There's a new fear among investors and CEOs: flying blind on investments without sufficient data on the economy's health.
Why it matters: The U.S. government produces some of the world's premiere economic data. The future of those indicators looks murkier than ever, with no private sector source readily available to replace them.
The killing of six journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces over the weekend sparked an outcry from press freedom experts who argue the deaths were unnecessary and only add to the grim totality of what's become the deadliest conflict for journalists in recent history.
Why it matters: Since the conflict began with Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the vast majority of journalists killed globally (67%) have been in Israel, Lebanon and occupied Palestinian territories, per the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The Trump administration is trying to broker a deal for a humanitarian corridor to run between Israel and the city of Suwayda in southern Syria to deliver aid to the Druze community there, one U.S. official and two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why it matters:Israel bombed Syria last month amid violent clashes in Suwayda, claiming it was acting to defend Syria's Druze population in solidarity with Israel's own Druze minority.
The U.S. and China have extended their tariff truce for another 90 days, President Trump confirmed Monday.
Why it matters: The extension comes hours before the truce was set to expire. It pushes off a huge, open question for U.S. businesses and investors on the future of trade with China.
A global glut of lithium prompted a Chinese battery company to suspend production at a massive mine, triggering a rise in commodity prices and a jump in stock prices of lithium companies.
President Trump said Monday that he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to their meeting in Alaska on Friday with specific proposals for a deal to end the war, which he will then pass on to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a recommendation to make peace or "keep fighting."
Why it matters: Trump suggested he's ready to negotiate with Putin about who gets what parts of Ukraine after the war, and even said he would "try to get some... territory back for Ukraine."
President Trump stopped short of directly endorsing Israel's plans to attack and occupy Gaza City in a brief phone interview with Axios on Monday, but said he didn't believe Hamas would release the hostages unless the situation changed.
Why it matters: Some of Israel's top military commanders oppose the planned offensive in part out of fear that it will put Israeli hostages in danger. Trump argued it was always going to be "very rough to get them," because Hamas "are not going to let the hostages out in the current situation."
The trade war is approaching the end of the beginning — but market watchers say there's still a long list of unanswered questions that investors and businesses need to be resolved.
Why it matters: After months of on-and-off-and-back-on, tariffs seem firmly in place now, but that's still not helping executives gain the certainty they crave.
Australia will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday.
The big picture: The announcement that follows pledges from the leaders of countries including Canada and France to also recognize Palestinian statehood at September's UN General Assembly came soon after it emerged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who stood alongside Albanese when he revealed the plan.
