Russia’s Sechin Says U.S. Companies Benefit From the Closure of the Strait of Hormuz

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Olesya Astakhova ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June ⁠6 (Reuters) – ⁠Rosneft Chief Executive Igor Sechin said ⁠on Saturday that U.S. energy companies were the main beneficiaries of the ​closure of the Strait of Hormuz and that Washington was trying to change the fundamental contours of the global energy ‌markets to suit U.S. interests. …

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Pope Leo to Meet Catholic Abuse Survivors on Spain Trip, Vatican Says

VATICAN CITY, June ⁠5 (Reuters) – ⁠Pope Leo ⁠will meet with survivors ​of sexual abuse by Catholic ‌clergy during his week-long ‌visit to ⁠Spain, ⁠the Vatican said on Friday. Further information will ​only be provided after the meeting, a statement said, ​so as to protect the survivors’ ⁠privacy. Leo, ⁠the first U.S. ⁠pope, ​is leaving …

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Ukraine Targets St. Petersburg Again After Putin Rejects Zelenskyy’s Offer for Direct Talks

Residents of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, were told not to leave their homes after a “large-scale” Ukrainian drone attack targeted the city Saturday morning, local officials said, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov advised St. Petersburg residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions …

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Illinois Treasurer’s Gift to Pope Leo? $8.65 of Pontiff’s Own Money

Vatican City’s been a popular spot for Illinois dignitaries since Chicago native Robert Prevost ascended to the papacy last year. Leaders from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to lawmakers to Gov. JB Pritzker have come bearing gifts for Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV — a Chicago-brewed “Da Pope” beer, city-sourced giardiniera, an Illini No. …

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Taiwan Says Chinese Coast Guard, Research Ships Near Key S. China Sea Islands

TAIPEI, June 6 (Reuters) – Taiwan said on Saturday ⁠that ⁠a Chinese coast guard ⁠ship and a survey ship had carried out the first ​coordinated operation to “provoke” Taiwan, in waters around strategically located islands in the South ‌China Sea. The Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, ‌a national park toward the northern end of the South China …

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