Bolton Pleads Guilty to Classified Retention; Texas Orders Bible Curriculum; Russia Claims Drone Interception

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of illegally retaining classified information.

Bolton faced charges related to documents he possessed after leaving office. The guilty plea resolves the case without requiring a trial.

In Texas, the state education board voted Friday to require that public schools teach selections from the Bible. Education officials cast the requirement as part of curriculum standards. The decision prompted immediate discussion about the role of religious texts in public education, with supporters arguing for biblical literacy and critics raising concerns about church-state separation and classroom implementation challenges.

Meanwhile, Russia reported Friday that it intercepted more than 600 Ukrainian drones as Ukraine conducted one of its largest aerial attacks since Russia's 2022 invasion began. The Russian Defense Ministry made the claim in a statement; independent verification of the numbers remained unavailable. Ukraine has conducted repeated drone strikes against Russian targets throughout the conflict, including infrastructure and military installations. The reported interception rate reflects an ongoing technological and tactical competition between the two militaries.

These developments occurred as the Trump administration entered its second term, Ukraine continued intensive military operations, and American states moved forward with education policy decisions that drew national attention.