GEOFF BENNETT: We begin the day's other headlines in Gaza, where the U.N. says no aid has reached Palestinians two days after Israel ended its three-month blockade.

It comes as Israeli forces are pressing ahead with a new military offensive deep into the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian health officials say a barrage of air assaults overnight into today killed at least 85 people, including women and children.

Israel says the strikes targeted Hamas command centers.

International allies, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are growing increasingly critical over Israel's actions.

KEIR STARMER, British Prime Minister: I want to put on record today that we're horrified by the escalation from Israel.

The recent announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza, a basic quantity, is totally and utterly inadequate.

GEOFF BENNETT: The British government today suspended free trade talks with Israel and hit settlers in the West Bank with new sanctions.

France and Canada have also voiced concerns about what they called Israel's egregious actions in Gaza and have threatened to take action as well.

Instability in the Middle East was just one of the topics Secretary of State Marco Rubio tackled today in a pair of hearings on Capitol Hill.

In his first testimony before his former Senate colleagues, Rubio defended the Trump administration's policies on Ukraine, foreign aid and refugee admissions.

And he warned that Syria could soon fall back into civil war.

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. Secretary of State: Frankly, the transitional authority, given the challenges they're facing, are maybe weeks, not many months away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions, basically, the country splitting up.

GEOFF BENNETT: Rubio went on to say that if Syria's new government collapses, it could lead to chaos throughout the Middle East.

Also on Capitol Hill, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stirred controversy by making the false claim that the constitutional writ of habeas corpus justifies the administration's ability to detain and deport migrants.

Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan corrected her.

KRISTI NOEM, U.S.

Homeland Security Secretary: Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional writ that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their right to... (CROSSTALK) SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN (D-NH): Let me stop, ma'am.

Habeas corpus -- excuse me.

That's incorrect.

Habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people.

If not for that protection, the government could simply arrest people.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, practically, habeas corpus involves the right to challenge one's detention in court.

The Trump administration has floated the idea of suspending it as part of its broader efforts to expel undocumented immigrants, but only Congress has the authority to do so.

The FDA is changing the way it approves annual COVID-19 vaccines.

The pivot means that officials will no longer routinely approve annual shots for younger adults and healthy children.

The agency said it wants to see new clinical trials showing COVID shots are still safe and effective before approving them for healthy adults and children.

It's a costly new requirement for pharmaceutical companies that could limit who gets new shots each year, but the FDA says the vaccines will remain fully available to adults over age 65 and others with increased health risks.

The World Health Organization approved an agreement today on how to handle future pandemics following the global chaos brought on by COVID-19.

At the group's Assembly Hall in Geneva, member countries passed the measure without opposition following three years of negotiations.

The treaty aims to ensure that all nations, including poor countries, have access to drugs and vaccines when the next pandemic hits.

The WHO's director general called it a victory for public health, but the U.S. is not involved in the pact after the Trump administration announced in January that it's withdrawing from the agency.

In New Orleans, police have arrested a maintenance worker at the jail where last week 10 inmates pulled off a daring escape.

Sterling Williams admitted to shutting off the cell's water, saying an inmate had threatened to stab him if he didn't.

That allowed the inmates to move a toilet and squeeze through a hole behind it.

They left behind the words "Too easy, LOL" in graffiti.

You see the spelling mistake there.

New Orleans officials say a number of other security lapses were at play, like faulty cell locks and a distracted guard.

Four inmates have been recaptured.

Six are still at large.

On Wall Street today, stocks gave up a bit of ground following recent gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average gave back more than 100 points on the day.

The Nasdaq slipped about 70 points.

The S&P 500 also ended lower, ending a six-session winning streak.

And there's an empty barstool tonight in the hearts of millions of TV fans.

George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on "Cheers," has died.

GEORGE WENDT, Actor: Afternoon, everybody.

ACTORS: Norm!

TED DANSON, Actor: How you doing, Norm?

What do you know?

GEORGE WENDT: Not enough.

GEOFF BENNETT: With his trademark entrances and everyman appeal, Wendt was a fan favorite for 11 seasons.

He earned six straight Emmy nominations along the way.

A Chicago native himself, Wendt also popped up on "Saturday Night Live," appeared in films and on Broadway and even wrote a book about beer.

His family says Wendt died peacefully early this morning at home.

Tonight, we raise a glass to George Wendt, who was 76 years old.

And still to come on the "News Hour": near misses and electrical outages at major airports heighten concerns over flight safety; we examine U.S. policy on Taiwan as the threat of China looms; and tribal colleges and universities face an uncertain future amid cuts to their federal funding.