Stories from Washington · United States

Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, 87, described the situation with Iran as a catastrophic miscalculation. He cited government lies and an untrustworthy enemy in his assessment.

Five people were injured in an attack in the United States. The injured were transported to local hospitals. The circumstances of the attack are under investigation.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may begin accepting cryptocurrency in the mortgage market. This potential shift was signaled by new product announcements. Russia also seized $1 billion in cryptocurrency from Iran. This potential move could significantly integrate digital assets into the traditional housing market. The potential implications for mortgage lending are.

Google has agreed to pay $920 million in a settlement related to its AI models. The settlement addresses concerns about the use and development of these models. The settlement addresses allegations related to the use of copyrighted material in training the AI.

A U.S. senator has proposed designating the Canada Jay as the national bird.

President Donald Trump is expected to scrap security assistance for Ukraine in next year's US defense budget. This move provides a strategic opening for the Gulf states, which need to cooperate with Ukraine. Former President Trump is reportedly expected to significantly cut security aid to Ukraine if elected. The potential reduction in aid could impact Ukraine's defense capabilities. This potential reduction in aid has been a recurring topic of discussion regarding US foreign policy. The European Union is resuming discussions on financial support for Ukraine following Hungary's veto. The aid package is intended for reconstruction efforts. Officials are examining ways to ensure continued European aid. The talks are aimed at finalizing aid packages.

The Washington Post reported that 14 of 27 known donors to the 45th and 47th administrations' ballroom received new or expanded federal contracts. These contracts total over $50 billion since the donations were made. The contracts span various sectors and agencies. New reports indicate that billions of dollars in government contracts were awarded to donors associated with the Trump administration. This follows a pattern of awarding contracts to political allies.

President Trump stated that he fulfilled his duty by preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This claim comes amid ongoing international discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program. The administration has consistently opposed Iran's nuclear ambitions. The US President's administration has confirmed that diplomatic efforts have successfully prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. President Donald Trump has taken action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The administration stated this is a critical step for regional security.

Kura Sushi, which operates in 22 states and the District of Columbia, received an investment between $2 million and $5 million from Trump on February 2. The investment was detailed in a financial disclosure report. The amount and terms of the investment were not disclosed.

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating companies for selling sensitive consumer location data. The FTC found that some companies were using this data to target advertisements and prices. This practice is being explored as a potential privacy violation. The FTC has not yet named specific companies involved. The FTC has previously taken action against data brokers. The FTC aims to ensure data protection. The probe focuses on potential privacy violations and the lack of transparency in data collection practices. This action signals increased regulatory scrutiny on data brokers. The investigation aims to address privacy concerns related to data collection and usage. The investigation aims to understand how this data is collected and used. The FTC is examining whether these companies are adequately protecting user privacy. Several companies have agreed to settlements.