Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman.
Hamas has given mediators its response to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
As NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv,
Israel is signaling optimism about the chances for a ceasefire agreement.
Hamas announced in the middle of the night that it submitted its response to the latest ceasefire proposal presented by international mediators.
In a statement shared with NPR,
an Israeli source involved in the negotiations said the Hamas response is workable for Israel and that Israeli negotiators are studying what Hamas is proposing.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity in line with protocol discussing the closed-door negotiations.
Hamas has been negotiating an Israeli troop withdrawal from parts of Gaza,
commitments on humanitarian aid into Gaza,
and international guarantees that the ceasefire will continue and Israel will commit to holding talks about a final end of war.
US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Israel's top negotiator in Italy today,
a sign of progress toward a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Columbia University will pay more than $200 million to the federal government to resolve multiple federal investigations.
The settlement will restore access to billions of dollars in federal funding.
That includes unfreezing grants and opening opportunities for future research.
NPR's Alyssa Nadwani reports.
The university's acting president, Claire Shipman,
released some of the details of the agreement in a statement which stems from allegations by the Trump administration.