Mutually Automated Destruction: The Escalating Global A.I. Arms Race

 Mutually Automated Destruction: The Escalating Global A.I. Arms Race

China, the U.S., Russia and others have ramped up their contest over artificial-intelligence-backed weapons and military systems. The buildup has been compared to the dawn of the nuclear weapons age.

Anduril’s autonomous air vehicle, Fury, which recently began production at the company’s new factory outside Columbus, Ohio.Credit...Kristian Thacker for The New York Times

An unmanned combat aerial vehicle at a parade for the Chinese military in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in September.Credit...Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

A drone mother ship that can launch swarms of smaller drones, shown at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow.Credit...Tingshu Wang/Reuters

Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril, which developed A.I.-backed sensor towers to be placed at borders.Credit...Philip Cheung for The New York Times

NASA Apollo missions: Stories of the last Moon men

 NASA Apollo missions: Stories of the last Moon men (Thanks to Sam for this one)

1 dead in NJ Chick-fil-A mass shooting after masked gunmen storm restaurant

 1 dead in NJ Chick-fil-A mass shooting after masked gunmen storm restaurant (Thanks Bernadette for this one)

Defeat of Orban Removes Ukraine’s Biggest Nemesis in Europe

Defeat of Orban Removes Ukraine’s Biggest Nemesis in Europe - The New York Times

The Hungarian leader’s pro-Moscow tilt cemented his reputation in Kyiv as a spoiler. Now, Ukraine hopes a 90 billion euro loan he blocked will be disbursed.

 Orban Loss May Ease Hungary’s Tensions with European Union - The New York Times

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stymied the European Union for years, and particularly in recent months. Peter Magyar’s election could change that.

Who Is Peter Magyar, the Man Who Toppled Hungary’s Orban - The New York Times

Mr. Magyar’s success in the Hungarian election is fueled in large part by widespread public anger at corruption and concern about sluggish economic growth.

Trump assails Pope Leo XIV; Pope is unafraid

 Trump assails Leo as too liberal and ‘weak on crime.’

After Criticizing Pope, Trump Posts Image of Himself as a Jesus-Like Figure - The New York Times

Pope Leo says he has ‘no fear of the Trump administration’ after the president’s criticism.

Artemis II's trip around the moon was a huge success. Now what?

 Artemis II's trip around the moon was a huge success. Now what? | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)

Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York; Emperor Penguins are endangered 🥺

 Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York

Prosecutors say Amit Forlit ran a global hacking operation on behalf of a Washington lobbying group that aimed to thwart environmental lawsuits against oil companies.

Emperor Penguins Are Now Endangered, a New Assessment Finds

Populations are declining as climate change causes the sea ice the birds need for survival to retreat, according to researchers.

Related: 

Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some

Renewable energy is cheaper to run than fossil fuels, especially with war choking oil supply. But it hasn’t turned out that way for some European countries, and the reason is complex.

McIlroy wins back-to-back Masters; Garcia breaks driver in frustration at Masters, then carries Rahm’s clubs in eventful early pairing

 Garcia breaks driver in frustration at Masters, then carries Rahm’s clubs in eventful early pairing (Thanks to Louden for this one)

Related: In the post-Tiger Woods era, Rory McIlroy is the lion golf needs - The Athletic

Rory McIlroy’s first Masters win belonged to the world. This one belonged to the McIlroys - The Athletic

Would you go to the moon? Board an alien spacecraft? What nearly 80 years of polls say about US attitudes on space

 Would you go to the moon? Board an alien spacecraft? What nearly 80 years of polls say about US attitudes on space (Thanks to Finn for this one)

Astronaut Edward H. White II floats outside the Gemini IV spacecraft on June 3, 1965, in the first American spacewalk. 

NASA

What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire as talks fail; Oil heads north of $100 per barrel

What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire (Thanks to Graydon for this one)

Vessels are wary of passing the coast of Iran in the strait, given the fragile agreement, and the number of ships traveling through it has even dropped.

Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Blockade’ Strait of Hormuz After No Peace Deal Reached

Vice President JD Vance said that marathon talks between the United States and Iran had failed to produce a deal to fully reopen the strait and end the war. Iran’s top negotiator suggested further talks were possible.

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Mr. Trump said on social media of his planned naval blockade.

Trump Said Other Countries Would Help Blockade Iran. So Far, There Are No Takers. - The New York Times

President Trump’s announcement of a complete U.S. blockade was his latest effort to pressure Iran to negotiate after direct talks over the weekend did not yield an agreement.

How Iran, Suffering Under Sanctions, Diversified Its Economy - The New York Times

Iran War Live Updates: Oil Climbs Above $100 as U.S. Plans Hormuz Blockade - The New York Times

Related: Chinese Truck Drivers suffer under oil shock

How Tolls in the Strait of Hormuz Would Undercut International Law

Both the U.S. and Iran are now talking about imposing fees on ships using the vital passageway. That could fray a treaty that ended centuries of lawlessness on the high seas.

Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington

 Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)

A conference near the White House drew hundreds of people who reject the scientific consensus on climate change. The mood was triumphant.

William Happer, a Princeton professor emeritus of physics who has argued that global warming is good for humanity, during a presentation at the Heartland Institute’s International Climate Change Conference in Washington on Wednesday.Credit...Caroline Gutman for The New York Times

Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia's military + How to check your router 😊

Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia's military - Ars Technica (Thanks to Ms. Rodriguez for this one)

It also includes advice about how to check to see if your router is compromised.

Are You Using These TP-Link Routers? Russian Hackers Are Targeting Them | PCMag

PSA 2026 Video List

Bucks driving PSA NH-S HS

NATO in jeopardy; Ceasefire is fragile; China and Russia notch wins

 Trump criticises Nato as alliance chief Mark Rutte describes meeting as 'very frank'

Trump rants ‘NATO wasn’t there’ as he reportedly weighs plans to punish allies unhelpful with Iran war

NATO Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane - Newsweek

China’s Secret Hand in the US-Iran Ceasefire - Newsweek

Russia and China veto UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz as US deadline for Iran deal looms | AP News

Former ambassador on the whether the Iran ceasefire will hold and next steps : NPR

Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?

 Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? | The New Yorker

New interviews and closely guarded documents shed light on the persistent doubts about the head of OpenAI.

Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? My Quest to Unmask Bitcoin’s Creator

 Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? My Quest to Unmask Bitcoin’s Creator - The New York Times

Bitcoin’s creator has hidden behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto for 17 years. But a trail of clues buried deep in crypto lore led to a 55-year-old computer scientist named Adam Back.

Adam Back Denies He Is Satoshi Nakamoto in Response to Times Investigation - The New York Times

“Dr. Adam Back has consistently stated that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto,” his company said in a statement. “What is not speculative is Adam’s foundational contribution to Bitcoin.”

4 Takeaways From Our Search for Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s Creator - The New York Times

Here’s what we found suggesting that Adam Back invented Bitcoin.

Mr. Back spoke at the Bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas last May.Credit...Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg

Anthropic Claims Its New A.I. Model, Mythos, Is a Cybersecurity ‘Reckoning’; This is a warning sign

 Anthropic Claims Its New A.I. Model, Mythos, Is a Cybersecurity ‘Reckoning’ - The New York Times

The company said on Tuesday that it was holding back on releasing the new technology but was working with 40 companies to explore how it could prevent cyberattacks.

The new model — known as Claude Mythos Preview — is available to a consortium of more than 40 technology companies, including Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, which will use the model to find and patch security vulnerabilities in critical software programs.

Anthropic said it had no plans to release its new technology more widely, but was announcing the new model’s capabilities in one area in particular — identifying security vulnerabilities in software — in an effort to sound the alarm over what the company believes will be a new, scarier era of A.I. threats.

“The goal is both to raise awareness and to give good actors a head start on the process of securing open-source and private infrastructure and code,” Jared Kaplan, Anthropic’s chief science officer, said in an interview.

Opinion | Anthropic’s Restraint Is a Terrifying Warning Sign - The New York Times

Meta Unveils New A.I. Model, Muse Spark, Its First From the Superintelligence Lab - The New York Times

Jim Whittaker, First American to Reach Everest’s Summit, Dies at 97

Jim Whittaker, First American to Reach Everest’s Summit, Dies at 97 - The New York Times

As an executive with the outdoor-supply retailer REI and an experienced climber, he conquered Mount Everest in 1963, when fewer than 10 people were known to have done so.

‘Ketamine Queen’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death

 ‘Ketamine Queen’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death - The New York Times

The sentence for Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors say was known to customers as the Ketamine Queen, is the stiffest yet for those charged in the “Friends” star’s death.

Dealer Known as ‘Ketamine Queen’ to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Case - The New York Times

Jasveen Sangha will plead guilty to selling the ketamine that killed the “Friends” star, prosecutors said. She could face decades in prison.

Jasveen Sangha in a photo taken from her Instagram account.

In 20 Minutes, Gilgo Beach Killer Admits to Murdering 8 Women; Gilgo Beach Killer’s ‘Unusual’ Deal Could Help Solve Other Murders

 Gilgo Beach Killer’s ‘Unusual’ Deal Could Help Solve Other Murders - The New York Times

Rex Heuermann agreed to talk to behavioral analysts at the F.B.I. when he pleaded guilty. The unit has interviewed Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Richard Speck.

Suspect in Gilgo Beach Murders Pleads Guilty - The New York Times

Rex Heuermann had been charged with killing at least seven women on Long Island. He was arrested in 2023, more than a decade after the first bodies were found.

In 20 Minutes, Gilgo Beach Killer Admits to Murdering 8 Women - The New York Times

As he pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Rex Heuermann gave the same one-word answer each time he was asked how he killed one of his victims. 

For Trump, Resuming Combat in Iran Would Be Risky, Even if Cease-Fire Expires; Military families bear the burden of war, again...

For Trump, Resuming Combat in Iran Would Be Risky, Even if Cease-Fire Expires - The New York Times

President Trump knows that even if a cease-fire runs out with no final agreement on the issues dividing Washington and Tehran, the political risk of renewing hostilities is high.

To Boost Military Budget, Trump Targets Popular Programs at Home - The New York Times

Amid the war with Iran, the president has proposed to scale back some of the very programs meant to ease families’ financial burdens.

Military Families Bear the Burden of War, Again - The New York Times

Even as a two-week ceasefire takes hold, mothers in multigenerational military families — some veterans themselves — are anxious about what the war in Iran could mean for their children, as they face the uncertainty of another conflict in the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday declared that the Iranians had been “humiliated and demoralized.”Credit...Photo by Salwan Georges for The New York Times

How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran

 How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran - The New York Times

In a series of Situation Room meetings, President Trump weighed his instincts against the deep concerns of his vice president and a pessimistic intelligence assessment. Here’s the inside story of how he made the fateful decision.

Vice President JD Vance, the figure inside the White House most opposed to a full-scale war, described it as “a huge distraction of resources” and “massively expensive.” Photo by Doug Mills (NYT)Credit...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the biggest proponent of a military campaign against Iran within the cabinet. Photo by Eric Lee (NYT)

U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Tested by Strikes on Lebanon and Confusion Over Strait

 Iran War Live Updates: U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Tested by Strikes on Lebanon and Confusion Over Strait - The New York Times

Even as the status of the Strait of Hormuz remained unclear and U.S. and Iranian officials issued dueling threats to resume attacks if the cease-fire fell apart, both countries had reason to hope it held together.

Sen. Andy Kim came to Princeton to talk foreign policy. Then Trump threatened to destroy a 'whole civilization.'

 Sen. Andy Kim came to Princeton to talk foreign policy. Then Trump threatened to destroy a 'whole civilization.'

Trump warns a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ if a deal with Iran isn’t reached

 Trump warns a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ if a deal with Iran isn’t reached (Thanks to Sam for this one)

How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?; It's lonely at the top if a $1.8B AI-powered health company

 How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews? - The New York Times

The company’s A.I.-generated answers look authoritative, but they draw on an array of sources, from trustworthy sites to Facebook posts.

How A.I. Helped One Man (and His Brother) Build a $1.8 Billion Company - The New York Times

Who needs more than two employees when artificial intelligence can do so many corporate tasks? It’s super efficient — and a little bit lonely.

To build Medvi, Mr. Gallagher used A.I. tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Midjourney and Runway.Credit...Maggie Shannon for The New York Times

Michigan, dominant all season, takes down UConn for first national championship since 1989; UCLA defeats South Carolina

 Michigan, dominant all season, takes down UConn for first national championship since 1989 - The Athletic

UCLA wins the 2026 DI women's basketball championship | NCAA.com

Pakistan Says It Hit a Military Target. Investigations Suggest It Was a Rehab Center

 Pakistan Says It Hit a Military Target. Investigations Suggest It Was a Rehab Center. - The New York Times

After the deadliest attack in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over, families searched among photos and remains for signs of their relatives.

Artemis II Astronauts Head Home After Historic Journey Around the Moon

 Artemis II Astronauts Head Home After Historic Journey Around the Moon - The New York Times

The NASA lunar flyby took the four crew members farther from Earth than any humans. They witnessed a solar eclipse and received praise in a call from President Trump.

A view of Earth from the Orion capsule after it reached its farthest distance from the planet on Monday.Credit...Photo by NASA.

Trump Deadline Looms in Iran War; US airman rescued; Journalists threatened with jail

 Iran War Live Updates: Trump’s Hormuz Deadline Hangs Over the Middle East - The New York Times

President Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not make a deal by 8 p.m. Eastern. He has pressed Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, or face a wave of strikes on critical infrastructure.

A Harrowing Race Against Time to Find a Downed U.S. Airman in Iran - The New York Times

For the Iranians, the Air Force colonel whose fighter jet had been shot down was possible leverage. For the U.S. military, finding him was a moral imperative.

Iran’s Downing of Fighter Jet and U.S. Rescue Leave Both Sides Dangerously Emboldened - The New York Times

After Iran shot down a U.S. plane and U.S. forces pulled off a risky ground operation to extricate a stranded airman, both sides claimed victory. That confidence could fuel further escalation.

Hegseth Likens Easter Rescue of U.S. Airman to Resurrection of Jesus Christ - The New York Times

President Trump also asserted that God supports the American war against Iran “because God is good, and God wants to see people taken care of.”

Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees. - The New York Times

In sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s calls for Christian prayers for the war effort, Pope Leo XIV says military domination is “entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

Trump Threatens Jail if Journalists Protect Certain Iran Sources - The New York Times

The president indicated he would ask an unnamed media outlet to reveal the sources behind its coverage of Iran’s successful strike on a U.S. fighter jet, and of its crew.

The War Is Turning Iran Into a Major World Power

 Opinion | The War Is Turning Iran Into a Major World Power - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for this one)

Hungarian PM faces ‘false flag’ claims after Serbia says explosives found near pipeline

 Hungarian PM faces ‘false flag’ claims after Serbia says explosives found near pipeline | Hungary | The Guardian (Thanks to Matte for this one)

Related:

Vance Visits Hungary to Boost Orban Before Election - The New York Times

The trip by the American vice president, JD Vance, makes clear that Russia is not the only country invested in a victory for Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban.

Why Hungary’s Election Could Swing on Roma Votes - The New York Times

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s policies affecting the Roma minority have put those voters in play in upcoming parliamentary elections. In a tight race, they could make the difference.

Viktor Orbán greets supporters at a campaign rally in Győr last month. Photo by Bernadett Szabo/Reuters.

Péter Magyar in Budapest last month. Photo by Bernadett Szabo/Reuters.

Polymarket Says It Deals in Truth, but Its Social Feeds Are Filled With Falsehoods

 Polymarket Says It Deals in Truth, but Its Social Feeds Are Filled With Falsehoods - The New York Times

A review of the betting market’s social media feeds found it has published hundreds of false and misleading posts.

Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s CEO, to Step Down Amid Backlash Over Comments After Crash

 Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s CEO, to Step Down Amid Backlash Over Comments After Crash - The New York Times

Michael Rousseau’s mostly English statement after a fatal runway collision drew sharp criticism. The airline said it would emphasize French fluency in its search for a successor.

Michael Rousseau, an Air Canada veteran, took over as chief executive of the airline in 2021. Photo by Nick Lachance|Toronto Star via Getty Images.Credit...

Humpback Whale Is Freed After Days Stranded Off German Beach

 Humpback Whale Is Freed After Days Stranded Off German Beach - The New York Times

In an unexpected breakthrough, the 40-foot mammal swam to deeper water on Friday morning through a channel that rescuers had dug for it.

Senate Votes to Fund TSA and Most of DHS--but not ICE--in Bid to End Partial Shutdown

 House weighs funding for TSA but not ICE | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)

Senate Votes to Fund TSA and Most of DHS in Bid to End Partial Shutdown - The New York Times

The bill excludes funding for ICE and Border Patrol but restores it for federal airport security workers. The House could consider the package on Friday.

Melania Trump brings an AI-powered robot to the White House — and says there could be more of them soon

Melania Trump brings an AI-powered robot to the White House — and says there could be more of them soon | CNN Politics (Thanks to Finn for this one)

Pope Leo hosts exorcist summit at the Vatican over fears of worldwide surge in Satanism

Pope Leo hosts exorcist summit at the Vatican over fears of worldwide surge in Satanism (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)

NJ man who decapitated seagull that tried to steal French fry from daughter sentenced to 8 months

 NJ man who decapitated seagull that tried to steal French fry from daughter sentenced to 8 months (Thanks to Joe for this one)

New Jersey man Franklin Ziegler pleaded guilty to decapitating a seagull, served 262 days in prison and was fined $250.

Talks? Nope. 82nd Airborne? Yes. Raising the maximum age for the army? Yes.

Israel and Iran ramp up attacks as Trump insists Tehran wants a deal : NPR

Trump floats 15-point through Pakistani intermediary. Iran is not interested and counters with its own 5-point plan. 

U.S. and Iran Are Talking About Ways to End the War: What to Know - The New York Times

Trump’s Threats to Europe Put Its Leaders in a Double Bind Over Iran - The New York Times

European politicians risk angering their voters if they join America’s war. Yet they could also face domestic upheaval if they take no action to reopen shipping routes that Iran has blocked and ease an energy crisis.

The Gravity of the War in Iran - The New York Times

Iran War Live Updates: Israel Says Iranian Naval Commander Is Killed in Airstrike - The New York Times

Israel said that an airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, a key player in Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump warned Iranian officials to consider his peace proposal “before it is too late.”

What is the 82nd Airborne Division preparing to deploy to Iran?

Army raises maximum age as Trump plots putting boots on ground