Russian air defenses shot down 347 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday, in what appeared to be a major attack after Moscow spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire earlier in the week and tension mounted over safety at Russia’s upcoming Victory Day celebrations.
BEIJING (AP) – A Chinese military court gave suspended death sentences Thursday to two former defense ministers who were accused of bribery, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. The court said Wei Fenghe was guilty of accepting bribes and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican raised the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace” in talks Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who came to Rome on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal court ruled Thursday against the new global tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.
McDonald’s posted better-than-expected sales in the first quarter but said high gas prices and consumer anxiety over the Iran war could dent sales this spring. The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $4.55 on Thursday, according to AAA. That was 44% higher than a year ago.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – Emirates airline group has hedged its exposure to higher jet fuel prices for the next three years and has secured enough supply to meet current and future needs, its CEO said Thursday as the company reported record annual profit.
VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican raised the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace” in talks Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who came to Rome on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Vatican to mend ties after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV and the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. Rubio’s planned audience with Leo was complicated at the last minute by Trump’s latest criticism of the Chicago-born pope.
Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has jolted the world economy, causing a spike in fuel prices that has rippled through other sectors with effects far beyond the Middle East. It has also left tens of thousands of mariners and hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – European leaders on Monday said President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to pull thousands of U.S. troops out of Germany is just the latest signal that Europe must take more responsibility for its security.



































































































































