In our Thursday news wrap, Pope Leo warned of a world plagued by a few tyrants who spend billions on war. The Senate voted to lift a federal ban on mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Police reported that former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife before taking his own life.
Pope Leo expressed concern over the use of Christian theology to justify violence, especially in Cameroon amid a conflict with separatist fighters. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Leo’s comments on theology. Virginia authorities stated that Fairfax’s actions were part of a domestic dispute surrounding a contentious divorce.
President Trump nominated Erica Schwartz as the next CDC director. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a 12 percent budget cut and controversial policy changes. A deadly measles outbreak in Texas sparked debate on vaccines during Kennedy’s hearing.
The Senate ended a ban on mining near Minnesota’s wilderness, prompting concerns over environmental impact and Native American lands. Super Typhoon Sinlaku left the Northern Marianas without power or water. Wisconsin declared a state of emergency after heavy rains flooded streets and led to water rescues.
Russia launched a deadly attack on Ukraine, causing fires in Kyiv. Investors watched Wall Street as stocks rose amid uncertainty about Iran. A scholar uncovered Shakespeare’s 17th-century home location in London, raising new questions about his final years.
