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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Mexico is suing Google for listing the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Google Maps for U.S. users.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Claudia Sheinbaum, Google, President Donald J. Trump, the Republican-led House of Representatives.
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📍 Where & When: Sheinbaum announced the lawsuit on Friday, May 9, 2025; the name change was initiated in January with Trump’s Executive Order.
💬 Key Quote: “All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with,” President Sheinbaum stated, asserting that Trump’s order to rename the Gulf only applies to the U.S.’s portion of the continental shelf.
⚠️ Impact: The renaming has led to international tensions and a legal dispute, with broader implications for U.S. foreign relations.
IN FULL:
Mexico has initiated legal action against Google for its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its Maps platform for U.S. users, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The controversy began when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to officially rename the Gulf for federal agencies. This move followed an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump on his first day in office, arguing that Americans “do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”
President Sheinbaum has expressed her government’s stance that Trump’s order should apply solely to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf, insisting that the U.S. does not possess the authority to rename the entire Gulf. “All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with,” she stated.
In January, Sheinbaum reached out to Google, requesting a reconsideration of the name change. When no action was taken, she threatened legal proceedings in February. Google has maintained that the change aligns with its “longstanding practice” of adopting name changes when updated by official government sources. The tech giant clarified that the Gulf’s name would remain unchanged for users in Mexico, while users globally would see “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
The Associated Press (AP) has also been caught in the crossfire. Its refusal to adopt the new name led to a prolonged conflict with the White House, which restricted AP’s access to certain events until a federal judge intervened in April.
Further complicating matters, President Trump hinted at potentially renaming another body of water. During an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, he intends to announce that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia. This has prompted a strong reaction from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who hopes the “absurd rumours” are merely a “disinformation campaign,” warning that such actions would provoke significant backlash from Iranians.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Holy Mass as pontiff, emphasizing the need for the Church to act as a “beacon” in areas with a “lack of faith.”
👥 Who’s Involved: Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Roman Catholic Church’s 267th pope and first American leader.
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📍 Where & When: The first mass took place at the Vatican on May 9, following his election the previous day.
💬 Key Quote: “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” Pope Leo XIV said.
⚠️ Impact: The Pope’s call for unity and outreach is expected to influence the Church’s approach to addressing modern societal challenges and global conflicts.
IN FULL:
Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, delivered his inaugural Holy Mass at the Vatican on Friday, urging the Church to act as a “beacon” in regions suffering from a “lack of faith.” Previously, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the 267th Pope and the first American to hold the position, was elected just a day prior in a historic conclave.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the Church‘s challenges, noting that many are turning away from faith and towards “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.” He emphasized the need for missionary outreach in areas where Christian faith is seen as “absurd,” dominated by power and wealth.
The Pope remarked, “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” The Pope addressed the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, calling for unity and collaboration.
The mass itself was primarily said in Latin, the traditional language of the Roman Catholic Church, while the homily was said initially in English and Italian.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald J. Trump, have congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election, with Trump calling it a “great honor” to have the first American pope.
Observers are keenly watching his upcoming public appearances, including Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer and a Monday press conference, for indications of his leadership direction.
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English (US) ·