* Ceasefire expected soon for Israeli-Palestinian conflict
* Israel unleashes another wave of airstrikes in Gaza on Thursday
* US and Russian diplomats meet ahead of Biden-Putin summit
* Biden waives US sanctions on Russian-German gas pipeline company
* GOP defections help House pass inquiry into Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol
* Most GOP states plan to cut unemployment benefits as jobless claims fall
* Fed officials discussed conditions for easing stimulus in April policy meeting
* German producer prices accelerated sharply to 5.2% annual rate in April
* Gold rises to highest level since January: