Black smoke billowed over the Vatican on Wednesday to signal that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority of cardinal electors to become the next pope.
The big picture: White smoke is probably not far off. Most modern conclaves have typically lasted two or three days. Pope Francis was elected on the second day of the 2013 conclave.
President Trump on Wednesday said he would not pull back on 145% tariffs against China to get them to the negotiating table for a trade deal.
Why it matters: Trump's comments may dent the market's optimism that Saturday's planned talks in Switzerland could lead to a de-escalation of the trade war that has roiled the global economy.
An appeals court on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to transfer detained Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk from Louisiana to Vermont.
Why it matters: Her relocation means the case will be tried in a less conservative court than the government wanted in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
A vast majority of Americans say the increased focus on race and racial inequality after George Floyd's killing did notlead to changes that improved the lives of Black Americans, a new Pew Research Center survey finds.
Why it matters: Floyd's 2020 murder by Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck sparked international protests and calls to tackle systemic racism, but five years later, that momentum appears all but gone.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to brief the UN Security Council in a closed session Wednesday on U.S. policy regarding the war in Gaza and nuclear talks with Iran, three sources with direct knowledge tell Axios.
Why it matters: Witkoff has become the key U.S. diplomat on the war in Gaza, the nuclear talks with Iran, the truce with the Houthis and the talks with Russia on Ukraine.
Members of the College of Cardinals younger than 80 will gather at the Sistine Chapel Wednesday to elect Pope Francis' successor.
By the numbers: Out of the 135 cardinals eligible to vote, Pope Francis elevated 108. That means 80% of votes will be cast by cardinals who owe their position to Francis.
White smoke will soon rise again from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling a new era of leadership in the Catholic Church — but first, there must be prayers, meetings and a highly secretive conclave.
The big picture: Cardinals from across the globe gathered in the Vatican Wednesday to select the next leader the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.
L3Harris Technologies has delivered to Ukrainetens of thousands of tactical radios and is rolling out software updates based on troop feedback and Russian electronic warfare.
These digital tweaks can take as little as three weeks to complete.
Why it matters: "If you cannot communicate, you can fight but you can't win, and the whole purpose is to win," Sam Mehta, president of communication systems, told reporters on the sidelines of the Modern Day Marine conference.
Former President Biden was scathing in his criticism of President Trump's handling of the Russia-Ukraine war and his predecessor's first 100 days back in office during a BBC interview that aired early Wednesday.
The big picture: Biden chose a British broadcaster over a U.S. outlet for his first interview since leaving office to accuse Trump of "not behaving like a Republican president" and to address his concerns — including that there's a greater threat now to democracy than at any time since the Second World War.
President Trump and other world leaders called for an end to India-Pakistan hostilities after the Indian military launched deadly strikes on Pakistani targets early Wednesday local time.
The big picture: It's the first time India's forces have struck inside Pakistan's territory since 2019, as tensions again run high between the two nuclear-armed neighboring nations over the disputed Kashmir region.
The Trump administration announced Tuesday evening it's investigating "recent incidents" of antisemitic "violence" at the University of Washington (UW) and its affiliates.
The big picture: The review by the departments of Education and Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration follows the arrest of some 30 pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday after they occupied a UW engineering building in Seattle and "set fire to dumpsters," per a statement from the college.
