ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including Ukrainian and Russian delegations holding a second round of peace talks in Istanbul, Hamas denying claims that it rejected a US envoy’s Gaza ceasefire proposal, and the Palestinian group expressing readiness for a new round of indirect talks with Israel.
TOP STORIES
- Ukrainian, Russian delegations to hold talks in Istanbul on Monday
Talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia are expected to be held in Istanbul's Ciragan Palace at 1 pm local time (1000GMT) on Monday, said Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will be leading his country’s delegation in the planned second round of direct negotiations with Russia.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said they had offered Ukraine to hold the next round of talks in Istanbul on June 2 and that Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, would head the delegation.
- Hamas denies rejecting US envoy’s proposal for Gaza ceasefire
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas denied rejecting US envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, accusing Israel of undermining negotiations to end the war in the enclave.
“We agreed with Mr. Witkoff last week on a proposal that he considered acceptable as a proposal for negotiation. We received the other party's response, which did not agree with any of the items we agreed upon and did not meet the minimum requirements of our people,” senior Hamas member Basem Naim said in a statement.
- Hamas expresses readiness for new round of indirect Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel
Hamas said it is ready to immediately enter a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve outstanding points of contention with the aim of ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaching a permanent ceasefire.
The announcement followed the group’s Saturday delivery of its response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal presented by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Both the envoy and the Israeli government later rejected the response outright.
“We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to reach an end to the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement.
The group affirmed its willingness “to immediately begin indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on disputed points, in a way that ensures relief for our people, ends the humanitarian catastrophe, and leads to a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of (Israeli) occupation forces.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
- A senior ISIS (Daesh) operative wanted by Türkiye was captured at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in a joint intelligence operation, Turkish security sources said.
- Ukraine’s president said his government will strive to achieve “at least some progress on the path toward peace” during talks set to take place in Istanbul, despite not receiving any ceasefire memorandum from Russia.
- Sudan’s new prime minister dissolved the caretaker government, a day after he was sworn in before the chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
- The Gaza Government Media Office denounced what it called a “fabricated” video released by the Israeli military accusing it of attempting to conceal the killing of 31 Palestinian civilians and the wounding of 200 others seeking humanitarian aid at a distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
- Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed to have destroyed 34% of Russian strategic bombers capable of carrying strategic cruise missiles during attacks on military air bases in Russia.
- Liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski is leading with 50.3% in Polish presidential elections, early exit polls showed.
- The number of confirmed deaths from Friday’s landslides at a quarry in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 19, Xinhua News reported, citing officials.
- South Korean independent presidential candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn announced that he is withdrawing from the race to support the People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo, the Chosun Daily reported.
SPORTS
- Türkiye's Alves Kablo win 2025 Amputee Champions League
Türkiye's Alves Kablo won the 2025 Amputee Football Champions League title by defeating the Polish team Wisla Krakow 6-1 in the final.
The final of the Amputee Football Champions League, held in Ankara, pitted Alves Kablo against Wisla Krakow, the 2024 champions.
Alves Kablo won the championship by defeating their opponent 6-1 after leading 4-0 at halftime.
Alves Kablo's goals were scored by David Mendes in the 2nd and 18th minutes, Omer Guleryuz in the 8th and 28th minutes, Mohcine Chrharh in the 9th minute, and Alican Kuruyamac in the 50+1st minute.
Wisla Krakow’s only goal came in the 39th minute, scored by Kamil Grygiel.
- 2 dead, over 500 arrested in France during PSG victory celebrations
At least two people were killed and more than 500 arrested in France during celebrations after PSG crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League, according to local media.
A 23-year-old man riding a scooter died after he was hit by a car during celebrations in Paris, BFMTV reported, citing the Paris prosecutor’s office.
A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during the celebrations in the southwestern town of Dax, it added.
During the celebrations across the country, 192 civilians, 22 law enforcement officers and seven firefighters were also injured, according to the broadcaster.
Some 559 individuals, including 491 in Paris, were arrested, it added.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US Treasury Secretary Bessent says Trump, Xi to talk 'very soon'
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to communicate "very soon" to resolve tariff disputes.
"I believe we'll see something very soon," Bessent said when asked about a scheduled contact between the leaders in an interview on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
He expressed confidence that a conversation between Trump and Xi would resolve current issues, including alleged violations of an agreement negotiated in Geneva earlier last month.
When pressed about the consequences for alleged agreement violations, Bessent said: "Well, we will see what the consequences are. I am confident that when President Trump and party Chairman Xi have a call that this will be ironed out."
