The White House is optimistic a new proposal from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff could help bridge the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas and produce a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza soon, three sources involved in the negotiations tell Axios.
"If each side moves just a bit, we could have a deal within days," one U.S. source said.
The big picture: President Trump has made clear he wants to end a war that has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and more than 1,600 Israelis, according to the relevant authorities. But talks had been stalled for weeks, and Israel is undertaking a massive operation to flatten and occupy Gaza.
Pope Leo XIV will deliver a video "to the young people of the world" during his mass in Chicago next month, the city's archdiocese announced Tuesday.
The big picture: The White Sox fan will deliver his video message at the baseball team's Rate Field stadium on June 14, according to the archdiocese's statement.
President Trump confirmed Wednesday that he cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call last Thursday against ordering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as Axios first reported.
Why it matters: Trump's comments exposed the widening gap between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to Iran's nuclear program.
Russia proposed to Ukraine that the countries hold a second round of peace talks on Monday in Istanbul in order to exchange written proposals for a ceasefire and ending the war, Ukrainian and Russian officials said Thursday.
Why it matters: Ukrainian officials see the Russian proposal as a way to placate President Trump, who has been growing increasingly frustrated with President Vladimir Putin and even said Tuesday that the Russian president was "playing with fire."
The State Department on Tuesday warned citizens against any travel to Venezuela, where it says more U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained than in any other country.
The big picture: The department has ramped up its warnings to Americans not to travel to the South American country, urging citizens earlier this month to prepare a will if they plan to travel there.
A man suspected of driving a car that plowed into a crowd attending the Liverpool soccer team's victory parade this week was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and driving offenses, British police said Tuesday.
The big picture: Monday's incident in Liverpool, northwest England, which injured 65 people gathered to watch players parade their English Premier League trophy, is not being treated as terrorism, according to police.
President Trump claimed Tuesday Canadian officials were considering his proposal for Canada to contribute $61 billion toward his proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense shield versus paying nothing if it became the 51st U.S. state.
The big picture: Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Canadian sovereignty, made the comments soon after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined plans for closer defense ties with the European Union.
Senate Republicans are seizing on President Trump's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin to argue the time to impose fresh sanctions on Russia is now.
Why it matters: Trump's tone on Putin has shifted in recent days, calling the Russian president "crazy" and warning he is "playing with fire" in Ukraine while Trump heads off "really bad things."
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court Tuesday to overturn a federal judge's order that blocks the government from sending undocumented immigrants to countries they're not citizens of.
The big picture: The move comes after U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy determined last week that the administration "unquestionably" violated his ruling by swiftly deporting a group of immigrants to South Sudan.
President Trump cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call last week not to take any action that could jeopardize negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on a new nuclear deal, a White House official and a source familiar with the details tell Axios.
Why it matters: Trump and other senior U.S. officials have grown concerned in recent weeks that Israel might bomb Iran's nuclear facilities or take other steps that could undermine the talks, the official said.
President Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he's "playing with fire" in Ukraine on Tuesday, the latest in a series of unusually sharp criticisms from Trump toward the Russian leader.
Why it matters: Trump has threatened sanctions or tariffs if Putin continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and reject his ceasefire push, but so far has refrained from taking any action.
Why it matters: Charles' visit comes as American-Canadian relations have splintered because of Trump's repeated annexation threats and tariff policies.
King Charles III delivered several subtle jabs to the United States and the Trump administration during his speech to Canada's Parliament on Tuesday, saying a "confident Canada" can "give themselves far more than any foreign power can ever take away."
The U.S. Steel saga is entering its ludicrous era, more than 17 months after the Pittsburgh-based company agreed to be acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel for around $15 billion.
Why it matters: None of this is working the way it's supposed to, and the chaos has opened the door for potential impropriety.
Tencent of China is acquiring a 9.7% stake in listed South Korean music firm SM Entertainment Co. from K-pop agency Hybe for around $177 million, according to a securities disclosure.
Why it matters: This is the latest indication that mainland China plans to lift its unofficial ban on K-pop and other forms of Korean entertainment
Officials in North Korea detained four officials over the failed launch of a new warship last week in the northeastern port city of Chongjin, per state media.
The big picture: The incident last Thursday that analysts said left the 5,000-ton destroyer badly damaged drew a rare public rebuke from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who described the mishap as a "criminal act."
