Axios

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that allows a deal for the sale of TikTok's U.S. assets to move forward.

Why it matters: A transaction still isn't done, but it's closer to happening than it's ever been before.

The top U.S. cyber defense agency is ordering all federal civilian agencies to patch vulnerable Cisco networking products that state-backed hackers are actively targeting.

Why it matters: Federal cyber investigators have already found evidence of compromised devices, and the agency is aware of hundreds of potentially vulnerable Cisco devices across the federal government, a U.S. official told reporters.

President Trump said Thursday that he won't allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Why it matters: Trump's public comments, which came after similar private assurances to Arab leaders, will likely kill Netanyahu's annexation plans.

Some of Israel's staunchest Democratic supporters on Capitol Hill are wavering like never before as progressives grow more emboldened in their defense of the Palestinian cause.

Why it matters: The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza has soured U.S. public opinion on Israel, and while members of Congress have been something of a lagging indicator, they are now shifting as well.

President Trump last week demanded his attorney general move without "delay" against his political foes — including ex-FBI Director James Comey, renewing a years-long feud that could soon culminate in criminal charges.

Why it matters: Prosecutors have until Tuesday to seek charges tied to Comey's 2020 congressional testimony, turning Trump's public pressure campaign into a make-or-break moment for one of the most consequential feuds in modern politics.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will address senior U.S. military leaders at a meeting next week, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. He offered no additional details.

Why it matters: The gathering, reportedly in-person at a Marine Corps base in Virginia, has little precedent in scope and scale.

• The Washington Post reported hundreds of generals and admirals were summoned, including those in hot spots like the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. Invites landed about a week ago.

China's long-awaited emissions target is either a nod to realism (and the benefit of under-promising) or a dangerous failure of ambition, depending on who you ask.

Why it matters: The country is the world's largest carbon emitter by a mile. It's also the world's largest energy consumer.

The S&P 500 will easily hit 7,000 by year-end, says Max Kettner, chief multi-asset strategist at HSBC. That would put the market up nearly 20% on the year.

Why it matters: Kettner joins strategists at JPMorgan and elsewhere on Wall Street who don't see this bull market rally ending anytime soon.

NEW YORK — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Barak Ravid on "The Axios Show" that he doesn't intend to lead his country in peacetime. Zelensky also vowed to ask Ukraine's parliament to organize elections if a ceasefire is reached.

Why it matters: Asked whether he would see his job as finished when the war was over, Zelensky said he would be "ready" to step down.

NEW YORK — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told "The Axios Show" that if Russia won't end the war, officials working in the Kremlin should make sure they know where the nearest bomb shelter is.

Why it matters: Zelensky said he had President Trump's explicit backing to hit Russian targets like energy infrastructure and arms factories. And he said that if Ukraine gets additional long-range weaponry from the U.S., "we will use it."

The Kremlin responded Wednesday to President Trump's assertion this week that Ukraine can win the war against Russia and labeling Putin's military "a paper tiger."

The big picture: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested during a Russian radio interview that Trump's abrupt rhetoric shift was due to him meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York.

President Trump said Wednesday the Secret Service is looking into "three very sinister events" at the United Nations concerning issues with an escalator, teleprompter and audio at the UN headquarters in New York City a day earlier.

The big picture: The president and first lady Melania Trump were on an escalator at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday after arriving for his speech, where he told world leaders that their countries "are going to hell," when it malfunctioned.