Axios

Hamas said Sunday it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who has been held for over 550 days, as part of an effort to reach a ceasefire deal and resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

The big picture: Alexander's release is also thought to be a gesture by Hamas to President Trump as he visits the Middle East later this week, sources said.

The U.S. and China appear to have struck some sort of trade deal, with both sides promising details on Monday.

Why it matters: The trade war between the two largest economies brought the world to the brink of recession, and threatened to scramble the global economic order.

One of Canada's largest asset managers is being accused of misleading limited partners in some of its private funds, as part of a wrongful termination suit brought by a Silicon Valley investor who led its growth equity business until last November.

Why it matters: The complaint alleges that maintaining AUM was valued over the best interests of those supplying the A, which has long been a tacit worry of LPs investing with publicly traded firms.

Nestlé has hired investment bank Rothschild to find a buyer for its bottled water business, which could fetch more than €5 billion and includes the Perrier and S.Pellegrino brands, according to Reuters.

Why it matters: The Swiss food giant announced plans to separate the water business last fall, but now is at the center of a brewing political scandal in France over filtering techniques some of its its Perrier facilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he will travel to Turkey later this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a "necessary basis for diplomacy" to end the war.

Why it matters: If the meeting takes place, it will be the first time the two leaders have met since the Russia-Ukraine war began more than three years ago.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said U.S.-China trade talks had made "substantial progress," after President Trump said the negotiations led to a "total reset" in the two sides' trade relationship.

Why it matters: An actual reset — with sharply lower tariffs or none at all — would be the relief businesses and investors have been praying for from a trade war that has already significantly damaged the economy.

The Trump administration is encouraged by the results of the fourth round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Sunday.

Why it matters: The fourth round of talks took place ahead of President Trump's trip to the Middle East later this week.

Pope Leo XIV called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and peace in Ukraine during his first Sunday noon blessing as the bishop of Rome.

The big picture: Leo's calls echo those of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who was an outspoken advocate for the besieged Palestinian population and denounced Russia's war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelensky and the leaders of several NATO countries spoke on Saturday with President Trump and stressed they are ready for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, Ukraine's foreign minister said.

Why it matters: Trump called for a 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war earlier this week. While Ukraine agreed, the Kremlin hasn't given a clear answer so far.

President Trump announced on Saturday that India and Pakistan have agreed to a "full and immediate ceasefire."

Why it matters: The fighting between the two nuclear powers in recent days, which is the most serious in decades, raised concerns of a dramatic escalation.

President Trump and Vice President Vance are publicly criticizing Russian leader Vladimir Putin in starker terms than in the past.

• But the MAGA base isn't piling on — and remains as skeptical of Ukraine as ever.

Why it matters: Big voices in the base aren't contradicting Trump — but they're not echoing him, either. Top MAGA voices still say they trust the White House as it tries to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine — they just aren't shedding their longstanding skepticism of Kyiv as talks continue.