President Trump defended his "weak on crime" remarks about Pope Leo XIV and explained deleting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, citing public confusion. Vice President Vance downplayed the feud, while UK's Kemi Badenoch called Trump's religious post "preposterous.
The Iran war has disrupted jet fuel supplies, threatening a summer of holiday chaos with soaring airfares and cancellations. The EU plans electrification measures to avert future fossil fuel shocks, while German solar power is expected to save gas use. China's exports missed estimates due to surging energy costs.
The US military began blocking Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to China's condemnation of the action as "dangerous and irresponsible." A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China, the Rich Starry, was observed transiting the strait, testing the naval blockade.
The US and Iran are considering a second round of negotiations after initial talks, with Iran proposing a five-year suspension of uranium enrichment while the Trump administration insists on 20 years. Vice President Vance stated the next steps depend on Tehran.
Lebanon and Israel are set to engage in US-hosted negotiations in Washington to de-escalate the conflict with Hezbollah, despite the Iranian proxy's rejection of the talks and concerns about an immediate breakthrough.
An ex-student opened fire at a high school in Turkey's south-east, injuring 16 students and teachers before killing himself when cornered by police. Authorities are investigating the motives behind the attack.
Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel on hopes for US-Iran peace talks, despite warnings of surging inflation expectations and a predicted global oil demand decline by the IEA. Gold futures rose to $4,800, supported by a softer dollar.