Axios

President Biden said on Friday that the U.S. will begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza in the coming days and "insist" Israel allow more trucks and create more routes to get supplies into the enclave by land. "No excuses," he said.

Why it matters: The announcement underscores the growing concerns within the Biden administration about the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the difficulties of getting aid into the enclave, where the UN has warned "famine is almost inevitable" if nothing changes.

Israel made it clear to Egypt and Qatar that it will not hold another round of talks until Hamas presents a list of the hostages who are alive and provides a serious response to the number of Palestinian prisoners that the mediators proposed to be released as part of the deal, two Israeli senior officials said.

Why it matters: Calls for a hostage deal that includes a humanitarian ceasefire are growing worldwide, as conditions in Gaza continue to significantly deteriorate and as getting aid into the enclave becomes more difficult and dangerous.

Thousands of supporters turned out in Moscow Friday for the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny despite a heavy police presence.

The big picture: Navalny was one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics and organized the most effective political movement against him.

A transcript of Hunter Biden's closed-door deposition before two Republican-led committees was publicly released on Thursday.

The big picture: He struck a defiant tone as he appeared before the House Oversight and Judiciary committees as part of their impeachment inquiry into his father, President Biden.

Jack Douglas Teixeira, the Air National guardsman accused of leaking highly classified Pentagon documents to the online gaming service Discord, is expected to plead guilty in a Boston court on Monday.

The big picture: Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, is accused of leaking materials including revelations about the U.S. government's relations with its adversaries and allies, such as its efforts to gather intelligence on Ukraine's government, Russia and allies Israel and South Korea.

Canada will reinstate a visa requirement for Mexican citizens on Thursday, the same day President Biden and former President Trump, 2024 presidential frontrunners, traveled to Texas to discuss their immigration policies.

Why it matters: While the U.S. also handles a border crisis with Mexico, the move in Canada is intended to address an influx of asylum seekers into the country.

NuevaYorkinos, a project to preserve New York's Latino and Caribbean American history through community-submitted photos and videos, is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

Why it matters: Latinos in historically Hispanic neighborhoods like Bushwick, Sunset Park and Washington Heights who have been increasingly pushed out by gentrification and may face cultural erasure are finding creative ways to preserve their stories.

The share of U.S. Latinas with a four-year college degree has nearly quadrupled over the past two decades, though there are wide disparities depending on the country of origin, according to a new analysis.

Why it matters: A college degree is needed for most high-wage jobs and is seen as an important pathway to financial stability.

Hispanic Protestants are among the biggest supporters of Christian nationalism despite the belief system's anti-immigrant and anti-diversity stances, according to a new survey.

Why it matters: Around two-thirds of Americans surveyed said they reject or are skeptical about Christian nationalism, but its prominence in the GOP is helping shape its educational, health care and immigration policies.

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily put on hold a Texas law that would allow local authorities and judges to arrest and deport immigrants suspected of illegally crossing the U.S. border.

Why it matters: Civil rights groups and the Department of Justice, who together sued to stop the law from going into effect on March 5, say it is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.

President Biden told reporters Thursday he "knows" the aid convoy incident in Gaza in which dozens of Palestinians were killed will complicate the negotiations over a hostage deal and a temporary ceasefire.

The big picture: Biden, who also walked back his previous remarks about a possible ceasefire in Gaza by Monday, spoke to reporters shortly after a phone call with the emir of Qatar.

Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in an incident around an aid convoy in northern Gaza. Hamas blamed Israeli forces who opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians, while Israel claimed most of the casualties were the result of Palestinians being trampled as crowds stormed and looted the trucks.

The big picture: The incident, which took place amid indirect talks between Israel and Hamas over a new hostage deal, will likely dramatically increase pressure for a temporary ceasefire. The Biden administration has been warning Israeli officials for weeks about the breakdown of law and order in the enclave, with one U.S. official telling Axios that Gaza was "turning into Mogadishu."

A Russian court on Thursday rejected the appeal of Ksenia Karelina, an American woman accused of treason for allegedly providing financial support to Ukraine.

Why it matters: The court extended Karelina's pre-trial detention in a Siberian jail until at least April 6, multiple outlets reported.

Global freedom receded for an 18th consecutive year in 2023, according to an annual report from watchdog group Freedom House.

Why it matters: The report found that political rights and civil liberties deteriorated in 52 countries, accounting for one-fifth of the global population.