Daily Briefing: Biden's ultimatum to Israel
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At the six-month mark of the Israel-Hamas war, President Joe Biden's ire at Israel's treatment of civilians and aid workers may be a turning point. Also in the news: No Labels won't appear as a third-party candidate on the general election ballot in November. Iowa's Caitlin Clark takes on Paige Bueckers and UConn in Friday’s first women's Final Four.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Flying cars are a thing!
Here is the news to know Friday.
Biden chastises Israel over failure to protect civilians
As the Israel-Hamas war roils toward the six-month mark of fighting, President Joe Biden told Israel a cease-fire is "essential" to stabilize the region and issued an ultimatum that U.S. support of the war in Gaza depends on Israel taking "immediate" steps to protect civilians and aid workers.
The background: Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three days after a team from celebrity chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen aid group were killed in an Israeli drone strike in northern Gaza.
Within hours of the leaders' tense call, the Israeli government announced new measures to increase aid to the devastated coastal enclave.
Israel says findings from an independent probe of the WCK strike will be public soon. But experts say the WCK workers' deaths underscore months of Israeli attacks on humanitarian workers and lack of U.S. accountability.
The Biden administration reportedly approved the shipment of thousands more bombs to Israel the same day as the Israeli airstrikes that killed the WCK volunteers.
Six months of war: Read more about the Israel-Hamas war from USA TODAY
As war in Gaza tests interfaith bonds in the U.S., some find ways to mend relationships.
Pregnant people in Gaza face starvation and no anesthesia.
Israelis say hostages have been forgotten, but Oct. 7 trauma has just begun.
A cloudy outlook for Monday's solar eclipse
T-minus 3 days. On Monday afternoon, a total eclipse of the sun will cross over a dozen states as it traverses from Texas to Maine. Millions of people are expected to travel to see it. For just the second time in seven years, day will suddenly become night for a few brief, wondrous minutes as the orbiting moon blocks the sun's light along a southwest-to-northeast path across the continent. But where will clouds ruin the spectacle?
Here's a definitive solar eclipse guide for kids (adults also welcome).
Here's where to buy your eclipse glasses today.
More news to know now
Biden is in Baltimore today to speak with the community after a major bridge collapsed.
Injuries from a vessel strike killed an endangered whale found off the Virginia coast.
Biden reversed a Trump-era policy on cheap but limited short-term health insurance.
A Georgia judge rejected Donald Trump's request to dismiss election racketeering charges.
On today's The Excerpt podcast, a study found racial bias in AI chatbots. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
No Labels says it will not launch presidential ticket
The centrist, nonprofit group No Labels will not field a third-party candidate to challenge President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, a decision that could benefit Biden. The group for months said it was searching for candidates to appear on a potential "unity" bid in the November election, particularly as Biden and Trump inched toward a 2020 rematch. Meanwhile, Biden allies and some Republicans had criticized the No Labels effort, saying a third-party campaign could draw moderate votes away from Biden and boost Trump's reelection chances. Read more
Highest number of hurricanes ever predicted for this year
An "extremely active" hurricane season is likely, top forecasters from Colorado State University announced this week. Experts' predictions for the season, which begins June 1, includes the highest number of hurricanes ever predicted in an April forecast by Colorado State since the team began issuing predictions in 1995. Importantly, the seasonal forecast models have little to do with where hurricanes make landfall. Tropical storms and hurricanes are steered around in part by where high-pressure ridges set up over the ocean. Read more
California's snowpack was above average for the second year in a row.
Can Americans afford AC this summer?
Keep scrolling
Paul McCartney gushed over Beyoncé’s version of "Blackbird."
Is the "Ripley" remake a flop?
These bisexual swingers shocked their Alabama town.
Underestimate Dev Patel at your own peril after "Monkey Man."
Is it safe to eat runny eggs amid the bird flu outbreak?
Iowa, UConn join South Carolina, NC State in Friday semifinals
The Iowa Hawkeyes and UConn Huskies will join South Carolina and NC State in Cleveland for the women's Final Four on Friday. In the first match-up the overall No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks will play the NC State Wolfpack, in their first Final Four since 1998. Iowa, a Final Four veteran, will play UConn in the nightcap, setting up a showdown between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Read more
A brilliant performance from Paige Bueckers sets up showdown with Caitlin Clark, again.
Final Four bold predictions: How the men's semifinals of March Madness will unfold.
Photo of the day: Suzuka's enthusiastic fans
Formula One is in Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. The Suzuka Circuit is one of the older races and first appeared on the F1 calendar in 1987. It's the only figure-eight type of course in F1 and features fast corners, slow hairpins, and a section of esses. Read more about the popular race.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Hamas war, eclipse, 2024 election, weather, NCAA March Madness, F1: Daily Briefing
