Everywhere people are chatting about AI (Artificial Intelligence). It appears to be all the rage … dominating the news media and Wall Street. Investors are scrambling to buy the stocks of companies that are offering AI-related services Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022—widely considered to be the launch point of AI—the value of America’s stock market has risen by $21 trillion. Just 10 firms—including Amazon, Broadcom, Nvidia—accounted for 55% of this rise. Investment analysts are buzzing...

Swiss voters decisively rejected a call to require women to do national service in the military, civil protection teams or other forms, as all men must do already. Voters also heavily rejected a separate proposal to impose a new national tax on individual donations or inheritances of more than 50 million francs ($62 million), with the revenues to be used to fight the impact of climate change and help Switzerland meet its ambitions to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The...

European governments that condemn Israel and announce sanctions still line up for its air defense systems, as fears of Russian drones and other threats override political boycotts. At a joint appearance in Jerusalem, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against any steps in the West Bank that might amount to annexation, insisting there should be “no formal, political or structural measures” in that direction and reiterating that “recognition of a Palestinian state should come at the...

Stefan Eiriksson, director-general of Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, said: “There is no peace or joy connected to this contest as things stand now. On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back while the situation is as it is.” RÚV said Israel’s participation had “created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.” Israel’s presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and concerns...

(The “I Am” Sayings) To destroy something is generally easier than the act of creation, for the latter necessitates careful arrangement and effort to achieve a specific outcome. The scientific concept of entropy—or the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that natural processes tend to progress toward a greater degree of disorder or randomness over time—is one of the most observable facts of life. From physical structures to personal relationships, building something requires...

India’s telecoms ministry has directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, according to a government order, raising concerns of data privacy and user consent in one of the largest handset markets in the world. The ministry said the app, which is available to India’s 1.2 billion smartphone users, was essential in “curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security.” But privacy advocates say the...

Switzerland adopted its first-ever national action plan against racism and antisemitism at the Federal Council meeting. The action plan comes amid surging antisemitism and racism in the country. According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, 17% of the resident population aged 15 to 88 said in 2024 that they had experienced racial discrimination in the previous five years. By integrating four dimensions—structural racism, intersectional discrimination, involvement of affected...

When darkness one day falls, We can maintain full confidence. For sometimes the greatest miracles Happen in the dead of night. (Author unknown) According to the Bible’s prophetic statements, the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, more than 100 kilometers (around 62 mi.) away, and the two of them made no preparations to travel to Bethlehem. If Jesus had been born in Nazareth, the biblical prophecy would not have been fulfilled. Yet what happens?...

The Quebec government plans to enact a series of measures expanding its secularism rules across public institutions, including a ban on prayer rooms in universities and CEGEPs and restricting the offering of religion-based meals. Six years after the CAQ government adopted its landmark secularism law, known as Bill 21, and only a month after adopting a bill which expanded Bill 21’s prohibition of religious symbols, the province is once again taking aim at the intersection of religion and...

Questions over how companies and other institutions will use AI are a near universal concern given its potential to change or replace some jobs done by people with computers and robots. “As a general-purpose technology, AI can lift productivity, spark new industries, and help latecomers catch up,” the report says. Better advice on farming, analysis of X-rays within seconds and faster medical diagnoses, more effective weather forecasts and damage assessments hold promise for rural communities...

[The following is commentary from] Bishop Dennis Nthumbi is the Africa director of the Israel Allies Foundation, president of the Golgotha Christian Foundation, and international bishop of the African American Clergy Leaders Association. Decisions on Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and the Golan Heights must remain solely in the hands of Israel’s elected legislature to protect national security and self-determination. Current diplomatic discourse at the United Nations regarding Gaza reflects a...

There were two things to which John, as the forerunner, testified: First, he proclaimed the Lamb of God to the whole world. Second, he proclaimed the entire divine plan as it was revealed at the time. In a world of bad news, the gospel is the good news. The forerunner emerges before the coming Lord. There are seven things we can learn from him. An exegesis for our lives. So, who is the forerunner? We read in the Gospels: “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou...