Ukraine-Russia peace; Gaza ceasefire; poverty support : NPR

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At this time's high tales President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say they're nearer to attaining peace in Ukraine. The 2 met yesterday at Mar-a-Lago. In the meantime, Russia's assaults on Ukraine continued over the weekend, and key points stay unresolved.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5157x2901+0+269/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fb7%2Fd84570e94091bd4fd406358fd06f%2Fgettyimages-2253858000.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5157x2901+0+269/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fb7%2Fd84570e94091bd4fd406358fd06f%2Fgettyimages-2253858000.jpg" class="img" alt="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens as President Trump speaks during a press conference on Dec. 28 in Palm Beach, Florida. Both men stand behind their own podiums with an American and a Ukrainian flag behind them." loading="lazy"/> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens as President Trump speaks throughout a press convention following their assembly at Trump's Mar-a-Lago membership on Dec. 28, 2025, in Palm Seashore, Florida. Trump invited Zelensky to his non-public membership to work on the U.S.-proposed peace plan to finish the conflict in Ukraine, because the battle has been ongoing for over 4 years. Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures conceal caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures 🎧 The truth that the 2 leaders met is an indication of momentum towards a peace deal, NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben tells Up First. However a peace did not look like imminent after the assembly, and each leaders stated that talks would proceed. One of many matters of dialogue is the way to deal with the Donbas area in japanese Ukraine. Russia seeks to regulate the realm, and Zelenskyy believes it must be a demilitarized zone. Trump is anticipated to fulfill with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as we speak in Florida to concentrate on a number of the objects left to finish on the president's 20-point plan to finish the conflict in Gaza. The 2 leaders might additionally talk about non-Gaza matters, similar to Iran and its proxies.

🎧 Israeli officers say they see no indicators that Hamas is able to disarm, which can immediate Netanyahu to induce the U.S. to maintain the strain on Hamas to honor its finish of the cut price, in line with NPR's Michele Kelemen. Israel additionally shares related sentiments about Lebanon — the place Hezbollah stays a menace — and Iran, the place Israelis say the nation is build up its ballistic missile stockpile. Kelemen says one factor to observe for within the assembly is whether or not Trump will announce a board of peace or take steps ahead in getting a world power on the bottom in Gaza.

This has been a difficult 12 months for teams that assist these in poverty. Many have needed to cut back amid federal cuts and funding chaos. To higher perceive the affect the Trump administration's insurance policies have had on these organizations, NPR's Jennifer Ludden visited a gaggle referred to as HAPCAP in southeastern Appalachian Ohio, the place Govt Director Kelly Hatas defined what has been taking place since January.

🎧 Hatas says 80% of the group's funding comes from federal grants, which is why their greatest problem is the uncertainty over what could possibly be focused subsequent for funding cuts or pauses. The state has helped by shifting funding to fill gaps, however the group nonetheless needed to pull again on issues like plans to construct a homeless shelter, Ludden says. Workers are leaving, pushed by issues about job safety. The group has additionally needed to lay off or cut back the hours of some employees members. Subsequent 12 months, potential cuts to Medicaid and SNAP meals support might go away extra individuals in want. Image Present <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/800x450+0+103/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F0c%2Fb6924eae4dc58478bb5e2449e584%2Fanthorpocene-illusion-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/800x450+0+103/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F0c%2Fb6924eae4dc58478bb5e2449e584%2Fanthorpocene-illusion-1.jpg" class="img" alt="Polar bear. Dalian Forest Zoo. China. Polar bears are the largest land carnivore in the world, weighing up to 800kg and growing up to 3 metres in length. The typical zoo enclosure for a polar bear is one-millionth the size of its range in the wild, which can reach 31,000 square miles (80,290 km²). Polar bears live in Arctic regions in Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway, in temperatures as low as -46°C (-50.8°F) Dalian Forest Zoo contains over 3,000 animals. Attractions include Safari Area, Rain Forest Reptile Pavilion, Flamingo Pavilion, Little Animal Village, Wild Animal Range, Swan Lake, Fierce Beast Area, Happy Primate Garden and Elephant Pavilion." loading="lazy"/> Polar bear. Dalian Forest Zoo. China.

Polar bears are the most important land carnivore on the planet, weighing as much as 800kg and rising as much as 3 metres in size.

The everyday zoo enclosure for a polar bear is one-millionth the dimensions of its vary within the wild, which may attain 31,000 sq. miles (80,290 km²).

Polar bears dwell in Arctic areas in Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway, in temperatures as little as -46°C (-50.8°F)

Dalian Forest Zoo incorporates over 3,000 animals. Sights embody Safari Space, Rain Forest Reptile Pavilion, Flamingo Pavilion, Little Animal Village, Wild Animal Vary, Swan Lake, Fierce Beast Space, Completely satisfied Primate Backyard and Elephant Pavilion. Zed Nelson/Institute conceal caption

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Zed Nelson/Institute Pictures is a big a part of Goats and Soda's protection of the fun and strife of each day life. Images maintain a particular energy within the crew's work. From a polar bear in a Chinese language zoo to a teen in Zambia going through an unsure future, take a look at Goats and Soda's high photo-driven tales of 2025.

Behind the story This essay was written by East Asia-based correspondent Anthony Kuhn and local weather options correspondent Julia Simon.

As East Asia-based correspondent and Local weather Options correspondent, we had the chance to collaborate this 12 months in a manner that journalists at few different media organizations can do.

We reported from completely different sides of the world on a serious pattern with big repercussions for the worldwide financial system and the planet: how the U.S. and China are diverging of their power insurance policies. China is dominating the worldwide renewables sector, and the U.S. is doubling down on fossil fuels.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x2268+0+380/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F81%2F99cba0e147cb8bbec2a63b83ca9f%2Fimg-6414.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x2268+0+380/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F81%2F99cba0e147cb8bbec2a63b83ca9f%2Fimg-6414.JPG" class="img" alt="Chris Mikkelsen, executive director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, stands on the site of a planned marine terminal in Eureka, Calif. that will assemble wind turbines. The Trump administration recently canceled more than $426 million in federal grants for the port." loading="lazy"/> Chris Mikkelsen, government director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, stands on the location of a deliberate marine terminal in Eureka, Calif. that can assemble wind generators. The Trump administration not too long ago canceled greater than $426 million in federal grants for the port. Julia Simon/NPR conceal caption

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Julia Simon/NPR Anthony set off for the sting of the North China Plain, the place gargantuan wind turbine blades on vehicles took what felt like an eternity to cross on the roads. He spoke to engineers who use sensible grids, batteries and transmission traces to show the generators' energy right into a dependable provide of power to Chinese language households.

In the meantime — greater than 5,000 miles away — Julia went to far northern California, the place a deliberate offshore wind undertaking on Humboldt Bay has hit new roadblocks with the Trump administration. The marine terminal that can assemble the generators was speculated to be shovel-ready as quickly as 2026. However employees informed Julia that is now not reasonable, partially as a result of the Trump administration not too long ago canceled greater than $426 million in federal grants for the port.

Because the radio and digital variations of our story got here out in latest weeks, the Trump administration has continued to face in the best way of the U.S. renewable power trade. Simply this week the Trump administration paused 5 offshore wind initiatives alongside the East Coast, calling them a nationwide safety danger. These initiatives had already permitted federal leases, they usually had been already below building.

This divergence in power coverage has big implications for the Chinese language and the U.S. economies, and for the 2 powers' rivalry and competitors via power tech exports.

As for the local weather? Johns Hopkins College China professional Jeremy Wallace informed us, "China's efforts are the principle story for combating local weather change."

You could find out extra in our NPR story — all with no paywall — right here.

3 issues to know earlier than you go <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5749x3233+375+373/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2F3a%2Fff0be5dd4dd593ced08b391ea969%2Fmunter-music.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5749x3233+375+373/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2F3a%2Fff0be5dd4dd593ced08b391ea969%2Fmunter-music.jpg" class="img" alt="The missing painting, Gabriele Münter, Music (Musik), 1916, its whereabouts unknown to the public since 1977. Oil on canvas. Private collection. © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn." loading="lazy"/> The lacking portray, Gabriele Münter, Music (Musik), 1916, its whereabouts unknown to the general public since 1977. Oil on canvas. Non-public assortment. © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn. The Guggenheim, New York conceal caption

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The Guggenheim, New York Do you will have this lacking portray? A New York curator is looking for Music by Gabriele Münter. It is a vital work that has been out of public view for the reason that Nineteen Seventies.Brigitte Bardot, the worldwide intercourse goddess of cinema within the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties who later turned an animal rights activist, has died on the age of 91.Most individuals mark the brand new 12 months on Jan. 1 due to the Gregorian calendar. Given the existence of numerous programs such because the Chinese language and Hebrew calendars, here is how this particular date turned the worldwide commonplace for brand new beginnings. This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.