This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Alex Ritson, and in the early hours of Wednesday the 18th of December, these are our main stories.

The US State Department says it's cautiously optimistic that a deal to end the fighting in Gaza is within reach.

Russian politicians have vowed revenge for the assassination

of a Russian general on the streets of Moscow. Ukraine said it carried out the attack.

Also in this podcast, the constitutional bridge, one of only four bridges spanning the Grand Canal,

25,000 people cross it every day.

The Italian city of Venice is to replace the glass steps on its famous slippery bridge

after 14 years of almost daily falls.

The US State Department says it's cautiously optimistic that a deal to end the fighting in Gaza

and secure the release of Israeli hostages is within reach.

Its spokesman is Matthew Miller.

Based on the remaining issues, we should be able to get to an agreement.

We should be able to bridge the disagreements

between the two parties. But that is not to say that we will. Because again, there have been times

before where we were close, and we thought the differences were bridgeable, and ultimately

we didn't get a deal. As you heard me say before, all the United States can do is push and try to come up with compromises,

but we cannot dictate to either side what choice they have to make.

They have to make those decisions for themselves.

All previous attempts have collapsed.

A Hamas spokesman said the talks were positive and serious, and a deal was possible if Israel stopped setting new conditions.

A three-stage proposal is on the table.

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