Good morning. We're covering talks between President Trump and Vladimir Putin, and a diagnosis of cancer for Joe Biden. Plus: What happened at Eurovision.
Russia unleashed a huge drone barrage on UkraineRussia bombarded Ukraine with drones yesterday, in an apparent show of force only a day before President Trump is expected to talk with President Vladimir Putin of Russia about a cease-fire with Ukraine. Trump also said he would call President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, as well as leaders of NATO. Here's what to know. The drone barrage, in which an estimated 273 exploding drones and decoys were recorded in the skies across Ukraine, killed a woman and injured several other people. Next steps: Friedrich Merz, Germany's new chancellor, told reporters yesterday that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that Merz and the leaders of France and Britain were trying to speak with Trump before the call with Putin. Diplomacy: Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV yesterday in private, after the pope offered on Friday to host Ukraine-Russia talks at the Vatican.
Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancerJoe Biden was diagnosed on Friday with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement from the former president's office. The cancer appears to be "hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," the statement said. The diagnosis came after doctors found a "small nodule" on Biden's prostate last week. Context: Biden, 82, left office in January as the oldest-serving president in U.S. history. Throughout his presidency, he faced questions about his age and health that ultimately led him to abandon his re-election campaign.
Israel expanded ground operations in GazaThe Israeli military announced yesterday that it had begun "extensive ground operations" throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip, in an intensified campaign to move farther into the enclave and seize more land. At the same time, the Israeli government said it would allow "a basic quantity of food" to enter Gaza. Officials said the new military operations would be carried out gradually, in stages that could be stopped should a deal with Hamas be reached. The move came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel signaled for the first time that his negotiators in Qatar were authorized to discuss terms for a broad deal to end the war. Toll: More than 53,000 Gazans have been killed so far, including more than 90 since dawn on Sunday, according to Gazan health officials. Diplomacy: Trump's five-day tour through the Middle East last week underscored a new dynamic, one in which Israel and Netanyahu are something of an afterthought to the U.S.
News From Europe
A lieutenant named Kateryna is Ukraine's only female combat pilot. She has flown over 30 missions against Russian troops. Facing an urgent need for more soldiers, Kyiv's military is finally working to recruit more women, but sexism remains an issue in the ranks. "Guys always want to show that they're heroes and protect you," she said. "But I didn't come here to be a girl. At some point, our army will get it." Lives lived: Ed Smylie, a NASA official who helped save the Apollo 13 crew with duct tape after an explosion crippled the spacecraft, died at 95.
Austria triumphs at EurovisionAustria won a narrow victory at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, just beating Israel, which received the most points in the public vote. JJ, a classically trained singer, received 436 points to Israel's 357 for "Wasted Love," a dramatic song about heartbreak. Sweden, the pre-event favorite, came in fourth. Read more about the final. JJ — whose real name is Johannes Pietsch — is a countertenor, with a vocal range similar to that of a female mezzo-soprano. He sings in the choir at the Opera School of the Vienna State Opera, and in recent months he has appeared in productions of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Benjamin Britten's "Billy Budd." For more:
Cook: Savor a one-pot salmon dish flavored with miso and turmeric. Watch: In "Desert in Namibia," a young woman comes to terms with her relationships and place in the world. Read: We recommend these six books, including a novel about a sheep detective. Shop: Simple sandals are always a good investment. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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