Trump Dedicates Theodore Roosevelt Museum, Unveils New Air Force One Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
Trump Administration to Launch Voluntary AI Standards for Frontier Models 
Ukraine War: Russian Drone Attack Sparks Hotel Fire in Central Kyiv 
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Trump Reports $1.4 Billion in Crypto Income as Digital Assets Become Top Wealth Source 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
Trump Accounts Now Accept Stock Donations as Treasury Launches New Child Investment Program 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
US-Iran Doha Talks Show Limited Progress as Hormuz Shipping Remains Key Focus 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
Russian Attacks Kill Six Across Ukraine as Kyiv Mourns Deadly Strike 
South Korea Warns Won Is Undervalued, Boosts FX Coordination With Japan 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
During the recent G20 Summit in Rome, US President Joe Biden met with Pope Francis ahead of the conference. Biden recently shared about his latest meeting with the religious leader, his first meeting with the pope as president.
Biden shared what happened during his meeting with Pope Francis to reporters Sunday. Biden met with the pope Friday, ahead of the G20 summit, in a meeting that lasted 90 minutes. This marks Biden’s third time meeting the pope, but his first as the US president.
“This is a man who has great empathy. He is a man who understands that part of his Christianity is to reach out and to forgive,” shared Biden, who is the second Catholic US president after John F. Kennedy. “And so, I just find my relationship with him one that I personally take great solace in. He is a really, truly genuine, decent man.”
The US leader also shared that the pope called him a “good Catholic” and that he should continue receiving communion. The Vatican’s stance contrasts with that of the American bishops, who have considered refusing Biden and other politicians communion due to their stance on abortion. The pope has also warned against such actions by the bishops.
Biden previously met with the pope twice during his vice presidency. The White House said that the two leaders discussed topics such as climate change and COVID-19. Biden also said that he told the pope a lot of personal things during their meeting. The US leader also recalled the time the pope visited the US in 2015, shortly after the death of his son, Beau Biden.
In other related news, Reuters reports Biden looked to assure his foreign counterparts during the COP26 climate conference that the US will keep its promise to reduce carbon emissions in half by the end of the decade. Despite the US leader’s pledge to cut down greenhouse gas emissions in half, the legislative agenda that would tackle climate change hangs in the balance in Congress, especially in the evenly divided US Senate.
“We’ll demonstrate to the world that the United States is not only back at the table but hopefully leading by the power of our example,” said Biden in his remarks. “I know it hasn’t been the case, and that’s why my administration is working overtime to show that our climate commitment is action, not words.”
