Russia's Putin proposes direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, 'without preconditions'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, “without preconditions,” an offer that came in response to Ukraine and its allies urging Moscow to commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.  Putin referenced the unsuccessful 2022 peace talks that took place in Istanbul in March, shortly after Moscow’s full-scale invasion, and proposed “restarting” them “without preconditions” in remarks to reporters in the early hours of Sunday. Putin’s proposal came after leaders from four major European countries threatened to ratchet up pressure on Moscow if it does not accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

India and Pakistan accuse each other of violating ceasefire hours after reaching deal

ISLAMABAD (AP) — India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire after U.S.-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades but accused each other of violating the deal just hours later. The Saturday deal had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, but multiple explosions were heard in two large cities of Indian-controlled Kashmir hours after the deal. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responded by saying the country remains committed to the agreement and blamed the Indian forces for initiating the ceasefire violation.

US-China tariff talks to continue Sunday, an official tells AP, as Trump touts 'great progress made'

GENEVA (AP) — President Donald Trump says “great progress” was being made in ongoing U.S.-China talks over tariffs menacing the global economy, and even suggested a “total reset" was on the table as tariff negotiations are set to continue Sunday in Switzerland. No major breakthrough was announced in discussions that lasted over 10 hours between U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and a delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Still, Trump struck an upbeat tone in a post Saturday on social media, calling it a “very good meeting” and much had been agreed to. He gave no further details.

Israeli airstrikes kill 23 in Gaza as outcry over aid blockade grows

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — Health officials say Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday have killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza. They include three children and their parents whose tent was bombed in Gaza City. The Israeli bombardment continued as international warnings grow over Israel's plans to control aid distribution in Gaza. Israel’s blockade on the territory of over 2 million people is now in its third month. Charity kitchens are virtually the only source of food left in Gaza, but dozens have shut down in recent days as food supplies run out. Aid groups say more closures are imminent.

Turkish Tufts University student back in Boston after release from Louisiana detention center

BOSTON (AP) — A Tufts University student from Turkey has returned to Boston after being released from a Louisiana immigration detention center. Rumeysa Ozturk told reporters at Logan Airport on Saturday that she was grateful for the support she has received and was excited to get back to her studies. Ozturk was held for more than six weeks after she was arrested while walking along a street in a Boston suburb. Her lawyers say she was illegally detained following an op-ed she co-wrote last year that criticized her university's response to Israel and the war in Gaza. U.S. District Judge William Sessions ordered her release pending a final decision on the claims.

Newark mayor denies trespassing at immigration detention center following arrest

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is denying that he trespassed at a new federal immigration detention center during a confrontation that led to his arrest. A Department of Homeland Security official said Saturday that the investigation was ongoing. Baraka was released around 8 p.m. Friday after spending several hours in custody. He was accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin accused the Democrat, who is seeking his party’s nomination for governor this year, of playing “political games."

Trump team mulls suspending the constitutional right of habeas corpus to speed deportations. Can it?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top White House aide Stephen Miller says the Trump administration is looking for ways to expand its legal power to deport migrants who are in the United States illegally. To achieve that, he says President Donald Trump’s team is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus, the constitutional right for people to legally challenge their detention by the government. Such a move would be aimed at migrants as part of the Republican president’s broader crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Constitution says habeas corpus, “shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.” Miller is suggesting the U.S. is facing “an invasion” of migrants.

Pope Leo XIV lays out vision of papacy and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has laid out the vision of his papacy and has identified artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity. He held his first formal audience Saturday. Leo made clear he will follow in the modernizing reforms of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He aims to make the Catholic Church more inclusive and attentive to the faithful, and one that looks out for the “least and rejected.” Later on Saturday he made a surprise visit to a sanctuary south of Rome that is dedicated to the Madonna.

Cannes, the global Colosseum of film, readies for 78th edition with new challenges on the horizon

Perhaps as much as ever, all eyes in the movie world will be on the 78th Cannes Film Festival when it gets underway Tuesday in the South of France. That’s not just because of the long list of anticipated films set to premiere at the Cote d’Azur festival and the extensive coterie of stars set to walk the fabled red carpet. As the movies and the Oscar race have grown more international, the global launchpad of Cannes has only become more central to the larger film ecosystem. Recent editions of Cannes have produced a string of Academy Awards contenders, including this year’s best-picture winner, “Anora.”

Five fishermen who spent 55 days adrift at sea arrive in the Galapagos Islands after rescue

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The Ecuadorian navy says five fishermen who spent 55 days adrift at sea have arrived at a port in the Galapagos Islands after being rescued by a tuna boat. The three Peruvians and two Colombians had been missing since mid-March and were found on May 7 by an Ecuadorian boat called Aldo. The men are in stable condition and the navy is coordinating with local and foreign authorities to ensure their safe return to their respective countries.