Axios

President Biden expressed condolences to chef José Andrés in a call on Tuesday and vowed to urge Israel to protect aid workers after seven staffers from Andrés' World Central Kitchen were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said.

Why it matters: Monday's deadly strikes have sparked backlash around the world and inside the White House. They also led to the suspension of a maritime aid route into Gaza, which was key to international humanitarian relief efforts.

President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call Tuesday to discuss a variety of economic, military and political issues related to the U.S.-China bilateral relationship.

Why it matters: It's the first time Biden and Xi have spoken one-on-one since their meeting at the APEC summit last November. The conversation is a part of an effort between the two world powers to maintain communication.

Diverse stories must prevail over the staggering rise in attempted book bans, Dominican American author Julia Alvarez tells Axios Latino.

Why it matters: Attempted book bans in public libraries in the U.S. increased by 92% in 2023, per the most recent annual review from the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

U.S. school districts are facing a pandemic funding cliff this year that threatens students learning English as a second language.

Why it matters: One in five K-12 students in the U.S. speaks a language other than English at home, and 10% of the student population is enrolled in language development services, according to TNTP, an education research and advocacy organization.

Seven aid workers from chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Monday, the NGO said in a statement.

The big picture: Andrés' organization has been leading the efforts to get food to Gaza by sea, and has delivered tons of supplies to the enclave via a ship from Cyprus over the past few weeks.

The number of Chinese-manufactured internet-connected devices on U.S. corporate networks continues to grow despite Washington's attempts to curb their presence, according to a report out Tuesday shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: As tensions between the U.S. and China rise, officials have grown wary of the Chinese government's ability to tap its manufacturers operating within its borders to collect information about American users and businesses.

The United Arab Emirates is pausing its involvement in the maritime aid corridor to Gaza until Israel assures aid workers in the enclave will be protected, sources close to the UAE government told Axios.

Why it matters: The announcement comes after seven humanitarian workers with the nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday. The UAE is the main funder of the organization's aid route that has been leading efforts to get food by sea to Gaza, which the United Nations has warned is on the verge of famine.

The U.S. told Iran that it "had no involvement" or advance knowledge of an Israeli strike on a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed a senior Iranian general, according to a U.S. official.

The big picture: The rare message shows the Biden administration is deeply concerned that the Israeli strike could lead to a regional escalation and the resumption of attacks by pro-Iranian militias against U.S. forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to "act immediately" on a new Israeli law that gives senior government officials power to shutter foreign news networks for national security purposes.

Why it matters: Press freedom experts have warned that shuttering Al Jazeera could set a dangerous precedent in Israel.

New evidence suggests that Russia may be behind the mysterious neurological illness that has affected U.S. diplomats and government workers around the world.

Why it matters: A new investigation linked a Russian military assassination unit to cases of "Havana Syndrome," contradicting the U.S' previous assessment that it was "very unlikely" a foreign adversary was to blame.

An Israeli airstrike killed a top Iranian general as it targeted a building near the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, two sources familiar told Axios.

The big picture: This is a major blow to Iran, as Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi was the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.

Hong Kong-based private equity firm PAG is leading an $8.3 billion deal for a 60% stake in China's largest shopping mall operator, from Dalian Wanda.

Why it matters: Dalian Wanda is gasping for air beneath its debt burden, and this is one of its largest restructuring efforts so far.

A statue of former President Harry Truman cast at a foundry in Norman, Oklahoma, has been installed at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to NATO in Brussels ahead of the alliance's 75th anniversary this week.

Why it matters: Under Truman, the U.S. became a founding member of NATO on April 4, 1949. The alliance was formed to confront the growing threat of Soviet aggression, and has ballooned from 12 members in 1949 to 32 today.

A joint media investigation into "Havana syndrome," a mysterious health condition that's affected U.S. diplomats and government officials, has found evidence that a Russian military assassination unit may be responsible.

Why it matters: "60 Minutes" noted that the findings from its five-year probe with The Insider and Der Spiegel that Russia's GRU Unit 29155 may be behind the neurological symptoms marked the first evidence linking a foreign adversary to the cases.

The U.S. and Israel are expected to hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the Biden administration's alternative proposals to an Israeli military invasion of Rafah, four Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The meeting, which was supposed to to take place last week, has become a contentious issue between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden.