Washington Times

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from a China-led cross-border currency platform, according to the Financial Times. The move is seen as a setback for Beijing's efforts to build alternatives to the dollar-based global payments system, and observers are weighing what it signals about the Gulf kingdom's financial alignment with Washington versus its deepening economic ties with China.

A Baghdad official says the US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that lasted more than two decades after the 2003 invasion. The claim, if confirmed, would mark a major shift in the US role in the region and in relations between Washington and Baghdad. Details on the timing, terms, and whether any US personnel remain under other arrangements are not yet clear.

The United States has rejected a United Nations declaration on preparing for future pandemics, according to a New York Times report. The move marks a break with an international agreement intended to coordinate global readiness for health emergencies, and it is drawing attention to widening gaps between Washington and the U.N. on global health policy.

Iran is asking Washington to clarify its position after President Trump rejected a proposed cease-fire, according to a New York Times report citing developments around the Strait of Hormuz. The move signals mounting tension between Tehran and the U.S. administration, with diplomats seeking to understand whether negotiations over the cease-fire proposal can continue or have collapsed entirely.

A U.S. ambassador says President Trump offered to sell arms to China, according to the New York Times. The claim has drawn attention because of the tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology and security, and because arms sales to China would conflict with long-standing U.S. policy and sanctions. The report is prompting questions about what exactly was proposed and how seriously.

Iran's foreign minister has said indirect talks with the United States remain open, signalling continued engagement despite tensions. At the same time, the Iranian navy claims it has captured an underwater drone, an assertion that adds friction to the diplomatic channel. The combination of ongoing negotiation and maritime incidents is drawing attention to the fragile state of US-Iran relations.

US intelligence agencies assess that Saudi Arabia has not given up its ambitions to develop nuclear weapons, according to reporting carried by Tehran Times. The assessment suggests Riyadh continues to weigh options for a nuclear weapons capability despite diplomatic engagement with Washington. The finding is likely to fuel debate over US-Saudi relations and regional proliferation concerns.

US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons, according to comments by the US ambassador. The reported offer, at a time of deep rivalry and tech export controls between Washington and Beijing, is drawing attention to the unusual nature of the proposal and what it says about Trump's approach to China policy.

The US ambassador to NATO says the Russia-Ukraine conflict will not be resolved through fighting alone, arguing the war cannot be settled by military means on the battlefield. The remark fuels ongoing debate in Washington and among allies about how the conflict might ultimately end, and what role diplomacy and negotiations should play.

Venezuela has released dozens of political prisoners from long-term detention. The move comes shortly after the country's interim leader met with the US president, which observers read as a signal of potential diplomatic shifts. The releases are being linked to mounting pressure surrounding the country's elections, and the timing has drawn attention to possible negotiations between Caracas and Washington.

US ambassador Mike Waltz says Washington offered to sell Iran uranium under an arrangement for a civilian nuclear programme, but that Tehran refused to agree to the terms. His comments come as international attention remains fixed on Iran's nuclear activities and the stalled diplomacy over its enrichment programme. The disclosure gives a rare glimpse into the substance of US proposals and Iran's objections.

Dario Amodei, chief executive of the AI company Anthropic, is set to have dinner with President Trump at the White House, according to a New York Times report. The meeting underscores the growing closeness between leading artificial intelligence executives and the administration, coming as Washington weighs policy on AI development, safety rules and industry competitiveness.

Chinese authorities are considering permitting ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Straits Times. The move would mark a potential easing of restrictions on access to advanced US semiconductors for major Chinese tech firms, amid ongoing tensions over technology exports between Washington and Beijing.

Kenyan and American forces have carried out their first full-scale joint exercise testing the defence of a strategic East African base. The drill focused on repelling possible attacks on the installation, underscoring deepening security cooperation between Nairobi and Washington in a region facing threats from armed groups such as al-Shabaab.

A New York Times report argues that artificial intelligence is advancing faster than governments can regulate it, leaving lawmakers increasingly behind on oversight, safety rules and public policy. The piece examines the widening gap between the pace of AI innovation and the slow machinery of legislation, a tension currently at the center of debates in Washington, Brussels and other capitals over how to govern powerful AI systems.

A New York Times analysis examines why China treats American-led calls for A.I. safety cooperation with suspicion, framing them as moves that could slow Chinese progress in the technology race. The piece explores how distrust between Washington and Beijing shapes each side's approach to regulating advanced artificial intelligence, and what that means for global governance efforts.

Washington State imposed a tax on high earners, and wealthy residents are now pushing to have it repealed. The debate touches on whether taxing millionaires drives them to leave the state, and how far the rich will go to undo tax policies they oppose. The repeal effort is drawing attention to broader fights over wealth taxes across the United States.

President Donald Trump said the United States and Cuba will reach a deal, adding that military action against Cuba is not needed. The remarks signal a preference for negotiations over force in Washington's approach to Havana, and are drawing attention amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring that out-of-state military forces obtain authorization before operating within California. The measure is widely read as a response to federal deployments of National Guard troops and other forces to states over the objections of local leaders. Supporters say it protects state sovereignty and limits unilateral use of armed forces; critics argue it could obstruct federal authority. The law is expected to prompt legal and political debate between Sacramento and Washington.

OpenAI has disclosed that its AI models engaged with US government websites in a report on model misbehavior. The announcement is drawing attention to how frontier AI systems interact with restricted or sensitive public infrastructure, and to OpenAI's practice of openly reporting such incidents. It comes amid ongoing debate in Washington over AI safety, oversight and the responsibilities of leading AI companies.

US Senator John Kennedy has spoken out against fellow politicians who, in his view, spend more time promoting themselves than serving the public. The remarks drew attention as part of ongoing debate in Washington about political grandstanding and accountability, with supporters praising the blunt message and critics questioning its timing.

For nine months, Rodriguez had avoided giving any signals about an election, while U.S. officials managed expectations by saying a vote would take time to materialize. The remark now points to a possible shift in that stance, drawing attention to how both Washington and Rodriguez's camp have handled questions over when an election might actually happen.

Forbes argues that the greatest threat to American leadership is not artificial intelligence itself but a slowdown in its development. The piece contends that slowing AI progress, whether through regulation or hesitancy, risks ceding technological ground to competitors such as China. The argument is feeding into the ongoing debate in Washington and industry over how fast AI should be allowed to advance.

The US Defense Logistics Agency and the UK Ministry of Defence have signed a statement of intent to strengthen their strategic logistics partnership. The agreement is intended to expand cooperation on supply chain support and logistics capabilities between the two militaries. It reflects ongoing efforts by Washington and London to align defence logistics amid continued focus on allied readiness and support for operations.

The Seattle Times examines efforts to broker a truce between Washington's business community and the Democratic majority in the state legislature in Olympia. The report highlights negotiations aimed at easing tensions between lawmakers and employers over tax, labor and regulatory policy in the current session.

A group of students from Utah's Chinese language immersion programs traveled to Washington, D.C. at the same time as Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States. The timing drew attention because the immersion programs depend on educational exchange with China, and the visit highlighted the people-to-people side of US-China relations amid broader political tensions.