While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, May 18, 2025
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A Russian drone attack on a minibus carrying evacuated civilians in Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region killed nine people and wounded five on May 17.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Trump will speak to Russia’s Putin to end Ukraine ‘bloodbath’
US President Donald Trump said on May 17 he would speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, a day after the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years.
Mr Trump, who has been pressing Russia to agree a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, said he would speak with him by phone on May 19. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the state Tass news agency the call was “being prepared”.
Early on May 17, a Russian drone attack on a minibus carrying evacuated civilians in Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region killed nine people and wounded five, local authorities said.
Mr Zelensky, denouncing the attack and Russia’s refusal so far to agree a ceasefire, repeated his call for reinforced sanctions against Moscow.
Severe storms, tornadoes kill more than 25 in US
Severe storms that swept through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000, authorities said on May 17.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X at least 18 people had died in the storms the night of May 16, while local officials in Missouri said another seven were dead there. Two people were also killed by falling trees in Virginia, local media reported.
While there were warnings ahead of the severe weather, the death toll may raise questions about whether sharp cuts by the Trump administration have left National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting teams dangerously understaffed.
Five people dead in helicopter collision in Finland
Five people were killed on May 17 when two helicopters collided and crashed in a wooded area near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland, police said.
Police said the mid-air collision occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700m from a road.
According to flight plans, there were two people aboard one helicopter and three in the other, police said, adding that both helicopters were registered outside Finland.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, police clash during Eurovision
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with riot police in Basel as the Swiss city hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on May 17, AFP journalists at the scene witnessed.
Protesters demonstrating against Israel’s participation in the contest while it ramps up its war in Gaza clashed briefly with police in the centre of the city shortly before Israel’s Eurovision entrant Yuval Raphael took to the stage at the St Jakobshalle venue across town.
Blows were exchanged and police used tear gas and rolled in a water cannon truck as they strived to block demonstrators from marching through the centre of the northern Swiss city, thronging with Eurovision fans.
Palace crowned after surprise FA Cup win over Man City
Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final on May 17 to win the first major trophy of their 164-year-old history thanks to a goal from local boy Eberechi Eze.
At a sun-baked Wembley in front of delirious Palace fans, local boy Eze volleyed home after 16 minutes against the run of play while goalkeeper Dean Henderson performed heroics in goal and City wasted a sack-load of chances including a penalty.
England forward Eze’s goals in the last eight and semis had carried his team into the final for only the third time and after he struck again, Palace survived a City siege to spark a massive party for the south London fans.