🌎 American Pope

Cardinals elect the first American pope in history

The election marks a first in the history of the Catholic Church. After the second day of voting in the highly secretive papal conclave, cardinals elected Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as the newest pope.

Spiritual selection

On Thursday evening, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling a new pope had been chosen. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti then delivered the iconic 'Habemus Papam' announcement (meaning “We have a pope”) and revealed the American-born pope to the world.

• Prevost is now the 267th leader of the Catholic Church and will go by Pope Leo XIV.

The 133 cardinals who participated in the conclave—the process in which a new pope is elected (see overview)—took an oath of absolute secrecy before voting began in the Sistine Chapel.

• Prevost received the necessary two-thirds majority from cardinal electors to become the newest pope.

• With no agreement reached in the first three votes, he was elected during the fourth or fifth round of the conclave.

Fun fact: There have been just seven papal elections in the last 100 years, with the record for the longest one being over 1,006 days, set in the 13th century.

Why is this a big deal? Leo has made history as the first American pope, now leading a Church of 1.4 billion. However, his role extends far beyond religion, placing him at the center of global diplomacy, cultural influence, and moral leadership.

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Prevost was born in Chicago, serving as a priest in several parishes before moving to Peru, where he worked for many years. Prevost then worked alongside his predecessor, Pope Francis, in Rome, where Francis appointed him as cardinal in 2023.

• According to the New York Times, Prevost worked in Peru for over 20 years and became a naturalized citizen there.

• A friend and former mentee to Prevost characterized him as a “dignified middle of the road,” to the NYT.

However, Prevost has been accused of mishandling the sexual misconduct of minors. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is “gravely concerned” about Pope Leo XIV’s alleged handling of sexual abuse cases regarding priests.

• Prevost allowed Father James Ray, a priest accused of abusing minors, to relocate to a location near an elementary school in Chicago, noting there was “no school in the area.”

On another account, SNAP alleged that Prevost failed to act against abuse claims involving Richard McGrath, a former president of Providence Catholic High School, allowing him to remain in his position despite longstanding allegations.

India and Pakistan conflict intensifies as fears of broader war grow

Fears grow of another all-out conflict between the two nations. India and Pakistan have continued to trade heavy fire across the disputed region of Kashmir, sparking concerns that the escalation will lead to a larger regional war.

Conflict analysts are calling the growing conflict between India and Pakistan their worst confrontation in more than 20 years as both nations close off diplomatic ties.

How did this start?

Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following a deadly terrorist attack on April 22 in the resort town of Pahalgam, where four gunmen killed 26 people, primarily Indian tourists.

• India claimed that at least two of the attackers were Pakistani nationals, however, Pakistan denied any involvement.

It’s all about territory: The shooting happened in the Indian-controlled mountainous region of Kashmir, where the two nations have had a longstanding dispute and fought three wars since 1947.

The nations have been exchanging gunfire across the border almost every day since the tourist massacre last month, which lies at the heart of the current conflict.

On the brink of all-out war

The conflict has only escalated after the Pahalgam shooting, as the nuclear-armed powers trade blows across their borders. Leaders from both nations are facing increasing public pressure to retaliate.

Here is a timeline of the most recent developments:

• On Wednesday, India struck nine sites it claimed were tied to planned terror attacks, which reportedly killed 31 civilians, in response to the April 22 attack.

• Yesterday, the Indian army claimed to have shot down several retaliatory drone and missile strikes launched by Pakistan.

• India says at least 16 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the de facto border.

Most recently, Pakistan said it killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (see map), and downed over two dozen Indian drones. Meanwhile, India confirmed it targeted Pakistani air defense systems.

• This is a developing conflict. For live updates and information, check here and here.

Calls for de-escalation: Political leaders across the world, including those from the US, UK, China, and Iran, have asked the two countries to “exercise restraint” and offered mediation in an attempt to ease tensions.

The Fed keeps interest rates steady… again

And, yet again, economic uncertainty is the reason why. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve held interest rates at 4.25%–4.5% for the third meeting in a row, warning of increasing economic uncertainty amid President Trump’s tariffs.

Uncertain times

After the recent wave of tariffs, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the future of the US economy is unclear amid “so much uncertainty,” saying to reporters, “I don’t think we can say which way this will shake out.”

• This year, inflation is predicted to hit 3%, more than the bank's target of 2%.

Why is economic uncertainty driving the Fed decision? When uncertainty spikes, the Fed gets cautious to avoid destabilizing the economy. By keeping rates steady, they balance the risks of fighting inflation while also supporting economic growth.

Uncertainty has been plaguing the news lately as the Trump administration has flip-flopped on its economic policy. In a previous article, we discussed just how big of a topic its become, and how you can make sense of it (see our breakdown here).

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Flesh-eating parasite will devastate US livestock, scientists say

How about no? Scientists and ranchers alike are looking to stop an invasive parasite, named the New World screwworm, from obliterating US livestock (for a second time).

Animal ender

The horrific New World screwworm, which is actually a fly (see here), lays its eggs inside various wounds or body openings of mammals, including deer, cows, birds, pets, and even humans.

• The larvae burrow into flesh once they hatch, triggering myiasis—an aggressive infection that can consume an adult steer within a week.

In recent years, gaps at Central American cattle checkpoints, US budget cuts, and border tensions have allowed the pest to return, prompting USDA warnings that even a small outbreak could cost Texas $1.8 billion.

It wouldn’t be the first time…

Screwworms were a massive issue throughout the 20th century, devastating Texas cattle farms for decades, from the 1930s to the 1980s. But in the 50s, USDA scientists launched a bold plan:

• They started air-dropping sterilized male flies to stop breeding and force screwworms out of the country.

• By 2000, the USDA had pushed the screwworm barrier all the way to Panama’s Darién Gap, where a facility still produces up to 100 million sterile flies a week to keep the pest from returning.

The ambitious plan worked… for a while. Now, the flesh-eating pests are returning. Last week, the US and Mexico reached a deal to launch a coordinated effort against the oncoming screwworm outbreak.

Swiss bank pays $511 million after helping Americans evade taxes (again)

I suppose stereotypes exist for a reason. Swiss bank Credit Suisse AG will pay $511 million to settle US criminal charges over its role in helping wealthy Americans hide over $4 billion from tax authorities for a second time.

Fraudulent findings

The bank admitted to conspiring with wealthy clients to prepare and file false US tax returns between 2010 and 2021 and consistently failed to disclose offshore accounts to authorities, allowing clients to evade taxes.

• At least 475 offshore accounts were found to have over $4 billion meant to dodge the IRS.

The settlement comes over 10 years after the bank promised to stop criminal practices of this nature, and two years after the US Senate Finance Committee found that Credit Suisse had violated its 2014 plea agreement with the government. It later paid $2.6 billion to settle the case.

Looking forward: Former bank employees who snitched quietly told US authorities about Credit Suisse’s misconduct stand to make $150 million for helping with the case.

FAST FACTS
Catch up on this week’s weird news

New Netflix: Netflix will be unveiling a massive homepage redesign on May 19th, which includes OpenAI-powered searches, vertical video feeds (similar to TikTok and reels), and a more modern aesthetic.

Real Robot: Amazon introduced "Vulcan," an AI-powered industrial robot that can "feel" touch, which will work alongside employees and manage 75% of the company's inventory.

Learning Curve: Thanks to a new study, neuroscientists found our brain circuitry rewires itself when learning new movements, which could lead to new therapies for neuromotor disorders and spinal injuries.

Flu Fatalities: The CDC recorded 216 child deaths during the 2024-25 flu season, the highest number in 15 years, and surpassing last year's total of 2017 deaths.

Houthi Halt: Following the Yemeni Houthis’ alleged agreement to stop attacking civilian ships in the Middle East, President Trump declared that the United States would no longer bomb the extremist group.