Friday, October 10, 2025

News from October 9, 2025

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Why this $7 smart plug beats any other that I've tested in my home
Technology

Why this $7 smart plug beats any other that I've tested in my home

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. As a smart home reviewer, I have a healthy variety of smart plugs and smart outlets in my home. As you might expect, there's also a variety of smart lights and smart light strips. But the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini is the one smart plug I can't rave about enough. It's one of the most reliable ones I've ever tested, both in connectivity and voice control integrations. Plus, the two packs are 35% off, available for $13. Also: We're tracking the 100+ best Prime Day deals still live I already had an older Kasa Smart Plug, which is currently in use on a dumb pedestal fan in my bedroom. But this new Kasa Smart Plug truly lives up to its Ultra Mini moniker, especially when compared to others. The Ultra Mini smart plug is so small it's almost adorable. As a result, it doesn't take up as much real estate on your outlet as other smart plugs do -- like, for example, the larger Amazon Smart Plug. It's so compact that you can easily plug in other devices right next to it, as it won't block adjacent outlets. It's also easy to set up, especially if you use Amazon Alexa at home. It utilizes Alexa's "Frustration-Free Setup," which enables the smart home assistant to automatically add compatible devices detected on your home network when they're switched on. Even with as many smart lights as I have at home, my Christmas tree has dumb, warm white LED lights and one single string of Govee String Lights. I already enjoyed the freedom of automation and voice control that the Govee lights offered, so getting a smart plug for the dumb lights was a logical step for me. You can set up the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini in the Kasa mobile app, but I used the Tapo app, another smart home division by TP-Link, without issues. Then, Alexa found it and automatically added it to the Amazon Alexa devices at home. I then renamed it "Christmas tree" and plugged in my traditional, dumb tree lights; now, I can ask Alexa to turn it on or off whenever I want. Also: This $24 Roku 4K streaming stick is still the best TV deal on Amazon right now Aside from reliable voice control, the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini lets me set my tree lights on a schedule to turn on each day when the kids come home from school and off at bedtime. You can also set up automation, timers, and Away mode, in case you'd like a lamp to automatically turn on when you're away, making it appear that someone's home. The Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini is on sale for $9 individually, but a two-pack is available for $13, offering a larger discount. Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends. How I rated this deal I gave this 35% discount a 4/5 rating on ZDNET's deal rating scale. The $13 price for a 2-pack of the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini is the lowest price we've seen.

Dystopian ChatGPT image helped catch alleged arsonist in deadly Pacific Palisades fire
Technology

Dystopian ChatGPT image helped catch alleged arsonist in deadly Pacific Palisades fire

ChatGPT helped authorities zero-in on the alleged arsonist who started the deadly Pacific Palisades Fire, which tore through the Los Angeles area in January.Authorities arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht this week, and ChatGPT provided some of the key evidence in the case. Most notably, authorities pointed out that Rinderknecht had the AI chatbot render a strange, dystopian image that could hint at his potential motivations. The prompt for ChatGPT read, according to court documents published online by Deadline and other outlets: “A dystopian painting divided into distinct parts that blend together seamlessly. On the far left, there is a burning forest. Next to it, a crowd of people is running away from the fire, leading to the middle. In the middle, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it. On the other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomerate of the richest people. They are chilling, watching the world burn down, and watching the people struggle. They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing. The scene is detailed and impactful, highlighting the stark contrast and the direct connection between the different parts of the world."The image in question appears in court docs. The AI-generated images from Rinderknecht's prompt. Credit: ChatGPT / Court documents via Deadline The Palisades Fire was incredibly destructive. It killed a dozen people, destroyed more than 6,000 homes, burned 23,000 acres of land, and ultimately led to $150 billion in damage. Authorities believe the fire was originally sparked by buried embers from the earlier Lachman Fire, which began on New Year’s Day. Authorities allege that Rinderknecht's location was pinpointed to a hidden, hilltop trail-clearing where and when the fire began on Jan. 1. Rinderknecht was in that area on New Year's Eve working as an Uber driver, according to a Justice Department press release. The complaint against him alleges that he delivered passengers around midnight on Dec. 31, then drove to the Skull Rock Trailhead, where the fire began just minutes after midnight.Phone data allegedly showed he attempted to call 911 around this time but was unsuccessful for a while due to bad reception. ChatGPT was further involved in the case, too. Officials say that around the same time, Rinderknecht asked ChatGPT, "Are you at fault if a fire is lifted [sic] because of your cigarettes?"Investigators alleged that Rinderknecht "wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire."Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Adjoa Tee reacts as her alleged room video drops
Technology

Adjoa Tee reacts as her alleged room video drops

Popular Ghanaian TikToker Adjoa Tee has finally reacted after a bedroom video allegedly involving her surfaced online and went viral within the past 24 hours. In a display of confidence and composure, Adjoa Tee chose not to address the controversy directly. Instead, she posted a short, glamorous video of herself looking radiant and unbothered. WATCH THE ATOPA VIDEO HERE The video, shared on her official Twitter page, captures the influencer in a series of stunning outfits, confidently changing looks and flashing bright smiles. The infamous video shows the lady believed to be Adjoa Tee filming herself in an intimate moment intended to be shared privately with her lover. READ ALSO: TikToker Adjoa Tee trends over a room video allegedly involving her The clip was originally set as a “view once” message, but was recorded by another phone and later shared to a third party, eventually making its way online. The circumstances surrounding how the video ended up on the internet is currently unknwon. While Adjoa Tee has yet to publicly commented on the viral video, reactions among her fans have been mixed. Some social media users have come to her defense, insisting that the woman in the clip is not her, while others argue that the lady in question bears a striking resemblance to the influencer, pointing out that she has the same chest tattoo as Adjoa Tee. WATCH THE ATOPA VIDEO HERE — Adjoa Tee? (@_adjoatee) October 9, 2025 READ ALSO: Kwame Ato gets brutalized by rival gang

Philadelphia Flower Show's 2026 theme will dig into country's gardening roots
Technology

Philadelphia Flower Show's 2026 theme will dig into country's gardening roots

In honor of America's 250th anniversary celebrations next summer, the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show will take a look back at the country's botanical beginnings. The bouquets, arches, sculptures and floral art displays will all be centered around the theme "Rooted: Origins of American Gardening," the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announced Thursday. The event, which will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28 to March 8, will explore personal stories, cultural traditions and other historic inspirations that shaped modern gardening. Tickets for the Flower Show, now in its 197th year, are on sale now and start at $43 for a weekday pass for adults and go up to $100 for multi-day entrance. There are discounts for students, children and groups. An installation funded by a grant from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial will feature four gardens on the evolution of planting in the United States and its influence worldwide. The show will also include an entrance garden merging historic and modern designs, a speaker series and botanical crafts, in addition to the displays. “This year’s Flower Show feels especially personal because every plant or garden carries a story behind it," Seth Pearsoll, creative director of the Flower Show, said in a statement. "We all have memories tied to plants and 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening' is about sharing those diverse experiences and the ways they connect us. It will be a show filled with memory, meaning, and incredible creativity." The look back concludes a three-year series of the show's themes exploring the past, present and future of gardening. The 2024 theme, United by Flowers, looked at contemporary horticultural communities. The 2025 theme, Gardens of Tomorrow, explored how the industry might change in the coming years and new technologies.

“Biggest green flag ever”- Fans praise BTS’ Jin for his loyalty as Red Velvet’s Wendy shares heartfelt story of his radio appearance
Technology

“Biggest green flag ever”- Fans praise BTS’ Jin for his loyalty as Red Velvet’s Wendy shares heartfelt story of his radio appearance

On Thursday, October 9, Red Velvet's Wendy appeared at SBS PowerFM’s 2 O’Clock Escape Cultwo Show, where she shared an anecdote about BTS' Jin. During her appearance on the SBS show, the idol stated that Jin had made a promise to her that if he were to make any radio show appearance, it would be at hers, Wendy's Youngstreet.This promise was made due to her feature in Jin's first studio album track, Heart on the Window. Therefore, he had already informed his agency, BigHit Music, about his appearance and cleared his schedule for the same. Wendy continued to add that even before she could put in a request for his appearance, the agency responded that he had already decided to be on the radio show.Here's what the idol stated during her appearance at SBS PowerFM’s 2 O’clock Escape Cultwo Show:“Jin made a promise to keep his loyalty. He promised that if he ever appeared on a radio show, he would appear on mine. Since I participated in a song as a featured artist, he said he would definitely come. He told his company in advance and had them put it into his schedule. Before I could even ask, they said, ‘Wen dy-ssi, he has decided to appear.’ I was so thankful.”Following this revelation, many fans and netizens were swooned by Jin's humble and loyal personality. Several people praised the idol for his mannerisms and were also thrilled about the blossoming friendship between him and Red Velvet's Wendy. Here are a few fan reactions to the idol's anecdote about Jin at SBS PowerFM's 2 O'clock Escape Cultwo Show:"Seokjin is the biggest green flag ever to exist. Considerate, attentive, empathetic, loyal gentleman" said a fanSal @Sjlvr_1204LINKSeokjin is the biggest green flag ever to exist. Considerate, attentive, empathetic, loyal gentlemanMore fans and netizens reacted to the heartwarming story about BTS' Jin.Vin is HAPPY | ECHO Jin @IllbetherebyjinLINKWendy is one of the 'idol' friends who recognise seokjin voice talents. Their friendship is adoreable hope this will continueSal @Sjlvr_1204LINKi remember how packed his schedule was that day right after the fanmeeting he rushed straight to Wendy's show that same evening. if he wants to he would ladiesPink ⁷ @pinkiepiesmoonLINKHe told them in advance HES SO KIND⁷ ᖭི༏ᖫྀ @Lilybangta7LINKWhen a man truly values human relationships whether it’s friendship or professional collaboration his actions aren’t just out of courtesy, but stem from a genuine sense of commitment and gratitude.Others also shared their thoughts and opinions about the same.yapmonster ash 𐙚 SAW HOBI @biebtanbrainrotLINKin a world of boys he’s a gentleman is written about him杏里 @ichigyozaLINKthe way jin himself booked youngstreet ahead of time ohhh 😭😭😭 i love you my wendyjin🅗𝕒𝕟𝕗 @haHANIhuhuLINKI love how they respect each other 🥹🌃KATZ 🌌❄🌠 @sereneville07LINKThe satisfaction it feels to stan a person who is beautiful inside out, always keeps his promises,never gets into unnecessary drama, minds his business, loves his fans, works hard and is smart asf.cherry ♡ @chrryblondeLINKhe’s the sweetest most thoughtful person ever 😖😖😖Red Velvet's Wendy shares her thoughts on her collaboration with BTS' Jin for the track, Heart on the WindowIn November 2024, following the release of BTS' Jin's first album, Happy, he held a showcase for the same. Red Velvet's Wendy was also invited to the live performance of their collaborative track on the album Heart on the Window. After this, when a fan commented about attending the show at her radio show, Wendy's Youngstreet, she delved more into the topic.She not only talked about her nervousness while performing at the showcase, but also shared more about her collaborative work with Jin. Here's what she stated:"Honestly, I wasn’t that nervous about singing at the showcase itself. But once I put in the in-ear monitors and listened to the entire interview, I started to feel so nervous. I was really shaking. And singing in front of so many ARMYs made me nervous, but I’m incredibly grateful for all the support and love you showed."The idol continued, "Also, Jin-ssi’s ‘Happy’ album is really great, and I’m so thankful to have been included on the album. It was such an honor to be part of it, so thank you again. Jin-ssi, thank you so much. Thank you, sunbae-nim. Please give lots of love and support. Hwaiting!"Therefore, fans and netizens have been looking forward to more interactions and collaborations between the two K-pop idols.

Coal to stay as Queensland government prepares to unveil energy road map
Technology

Coal to stay as Queensland government prepares to unveil energy road map

Queensland's energy minister will today unveil a long-awaited road map outlining the state's future energy needs, where the former Labor government's plan to scrap coal by 2035 will be "officially abolished". The five-year plan is likely to lay out what role coal, gas, wind, solar, pumped hydro and battery storage will play over the long-term in Queensland. David Janetzki has previously said the LNP wants to see coal-fired power stations running for longer, more gas projects and increased private sector investment in renewables. On Friday, Mr Janetzki said in a statement coal would remain the part of the state's energy mix for "decades". "The former Labor government's decision to close coal units by 2035 regardless of their condition is officially abolished today," he said. "This is a sensible and pragmatic plan built on economics and engineering, not ideology." The current latest "technical life span end date" of all of the state's coal-fired stations is 2046. Mr Janetzki will today address the Queensland Media Club where he is expected to outline a "sensible and pragmatic plan" and reveal a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund will be set up. It will be managed by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) with an aim to attract energy project investors to work with the private sector and government-owned corporations. "[The] fund will be an open door to all renewable investment proponents," Mr Janetzki said in a statement. "Bringing Queensland energy supply and firming projects from origination to operations, and inviting collaboration with the private sector and government-owned corporations (GOC)." QIC will also set up a "gateway" by the end of the year to link the private sector with government-owned energy corporations to deliver new energy infrastructure and investment projects. "The investor gateway will establish a coordinated approach for developers, investors and government-owned corporations to solicit interest in renewable energy projects and develop whole-of-state solutions," Mr Janetzki said. The state government has committed to reach net zero by 2050, with the target to reduce carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2035 under review. The LNP has also pledged to scrap legislated renewable energy targets introduced by the former Labor government. But law changes to repeal those targets — to reach 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032, and 80 per cent by 2035 — have yet to come before state parliament. Mr Janetzki said the government would also deliver the Copperstring project in the state's north. The planned 1,100 kilometres of power line network from Townsville to Mount Isa is expected to connect towns and mines to the national electricity market for the first time. In April, the government announced it would seek private investment for sections of the project after costs blew out to $13.9 billion. That price tag has been contested by government-owned corporation Powerlink, which estimated it would cost $9 billion last year. On Friday, Mr Janetzki said $2.21 billion dollars in project savings had been identified already, and the government would deliver the "vital project" for the region. Construction on the transmission line in Hughenden was expected to begin by the end of this year.

Market Update for 10 October 2025
8 free Linux apps that make tricky tasks surprisingly easy - no command line required
Technology

8 free Linux apps that make tricky tasks surprisingly easy - no command line required

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways You don't have to use the command line in Linux.With the help of these free GUIs, Linux becomes much easier.These tools can be easily installed. Linux is becoming more and more popular around the world. Part of the reason for that is the end of Windows 10. At the same time, Linux has come a long way since its early days of only targeting developers, admins, or computer science majors. This evolution has made it possible to never touch the command line (which is something that I firmly believe is possible). Also: 7 most Windows-like Linux distros - if you're ready to ditch Microsoft For those who doubt the veracity of my claim, let me introduce you (and those new to Linux) to GUI apps that take the place of command-line tools. All of these apps are free to install and use. 1. Grsync If you've ever wanted to back up your Linux computer, you may have been told to look up rsync. Rsync is a command-line sync tool that is often used for backups. Although rsync is fairly straightforward to use, to the uninitiated, it can be a bit daunting. Fortunately, there's Grsync, a user-friendly GUI that makes Rsync much easier. That's not to say that Grsync makes rsync easy enough for anyone without having a fundamental understanding of rsync. For example, you need to understand the difference between source vs. destination, permission preserving, etc. For example, in the Source and Destination section of the GUI, you need to know that the source is what you want to back up and the destination is where you want to house the backup. You also need to understand the format of remote destinations that are in the SCP format, such as jack@192.168.1.25:/home/jack/Documents/. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you don't add a trailing /, Grsync will create a sub-document to house the files. 2. File Manager There are several commands your file manager can take care of, such as ls, mkdir, mv, cp, tar, and touch. For example, you open your file manager and it will show you the contents of the current directory (ls). You can right-click a file and select Copy (cp), drag and drop a file from one location to another (mv), right-click a file or folder and select Compress (tar), or create a new file by right-clicking an empty space in the file manager and selecting Create File (touch). The Disks app takes over some more challenging commands, such as fsck, mount, parted, chown, and dd. This app is a handy GUI that also prevents you from having to edit the fstab configuration file (for mounting drives at boot), which is a huge plus. Also: How to install Arch Linux without losing your mind Just remember, the command Disks replace is very powerful, so make sure you know precisely the disk you are working with; otherwise, you could wind up formatting your primary drive housing the OS. Disks is installed on all GNOME-based distributions and several non-GNOME-based distributions (such as Pop!_OS). 4. Stacer Stacer is a great tool that can help clean up your OS (rm) and monitor resources (ps). You can also manage startup applications, search for files, end processes (kill and killall), uninstall applications (apt, yum, pacman, etc), and manage repositories (nano, add-apt-repository). Stacer has an easy-to-use GUI and a tab for each feature. This should be considered a must-use for anyone serious about dumping the command line. If you've ever had to compare the contents of two files, you've probably used diff, which isn't exactly the most user-friendly command found in Linux. Thankfully, there are tools like Meld that help make comparing files much easier. Meld can also merge files. Keep in mind that Meld doesn't work with binary files (such as .odt or .docx), so you'll need to convert such documents into .txt format. 6. Edit, Kate, or COSMIC Text At some point, you're going to need a basic text editor. The reason is that you might not want to have to edit a configuration file or other text file within the nano, vi, or emacs editors. Instead, use the likes of GNOME Edit, Kate, or COSMIC Text. The one caveat to using basic text editors is that you might have trouble editing configuration files that require sudo (or root) privileges. Each of these apps offers different features, but they all get the job of creating and editing flat text files done. 7. GNOME Software/KDE Discover/COSMIC Shop If you hate the idea of using the apt, dnf, pacman, zypper, snap, or flatpak commands to install software, you can always turn to your distribution's GUI front end, such as GNOME Software, KDE Discover, or COSMIC Shop. There's also the old-school Synapitic GUI, but I would recommend one of the other three first. Also: As a Linux poweruser, I have to highlight this distro for its fresh desktop environment Keep in mind that GNOME Software is for GNOME and GNOME-based desktop environments, KDE Discover is for KDE Plasma, and COSMIC Shop is for the new COSMIC desktop environment. Although many find installing from the command line easy, many would rather go with a point-and-click GUI, rather than memorize all of those commands (and their options). Finally, there's PuTTY, which takes care of the ssh command. The PuTTY GUI might look a bit out of date, but it's still powerful and useful. One of the best things about PuTTY is that it allows you to save hosts, so connecting to a remote machine is just a matter of selecting the host in question. PuTTY does have a slight learning curve, but for those who are new to Linux, it's still easier than using the command line. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Boston officials explore city-run grocery stores to combat rising food prices: report
Technology

Boston officials explore city-run grocery stores to combat rising food prices: report

Boston officials are reportedly weighing the concept of creating government-owned grocery stores to support residents struggling with the rising costs of food. City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilor Liz Breadon have requested a hearing to explore the idea — emphasizing it was not inspired by a similar proposal from New York City Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, local news outlet Boston 25 News reported. "The role of government is to step in when the market is failing our residents," Louijeune told Boston 25 News. "The idea of government-sponsored government-subsidized grocers is not a novel idea." CITY-OWNED MISSOURI GROCERY STORE CLOSES AS MAMDANI CAMPAIGNS FOR SOME IN NEW YORK Louijeune pointed to examples of similar grocery initiatives in Madison, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia, Boston 25 News reported. "There’s a certain level of urgency because of a federal policy that’s cutting SNAP benefits," Breadon told Boston 25 News. "Those of us who don’t have any food insecurity sometimes forget the struggles that ordinary working families may have." An estimated 37% of Massachusetts households faced food insecurity this year — nearly double the 19% reported in 2019, according to Boston 25 News, citing a report from the Greater Boston Food Bank. BLUE STATE GOVERNOR WARNS A MAMDANI NYC MAYORAL VICTORY COULD HURT WALL STREET, NEIGHBORING STATE’S ECONOMY However, one grocery industry expert argues that city-run stores could hurt existing businesses. Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, said that using taxpayer funds for city-run grocery stores would be "a job killer in our communities," according to Boston 25 News. "Our mom and pop stores operate on very thin profit margins as it is. They are constantly facing rising costs, stricter regulations, and relentless economic pressure," Brennan told Boston 25 News. "The City of Boston should be doing more to support these small businesses that create jobs, support our communities, and provide healthy meals, goods and services to our neighborhoods. Supporting small businesses by cutting taxes and fees and creating programs to help businesses become self-sustaining is a much better use of tax dollars." BILLIONAIRE CEO WARNS HE'LL CLOSE GROCERY STORES IF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WINS NYC MAYOR RACE Several other city councilors have also reportedly added their names to the hearing order, which has been sent to committee for consideration. A hearing could take place before the end of the year, according to Boston 25 News. Mamdani has championed a network of city-run grocery stores. His proposal would establish five publicly funded, rent- and tax-exempt locations across New York City, according to Boston 25 News. "You don’t lower grocery bills by having government-run stores," Ryan Bourne, a top economist at the libertarian leaning Cato Institute think tank, told Fox Business earlier this year. "Government-run entities have no market discipline — no need to earn profits, compete, or serve customers efficiently. That leads to bloated costs, empty shelves, and zero accountability." GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Ruthzee Louijeune, Liz Breadon and Peter Brennan did not immediately respond to FOX Business request for comment. FOX Business' Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Pope Leo wants to change the Vatican’s murky finances
Technology

Pope Leo wants to change the Vatican’s murky finances

The new pope has been expected to run the Vatican in a different way from his predecessor. And Pope Leo XIV is now meeting that expectation with the Catholic Church’s finances, as he rolls back some of the reforms made by Pope Francis. While Francis was considered one of the most liberal popes in history, his financial reforms created controversy. Some believed they concentrated too much power in the Vatican, which has long generated questions about its economics. But Leo may be taking the church in a different direction. What is Leo doing about the Vatican’s finances? The pope is working to change some of the rules that have caused financial stress within the church. Leo has started “correcting some of Pope Francis’ more questionable financial reforms and decisions,” said The Associated Press. The most notable of these is the repealing of a 2022 law that had “concentrated financial power in the Vatican bank.” This law stated that the Catholic Church’s assets were to be managed by the Institute of Religious Works (IOR), the Vatican’s official bank. But Leo’s decree now says the church should “use the IOR, but can turn to non-Vatican banks in other countries” if the church deems it “more efficient or convenient,” said the AP. This marks the “clearest sign yet that Leo is starting to fix some of Francis’ more problematic decisions and is recalibrating the Vatican’s centers of power.” Francis’ decision to sign this law was “widely understood to be a response to the financial scandals around the Secretariat of State, and to a mounting liquidity crisis,” said Catholic news outlet The Pillar. But it had also “taken many in the Vatican by surprise since it appeared to contradict the Holy See’s founding constitution,” said the AP, as the “constitution says the patrimony office, APSA, is responsible for administering the Vatican’s real estate and financial holdings,” not the IOR. How could this affect the Catholic Church? Leo is trying to shore up some of the “Vatican’s infamously troubled finances,” said Fortune, and hopes that decentralizing all power in the church’s central bank will be the first step toward this. The Catholic Church’s “financial reputation has been tarnished in past decades by its opaque finances and cases of corruption, embezzlement, and other crimes,” said Reuters. While the church wanted to make moves to counter this reputation, some officials in the Vatican thought Francis’ law had “given the bank too much power over other Vatican departments, which could not even have investments in banks in nearby Italy.” Even Francis “realized the problem and had intended to fix it, Vatican officials said, but died in April before he could,” said the AP. And it seems that Leo agrees; while the pope has some similar viewpoints on major church issues as his predecessor, he has “quietly distanced himself from one of Francis’ more centralizing financial measures,” said The Catholic Herald. Leo’s decision may signify a significant turning point for the Vatican. His choice to undo Francis’ law “restores a measure of flexibility, allowing the Vatican Bank to play a more active role and permitting the use of external financial intermediaries when deemed appropriate,” said the Herald. This “marks the first real step in Vatican finances under Leo — but it’s unclear which direction things are headed,” said The Pillar.