Axios

Pope Francis warned on Friday that people will further lose trust in the Catholic Church if it does not become more transparent and accountable on abuses against children committed by priests and covered up by religious superiors, AP reports.

Driving the news: Francis told his sex abuse advisory commission to create special survivor welcome centers around the world where victims of sexual abuse can find healing and justice. He also requested an audit of the church's progress on protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

Russia made a number of international debt payments late Friday to avoid a default, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: It made the payments in dollars and euros, despite a decree from Russian President Vladimir Putin in early March that Russia and Russian companies would only pay foreign creditors in rubles. Moscow took the stance after Western sanctions on its foreign reserve currencies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Department of Commerce's probe into whether Chinese companies are skirting tariffs on solar panel shipments to the U.S. is delaying projects nationwide, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Why it matters: The industry trade group claims that the investigation is setting back efforts to cut carbon emissions and harming U.S. green jobs, while potential tariffs resulting from it could further stunt solar growth.

An explosion at a packed mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday killed at least 10 people and injured dozens of others, AP reports.

Driving the news: The blast at the Khalifa Aga Gul Jan Mosque, a Sunni mosque in western Kabul, took place as worshippers gathered for prayers on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Officials fear the death toll will rise.

Russian forces appear to be "several days behind where they wanted to be" in their latest assault on Ukraine's Donbas region, a senior U.S. defense official said on Friday.

Driving the news: Russian troops pulled back from Kyiv and refocused their efforts on the Donbas region earlier this month after failing to seize the Ukrainian capital. The Pentagon believes Russian forces intended to be further along in their efforts to completely encircle Ukrainian troops in the east, the official said.

More than 3,000 people died or went missing trying to reach Europe via Mediterranean or Atlantic sea routes last year, the UN refugee agency said in a report Friday.

The big picture: The figure is nearly double the number from the previous year, when 1,776 asylum seekers, refugees and others were reported dead or missing while trying to cross central and western Mediterranean routes or the northwest African maritime route to the Canary Islands, the agency added.

Former U.S. Marine Willy Joseph Cancel was killed Monday while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces during Russia's invasion, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN.

The big picture: Cancel, 22, is believed to be the first U.S. citizen killed while fighting in Ukraine.

The body of Vira Hyrych, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, was found Friday morning after a Russian air strike hit her residential building in Kyiv the night before, the news outlet said Friday.

What they're saying: "We are deeply saddened by the death of our Ukrainian Service staffer Vira Hyrych in Kyiv overnight. We have lost a dear colleague who will be remembered for her professionalism and dedication to our mission," RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said in a statement.

Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday with at least two missiles while United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was in the city meeting Ukrainian officials.

Why it matters: The strikes killed at least one person and injured several others, according to the UN. They came just days after Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who claimed Russia is still seeking a "diplomatic outcome" in Ukraine and denied that his military has deliberately killed Ukrainian civilians.

Some members of Congress are calling for President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act amid concern the diversion of Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine could leave the U.S. itself militarily vulnerable.

Why it matters: The president is planning to visit a Lockheed Martin facility in Alabama that makes Javelins next Tuesday. Having a ready supply of such potent and proven weapons is seen as vital not only to Ukraine but to ensuring Taiwan is prepared for a potential Chinese invasion.

Republicans — and independents who lean Republican — are more likely to call China an enemy than Democrats. They're also more likely to describe China’s power and influence as a major threat to the U.S., new data from Pew Research shows.

Why it matters: The partisan split is another divide heading into the midterms. It's being expressed as Americans' view of China grows more and more negative overall.