ABCNEWS - WATCH: Tornado rips through northwest Oklahoma amid severe storms across Plains
More than a dozen tornadoes were reported across the central U.S. on Thursday night, including a powerful storm in northwestern Oklahoma.
AXIOS (Russell Contreras) - The pope moves to police AI
The Vatican is racing to build digital defenses for the artificial intelligence era — and quietly positioning itself as a global referee of what's real. Why it matters: The Holy See is moving faster than most other legacy institutions to shape rules and guardrails in verifying reality, with urgency that's unfolding amid unusual geopolitical and digital clashes. - The Vatican has stepped up cybersecurity partnerships and AI oversight efforts, blending defense with diplomacy and ethics. - It has implemented formal AI guidelines and monitoring structures inside Vatican City. - Church leaders are increasingly warning about a "crisis of truth" driven by AI-generated content, something the late Pope Francis addressed before his…
AXIOS (Josephine Walker) - ICE detention center expansion sparks national protest
The push to block ICE's plans to expand detention centers is fueling a coordinated national day of protests on Saturday. Why it matters: No Kings protests have shown an appetite among Americans to unify against some Trump administration policies, and the latest effort — organized by the Disappeared in America campaign — is building on that momentum. - Organizers tell Axios that one of the most mentioned reasons demonstrators attended the No Kings protests was their opposition to immigration enforcement, and Saturday's Communities Not Cages events expect to harness that energy. - Key protester demands include making the administration cancel warehouse detention plans and encouraging communities to reject any public funding,…
NYTIMES (Emily Baumgaertner Nunn) - Could an Earthly Fungus Contaminate Mars? NASA May Have Found One Hardy Enough.
Researchers identified a species that can survive radiation, extreme heat and simulated Martian soil, posing a new challenge for protocols intended to keep the red planet pristine.
NYTIMES (Liam Stack) - Should a Straight Person Represent Stonewall’s City Council District?
In a special election on Manhattan’s West Side, home to major L.G.B.T.Q. sites and institutions and many gay residents, a straight person could win for the first time since 1991.
NYTIMES (Adam Rasgon, Bilal Shbair, Abu Bakr Bashir, Iyad Abuheweila and Saher Alghorra) - Gaza Set to Hold First Local Election in Two Decades
Hamas said it was not participating in the municipal elections in Deir al-Balah, set for this weekend. Residents said it was a long-awaited opportunity to address the city’s problems
NYTIMES (Matt Stevens) - They Were Michael Jackson’s ‘Second Family.’ Now They Say He Abused Them.
The Cascio siblings are suing Mr. Jackson’s estate after standing by him for years as he faced accusations of child molestation.
NYTIMES (Mark O’Connell) - The Rich and Powerful Want to Live Forever
From the Kremlin to Silicon Valley, some of the most powerful people in the world now want something more: eternal life.
NYTIMES (Jason Zinoman) - How Ashley Padilla, Breakout ‘S.N.L.’ Star, Nails Comic Timing
Ashley Padilla’s ability to extend a moment transforms what could be a routine joke into something stranger and more absurd.
NYTIMES (Jennifer Medina) - A New Worry for Republicans: Latino Catholics Offended by Trump
In 2024, the president made significant inroads with Hispanics. But in a competitive Arizona congressional district, voters now express dismay at his feud with the pope.