ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including a Trump envoy saying negotiators are “on the precipice” of a major Gaza ceasefire breakthrough, Moscow announcing that it's ready for a second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, and the killing of five aid workers from an international humanitarian organization in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
TOP STORIES
- Trump envoy says negotiators 'on precipice' of major Gaza ceasefire breakthrough
Negotiators are close to reaching a deal that could end Israel's year-and-a-half war on the besieged Gaza Strip, said US President Donald Trump's special envoy.
"We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today," Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution -- temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict."
Witkoff said Trump would be reviewing the proposal after it is delivered.
- Moscow says 'ready' for 2nd round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on Monday
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia has proposed holding the second round of direct negotiations with Ukraine on June 2 in Istanbul, Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported.
“With the support of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, it was possible to create conditions for the resumption of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations,” Lavrov said in a statement.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov responded to Lavrov's proposal, saying that Kyiv is fully prepared for a complete and unconditional ceasefire with Russia and that Moscow should deliver a promised memorandum before the proposed second round of peace talks in Istanbul.
- 5 aid workers from int'l humanitarian organization killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza
Five aid workers from an Istanbul-based international humanitarian organization working with the UN World Food Program (WFP) were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, while two others were seriously injured, the organization announced.
"Five of our colleagues working on our project in Gaza in cooperation with the World Food Program (WFP) were martyred in the recent attacks carried out by the occupying Israeli forces over the past two days and two others were seriously injured," said IHH in a statement on X.
The organization condemned Israel's "heinous attack" targeting humanitarian aid workers, who "risk their lives every day to deliver aid to the oppressed people of Gaza."
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The European Council announced the lifting of economic sanctions on Syria, enacting a recent political agreement decided on May 20.
- Billionaire Elon Musk officially announced that he is stepping down from his role as a top adviser to US President Donald Trump.
- US President Donald Trump said the man he tapped to be the US' new envoy to Syria understands the "great potential” in working with the country as it emerges from decades of Assad regime rule.
- The UN said Israel has denied all six humanitarian aid movements coordinated by the UN for Gaza, worsening an already dire situation for civilians in the besieged enclave.
- The United Arab Emirates summoned Israel’s ambassador to protest violations against Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.
- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country's air force shot down six Indian fighter jets, including four French-made Rafales, during the latest military conflict with its archrival India.
- The Palestinian resistance group Hamas said it has reached an agreement with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on a general framework to reach a permanent Gaza ceasefire.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Azerbaijan on its independence day, saying the victory in Karabakh "is illuminating the path of a much stronger Azerbaijan."
- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said his country as well as Türkiye and Pakistan have stood for sovereignty, territorial integrity and justice.
- Italy's foreign minister reiterated his opposition to Israeli ministers' proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza, saying it is “not and will never be an acceptable option.”
- The Czech Republic held China responsible for cyberattacks on its Foreign Ministry’s network.
- The EU strongly condemned the ongoing settler violence in the occupied West Bank, calling on Israel to take "immediate, decisive steps" to stop the attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the Russian army seeks to cross into his country’s Dnipropetrovsk region as its military offensive continues, the state news agency Ukrinform reported.
- Israeli warplanes carried out a new wave of airstrikes on Sanaa airport in the Yemeni capital, said Defense Minister Israel Katz.
SPORTS
- Borges eliminates No. 7 seed Ruud in round 2 of French Open
Casper Ruud, the No. 7 seed in men's singles, was eliminated by Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the second round of the 2025 French Open in Paris.
The second-round matches were played in the morning session on day 4 of the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season.
Norwegian Ruud, who reached the final of the French Open in 2022 and 2023, won the first set 6-2 against Borges but lost the next sets 4-6, 1-6 and 0-6.
- Shakhtar Donetsk appoint Arda Turan as new head coach
Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk has appointed Arda Turan as their new head coach, the club announced in a written statement.
The 38-year-old Turkish manager signed a contract with the Donetsk side until the summer of 2027. He succeeds Bosnian coach Marino Pusic, who led the team to the Ukrainian Premier League title in the 2023/24 season but finished third in the most recent campaign behind Dynamo Kyiv and FC Oleksandriya.
"I’m proud to have joined Shakhtar – a great club with a rich history and great traditions. It’s a team well known across Europe, with the ambition to win every match. I hope to contribute to the club’s legacy and bring our fans many joyful moments through our play," Turan was quoted as saying.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US Court of International Trade blocks Trump from imposing global tariffs
The US Court of International Trade ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority and blocked him from imposing sweeping global tariffs on imports, according to media reports.
The three-judge panel ruled in favor of a permanent injunction to Trump's Liberation Day tariffs, which he implemented on April 2 without Congressional approval by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Trump cited the IEEPA when he initiated the steep tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, saying his decision was designed to target fentanyl trafficking into the United States.
The judge, however, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs' argument that the IEEPA did not give the president the power to enact tariffs in the first place, and even if it was interpreted to, it "would be an unconstitutional delegation of Congress’s power to impose tariffs."
- US, Japan set to discuss trade, tariffs
Senior officials from the US and Japan are set to meet this week to discuss trade and tariffs as both countries look to strengthen their economic ties, with a current trade volume of nearly $228 billion in goods.
US President Donald Trump’s shifting tariff policies have disrupted global trade, prompting key trading partners—starting with the UK earlier this month—to enter or resume talks with Washington. China, Japan and the European Union are expected to follow.
Though the US and Japan have held preliminary meetings, a conclusive agreement has yet to be reached. The upcoming G7 summit in Canada may serve as a decisive moment if talks this week do not result in a deal.
