Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the world in brief from The Economist.

As a reminder, if you subscribe to The Economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

If you're already an Economist subscriber,

visit Economist.com slash espresso or visit our Espresso app to start listening. Here's today's

free edition.

This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Vladimir Putin said that Russia agrees with the idea of ending the war in Ukraine,

but suggested the negotiations should remove underlying causes of the conflict.

Mr. Putin said that he would support a 30-day ceasefire, an idea agreed by America and Ukraine,

though he added that there were nuances to consider.

The SMP 500, an American stock index, entered Correction Territory, falling by 10%

from its record high in February. It slipped by 1.4% on Thursday after Donald Trump threatened

a 200% tariff on alcohol from EU countries. Markets have been spooked by Mr. Trump's erratic protectionism and the prospect of slowing economic growth.

Hours before his confirmation hearing, the Trump administration withdrew its nomination of Dave Weldon

to run the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention,

America's primary public health agency. According to the New York Times, the former Republican

congressman and doctor was told by officials that they didn't have the votes to confirm his

appointment. Mr. Weldon has previously

cast doubt on the safety of vaccines. A federal judge ordered six American government

agencies, including the Treasury and Defense Departments, to rehire thousands of probationary

workers that the Office of Personnel Management moved to fire at Doge's direction.

...