NewsOvernight reports: Serbian patriarch meets Putin as Vucic invited to Moscow
Overnight reports: Serbian patriarch meets Putin as Vucic invited to Moscow
While you were sleeping. Here's what global agencies reported during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
- Serbian Patriarch Porfirije met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. Putin extended an invitation for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to attend "Victory Day" in the Russian capital on 9 May, as reported by the "Defense News". I know that the Serbian Orthodox Church makes a significant contribution to strengthening relations between our peoples, which traditionally maintain warm, close and allied relations filled with trust, Putin told Patriarch Porfirije. He added that he expects President Aleksandar Vučić to visit Moscow on 9 May to "celebrate Victory Day". In March, after a phone conversation with Putin, Vučić announced that he would meet with the Russian president on 9 May in Moscow. This would be their first meeting since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- According to the Finnish Armed Forces, there is currently no weapon system that could completely replace anti-personnel mines. This is the main argument for Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines, reported radio Yle, citing its own government sources.
- In Croatia, a day of national mourning will be observed on Saturday, coinciding with the funeral of Pope Francis, announced the Croatian government on Tuesday. During the national mourning, the organisation of events is prohibited. On this day, national flags are to be flown at half-mast, and the media must adjust their programming accordingly.
- About 200,000 people and 170 official delegations are expected in the Vatican on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, reported the Italian Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday, detailing preparations in Rome for the influx of faithful and leaders from around the world. Extraordinary security measures have already been implemented in the capital.
- President of Estonia Alar Karis will participate in the funeral ceremonies of Pope Francis in the Vatican, as announced by his office on Tuesday. In Estonia, the majority of the population claims no religious affiliation, and only about 0.5% are Catholics.
- Adviser to the U.S. President Elon Musk said on Tuesday that he intends to spend significantly less time directing the actions of the State Efficiency Department and will focus on managing Tesla. The announcement came after Tesla reported a 70% decrease in profit in the first quarter of 2025.
- Ukraine conducted a massive drone attack on eastern, southern, and central Ukraine during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, local authorities reported. Civilian infrastructure and enterprises in the Poltava region were among the damages.
- A federal court in Washington ruled on Tuesday that the closure of Voice of America and related media likely violated several laws and constitutional provisions, ordering the reinstatement of the broadcaster's operations. In a decision issued on Tuesday, Judge Royce Lambert sided with the Voice of America journalists' request and determined that the station, along with other outlets directed at foreign audiences, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Network, must resume operations, rehire dismissed journalists, and restore revoked grants.
- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he has no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, even though he called him a "major loser" and demanded a cut in interest rates. Trump also promised to be "very nice" to China in trade talks.
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that it summoned Chinese Ambassador Ma Shengkang on Tuesday to express "serious concerns" over the alleged involvement of Chinese soldiers in fighting in Ukraine with the Russian army and China's assistance to Russia in the production of military equipment.
