Stories from Washington · United States

The United States generates the highest volume of plastic waste globally. Approximately 70 percent of this waste currently ends up in landfills. This trend contributes to landfill accumulation across the country.

New allegations of workplace bullying have emerged at the Taiwan Representative Office in the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has encouraged the use of formal channels for complaints rather than anonymous online reports. The Kuomintang party criticized the office's handling of repeated incidents as incompetent. Officials stated that the claims are currently under verification. The specific identities of the accusers and the nature of the alleged bullying remain unconfirmed. KMT lawmaker Ma Wen-chun criticized the office's handling of the situation, describing the repeated issues as a sign of incompetence. New allegations include staff using the representative for private visa assistance and theft of office supplies like toilet paper. Reports also mention issues regarding the renovation of office facilities and the theft of office supplies.

Donald Trump admitted in a CBS News 60 Minutes interview that he delayed the Secret Service's action during his removal from a room. He stated he wanted to understand the situation before reacting.

Prosecutor St Van Dyke faces charges of wire fraud and theft of non-public government information. He reportedly earned over $400,000 from bets placed on the Polymarket platform. Van Dyke withdrew his winnings from the account on the day of a government operation. He was involved in the planning and execution of an operation to oust Maduro. Polymarket stated it has referred the matter to the DOJ and is cooperating with investigations. Savvandike reportedly withdrew winnings from his Polymarket account on the day of the operation.

The EPA, FBI, CISA, and NSA issued a joint cybersecurity advisory regarding Iranian-affiliated cyber attacks targeting water systems. The advisory warns of escalating threats to critical infrastructure.

Real estate purchases in the United States can now be partially paid using cryptocurrency.

The British King is scheduled to visit the United States for a state visit. A state banquet will be held at the White House. The visit will culminate in a speech delivered by the King before both chambers of the US Congress.

The US administration intends to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the upcoming G20 summit. He expressed hope for an early end to the war in Ukraine. He did not disclose the specific details or frequency of the communications.

An individual authored a manifesto identifying administration officials as specific targets. The individual was reportedly a member of a group called the Wide Awakes and had attended a 'No Kings' protest in California. Security officials are investigating the suspect's motives following the incident. Law enforcement recovered one shotgun, one handgun, and multiple knives from the suspect. One Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire but avoided serious injury due to a bulletproof vest. The Secret Service confirmed the suspect was stopped at first contact and underestimated the agency's layered security posture. The suspect reportedly possessed social media accounts containing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric. Donald Trump addressed the recent security incident involving political violence, noting the presence of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

Threats against members of the US Congress reached a record 14,938 cases in 2025. This represents a increase from the 9,474 threats recorded in the previous year. The surge in threats has impacted members from both major political parties.