Hamas held talks with Egyptian mediators over a potential ceasefire while Israel struck Gaza's main city prior to a planned takeover.

VA faces staffing woes, Trump reshapes Kennedy Center, and Mexico hands over cartel bosses. Welcome to your Wednesday Morning Brief.

I t was born as the Islamic Resistance Movement. It is more usually known by its Arabic acronym, Hamas. But talks taking place in Cairo could determine whether the Palestinian militants drop the middle word, abandon their 22-month war in Gaza against Israel and reinvent themselves as a political party.

Sources say Cairo's position marks a dramatic shift in its approach to the Palestinian movement and mediation conditions

Arab diplomat tells ToI that the gaps remain wide, particularly over Israel's demand that Hamas disarm; security chiefs expected to urge political leaders to back 60-day truce deal