On today's podcast:

1) Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for the release of all hostages held by the militant group in Gaza, a major step toward ending a two-year war that’s devastated the Palestinian territory and triggered multiple conflicts in the Middle East as well as protests across the world. The agreement was reached early on Thursday after several days of indirect negotiations between the warring sides in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. The ongoing talks were brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and based on a plan unveiled by President Trump last week.

2) French President Emmanuel Macron said he’ll name a new prime minister by Friday evening, having for the time being avoided the need to call a snap election that would have deepened the political chaos in France. Outgoing Premier Sebastien Lecornu, who was tasked by Macron on Monday to negotiate with the political groups in the National Assembly, said sufficient progress had been made to allow work to begin on forming a new cabinet.

3) China has unveiled broad new curbs on its rare earth exports, as Beijing moves to shore up its trade war leverage ahead of a high-stakes meeting this month between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Overseas exporters of items that use even traces of certain rare earths sourced from China will now need an export license, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday, citing national security grounds. Certain equipment and engineering technology will also be subject to controls, according to a separate release.

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