Here are the stories shaping the day:
- A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to Libya.
- The National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have launched a joint initiative to build a secure, real-world data platform aimed at uncovering the cause of autism spectrum disorder.
- The election of the Catholic Church’s next pope began Wednesday as 133 cardinals from all over the world took an oath of secrecy and were locked in the Sistine Chapel. Roughly three hours later, black smoke emanated from the chimney atop the Chapel, signaling that the first vote had been cast but had failed to reach the necessary consensus.
☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.