US President Donald Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin today in an effort to secure a cease-fire with Ukraine, amid a significant drone attack on Ukrainian territory. Russia hit Ukraine with an estimated 273 exploding drones and decoys in the latest escalation of the war.
Trump’s call comes after Pope Francis offered to host talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has spread to his bones. Biden is the oldest-serving president in U.S. history.
Israel also expanded ground operations in Gaza, advancing its plan to move farther into the enclave and seize more land. The Israeli military’s new operations come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that his negotiators are authorized to discuss terms for a broad deal to end the war.
In other news, a Japanese author broke barriers after becoming the first severely disabled author to win Japan’s prestigious Akutagawa Prize. Apple’s ambition to put AI on iPhones in China may be threatened by the Trump administration and US officials.
These are some of the top headlines making global news today.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/briefing/trump-putin-talk-biden-cancer-israel-operation-gaza.html