7. The visit could take place amid the implementation of a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that is expected to include a multi-day pause in fighting.
Detroit City Council members voted 7-2 to support a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the death toll in the Israel-Hamas war passed 13,000 people this month.
Driving the news: Dozens of residents urged the City Council to pass the measure Tuesday, giving impassioned public comments supporting the resolution introduced by councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero.
Former President John F. Kennedy campaigned on improving U.S. relationships in Latin America and stopping the spread of communism, two issues that confronted him almost instantly after taking office — and would later shape his mixed legacy on foreign policy.
Why it matters: The U.S. for decades had helped give rise to authoritarian regimes in Latin America, supporting the ousting of democratically elected leaders. But when Kennedy took power, he began a massive effort to reset relations. On this 60-year mark of his death, Axios Latino is examining Kennedy's legacy in the region.
Democrats overwhelmingly support sending additional military aid to Ukraine, while a majority of Republicans oppose doing so, according to a NBC News national poll released Tuesday.
The big picture: As Ukraine's war with Russia has worn on, Republican lawmakers have increasingly disputedPresident Biden's plans to continue providing aid to Kyiv and a divide has formed among voters.
The election of John F. Kennedy generated excitement in Latin America and among U.S. Latinos partly because he was the first Catholic president. Over the next two years, Kennedy built coalitions and worked to mend sour relationships with several Latin American countries.
Through the lens: Ahead of the 60th anniversary of his assassination, Axios Latino examined Kennedy's legacy with U.S. Latinos and in Latin America. Here's a glimpse.
Former President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy were only supposed to drop by and say hi during a Nov. 21, 1963, gathering of Mexican American activists in Houston.
Instead, the couple spent 17 minutes delivering speeches and enjoying music at a gala hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens, then the largest Latino civil rights organization.
Why it matters: The historic meeting, held 60 years ago on Tuesday, has been overshadowed by Kennedy's murder the next day in Dallas, yet historians believe it was the first time a sitting president publicly recognized the Latino vote.
Elon Musk's X Corp. sued Media Matters for America for defamation on Monday after the left-leaning nonprofit released a report on ads on X running next to pro-Nazi content and helped trigger an advertiser exodus.
Driving the news: The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Fort Worth Division, alleged the organization's tactics were manipulative and deceptive.
The election of self-described "anarcho-capitalist" Javier Milei as Argentina's next president has been met with jubilation from American conservatives, many of whom see it as evidence that Trumpian populism is alive and well.
Why it matters: Milei, a libertarian economist and former TV personality with no governing experience, has a radical vision for Argentina that effectively calls for dismantling the state — in other words, "drain the swamp" on steroids.
Driving the news: The national average for a gallon of regular gas stood at about $3.31 Monday, which is about 25 cents less than a month ago and 36 cents less than a year ago, according to AAA data.
