WILLIAM BRANGHAM: An update on a story we# brought you last night.

President Trump is## rejecting an offer from Russia to temporarily# extend caps on strategic nuclear weapons.

It## comes as the treaty that held them in# check called New START expired today.

In a social media post, the president called it# -- quote -- "a badly negotiated deal" adding:## "We should have our own nuclear experts work# on a new, improved and modernized treaty."

The Kremlin says it regrets the expiration of# the last remaining nuclear arms pact between## the two nations.

And a spokesperson for the U.N.# secretary-general called this a grave moment.

STEPHANE DUJARRIC, Spokesman, Office of# the U.N.

Secretary-General: In the first## time for more than half.. limits on the strategic arsenals of both the# Russian Federation and the United States.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: President Trump# has indicated he wants to involve## China in any new potential treaty,# an idea that Beijing has resisted.

Meantime, during talks today in Abu# Dhabi, the U.S.

and Russia agreed## to restart high-level military# contacts.

Those communications## were suspended in 2021 as tensions rose# ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement, U.S.

European Command said the# restarted channel -- quote -- "provides the means## for increased transparency and de-escalation."

The# agreement came as Ukraine and Russia wrapped up a## second day of U.S.-brokered talks, which American# envoy Steve Witkoff described as constructive.

Speaking in Kyiv today, alongside# the Polish prime minister,## Ukraine's president said the parties also# agreed to speak again in the near future.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President (through# translator): It is important that the process## is ongoing.

We would like faster results, but if# the next meeting is planned, it means there is a## chance to continue the dialogue, which, of course,# we very much hope will lead to the end of the war.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Also today, 150 Ukrainian# soldiers, along with seven civilians,## were returned home as part of a prisoner# exchange.

Ukraine says many of them had## been held since 2022.

An equal number# of Russians were also released.

Russian## Defense Ministry footage showed soldiers# boarding a bus wrapped in Russian flags.

The Trump administration is stripping job# protections from as many as 50,000 federal## employees.

A final rule published today# by the Office of Personnel Management## makes it easier for the president to# discipline or remove those workers.

Before, a president could only wield such powers# over roughly 4,000 political appointees.

Agency## head Scott Kupor said the new policy advances# President Trump's agenda, adding -- quote --## "Those entrusted with shaping and executing# policy must be accountable for results."

The fallout from the latest release of files## related to Jeffrey Epstein is# spreading both here and overseas.

KEIR STARMER, British Prime Minister: I am sorry,# sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many## people with power failed you, sorry for having# believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Britain's Prime# Minister Kherson apologized today## for appointing Peter Mandelson to# be his ambassador to the U.S.

Files## later showed Mandelson was closer# to Epstein than previously thought.

The World Economic Forum is investigating its# CEO, Borge Brende, over his alleged ties to## Epstein.

Brende insists he was completely# unaware of Epstein's criminal activities.

And in the U.S., Brad Karp is stepping down# as chairman of the influential law firm Paul,## Weiss due to his appearance in the Epstein# documents, though he will stay on with the firm.

The Nigerian government says it's launching# a new military operation against Islamic## militants after more than 160 people were# killed during an attack earlier this week.## Local officials say it happened in two# Muslim-majority villages in Kwara state,## and that the victims were reportedly killed# for resisting extremist ideology.

No group## has claimed responsibility, but officials# suspect various Islamic military groups.

Separately, in Nigeria's Kaduna# state, officials say all 183## Christians abducted from three different# churches last month have now been released.

On Wall Street today, stocks struggled amid# continued weakness in tech shares.

The Dow## Jones industrial average fell nearly# 600 points.

The Nasdaq dropped around## 360 points on the day.

The S&P 500 ended# lower for a sixth time in seven sessions.

And Vice President J.D.

Vance told U.S.# Olympic athletes in Milan today that the## Games are one of the few things# that unites the entire country.

J.D.

VANCE, Vice President of the# United States: The whole country,## Democrat, Republican, independent, we're# all rooting for you and we're.. you and we know you're going to make us proud.# So thank you all, and hope you guys have fun.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Vance and the second family# also cheered on the U.S.

women's hockey team## in an opening round game against the Czech# Republic.

The U.S.

women won handedly 5-1.

Still to come on the "News Hour": Sudan's army# breaks the yearslong siege of an embattled## city and finds overwhelming suffering;# we examine so-called zombie mortgages,## loans that laid dormant for years,# but are now coming back to life; and## an organization offers recovery and work skills# to Indian women who were forced into sex work.