Good morning! The weekend edition is 724 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• DC sues Trump administration for police takeover

• Virtual Reality for pain management

• 7,000 steps for your health

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Today’s Big Story

Trump-Putin Meeting

• A three-hour meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ended without agreement to halt Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite both calling the talks “productive.” Trump said “headway” was made on some issues but “no deal” yet, while Putin claimed progress could reset U.S.-Russia ties. No details were provided, and no questions were taken from reporters.

• The summit, their first since 2019, came amid ongoing heavy fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, not invited to attend, has rejected ceding territory and seeks US-backed security guarantees. European officials expressed skepticism about Moscow’s intentions, with the Czech foreign minister noting that Russian attacks continued throughout the talks.

• Trump had hoped for a swift ceasefire and potential three-way talks with Zelensky, but Putin instead invited him to Moscow for their next meeting. Opposition lawmakers in Ukraine said the summit bought Putin more time without producing concrete steps toward peace. Trump said he would call Zelensky and other leaders to brief them on the talks.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• Washington D.C. sued President Trump on Friday, saying his takeover of the city's police force was illegal. Trump installed a new police chief and deployed National Guard troops, claiming he needed to fight crime even though violent crime dropped 26% this year. D.C. argues Trump can only request police help under federal law, not seize control of the entire department for 30 days. (More)

• Warren Buffett's company bought $1.57 billion worth of UnitedHealth shares, sending the stock up 12% Friday. The health insurer has struggled with federal fraud investigations into how it bills Medicare and rising medical costs that forced two forecast cuts. UnitedHealth stock lost half its value this year, including drops after Luigi Mangione killed CEO Brian Thompson in December in Manhattan. (More)

• Countries couldn't agree on a treaty to fight plastic pollution after talks in Geneva ended Friday without a deal. The big disagreement was whether to limit making new plastic or just improve recycling. Oil-producing nations opposed production limits, while 100 countries wanted caps. The world makes 400 million tons of plastic yearly, and that could jump 70% by 2040 without changes. (More)

• Scientists found 31 shipwrecks on the bottom of Lake Constance in Germany, including two paddle steamers from World War II. The "Wrecks and Deep Sea" project started in 2022 and used divers and underwater robots to explore the 800-foot-deep lake. One notable find was a nearly intact cargo sailing ship with its mast preserved. (More)

• New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was charged Friday with defrauding the city to hide her affair with police officer Jeffrey Vappie. Prosecutors say Vappie accompanied Cantrell on 14 trips while claiming to work, costing taxpayers $70,000. The pair sent 15,000 WhatsApp messages and lied to investigators about their relationship. Cantrell, the city's first female mayor, finishes her term in January. (More)

• Erin strengthened into the Atlantic's first hurricane of 2025 on Friday, packing 75 mph winds as it heads toward Caribbean islands. The storm could drop up to 6 inches of rain on Puerto Rico and surrounding areas, raising flood and landslide risks. Forecasters expect Erin to become a major Category 3 hurricane this weekend but stay over open water, missing the U.S. mainland. (More)

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Weekly Dose of Positive

• University of Exeter scientists found that VR nature experiences reduced pain as effectively as painkillers, offering a solution for chronic pain patients who can't get outdoors. (More)

• Diving instructor Manolo Acuña Zepeda was hit by an illegal speedboat's propeller while pushing divers to safety at Mexico's Yucab Reef. The dive community raised $50,000 to cover his medical bills. (More)

• North Carolina's Jase Garland, 12, lived his dream of scoring a touchdown for the Carolina Panthers through Make-A-Wish after beating a rare blood cancer. (More)

• A New Zealand startup found a way to extract critical battery minerals from mining waste rock, potentially reducing dependence on conflict-prone supply chains. (More)

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