James Baldwin was an activist, an orator, a style icon, but on NPR's Book of the Day,

we'll dissect the thing he was most known for his writing.

That last clause kind of reads like a horror story.

Right?

There's something deeply, deeply ominous about the way that that opening paragraph closes.

Celebrate Black History Month with us as we examine some of his

best works on NPR's Book of the Day podcast. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine

Hurst. British Prime Minister Kier-Starmur says Europe has to do the heavy lifting to secure

a lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Our starting point must be to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now so that they

can negotiate from a position of strength. And we are doubling down in our support.

He made the comment at a summit in London that he hosted today with leaders from 20

countries. Sarmer says every nation must contribute as best as they can and that Ukraine must be at the

table for any peace talks. And he says any lasting peace has to ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security.

Israel is stopping all humanitarian aid from getting into Gaza. The move comes after Hamas

rejected a new Israeli proposal to free more hostages before holding talks on a permanent end to the war.

And peers Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv. The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is now over.

The two sides were meant to negotiate a second phase with talks on a permanent end of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is now over. The two sides were meant to negotiate a second phase

with talks on a permanent end of the war. Israel has announced a new proposal to extend the ceasefire

by seven weeks and for Hamas to release half of its hostages at the start and then hold talks

toward a permanent end of the war. Israel says it's a proposal from U.S. presidential

envoy Steve Whitkoff. There was no immediate U.S. comment. Hamas says the newest proposal is an

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