The Harris County Democratic Party on Monday passed a resolution reprimanding Houston Mayor John Whitmire, barring him from receiving the party’s endorsement in future elections, in response to his attendance at a Republican fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in 2023.
Texas A&M University and Texas State University used artificial intelligence tools to review and revise how some courses address race, gender and related topics, according to records obtained by The Texas Tribune. Emails and internal documents show administrators deployed AI to scan syllabi and course descriptions for flagged terms, generate reports and suggest alternative language, as the schools responded to political pressure from state leaders and governing boards. Faculty messages in the records document questions about the accuracy of AI assessments and the implications of AI-guided revisions for academic freedom and departmental control over curricula.
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned prison overcrowding and inadequate rehabilitation programs during a special Holy Year Mass at the Vatican for detainees, guards and their families. The liturgy marked the closing event of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Holy Year and drew an estimated 6,000 registered participants, according to the Vatican. Delegations from major detention facilities joined the weekend pilgrimage, which featured religious services, pastoral activities and meetings led by Vatican clergy and visiting chaplains. Church officials and security staff coordinated logistics and access for the prison groups throughout the event.
Disney’s “Zootopia 2” returned to No. 1 at the North American box office over the weekend, earning an estimated $26.3 million in its third frame and surpassing $1.14 billion worldwide, according to Comscore and studio data. The animated sequel became 2025’s second Hollywood film to cross the $1 billion global mark, driven by more than $500 million in ticket sales from China. Universal’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” placed second with $19.5 million, followed by “Wicked: For Good,” Indian action title “Dhurandhar” and “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.” James L. Brooks’ “Ella McKay” opened with $2.1 million.
President Donald Trump offered condolences Sunday for victims of violent attacks at Brown University and in Australia and praised first responders. He also turned attention to the ongoing health care debate in Congress, where lawmakers continued to struggle over proposed changes to federal health care law. Republicans worked to build support within their ranks as Democrats warned of possible coverage losses and higher costs. Congressional committees prepared for a full week of health care negotiations and briefings while authorities in the United States and Australia continued investigations into the recent attacks.
ABS-CBN released the first teaser for “Someone Someday,” the inaugural drama pairing of Kathryn Bernardo and James Reid, introducing the KathReid tandem through coordinated posts on major social media platforms. The short clip shows the two actors in separate city scenes and reveals the project’s title without disclosing full plot details. Producers confirmed that the series forms part of ABS-CBN’s upcoming drama slate and that further announcements on the cast, filming schedule, and release date will follow.
Sandro Muhlach claimed he set a world record after completing a 764-foot bungee jump from Macau Tower in Macau, China. Event staff supervised the high-altitude jump, documented it on video, and released footage through Muhlach’s social media channels. Macau Tower promotes its 233-meter (764-foot) platform as one of the highest commercial bungee jumps in the world. Independent record bodies have not publicly confirmed the “world record” claim, while Muhlach continues to highlight the feat as a major personal milestone and content feature.
The Bureau of Immigration has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of mining executive Joseph Sy and has initiated deportation proceedings against him over alleged identity falsification. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the bureau requested verification of Sy’s passport records, placed him on the immigration lookout list, and coordinated with law enforcement agencies to gather supporting documents and testimonies. The DFA will decide on the passport cancellation request, while the BI Board of Commissioners will hear the deportation case and evaluate evidence from both the bureau and Sy.
The United States condemned the China Coast Guard for using water cannons and cutting anchor lines against Filipino fishermen near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, an incident that injured three crew members and damaged a Philippine fishing vessel. US officials, including State Department deputy spokesperson Thomas Pigott and Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, said the actions endangered lives, threatened livelihoods, and undermined regional stability. The Philippine Coast Guard released video of the encounter, assisted the injured fishers, and asserted the country’s sovereign rights in its claimed maritime zones amid ongoing tensions with China.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday in Manila urged Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to admit and correct alleged errors in the computation of cost reductions for 10,000 Department of Public Works and Highways projects in the proposed 2025 budget. Lacson warned that blaming the Senate for the adjustments could lead to a budget deadlock and delay passage of the national spending plan. He asked the DPWH to provide a detailed breakdown of the affected projects, clarify how the agency computed the reductions, and state where the miscalculations originated. He said accurate data from the DPWH is essential for the Senate to complete deliberations and avoid disruptions to next year’s infrastructure program.