--:-- Louise Schiavone: This message comes from NPR's sponsor, Odoo Business Management Software. Some say Odoo is like fertilizer because it promotes growth. Others say it's a magic beanstalk, scaling with efficiency. Odoo, exactly what a business needs. Sign up today at odoo.com.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone.
--:-- Greg Myrie: In the Middle East, all living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, 20 men in all, have been turned over to Israel. The release came as President Trump arrived in Israel for the next stage in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal.
--:-- Greg Myrie: Trump went on to address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. But as NPR's Greg Myrie reports, the present's day is far from over.
--:-- Greg Myrie: Next, he will attend more talks in Egypt, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Trump will be flying to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the Red Sea later today. That's where this formal signing ceremony for the ceasefire will take place. 20 or so national leaders are supposed to be there.
--:-- Greg Myrie: Now, notably, Israel and Hamas leaders are not supposed to be there, although there's still last-minute discussions going on, and perhaps that could happen.
--:-- Greg Myrie: Today is a day of success and celebration but this is stage one. Much harder stages are ahead and will play out for weeks, months, even years to come.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: NPR Greg Myrie.
--:-- Corey Turner: About 20 percent of the U Department of Education remaining staff received RIF notices Friday.
--:-- Corey Turner: As NPR's Corey Turner reports, that includes nearly everyone inside the department's Office of Special Education.
--:-- Corey Turner: This office collects and analyzes data and annual reports from states, making sure they're following federal law and serving the nearly 8 million kids with disabilities in the U.S.
--:-- Corey Turner: If staff worry a state has fallen out of compliance, they step in. They even have customer service reps who answer calls directly from parents and families.
--:-- Corey Turner: I spoke with six staffers who received RIF notices. They told me nearly the entire staff had been laid off Friday, except for a few top executives and support staff.
--:-- Corey Turner: One said, quote, "This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities."
--:-- Corey Turner: The Education Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: Cori Turner, NPR News.
--:-- Scott Horsley: The Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded today to three men for their research on technological change and how it fuels economic growth.
--:-- Scott Horsley: NPR's Scott Horsley reports two of the winners are in the U.S., the third is in Europe.
--:-- Scott Horsley: Joel Moker of Northwestern University, Peter Howard of Brown University, and Philippe Aguillon of the College of France and the London School of Economics will share the prize money of about $1 million.
--:-- Scott Horsley: Jan Hassler of the Nobel Committee recognized the three for their research on how changing technology has helped to usher in higher living standards.
--:-- Scott Horsley: Over the span of one or two centuries, almost everything has changed. Change, not stagnation, has become the new normal.
--:-- Scott Horsley: The research also guides policymakers in how to manage the creative destruction that comes with that change and build safety nets for people who might be displaced.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: This is NPR.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: China is calling on President Trump to withdraw his latest threat of a 100 percent tariff and other export control measures.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Trump was reacting to China's latest restrictions on exports of rare earth materials, critical in electronics production.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: For now, though, Trump says that he still plans to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the end of this month in South Korea.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: French President, French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Corneau, who resigned last week only to be reinstated, has unveiled a second new government as he races to pass a budget and rein in mounting debt.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: But as Rebecca Rossman reports, opposition parties are already calling for a no-confidence vote.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: After his dramatic resignation and reinstatement last week Le Colneau is moving quickly to stabilize France government He unveiled a second cabinet late Sunday after the last one collapsed in just 14 hours in hopes of passing a budget before a looming Monday deadline
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: The plan aims to rein in public spending as France faces one of the highest debt levels in the eurozone.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Several ministers have been replaced, including those overseeing finance and labor, as Le Corneau works to restore confidence in President Emmanuel Macron's struggling centrist coalition.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: But opposition parties say it's more of the same and are preparing another no-confidence vote later this week.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: Rebecca Rossman, NPR News, Paris.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced a 10-year commitment worth $50 million to Atlanta's historically black colleges and universities, the goal to raise graduation rates at Morehouse, Morris Brown and Spelman Colleges and Clark Atlanta University.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: I'm Louise Schiavone.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: This message comes from Ritual.
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--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Ritual's essential multivitamins are made with you and your body in mind and backed by scientific research filled with key ingredients as well as the essence of mint so you can enjoy taking your vitamins.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Get 25% off your first purchase when you visit ritual.com slash NPR.
--:-- Louise Schiavone: This is NPR.
