Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day
Pope Leo XIV opened a virtual meeting with American Catholic young people Friday by revealing a closely held pontifical secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day. Leo divulged his strategy playing the popular New York Times online game before fielding questions via videoconference about artificial intelligence, social...
Trump and Mamdani meet Friday in the Oval Office. They’ve cast each other as adversaries for months
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has called New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job.” Mamdani has called Trump’s administration “authoritarian” and described himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.” So their first-ever meeting, scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. at the White House,...
Ohio officer acquitted in death of Ta’Kiya Young, a pregnant Black mother accused of shoplifting
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio officer who shot and killed a pregnant Black mother in a supermarket parking lot after she was accused of shoplifting has been acquitted of all charges, including murder. Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb could have faced up to life in prison. The Blendon Township...
Putin says U.S. plan for Ukraine could form the basis for a final peace settlement
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed a U.S. proposal to end Moscow’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.” Putin said Moscow had received the plan, which he called “a new version” and “a modernized plan,”...
Nations and environmental groups slam proposals at UN climate talks, calling them too weak
BELEM, Brazil — Several nations and environmental groups on Friday slammed proposals put forward at the U.N. climate talks in Brazil, saying they failed to explicitly mention the cause of global warming — the burning of fuels such as oil, gas and coal. The proposals, released on what was to...
Indian fighter jet crashes during a demonstration flight at Dubai Air Show, killing the pilot
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the start of a demonstration flight in front of a crowd of spectators at the Dubai Air Show, killing its sole pilot. The Indian HAL Tejas smashed into the ground at the vast Al Maktoum International Airport at...
Pope tweaks a law allowing a woman to head the Vatican City State, months after a nun was appointed
ROME — Pope Leo XIV fixed a technical glitch on Friday in a Vatican law that became problematic after Pope Francis named the first-ever woman to head the Vatican City State administration. Leo amended the 2023 law to remove a reference that had said the president of the Vatican City...
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake in central Bangladesh kills at least 8 people
DHAKA, Bangladesh — A strong, 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook central Bangladesh on Friday, killing at least eight people and leaving more than 300 injured, authorities and local media said. Buildings in the country’s capital, Dhaka, swayed in the temblor, sending panicked residents into the streets. The quake hit at 10:38...
This is Trump’s plan to end the war in Ukraine
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s 28-point draft proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has been presented in Kyiv. Washington and Moscow worked together on the draft, and it offers terms more favorable to Russia by calling for Ukraine to cede territory, avoid joining NATO and more. The Associated Press...
Chris Deluzio’s Western Pa. offices targeted with bomb threats
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio’s district offices in Carnegie and Beaver County’s Center Township were targeted with bomb threats Friday afternoon, a spokesperson reported. The threats came a day after President Donald Trump accused Deluzio and five other Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “seditious behavior” by releasing a video telling servicemembers...
Treasury plans to change tax credit eligibility in a move critics say will hurt immigrant taxpayers
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department said Thursday it plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits as “federal public benefits,” which will bar some immigrant taxpayers from receiving them, even if they file and pay taxes and would otherwise qualify. Tax experts say immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their...
What to know about Trump’s draft proposal to curtail state AI regulations
President Donald Trump is considering pressuring states to stop regulating artificial intelligence in a draft executive order obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, as some in Congress also consider whether to temporarily block states from regulating AI. Trump and some Republicans argue that the limited regulations already enacted by states,...
Trump plan to end Ukraine war would cede territory to Russia
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyiv’s military, according to a draft obtained Thursday by the Associated Press. The proposal, originated from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favorable to Russia, which started...
Convicted fraudster who had sentence commuted by Trump gets 37 years for new fraud conviction
TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey man whose lengthy prison sentence for fraud convictions was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2021 is now headed back to federal prison for another fraud conviction. U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp, sitting in Trenton, handed down a 37-year sentence last week to Eliyahu...
FAA bonuses to air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during shutdown leave thousands out
Only 776 of the more than 10,000 air traffic controllers who had to work without pay during the shutdown will receive the $10,000 bonuses that President Donald Trump suggested because the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that only controllers with perfect attendance will get the checks. A number of controllers...
Coast Guard set to change policy to call swastikas, nooses ‘potentially divisive’
WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard is poised to change some of its language and policies surrounding the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses as well as how personnel report hate incidents. The service stressed, however, that the symbols will remain prohibited. The updated policy is seen by the...
Trump steps up attacks on ABC and Jimmy Kimmel, says network should ‘get the bum off the air’
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump stepped up his attacks against ABC and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday, urging the network to “get the bum off the air” in a social media post sent shortly after the comic’s latest episode ended. The president this week had also expressed anger...
CDC website changed to contradict scientific conclusion that vaccines don’t cause autism
NEW YORK — A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has been changed to contradict the longtime scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism, spurring outrage among a number of public health and autism experts. The CDC “vaccine safety” webpage was updated Wednesday, saying “the statement ‘Vaccines do...
Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California, Florida
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production. The oil industry has been...
Federal prosecutors dismiss charges against woman shot several times by Border Patrol agent in Chicago
CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors moved Thursday to dismiss charges against a woman who was shot several times by a Border Patrol agent last month during the federal immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. Prosecutors had accused Marimar Martinez, 30, and Anthony Ruiz, 21, of using their vehicles to strike and...
Stepbrother of Florida teen who died on Carnival cruise now a suspectVideo
TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The 16-year-old stepbrother of the Florida high school senior who died this month on a Carnival cruise ship has been identified as a suspect in her death, according to court documents by his parents. The disclosures — contained in motions filed in an ongoing custody dispute —...
Justice Department is examining handling of mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is examining the handling of the mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff, including the potential involvement of people who claimed to be acting at the behest or direction of two Trump administration officials who have been pushing the probe of the California Democrat, according...
Federal judge orders Trump administration to end National Guard deployment in D.C.
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to end its monthslong deployment of National Guard troops to help police the nation’s capital. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb concluded that President Donald Trump’s military takeover in Washington, D.C., illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law...
Woman who worked for congressman accused of staging politically motivated attack
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A former staffer for a congressman told authorities she was attacked by three armed men who tied her up, slashed her and scrawled an anti-Trump statement on her stomach while she was walking in a New Jersey nature preserve this summer, according to authorities. But...
Fire prompts evacuations at UN climate talks in Brazil, but officials say no one hurt
BELEM, Brazil — A fire spread through pavilions being used for U.N. climate talks in Brazil and prompted evacuations Thursday on the next-to-last day of the conference but nobody was hurt, officials said. Organizers said the fire was under control and caused no injuries, but fire officials ordered the evacuation...
