Axios

College campuses across the country have become hotspots for protests over the Israel-Hamas war, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators facing an increased crackdown from school administrators.

Why it matters: Protesters have faced arrests and even class cancellations, but they largely haven't yet achieved their goals.

Israeli officials told their Egyptian counterparts on Friday that Israel is ready to give hostage negotiations "one last chance" to reach a deal with Hamas, but if there isn't progress soon it will move forward with a ground invasion of Rafah, two senior Israeli officials said.

Why it matters: The Egyptians are increasingly concerned about a possible Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and are making a last minute push for a hostage deal that would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and stop an invasion of Rafah. 

The State Department has put on hold its intention to impose sanctions on the Israel Defense Forces "Netzah Yehuda" battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank and is reviewing the issue in light of information Israel provided in recent days, U.S. sources familiar with the issue said.

Why it matters: The review is part of a consultation process outlined in an agreement between the U.S. and Israel. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also been under extensive pressure from the Israeli government, members of Congress and some senior Biden administration officials to reconsider the possible sanctions.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday and raised concerns this week with Chinese officials over the country's support for Russia.

Why it matters: Beijing has maintained warm diplomatic ties with Moscow and provided critical support to its defense industrial base as Russia has waged its war in Ukraine.

Former President Trump on Thursday doubled down on his claim that the deadly 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia was a "peanut" compared to the current pro-Palestinian protests occurring across the country.

Why it matters: This is not the first time Trump has downplayed the severity of the Charlottesville rally, in which hundreds of white nationalists marched through the town's streets and a driver plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one.

Ariel Henry formally stepped down as prime minister of Haiti on Thursday, nearly a month after vowing to do so in the face of violent unrest that gripped the country earlier this year.

The big picture: His resignation comes on the same day that a council in charge of selecting a new prime minister and cabinet is set to be sworn in, AP reported.

The new "Dora the Explorer" series has been renewed for a second season.

Why it matters: Dora debuted in 2000 as the first Latina leading character in a children's show. Since then, the number of Latinos in the U.S. has soared by 80%, from 35.3 million to nearly 64 million — and they've become more diverse as well.

Investments from Latino and Latina-led venture capital firms contributed to the creation of an estimated 51,600 jobs last year, according to a new report.

Why it matters: These gains come even as Latinos and other people of color remain deeply underrepresented in the VC world.

President Biden and the leaders of 17 countries whose citizens were abducted by Hamas issued a joint statement Thursday calling on the group to accept a hostage deal currently on the table that would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.

Why it matters: This is the most significant joint statement the international community has published since Oct. 7 pressuring Hamas to release the hostages.