HARD NUMBERS: US jobless claims rise, Ukrainian refugees in Germany face cuts, The Vatican and Taiwan, US vets lose mortgage protection, Alabama kangaroo hits the road

241,000: In another sign of trouble for the limping US economy, weekly first-time jobless claims surged to a higher-than-expected241,000 this week. Continuing claims, which provide a broader view of layoff trends, rose to 1.92 million, the highest level since November 2021.

77: According to a new poll from YouGov,77% of Germans favor benefit cuts for Ukrainian refugees. Ukrainians who arrive in Germany after April 1, 2025, will be treated as “asylum-seekers” rather than “refugees,” and they’ll receive significantly lower benefit payments as a result. Just 11% of those surveyed disagreed with this change. More than a quarter of Ukrainians who have fled their country are now in Germany.

1 of 12: The Vatican is one of just 12 governments — and the only one in Europe – that recognize Taiwan as a country. But without explanation, Taiwan’s president, William Lai, did not attend the funeral for Pope Francis, though a former vice president was in attendance. There is now much speculation in Taiwan on whether Lai will be present when the next pope is inaugurated, or whether pressure from Beijing is forcing the Vatican to rethink its ties with Taiwan.

20,000: The US Department of Veterans Affairshas ended a new mortgage-rescue program that has helped some 20,000 veterans avoid foreclosure on their homes. This news comes at a time when nearly 90,000 VA loans are well past due, with 33,000 of those already in the foreclosure process.

2: A runaway kangaroo in the US state of Alabama was involved in a two-car collision on an interstate highway this week. The animal, named Sheila, was captured unharmed by state troopers and the bouncing beast’s owner. No word yet on whether Shiela will face justice in a kangaroo court.