This photo provided by NASA shows the moon seen from a window on the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the Artemis II mission on Friday, April 3, 2026. (NASA via AP)

US military jets hit in Iran are first shot down in 20 years

WASHINGTON — Iran shooting down two American military jets marks an exceedingly rare assault for the U.S. that hasn’t happened in more than 20 years. It shows the Islamic Republic has a continued ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump asserting the country has been “completely decimated.” The last time a U.S. warplane was shot down in combat was during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Experts suggest a shoulder-fired missil

Ukraine president fears US will cut back aid for its war

ISTANBUL — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is concerned that a prolonged U.S.-Israeli war on Iran could erode America’s support for Ukraine as Washington’s global priorities shift. He says Ukraine urgently needs more Patriot air defense systems from the United States as Kyiv tries to fend off relentless Russian aerial attacks. Zelenskyy says he fears there will be reduced deliveries as resources are diverted to the Middle East. He spoke late on Saturday. Zelenskyy also claims Russia benefits economically from the war and is sharing intelligence with Iran. Zelenskyy has offered Ukraine’s expertise in countering Iranian drones and defense cooperation with Gulf Arab states as measures that would keep Ukraine on the global agenda.

Europe leaders call for profit caps on energy companies

Finance ministers from five European Union member states are urging the bloc to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies as surging oil and gas prices raise inflation fears.

Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria warned of market distortions linked to the Iran conflict that are driving up costs for households and businesses.

The proposal would revive profit caps used during the 2022 energy crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Inflation in the eurozone has risen to 2.5% in March.

Fallout from Iran war

driving up home costs

LOS ANGELES — The economic fallout from the war with Iran is driving up the cost of buying a home, even as other housing market trends in many parts of the country favor home shoppers this spring. Mortgage rates, which had been trending lower heading into this year, have been rising as the conflict stokes inflation fears.

That threatens to put a damper on home sales during what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for the housing market. At the same time, home shoppers who can afford to buy this spring are likely to benefit from more properties on the market and lower prices than a year ago in many metro areas.

Workers plan to halt strike

at big US meatpacking plant

Workers at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants plan to return to work next week and halt a three-week strike in order to resume negotiations with the plant’s owner. The strike by thousands of workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, began on March 16 in coordination with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union. A JBS representative said the company is preparing to ramp up the Greeley plant without yet reaching a new labor agreement. It was the first major strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since 1985. .

Artemis II toilet acts up again

as astronauts approach moon

HOUSTON — The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to the moon. The three Americans and one Canadian will reach their destination Monday, performing a lunar flyby and then coming straight back home.

They are the first moonbound crew in more than half a century, picking up where NASA’s Apollo program left off.

On the downside, their toilet is on the blink again.

Until it is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to break out more of the backup urine collection bags.

The toilet malfunctioned following Wednesday’s liftoff and has been hit and miss ever since.

Judge halts effort to gain

college admission race data

BOSTON — A federal judge has halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data that proves higher education institutions aren’t considering race in admissions.

The ruling granting the preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general.

President Donald Trump ordered the new policy in August after he raised concerns that colleges and universities were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race. The states argue the data collection effort threats student privacy and could lead to baseless investigations of colleges and universities.

China aims to show global

leadership with diplomacy

WASHINGTON — China is stepping up its diplomacy as the Iran war drags on. It has put forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan and is rallying support for the plan from Gulf countries and Western governments.

China also has joined Russia in opposing a proposal by Bahrain to open the Strait of Hormuz using “all necessary means.” China’s visible diplomacy in world capitals and at the United Nations headquarters is its latest push for a more prominent role in global affairs.

It may, however, prove to be more rhetorical than substantive, with the U.S. appearing uninterested in Beijing’s efforts.

Pressure builds to oust Ye

LONDON — Pressure is mounting for the American rapper Ye to be pulled from his headline role at a London music festival this summer. U.K. Minister Keir Starmer criticized the rapper’s scheduled appearance.

Pepsi already has withdrawn its lead sponsorship role of the Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park in north London between July 10-12. Other sponsors of the event including Budweiser and PayPal are being urged to follow suit.

Starmer said that it was “deeply concerning” that the rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, was booked to perform at the long-established festival.

The Associated Press