CNN
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The deputy chief of the Russian navy was killed by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia, Oleg Kozhemiako, governor of the Primorsky region of the Russian Far East, said on Thursday.

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy who led the brigades fought in Ukraine, was killed in the Russian border area where he successfully invaded Ukraine last year.

He is one of Russia’s highest ranked officers killed since the start of a full-scale Ukraine invasion three years ago.

Kozhemyako previously bravely handed the Gudkov Awards, saying that the two had spoken a lot in a statement announcing their deaths over the years.

He described Gudkov as a “strong-willed warrior.” The “strong-willed warrior” said he “died while performing his duties as an officer along with his fellow soldiers.” Kozhemyako did not provide further details regarding the circumstances of Gudkov’s death.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed Gudkov’s death on Thursday, saying he was killed in the battle in the Kursk region. There are no immediate comments from Ukraine.

Gudkov was appointed deputy chief of the Russian Navy for the Russian Navy and ground forces by President Vladimir Putin in March.

At the time, Putin said, “The Minister and the Chief of the General Staff believe that your experience needs to be replicated in other units, so we decided to move you into a position to increase the level of responsibility.”

The Ukrainian forces had previously accused other members of his previous 155th Brigade of committing war crimes in Ukraine, including the murder of civilians in the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Gostomer during the early months of the Russian war.

Separately, the Ukrainian Border Patrol states that the 155th Brigade was involved in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners.

Russia has consistently denied committing war crimes in Ukraine despite evidence gathered by Ukrainians and international investigators.

Rome
CNN
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Prominent Catholic Church leaders and allies of Pope Leo XIV have strongly criticised the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, describing immigrants as “inhuman” and “morally abomination.”

In a broad interview with CNN, Cardinal Robert McKelloy, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., expressed strong opposition to Trump’s major tax and spending bills, warned us about Israeli attacks on Iran, and discussed his views on the role of women in the church.

“It’s right to be able to control our borders, but what’s going on is far beyond that,” Cardinal told CNN on Tuesday. “It’s an indiscriminate deportation of men, women, children and family masses literally torn apart and intended to do so.”

McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Archdiocese of the US capital in January, the month of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. He was one of more than 100 Cardinals who participated in the Conclave, which elected the first American Pope in May.

Speaking to Rome CNN on the same day Trump visited Florida’s immigration detention center known as the “Alligator Alcatraz,” McKelloy said the “mechanism” used was a “creation of fear” among 10 million undocumented people in the United States.

“This is not only incompatible with Catholic teaching, it is inhumane and morally disgusting,” he added.

“In the scene that happened in Los Angeles, it’s not someone who can go down to the car wash and the Costco parking lot and chase after those convicted butlers.”

Trump says his strict immigration policies are needed to keep criminals away from the streets of the United States and to ease the burden on American institutions. He embraced the ominous image of an immigrant detention facility surrounded by swanplanes and reptiles.

“It is known as ‘Crocodile Alcatraz’. This is very appropriate. Because I look outside and not a place I don’t want to go,” Trump said Tuesday.

McElroy argued that the government has the right to deport those convicted of “serious crimes,” adding that the issue of immigration is rooted in the American political system, which has failed to immigration laws and reforms over the past 15 years.

But McElroy said people are “even fearing going to church” after the Trump administration removed a policy that prohibits immigration agents from arresting them in sensitive areas like the church.

“What’s behind this?” he asked, referring to stricter immigration policies and enforcement tactics. “I fear in the minds of many people pushing it, one of the main things behind it is the feeling that people who are coming to our country are a different kind now.

“And that was a great theme of American culture and history through the immigration of our country. When the Irish people came, when the Italians came, when Paul came, the reserve was the same as ‘These are inferior people.’ That’s what’s happening now…it’s anger. ”

Cardinal, a former bishop in San Diego, is one of several Catholic bishops who opposed Trump’s migration policy.

But Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic who converted in 2019, suggested earlier this year that the bishop’s criticism of Trump administration’s policies was motivated by economic interests as the church receives federal funds for resettlement of immigrants. McElroy fought back in the interview, saying that government funding is not enough to cover the program and that the church must pick up the shortage.

“It’s people who say the church is not doing mathematics about what the government has contributed to these programs,” he added.

Since his election, Pope Leo has sought respect for immigrants, saying he was “a descendant of immigrants and chose immigrants.” McElroy said Leo XIV spoke of immigration in a “universal” context, but “If you see what he is saying, it has a clear meaning to us.”

During the interview, Cardinal McElroy criticized Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” This is a drastic law to extend tax cuts and increase funds for national security, partially paid by the biggest cuts to the federal social safety net in decades. He recently signed a letter with other bishops and faith leaders opposed to the bill.

He said millions will “finally lose healthcare due to this bill, so billionaires will be able to receive a bigger tax cut.”

In a statement, White House spokesman Abigail Jackson declined to criticize. It was especially leveled in Trump’s agenda bill.

“The Americans elected President Trump, not the Archbishop of DC, as president,” Jackson said. “President Trump is fulfilling the mandate that the American people gave him in November — he’s turning his campaign promises into law, as hints, social security, taxes on overtime are not law.

Regarding Pope Leo’s church reforms and priorities, McElroy spoke about the importance of dealing with the role of women.

He said the topic was a “very powerful flow” during Synod, a recent Vatican rally. The meeting looked at church renewal questions and looked at ways to include more women in their decision-making roles.

“The main thrust must see that women are “not” and ask why? ”

McElroy is a supporter of women as authors. The butler acts like a priest, but does not say the public and hears confessions. “That’s a controversial question within the church,” he admits, “but I think it’s important to move in that direction.”

Cardinal McElroy’s candidacy for Washington, DC, was strengthened by a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University and was awarded for a dissertation on moral norms in foreign policy.

He told CNN that recent US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites could encourage other countries to develop nuclear weapons to protect themselves. He said it was “very important” to maintain the “non-proliferation” of nuclear weapons.

“My great fear is that the lesson the country will take away from this intervention in Iran is that if they have nuclear weapons, they will not be the subject of this type of attack,” he said. “I think that’s an open question. Does this encourage more spread as the incentives are now stronger or more clear? That’s very ominous.”

Finally, Cardinal said he believes that Chicago-born Pope Leo will visit his home.

“When he comes to the US, I think it will be a great moment for our country.”

Indonesia, Gilimanuk
AP
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Rescuers searched 30 people who went missing after the ferry sunk on Thursday, and four people died near Bali, an Indonesian resort island the night before.

As of Thursday afternoon, 31 people had been rescued by the ferry’s 53 passengers and 12 crew members, the National Search and Rescue Service said in a statement.

KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost 30 minutes later after leaving Ketapan Port late on Wednesday on a 50-kilometer (30-mile) trip to Bali’s Gilimanuk port, authorities said.

A helicopter and nine boats, including two tugs and two inflatable boats, were searched for survivors with the support of fishermen and land-based people.

Strong waves and darkness, two meters high (6.5 feet) hampered emergency responders overnight, but officials said improvements in weather and sea conditions on Thursday morning were supporting search efforts.

“For today’s search, we are focusing on searching for water as the first victim was found in the water between the location of the accident heading towards Gilimanuk Port,” Surabaya’s search and rescue director Nanang Sigit said in a statement.

Port officers witnessed the sinking before rescuers were warned.

“The ferry could not contact us via radio from the beginning. We could then contact us from other vessels from the same company. But the vessel was already tilted,” Sigit said.

Many of the rescued people were unconscious after hours of drifting in the choppy sea, said Bhanyuwangi Police Chief Rama Samtama Putra.

Indonesian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Survivors told rescuers it appears there is a leak in the engine compartment of the ferry, which carried 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.

Some families arrived at the port panic or crying, seeking information about their loved ones.

Survivors were taken to a nearby medical facility, including Bali’s Jembrana Regional Hospital.

“When the ferry began to tilt, I was initially planning on jumping into the sea, but the ship was sinking quickly so I didn’t jump anymore, but the water that entered the ship had sunk and sank to a depth of about 7 meters (23 feet) so I quickly climbed to the summit.

He and the other three are grouping up in the water, floating with life jackets, he said.

Ferry tragedy is common in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands. There, ferries may be frequently used as a transportation and safety regulation.