Abdul Ballout, a German-born man with Lebanese roots and known ties to ISIS, allegedly drove into a Berlin Pride celebration and attacked people with a machete, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 others before police fatally shot him. A deradicalization organization said it had identified signs that his cooperation was insincere and was preparing to recommend that he be removed from the program. Ballout had prior convictions, traveled to Lebanon intending to join ISIS, and received a suspended sentence after returning to Germany. The case has prompted questions about his release, oversight by authorities and Germany's response to Islamist extremism, while adding to broader political concerns over public safety, immigration and a series of vehicle-ramming attacks.

During the African Lion 2026 exercise in Morocco, the U.S. military tested AI-enabled systems designed to accelerate battlefield intelligence, target identification and decision-making, as well as autonomous vehicles and armed drones intended to keep troops out of danger. Project Maven, developed by Palantir and reportedly using Anthropic’s Claude model, reduced a simulated targeting cycle from hours to minutes while retaining human approval for the strike. Military officials acknowledged that systems capable of making lethal decisions without a human already exist, raising significant moral and legal concerns. Although Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said AI would not make lethal battlefield decisions, commanders and defense contractors argued that the United States must adopt the technology to avoid falling behind adversaries. Robotic systems such as Overland AI’s ULTRA vehicle were promoted as a way to replace soldiers in dangerous breaching and combat-support operations, potentially saving lives.

Pope Leo XIV’s 82-page encyclical Magnifica Humanitas warns that artificial intelligence could make civilization less human by hollowing out work, concentrating wealth, deepening inequality and encouraging data-driven systems that disregard human dignity. He calls for the “disarming” of AI and rejects the idea that algorithms can make war morally acceptable, while stressing that technology itself is not inherently evil. The document also includes the Vatican’s first apology for its role in facilitating and justifying the transatlantic slave trade. Vatican officials framed the encyclical as a reflection on the human condition during the AI era, and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah participated in its presentation, although the Vatican emphasized that dialogue does not constitute endorsement.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, began a two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, her first overseas trip since undergoing six months of chemotherapy for cancer. The visit marks a carefully managed return to public duties and focuses on early childhood development, including creativity, relationships and learning. She is meeting families, educators and community leaders as The Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood expands internationally. Her trip coincides with King Charles III carrying out a major parliamentary ceremony in London while also undergoing cancer treatment.

The Vatican's Mosaic Workshop preserves and restores the intricate glass-and-gold mosaics of St. Peter's Basilica using centuries-old tools and techniques. Director Paolo di Buono explains how mosaicists use tiny fragments and fired glass to achieve painterly colors and detail, while archivist Simona Turriziani safeguards records including a 1562 letter from Michelangelo and early mosaic blueprints. The workshop continues producing papal portraits and Vatican landscapes, ensuring the basilica's sacred artistic heritage survives for future generations.

Pope Leo XIV met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Rome to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirm support for a two-state solution. Both leaders emphasized the need for increased aid to civilians and renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The visit marked the tenth anniversary of the Vatican’s agreement recognizing Palestinian statehood. Abbas sought to bolster international backing for a Palestinian state, while political realities in Israel, including Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stance against Palestinian statehood and PA involvement in post-war Gaza, pose significant obstacles. Despite widespread global support for a two-state framework, regional public opinion among Israelis and Palestinians increasingly views it as unfeasible.

An intentional gas explosion destroyed a farmhouse near Verona as police attempted to serve an eviction order, killing three officers and injuring more than a dozen others. Authorities arrested three siblings who had illegally occupied the property and allegedly prepared the blast in advance. Prosecutors are treating the incident as premeditated murder, while Italy's prime minister and defense minister condemned the attack and expressed condolences. A criminal investigation is underway.

A planned concert in Italy featuring Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was canceled following public backlash over his support for Vladimir Putin and refusal to condemn the war in Ukraine. Critics, including Yulia Navalnaya and various Italian lawmakers and activists, argued that artists aligned with the Kremlin should not be welcomed in Europe. The cancellation sparked condemnation from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which accused Italy of cultural censorship and responding to Ukrainian pressure, while Italian officials did not immediately comment.

Flight operations at Milan Bergamo Airport were halted for nearly two hours after a man entered the runway and was killed after being pulled into the engine of a taxiing Volotea Airbus A319. Authorities are investigating how he breached security, and early reports indicate the man may have intended to take his own life. Several departures were canceled and arriving flights were diverted to nearby airports before operations resumed.

Artificial intelligence is being utilized to decipher ancient scrolls from a library buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, is leading efforts using advanced technology, including a particle accelerator and AI, to examine the scrolls non-invasively. The Vesuvius Challenge, a global competition, has successfully extracted words from a carbonized scroll, with further phases planned to uncover more. Seales anticipates more discoveries as excavations continue at the Villa of the Papyri.