Axios

CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Europe in the coming days for a meeting with the head of Israel's Mossad and the prime minister of Qatar in an effort to revive talks to release hostages held in Gaza and establish a ceasefire in the enclave, according to three U.S. and Israeli officials.

Why it matters: Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a possible hostage deal that could lead to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza reached a deadlock two weeks ago after several days of talks in Cairo and Doha.

The number of Americans who identify as Asian American Pacific Islander Latinos has more than doubled over the last two decades, a new study finds.

The big picture: AAPI Latinos are having an enormous influence on literature, politics and pop culture, but little research exists on one of the nation's fastest-growing demographics.

Advertisers and brands risk losing out when they use a superficial "Latino coating" approach to reaching Hispanic audiences, some industry leaders say.

Why it matters: Latino spending power is roughly $3 trillion a year. Yet brands like the NFL with its botched "ñ" campaign and others often miss the mark when trying to reach the Hispanic buyers who increasingly make up a larger part of the market.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday that would allow Russia to claim U.S. assets in retaliation for any Russian assets confiscated in the U.S.

Why it matters: Group of Seven nations for weeks have been negotiating if or how around $300 billion worth of sovereign Russian assets frozen in the West could be leveraged to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia's unprovoked invasion.

The WNBA announced Thursday it will expand outside of the U.S. with a new Toronto-based team joining the league for the start of the 2026 season.

Why it matters: The professional women's basketball league has seen a surge in popularity, ticket sales and prices — as interests mounts in the women's sports industry as a whole.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry was on alert after China's military announced two days of drills around the self-governing island, three days after the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

Why it matters: Chinese military spokesperson Li Xi said the drills should serve as a "strong punishment for the separatist acts" after the election on the democratic island Beijing claims is part of its territory and also a "stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces," per state media.

Plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress are being met with fierce pushback from Democrats.

Why it matters: Some top House Democrats are going so far as to say Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should not sign onto the invitation.

The U.K. was once home to the developed world's worst inflation. Now, it's within striking distance of the central bank's 2% target.

Why it matters: It speaks to the different nature of inflation shocks on both sides of the Atlantic. Much of the rapid price increases in the U.K. resulted from soaring commodity costs after supplies from Russia were cut off — not strong demand, like in the U.S.

Nearly 44 million people are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend this year, the busiest in almost 20 years, according to AAA.

The big picture: The number of Americans leaving home is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, meaning travelers will have to contend with traffic volumes they haven't seen in years.

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders this week for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas war.

Why it matters: The warrants, if issued, would further isolate Israel and would be a significant international rebuke of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday backed fellow lawmakers' call for the Defense Department to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons on military targets within Russian territory

Why it matters: The Biden administration banned the use of U.S.-made weapons to strike inside Russia in an effort to keep the conflict from escalating, but some have criticized the embargo for restricting Ukraine's ability to effectively defense itself.

The U.K. will hold a general election on July 4, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Wednesday, paving the way for the potential end to Conservative Party rule for the first time in 14 years.

Why it matters: Polls suggest the Conservatives are facing a potential extinction-level event after cycling through five prime ministers in the eight tumultuous years since the Brexit referendum.

Los Angeles-based investment firm Oaktree Capital Management says that it's become the new owner of Italian soccer club Inter Milan, after Chinese holding company Suning missed €395 million in loan repayments.

Why it matters: Inter Milan is among Italy's most popular and successful teams, and is sure to become a takeover target for those who view Oaktree as an accidental owner.