The deadly Hurricane Beryl was barreling toward Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula where it's expected to make landfall early Friday after lashing the Cayman Islands and Jamaica with heavy rains and powerful winds.
The big picture: The storm's early formation, rapid intensification and location have broken records. While it's expected to weaken into a tropical storm across the Yucatán Peninsula, it's forecast to re-intensify over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening southern Texas over the weekend.
President Biden in a call on Thursday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "it is time to close" a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Why it matters: Biden has pushed for a deal for months. White House officials said they want to take advantage of Hamas' positive response to the latest proposalin order to close the remaining gaps and reach an agreement.
Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday delivered Hamas' updated response to Israel's proposal for a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza, the Israeli Mossad said in a statement.
Why it matters: Two senior Israeli officials told Axios that Hamas' updated response was constructive and opens the door to more detailed negotiations that could result in a deal.
Israel and the United Nations are negotiating the deployment of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink communications system in Gaza as part of a plan to increase security for UN aid workers in the enclave, according to three Israeli officials and one UN official.
Why it matters: The UN told Israel the system is a requirement for the organization to fully resume the distribution of aid across the Gaza strip, Israeli officials said.
President Biden is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives in Washington, D.C., later this month to speak in front of a joint session of Congress, a White House official said.
Why it matters: Netanyahu will come to Washington amid growing tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over the war in Gaza.
President Biden cited jet lag from foreign trips as he acknowledged his lackluster debate performance against former President Trump during a campaign fundraiser in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday evening.
