海角大神

US struck Iranian sites for second time this week. Iran retaliated, once again calling into question the durability of a ceasefire in which military hostilities continue. The U.S. shot down four Iranian drones 鈥渢hat posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� according to the U.S. military. It also struck a military site in Iran鈥檚 port city of Bandar Abbas. The Iranian government said it 鈥渨ill not leave any act of hostility unanswered.鈥� Kuwait today said its air defenses were intercepting 鈥渉ostile missile and drone threats.鈥� Oil prices rose again Thursday morning. 鈥� Staff

Former judges challenge Trump 鈥渁nti-weaponization鈥� fund. A group of 35 former federal judges appointed by presidents from both parties asked the judge who closed the Trump family鈥檚 lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service to reopen the case and probe whether a deal to resolve it constituted an act of fraud. The Trumps had sued the IRS over a leak of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tax returns. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice announced it had established a $1.776 billion 鈥渁nti-weaponization fund鈥� to 鈥渞edress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.鈥� In their motion, the former judges asserted that the fund would operate 鈥渨ithout constitutional or congressional authority.鈥� It came amid growing criticism of the DOJ 鈥渟ettlement鈥� on Capitol Hill, notably from Senate Republicans. 鈥� Staff
Our coverage: Trump settlement fund claims a high motive. Critics see a corruption of justice.

Investigation finds spike in suicides of ICE detainees. Individuals in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are taking their own lives at a pace unprecedented in the agency鈥檚 two-decade history, according to an investigation by The Associated Press. At least 10 detainees have died by suicide since January 2025. Those deaths account for nearly 20% of the 51 people who have died in ICE custody since the start of last year. Department of Homeland Security acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said suicide deaths in ICE custody remain 鈥渆xtremely rare.鈥� 鈥� The Associated Press

US raises refugee cap for Afrikaners. In a move that prioritized white South Africans, President Trump had previously set a record-low limit on refugee entries at 7,500 for this fiscal year. Now he鈥檚 raised the ceiling by 10,000, citing an emergency due to 鈥渞ecent increases in the incitement of racially motivated violence鈥� by South African leaders. The South African government has rejected that narrative, and Afrikaner groups told The Associated Press they鈥檙e unaware of a refugee emergency. Meanwhile, refugee advocates have criticized the exclusion of persecuted groups from other parts of the world. 鈥� Staff
Our coverage: Almost all US refugees are now from South Africa, as Trump focuses on Afrikaners.

Police search headquarters of Spanish prime minister鈥檚 party. Spain鈥檚 anti-corruption police raided the headquarters of Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez鈥檚 Socialist Party in Madrid. The probe, into a party member鈥檚 possible interference with legal cases, adds to a growing list of corruption allegations against Mr. Sanchez鈥檚 party. Last week, the prime minister鈥檚 wife and brother, as well as former Prime Minister Jos茅 Luis Rodr铆guez Zapatero, were placed under investigation in a separate case. On Saturday, thousands marched in Madrid, calling for Mr. S谩nchez鈥檚 resignation. 鈥� Staff

Los Angeles last had a Republican mayor 25 years ago. But reality TV star Spencer Pratt has seen a flurry of donations and support in the run-up to the June 2 vote, in a campaign shaped by last year鈥檚 Palisades Fire and a series of provocative AI videos.

President Donald Trump is taking more control over federal spending, and Congress is ceding some of its power of the purse. They could be setting a new precedent that permanently expands a president鈥檚 power.

As the United States and Iran move toward a peace deal, with the thorny nuclear issue apparently still unresolved, the 鈥渁symmetric nature鈥� of the conflict is coming into sharper focus,聽our columnist notes,聽paralleling America鈥檚 retreat from the Vietnam War.

The Philippines is one of the most dynastic countries in the world, with the majority of political power concentrated in the hands of a few elite families. A people鈥檚 movement aiming to limit political dynasties is inspiring hope that the 2028 election could look different.

Poverty and homelessness are major concerns in Asheville, North Carolina. A聽2025 ordinance passed by the Asheville City Council extending restrictions on panhandling was the spark that led poet and essayist Leslee Johnson to give a voice to the creativity of homeless writers.

Amid the fears and concerns about artificial intelligence and emerging online technologies, a statement by the founder of 海角大神 Science 鈥� and of this publication 鈥� offers reassurance. Referencing the United States鈥� ringing Declaration of Independence, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, 鈥淕od has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience.鈥�

With the promise and exercise of these innate rights, humanity is well placed to take on the challenges 鈥� and promise 鈥� of AI.

Many religious leaders, as well as Silicon Valley innovators and analysts, are weighing in on the role of human creativity and intelligence, as well as workplace skills and relevance. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV delivered a major statement on faith and human progress in the age of AI, titled 鈥淢agnifica Humanitas鈥� (鈥淢agnificent Humanity鈥�).

Declaring on May 25 that AI does not possess 鈥渁 moral conscience鈥� or an 鈥渁ffective, relational and spiritual perspective,鈥� the document points out many risks from the technology鈥檚 misuse or overuse. But, ultimately, it emphasizes that humanity鈥檚 capacity for faith, conscience, and brotherly love is up to the task of steering innovation toward a 鈥渃ommon good鈥� that upholds solidarity and dignity and reduces inequity.

Just a few days prior to this statement, Orthodox 海角大神 theologians and academics expressed parallel views as they discussed AI and concepts of being, freedom, and responsibility in Thessaloniki, Greece. The city鈥檚 bishop noted that AI can 鈥渋mitate鈥� human dialogue and creativity, but 鈥渋t cannot love, sacrifice, or participate in the mystery of personal existence,鈥� the Greek City Times reported. Like his Catholic counterpart, the Orthodox prelate also affirmed that 鈥渉uman value does not derive from efficiency or productivity,鈥� but from one鈥檚 relation to God and others.

Similar ideas echo even in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the leader of the world鈥檚 Buddhists resides. In serving world needs, technology 鈥渘eeds to be guided by human values,鈥� the Dalai Lama said in 2022, highlighting the importance of a trait as simple as 鈥渨armheartedness.鈥�

The common threads running through diverse faith traditions 鈥� individual dignity, the innate capacity to think and act unselfishly, commitment to a higher spiritual power 鈥� link aspirations for human betterment. While quite distinct from the post-World War II political alliances or United Nations structures, which are currently in disrepute or disarray, such universal ethical values can offer new channels to guide multilateral discussion and action.

Speaking alongside Jewish and Catholic leaders in 2023, Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah of the United Arab Emirates acknowledged, 鈥淎I is among the most momentous creative innovations of human genius.鈥� Along with his Abrahamic faith peers, he called for technology safeguards that respect the 鈥淒ivinely-granted鈥� or 鈥渘atural rights of every human being鈥� and draw on the 鈥渋nnate moral values鈥� that are 鈥渃ommon to all people.鈥� Speaking at the same event, Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz of Israel noted, 鈥淩eligious leaders must be at the forefront鈥� of such efforts.

Some Silicon Valley leaders 鈥� a few of whom consider themselves seekers of truth, even if not believers in a religious truth 鈥� have themselves called for ethical and policy guidelines and guardrails.

Christopher Olah, a co-founder of leading AI firm Anthropic, welcomes the interest of religious leaders in particular. Speaking at the Vatican on Monday, he referred to worldly incentives 鈥� viability and profitability, pride and ambition 鈥� 鈥渢hat can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing.鈥�

鈥淚t is enormously important,鈥� Mr. Olah said, that individuals outside the AI world and its incentive system be willing 鈥渢o say hard things鈥� and 鈥渂e our earnest, thoughtful, critics.鈥�