Good morning. We're covering coming talks between Trump and Putin and Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis. Plus, a Japanese author breaks barriers.
Trump and Putin prepared to speak as Russia hit UkrainePresident Trump said that he would call President Vladimir Putin of Russia today to try to secure a cease-fire with Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the two leaders would speak. Trump also said he would call President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, as well as leaders of NATO. Here's what to know. Friedrich Merz, Germany's 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. Trump and Putin's call is coming as Russia hit Ukraine with one of its largest drone bombardments of the war. An estimated 273 exploding drones and decoys were recorded in the skies across Ukraine. One woman was killed and several people were injured. 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 cancerA statement from Joe Biden's office said yesterday that the former president had been diagnosed on Friday with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. 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. 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 which 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, advancing its plan to move farther into the enclave and seize more land. 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. Details: Officials said the new military operations would be carried out gradually, in stages that could be stopped should a deal with Hamas be reached.
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Lieutenant Kateryna is Ukraine's only female combat pilot, and 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."
A breaker of invisible barriersSaou Ichikawa was the first severely disabled author to win the Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious literary awards. She has congenital myopathy, a muscle disorder that requires her to use a wheelchair and a ventilator. When she accepted the award in 2023, she used the moment to highlight ableism in Japan, where disabled people often face isolation and erasure. She took up the same theme in her prizewinning novel, "Hunchback," which was released in English in March.
Cook: Savor a one-pot salmon dish flavored with miso and turmeric. Watch: "Desert in Namibia" is a portrait of a young woman coming to terms with her relationships and place in the world. Read: A novel about a sheep detective and six other books we recommend. Shop: Simple sandals are always a good investment. Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here. That's it for today. See you tomorrow. — Emmett We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.
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