Pope shows ‘slight improvement’ but remains in critical condition, Vatican says
Pope Francis is showing “slight improvement” but is still in “critical” condition, the Vatican said in an update on Monday, adding that his mild kidney issues are not concerning. “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father, although critical, show a slight improvement. Even today there were no episodes of asthmatic respiratory crises; some laboratory tests have improved,” the statement read. The Vatican added that Francis’ mild kidney issues, first announced on Sunday, do “not cause concern” and that his oxygen therapy continues “with slightly reduced flows and percentage of oxygen.”
Volcanoes Fast Facts
More than 80% of the Earth’s surface, both above and below sea level, is of volcanic origin. Lava is molten rock from a volcano that reaches the Earth’s surface. Liquid rock below the Earth’s surface is referred to as magma.More than 50% of the world’s active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean, forming the “Ring of Fire.” The ring stretches from New Zealand to the coast of South America. In 2010, a volcano eruption in Iceland disrupted air travel for days across Europe. The eruption expelled an ash cloud 30,000 feet into the air. The International Air Transport Authority estimated that the airline industry lost $1.7 billion in revenue due to the disruption.
American tourist arrested in Paris after allegedly throwing newborn baby out of hotel window: reports
An American woman was arrested in Paris after she allegedly threw a newborn baby out of a hotel window, according to reports. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the incident, first reported by local outlet Paris Match, with the New York Post on Monday. The child was thrown out of the window earlier that morning. The fall reportedly took place from a second-floor window. The newborn was given emergency medical care but did not survive.
Trump will meet French and UK leaders as uncertainty grows about US ties to Europe and Ukraine
President Donald Trump holds talks this week with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a moment of deep uncertainty about the future of transatlantic relations, with Trump transforming American foreign policy and effectively tuning out European leadership as he looks to quickly end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Trump also has made demands for territory — Greenland, Canada, Gaza and the Panama Canal — as well as precious rare earth minerals from Ukraine. Just over a month into his second term, the “ America First ” president has cast an enormous shadow over what veteran U.S. diplomats and former government officials had regarded as America’s calming presence of global stability and continuity.
Students at elite NYC college expelled for disrupting class with threatening Hamas propaganda
Two Barnard College students in New York City have been expelled for their alleged roles in disrupting the first session of the History of Modern Israel course last month. The expulsions were made public by the Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a group that calls on Columbia University to divest from any association with Israel. Barnard and Columbia are affiliated institutions. In a post on X, the group said the Barnard administration has historically been hostile to those in support of Palestine while "wielding harsh disciplinary sentences against protestors to stifle dissent in an attempt to erase their complicity."
The UN will vote to demand Russia pull troops out of Ukraine. But the US wants a softer approach
On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Monday on dueling resolutions — Ukraine’s European-backed proposal demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the country and a U.S. call for a swift end to the war that never mentions Moscow’s aggression. The United States pressured the Ukrainians to withdraw their nonbinding resolution in favor of its proposal, a U.S. official and a European diplomat said Sunday. But Ukraine refused, and it will be put to a vote in the 193-nation assembly, two European diplomats said. All spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.
Terrifying video gives inside look at what it would be like to be eaten by a shark
A shocking video shows what prey often see during their last moments after being swallowed by a shark in a "Jaws"-dropping encounter. The footage was captured on Feb. 9 by diver Andrea Ramos Nascimento during a shark feeding off the coast of Freeport in the Bahamas, according to Storyful News.
Pope Francis in critical condition with early kidney failure but remains alert as prayers pour in
Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia and a complex lung infection. In a late update, the Vatican said Francis hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday night but was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen.
Grassley, Johnson demand NARA turn over Biden records relating to email aliases, family business dealings
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson are demanding the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) turn over records relating to former President Joe Biden’s use of a personal email address to conduct official government business and relating to his family’s financial dealings. Grassley, R-Iowa, and Johnson, R-Wis., penned a letter to the acting general counsel of NARA demanding the records, which they have been seeking from the agency since 2021.
Israel sends tanks into West Bank for first time in decades, says fleeing Palestinians can’t return
Israeli tanks moved into the occupied West Bank on Sunday for the first time in decades in what Palestinian authorities called a “dangerous escalation,” after the defense minister said troops will remain in parts of the territory for a year and tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled cannot return. Associated Press journalists saw several tanks move along unpaved tracks into Jenin, long a bastion of armed struggle against Israel.