• Pope Leo meets families of youth lost to illegal toxic waste dumping in Italy's 'Land of Fires'
  • Rome's 'sexy priest' never set foot in a seminary
  • Pope and Anthropic to Launch AI encyclical
  • Pope to Visit France in September
  • Pope Creates AI Study Group
Pope decries the rise of AI-directed warfare

ROME (AP) – Pope Leo XIV on Thursday denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a “spiral of annihilation,” as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during a visit to Europe’s largest university.

Vatican issues final warning to breakaway traditionalist group

ROME (AP) – With Pope Leo XIV’s first big crisis looming, the Vatican on Wednesday issued a final warning to a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics that their planned consecration of bishops without papal consent constitutes a schismatic act that incurs automatic excommunication.

Vatican sending new signals of openness to LGBTQ+ Catholics

VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican is sending new signals about how it intends to minister to LGBTQ+ Catholics in the Pope Leo XIV era, with signs of openness and limitations after Pope Francis ushered in a notable welcome during his 12-year pontificate.

Democrats sharpen anti-corruption case against Trump

DALLAS (AP) – After three terms in the U.S. House and two unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate, Colin Allred said he’s heard plenty about voters’ suspicions that politicians are just trying to make a buck in Washington.

Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese behind the 'conbini' empire, has died. He was 93.

TOKYO (AP) – Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese businessman credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire, has died. He was 93. Suzuki, an honorary adviser at Seven & i Holdings, died on May 18 of heart failure at his Tokyo home, the company said Monday.

SpaceX reveals plans for what could be biggest-ever initial public offering

NEW YORK (AP) – The world’s richest man announced plans Wednesday for one biggest sales of stock to the public ever for a space company currently losing billions of dollars year.

Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto about future of humanity

VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Leo XIV called Monday for robust regulation of artificial intelligence and for its developers to work for the common good rather than profit, issuing a sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war.

Israeli opposition leader says Trump's emerging deal with Iran is `bad for the region'

JERUSALEM (AP) – The deal being discussed between the U.S. and Iran fails to achieve any of Israel’s goals for the war, Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Monday, as he accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to influence a better agreement.

Rubio's visit to India focuses on US trade tensions, the Quad alliance

NEW DELHI (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India marks an effort by Washington and New Delhi to steady strained relations as the two countries seek to reinforce strategic and economic ties despite recent trade tensions.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans who favor a harder line against the government in Tehran and fear a lost opportunity to finally rein in a longtime Mideast nemesis.