If you want to know where the next nuclear reactor is being built, you may have to look up at the stars. Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy is moving forward with a plan to construct nuclear reactors on the moon in the hopes of expanding American influence in outer space. But this may be easier said than done, as NASA is facing significant budget cuts courtesy of the Trump administration.

What did the commentators say?
The White House claims that the nuclear reactor project "could help accelerate U.S. efforts to reach the moon and Mars — a goal that China is also pursuing," plus the "plans align with the Trump administration's focus on crewed spaceflight," said Politico. It is "about winning the second space race," a NASA official told the outlet.

Nuclear technology on the moon would "transform the ability of humanity to travel and live in the solar system," said The New York Times. A single lunar day lasts the equivalent of four weeks on Earth, cycling between two weeks of sunshine and two weeks of darkness. This "harsh cycle makes it difficult for a spacecraft or a moon base to survive with just solar panels and batteries," making nuclear power an attractive option. 

Putting a "reactor on the lunar surface to help power moon exploration efforts would keep the United States ahead of China and Russia," said CNN. If either of these countries managed to "achieve this feat first, it could declare a 'keep-out zone'" that "would effectively hold the U.S. back from its goal of establishing a presence on the lunar surface."

What next?
NASA wants a 100-kilowatt reactor on the moon by 2030, said Duffy. However, questions remain about its viability, especially given recent actions by the Trump administration. While the White House has "proposed a budget that would increase human spaceflight funds," at the same time it "advocates for major slashes to other programs — including a nearly 50% cut for science missions," said Politico. 

This mission is "on-brand for America," said astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to "CBS Mornings." What is "not on-brand" is for the U.S. "to say, 'Let's cherry-pick where we want to show the world where we're the best.' You can't really do that." 

Israel's hardline national security minister has sparked outrage across the Muslim world by flouting a decades-old arrangement aimed at keeping religious tensions over Jerusalem's Temple Mount in check. On Sunday, Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound (pictured above) that sits atop the Temple Mount, or Haram al-Sharif, as it is known to Muslims. A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Ben-Gvir's action had "crossed all red lines."

What's the history? 
"The history of the Temple Mount is one of perpetual friction," said Simon Kupfer at The Times of Israel. It was the site of King Solomon's temple and remains the holiest site in Judaism. In the seventh century, the Islamic Caliph Abd al Malik conquered Jerusalem and built the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque there. The site then became the third-holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. 

Jerusalem changed hands repeatedly over the next 1000 years. Then, in 1967, after Israel "stormed east Jerusalem," the Israeli government handed "day-to-day control of the temple" to a Jordanian-controlled Islamic trust called the Waqf, and "thus began the status quo that remains in place today." 

What are the rules about prayer? 
Under a "delicate, decades-old arrangement" with Muslim authorities, "Jews can visit but may not pray there," said Sky News. "Suggestions that Israel could alter the rules at the compound have sparked outrage in the Muslim world before, and ignited violence in the past." Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have condemned Ben-Gvir's prayer visit, with Jordan describing it as a "blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, an unacceptable provocation."

What will it all mean? 
The timing of Ben-Gvir's action "must be understood in a broader political context," said Amos Harel at Haaretz. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing growing public pressure to end the war in Gaza, his national security minister clearly sought to pour "gas on the fire."

"There is, unfortunately, no clear solution" to the religious tensions around the site, said Kupfer at The Times of Israel. The history of the Mount is "soaked in blood." It's not a question of whether it "will spark another flame that ignites another conflict, but rather, when."

Fireworks light up the skies over Chengdu during the opening ceremony of the World Games. The Chinese city is hosting the 12th edition of the international sporting competition, in which more than 4,000 athletes from 114 countries and regions will compete.
Yang Qitian / VCG / Getty Images

Some countries, like Greece and Indonesia, are known for their islands, but for every Santorini and Bali, there is a lesser-known haven like Kastellorizo or Lombok. These quieter islands are as stunning as their famous kin — but without the crowds. Here are some of the finest.

Kastellorizo, Greece
Kastellorizo sits one mile from the Turkish coast, "where Europe ends and Asia begins," said Condé Nast Traveler. Because of this, the island "packs in a heady cocktail of cultures," with travelers able to visit ancient churches, tombs, monasteries and the Kastellorizo Historical Collection, housed in a mosque. There is plenty of natural beauty, including the Blue Grotto sea cave where you float "inside a dome of liquified blue light."

Lombok, Indonesia
Tranquil Lombok "feels like what Bali was three decades ago," said The Observer. Visitors can settle in on their "own stretch of beach" and enjoy a day of looking at Lombok's "untouched beauty." Serious hikers should plan on climbing to the top of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. While the trek is "not for the faint of heart," you will be rewarded with "beautiful panoramas."

Lummi Island, United States
Washington's Lummi Island is a "bucolic" slice of the Puget Sound, where creatives and nature lovers live in harmony, said Afar. Artists "find inspiration in the serenity," offering workshops and putting their wares on display during open studio tours held three times a year. Those who prefer being outside can hop in a kayak and forage for kelp or take a hike through the island's nature preserves.