Axios

Yulia Navalnaya has taken center stage, vowing to take up the crusade of her late husband Alexei Navalny in widely and publicly opposing Russia's authoritarian rule.

The big picture: Navalnaya had previously avoided the public eye while Navalny led the fight in exposing political and financial corruption within Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, but she's appeared in the days since her husband's death willing to take up the mantle.

Russian authorities said Tuesday that they had arrested a Los Angeles woman on treason charges for allegedly raising funds for Ukraine's army.

Why it matters: The woman, who was not immediately identified, is the latest American to be detained in Russia, joining Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Former Marine Paul Whelan.

Descendants of Silvia Hector Webber, who played a role in helping enslaved people escape through Texas to the underground railroad into Mexico, are working to resurrect her story.

Why it matters: Texas is one of many states that have passed laws limiting discussions about slavery in schools, and Webber's descendants say teaching her story is the best way to fight attempts to erase history.

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected international calls for an independent investigation into Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in prison.

Why it matters: Navalny's allies and family have said they suspect high-level Russian authorities were involved in his death last week, given his status as Russian President Vladimir Putin's foremost critic and the Kremlin-linked assassination attempt Navalny previously survived.

The U.S. on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Why it matters: It's the third time the U.S. has vetoed a resolution related to the war in Gaza. It also comes amid increasing global calls for a ceasefire as conditions in the enclave continue to rapidly deteriorate.

A Russian court on Tuesday upheld the pretrial detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, ensuring his imprisonment will last until at least March 30.

Why it matters: Barring a prisoner exchange that secures his release, the ruling means Gershkovich will spend a full year behind bars without being convicted of a crime.

NASA has a new Mars mission: seeking volunteers to spend an entire year living in a simulated version of the red planet.

Why it matters: The surface mission on a 3D-printed habitat, called the Mars Dune Alpha, will help inform the agency's plans for human exploration of the planet, per a statement from NASA.

Brett McGurk, President Biden's top Middle East adviser, is expected to visit Israel and Egypt this week for talks on the possible Israeli military operation in Rafah and efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, three Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday vowed to push forward with a ground operation in Rafah, despite global outcry and warnings from the Biden administration.

The widow of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse is among some 50 people facing charges over her husband's assassination, according to an indictment first reported by local media on Monday.

The big picture: Haiti Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire's final report on the July 2021 Port-au-Prince attack that killed the president and seriously injured the then-first lady Martine Moïse, who's accused in the probe of being among the accomplices in the plot, is separate to a U.S. case in Miami on the killing.

Nikki Haley on Monday blasted former President Trump's first public comments on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, slamming the GOP frontrunner's failure to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Why it matters: Trump's comments have renewed scrutiny from establishment Republicans on his foreign policy views, while highlighting the deepening ideological fault lines within the GOP when it comes to Russia.

Alexei Navalny's widow said she will continue the Russian opposition leader's work to bring democracy to Russia.

The big picture: Navalny, 47, died after being imprisoned after exposing corruption in Vladimir Putin's inner circle and forming the most effective political movement against Putin.

American forces hit an undersea drone during five "self-defense strikes" against Houthi rebels in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, U.S. Central Command said Sunday.

Why it matters: This is the first time U.S. forces have observed Houthis using an unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) since the group began attacking merchant and commercial ships passing through the Red Sea on Oct. 23, per a CENTCOM statement on Saturday's strikes.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony has moved many people across Russia to leave public tributes to the prominent Putin critic, and it's led to the arrest of hundreds of them.

The big picture: Spontaneous rallies honoring the 47-year-old have been held across Russia since news of Navalny's death broke on Friday.