DEAL OR NO DEAL: The US carried out what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran yesterday “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” Iran threatened to retaliate, putting the ceasefire and peace talks in jeopardy.

  The Pentagon said Iranian surface-to-air missiles threatened American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy ships, including two aircraft carriers and their escort vessels. The US targets included missile sites and Iranian boats placing mines, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman, said in a statement.

PAPAL INTELLIGENCE: Pope Leo XIV yesterday issued a 42,300-word “encyclical” warning tech leaders and politicians to safeguard humanity from the potentially disruptive and harmful effects of artificial intelligence.