Axios

The Trump White House instructed the Pentagon to release the hold imposed by the Biden administration on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, three Israeli officials told Axios.

Why it matters: President Biden's decision to halt the delivery of one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs last May triggered one of the biggest crises the U.S-Israel relationship has faced during the 15-month war in Gaza.

Four Israeli women soldiers who were kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack and held in Gaza were released on Saturday morning local time.

Why it matters: This was the second set of hostages released since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect a week ago. Seven hostages have been released so far as part of the deal.

President Trump will reinstate a policy cutting off U.S. global health funding to international organizations that provide legal abortion information, referrals or services, the White House wrote in a memo released on Friday.

Why it matters: Trump will expand the so-called Mexico City policy, which critics refer to as a global gag rule.

The Israeli military will not complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon within the 60-day period set out in the ceasefire deal that ended its war with Hezbollah, the Israeli prime minister's office said Friday.

Why it matters: Hezbollah has warned that it will consider the ceasefire null and void if Israel breaches Sunday's withdrawal deadline. The Trump administration has been negotiating with Lebanon and Israel in the last 48 hours to prevent the ceasefire from collapsing, two sources with knowledge of those discussions said.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that all sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and against organizations involved in the building of illegal West Bank outposts have been lifted and all frozen assets released.

Why it matters: The lifting of the sanctions is a victory for the "settlements lobby" in Israel and in the U.S., which pushed for this move after President Trump was elected.

Pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao made their giant debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo Friday, launching a new decade of panda diplomacy and tourism in D.C.

Why it matters: Pandas have become a D.C. symbol, synonymous with cherry blossoms and the three-star flag, and their return is hailed as a giant step forward for the city.

The U.S. Justice Department released indictments against five people Thursday in connection with a years-long North Korean IT worker scheme.

Why it matters: The indictments are against a mix of people from North Korea, Mexico and the U.S. — highlighting just how global North Korea's operations have become.

So ... are we still calling it the Gulf of Mexico, as it's been known for 400 years? Or is it really the Gulf of America now, pursuant to President Trump's executive order?

Why it matters: That tension — between the formal policy of the U.S. and longstanding common practice — is a real one for government agencies, map makers and even journalists.

President Trump left Washington four years ago touting a revolutionary new consensus on the threat posed by China.

• He returned this week seeming to downplay that threat — signaling a potential thaw in relations between the world's two leading superpowers.

Why it matters: The stakes are enormous. How Trump deals with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the next four years will have sweeping implications for the global economy, AI, climate change, national security and more.