Axios

The U.S. offered Hamas militants safe passage from areas in Gaza controlled by Israel to parts the group controls, U.S. and Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: The goal of the U.S. proposal, which was conveyed to Hamas on Wednesday by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, was to stabilize the ceasefire and clear the roughly half of Gaza that Israel controls of Hamas militants.

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced the outlines of a historic trade deal, touching on everything from agriculture to technology exports ... again.

The big picture: The deal announced early this morning overlaps considerably with previous deals Trump and Xi have cut over the past six years. In many cases, in some way or another, those deals fell apart or failed to perform, often with the Chinese changing their plans abruptly.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem denied Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's (D) request to suspend all federal immigration operations across the Chicago area over Halloween weekend.

Why it matters: Pritzker's request came after Chicago residents reported last weekend that federal immigration officers conducted a raid right before a children's Halloween parade.

Bending Spoons, an Italian holding company that buys and seeks to revitalize tech brands like AOL, on Thursday announced a $710 million equity raise at an $11 billion pre-money valuation.

Why it matters: The deal includes $270 million in primary capital that will be used to make further acquisitions, Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari tells Axios.

China has pledged to return its purchases of U.S. soybeans to regular levels in each of the next three years, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.

Why it matters: China stopped buying U.S. soybeans earlier this year amid President Trump's trade war, depriving American farmers of their largest export market.

U.S. officials have been holding sensitive conversations with a range of countries about establishing an international force to deploy to Gaza and intend to present a plan in the next few weeks, three sources intimately involved in that process tell Axios.

Why it matters: The breakdown in the ceasefire on Tuesday underscored just how fragile the peace is. But the International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned in President Trump's plan raises politically explosive questions for Israel, Hamas and the countries considering sending troops.

President Trump said he'll trim China tariffs after talks with Xi Jinping in South Korea in exchange for Beijing's pledge to buy U.S. soybeans and energy, allow exports of rare earth minerals and curb the flow of fentanyl.

Why it matters: A trade truce between the world's two largest economies could bring relief to businesses, investors and consumers.

President Trump announced Wednesday night that the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons.

Why it matters: The U.S. hasn't conducted a nuclear test since 1992. If Trump follows through on the decision to resume testing, it could reignite a superpower arms race.

Top Senate Democrats are fuming at their exclusion from a Wednesday briefing on the White House's strikes against boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

Why it matters: The White House has faced bipartisan pushback for its lack of transparency around the unilateral strikes against alleged drug traffickers.

Radio Free Asia, one of several government-funded international broadcasters, announced Wednesday it would suspend operations and formally lay off its furloughed staff on Friday amid fiscal uncertainty.

Why it matters: It's the first time the outlet has gone dark since its founding in 1996. RFA was created to provide free and accurate news and information to Asian audiences following the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, and the subsequent information crackdowns in China thereafter.

President Trump was gifted a ceremonial crown Wednesday by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Why it matters: South Korea's gift of a monarchical symbol comes the same month that more than 7 million Americans rallied in No Kings protests.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning with "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS" conditions, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The big picture: Melissa was a Category 3 when it hit eastern Cuba, bringing life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, landslides and damaging winds. That's down from the Category 5 storm that pummeled Jamaica.

The Israeli military announced Wednesday it would resume compliance with the ceasefire in Gaza after a night of airstrikes that killed more than 100 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.

The big picture: The deal to end the war in Gaza was easily President Trump's biggest diplomatic achievement this term. The rupture in the ceasefire on Tuesday has put the agreement in jeopardy.

Maritime-technology startup Navier today unveiled three hybrid-electric hydrofoiling vessels: the 30-foot Quanta, the 80-foot Valkyrie and the 120-foot Morpheus.

• Each is customizable. And each promises thousands of nautical miles of range as it glides above choppy waters.

The big picture: The Trump administration is obsessing over the shipbuilding gap with China. Sampriti Bhattacharyya, a roboticist and Navier's chief executive, told Axios the U.S. doesn't just need to catch up in terms of quantity. It also needs to "out-innovate" competitors.

Eyes and ears are fixed to the Indo-Pacific this week, as President Trump leapfrogs across Malaysia, Japan and South Korea and prepares for a high-profile rendezvous with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Why it matters: Trade is at the top of Trump's agenda, with the markets bracing for news on tariffs and export controls. But the two are also expected to discuss Taiwan, which remains a focal point of fears over potential great-power conflict.