Shumita Basu

Last week, President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, took a proposal to Israel that would include a 60-day ceasefire and Hamas releasing 10 living and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel accepted the proposal, but over the weekend, Witkoff said he received Hamas's response and described it as unacceptable.

Last week, President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, took a proposal to Israel that would include a 60-day ceasefire and Hamas releasing 10 living and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel accepted the proposal, but over the weekend, Witkoff said he received Hamas's response and described it as unacceptable.

NPR's Daniel Estrin explained Hamas's objections.

NPR's Daniel Estrin explained Hamas's objections.

NPR's Daniel Estrin explained Hamas's objections.

Let's turn now to the war in Ukraine, where a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to happen today in Istanbul. On Sunday, Ukraine carried out one of its broadest and most surprising attacks of the war.

Let's turn now to the war in Ukraine, where a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to happen today in Istanbul. On Sunday, Ukraine carried out one of its broadest and most surprising attacks of the war.

Let's turn now to the war in Ukraine, where a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to happen today in Istanbul. On Sunday, Ukraine carried out one of its broadest and most surprising attacks of the war.

In a mission that took over a year to coordinate, Ukraine says it smuggled over 100 small drones into Russia using freight trucks, eventually releasing them to strike at 40 warplanes. Ukraine claims to have delivered damage amounting to $7 billion.

In a mission that took over a year to coordinate, Ukraine says it smuggled over 100 small drones into Russia using freight trucks, eventually releasing them to strike at 40 warplanes. Ukraine claims to have delivered damage amounting to $7 billion.

In a mission that took over a year to coordinate, Ukraine says it smuggled over 100 small drones into Russia using freight trucks, eventually releasing them to strike at 40 warplanes. Ukraine claims to have delivered damage amounting to $7 billion.

For its part, Russia was said to have launched nearly 500 drones toward Ukraine, the majority of which were intercepted, though Ukrainian officials report at least 12 soldiers were killed and more than 60 others were wounded. Ukraine's forces are heavily depleted at this point in the war.

For its part, Russia was said to have launched nearly 500 drones toward Ukraine, the majority of which were intercepted, though Ukrainian officials report at least 12 soldiers were killed and more than 60 others were wounded. Ukraine's forces are heavily depleted at this point in the war.

For its part, Russia was said to have launched nearly 500 drones toward Ukraine, the majority of which were intercepted, though Ukrainian officials report at least 12 soldiers were killed and more than 60 others were wounded. Ukraine's forces are heavily depleted at this point in the war.

So much so that in recent months, the government launched a new recruitment program to encourage younger people between the ages of 18 and 24 to enlist, with sign-on bonuses and perks like interest-free mortgages. Up until now, Ukrainian officials hoped they could largely spare Gen Z from the front lines, but The Wall Street Journal reports they can't afford to any longer.

So much so that in recent months, the government launched a new recruitment program to encourage younger people between the ages of 18 and 24 to enlist, with sign-on bonuses and perks like interest-free mortgages. Up until now, Ukrainian officials hoped they could largely spare Gen Z from the front lines, but The Wall Street Journal reports they can't afford to any longer.

So much so that in recent months, the government launched a new recruitment program to encourage younger people between the ages of 18 and 24 to enlist, with sign-on bonuses and perks like interest-free mortgages. Up until now, Ukrainian officials hoped they could largely spare Gen Z from the front lines, but The Wall Street Journal reports they can't afford to any longer.

So far, the number of people signing up are modest. Russia, meanwhile, has made gains in recent months. Over the last month alone, their forces took more than 100 square miles of Ukrainian territory. And those gains can largely be credited to President Vladimir Putin's efforts to retool the entire country's economy in recent years to focus on the war.

So far, the number of people signing up are modest. Russia, meanwhile, has made gains in recent months. Over the last month alone, their forces took more than 100 square miles of Ukrainian territory. And those gains can largely be credited to President Vladimir Putin's efforts to retool the entire country's economy in recent years to focus on the war.

So far, the number of people signing up are modest. Russia, meanwhile, has made gains in recent months. Over the last month alone, their forces took more than 100 square miles of Ukrainian territory. And those gains can largely be credited to President Vladimir Putin's efforts to retool the entire country's economy in recent years to focus on the war.