Axios

The Biden administration gave Israel until mid-March to sign a letter, provided by the U.S. on Tuesday, that gives assurances it will abide by international law while using U.S. weapons and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, three U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The assurances are now a requirement under a memorandum issued earlier this month by President Biden. While it doesn't single out Israel, the new policy came after some Democratic senators expressed concern over the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. If the assurances aren't provided by the deadline, U.S. weapon transfers to the country will be paused.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday pushed back against President Biden's recent warning that Israel will lose support worldwide if its "incredibly conservative" government continues down its current path.

Why it matters: Netanyahu's comments, framed by his office as a "response to President Biden," underscore the growing tensions between two leaders as the war in Gaza drags on.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's repeated claims that he has a "political right" to dox a journalist is indicative of the safety issues that reporters and activists face in the country as it heads into presidential elections

Why it matters: Mexico has long been one of the deadliest countries for journalists.

Authorities in Ecuador have arrested more than 10,000 people and seized record amounts of cocaine since launching an all-out offensive against criminal groups in January, but experts worry the crackdown is not sustainable over the long term.

The big picture: Violence in the South American nation has soared in the past few years, driven by criminal gangs with international links, lured by global cocaine demand. President Daniel Noboa just months after taking office declared an internal armed conflict and a state of emergency that allowed him to mobilize more military and police.

Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen said on Tuesday she urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a letter to take steps to bolster the Palestinian economy and warned the economic crisis in the occupied West Bank could have negative consequences for Israel.

Why it matters: The Biden administration has expressed concerns that a collapse of the Palestinian Authority will lead to chaos and violence in the West Bank and exacerbate the conflict in the region.

A trove of leaked documents is providing government officials and security researchers a rare public glimpse inside I-Soon, a private China-based offensive cybersecurity company.

Why it matters: The documents — which were posted and removed from GitHub last week — provide details about whom I-Soon has targeted, which Chinese government agencies it has worked with, and conversations between executives and employees about financial hardships.

Arab Americans threatening to withhold support for President Biden in Michigan's primary Tuesday are upset with his handling of the war in Gaza — but for many, their frustration is rooted in years of feeling ignored or dismissed in the U.S.

Why it matters: It goes beyond U.S. policies that favor Israel. The war has become a symbol for what many see as disrespect for Arab Americans' longtime contributions to American life.

President Biden took swipes at former President Trump's age and mental acuity during an appearance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" on Monday.

Why it matters: Polls indicate voters are more concerned about the age of 81-year-old Biden than 77-year-old Republican primary frontrunner Trump. The president noted the closeness of their age during his interview with NBC's Seth Meyers.

President Biden said Monday that Israel has agreed to halt its Gaza offensive during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan if a deal is reached to free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas.

Why it matters: The Biden administration is making serious efforts to try and get a hostage deal that could lead to a six-week pause in the fighting in Gaza before the start of Ramadan in two weeks. But getting a deal by Monday will likely be an uphill battle due to major gaps between Israel and Hamas in the negotiations.

The U.S. and several international partners endorsed shared principles for developing 6G wireless communication systems, the White House said Monday.

The big picture: A battle is underway to influence the standards of 6G amid concerns by Western countries and their allies that authoritarian regimes could gain further control over the internet in their countries.

A U.S. airman has died after setting himself on fire Sunday outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., authorities confirmed Monday.

The big picture: A video posted online showed the man, identified as Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell, 25, of Whitman, Massachusetts, shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned during the incident, which lasted about a minute before law enforcement officers extinguished the flames at about 1pm.

A review of Boeing's practices released Monday raised concerns about how the aircraft maker manages safety.

Why it matters: In the latest blow to hit the U.S. firm, the report by an independent panel convened by the Federal Aviation Administration found a "disconnect between Boeing's senior management and other members of the organization on safety culture."