Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley appeared before US lawmakers for a closed-door interview regarding his past ties to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This follows a UK regulatory investigation that led to Staley's resignation and a ban from the UK financial sector.
The US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to prohibit the Pentagon from using Chinese-made humanoid robots due to national security and data privacy concerns, while commercial sales remain unaffected.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rebuffed a threat from eight US lawmakers to suspend military training funds unless Kuala Lumpur reverses its long-standing restrictions on Israeli nationals, asserting Malaysia's sovereign right.
US lawmakers are exploring tariffs, port fees, and sanctions against China's shipbuilding industry to rebuild America's commercial fleet. Citing economic and national security concerns, members of Congress acknowledge that penalties alone may not suffice to restore US capacity.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended the country's long-standing policy prohibiting Israeli citizens from entering, citing their complicity in the oppression of Palestine and Gaza. This comes after US lawmakers urged Washington to review security and economic ties with Malaysia.
The US and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce a deal allowing the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear program, potentially worth billions to US companies. The agreement, which may permit Saudi uranium enrichment, raises concerns among Israeli officials and non-proliferation campaigners about potential nuclear weapon development.
US lawmakers John Moolenaar and Christopher Smith have requested the Justice Department and FBI investigate vandalism at the June 4th Memorial Museum in El Monte, California. The museum reported that unknown individuals broke in on May 31, spray-painted exhibits, and damaged property, causing serious damage.
US lawmakers are investigating the increasing use of Chinese AI models by American firms, citing concerns over national security, censorship, and intellectual property theft. While Chinese models offer cost advantages, they are seen as advancing Beijing's agenda. Potential curbs include procurement bans, though open-source models pose challenges.
US Senator Tom Cotton and allies are pushing legislation to permanently embed US-Israel security cooperation within the Pentagon, bypassing traditional foreign aid processes. This effort comes as US public opinion shifts against unconditional aid to Israel, aiming to make future policy changes more difficult despite evolving strategic interests and constitutional implications.
A US congressional hearing urged faster innovation to counter China's tech growth, with lawmakers criticizing Trump administration policies and highlighting concerns over R&D spending and scientist emigration. Calls were made for legislation supporting AI, robotics, quantum computing, and semiconductors.
Apple is reportedly lobbying the Trump administration to allow it to purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese company blacklisted by the Pentagon. This move comes amid a severe memory chip shortage and soaring prices, which have already led Apple to increase prices for its MacBooks and iPads.
US Senators Tim Kaine and Dan Sullivan have reintroduced a bill to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act, which expired in 2022. The bill aims to promote rights and freedom in North Korea, reauthorize aid programs until 2030, and sanction officials involved in repatriating defectors.
US lawmakers and pro-Israel groups are calling on President Trump to submit a recent memorandum of understanding with Iran to Congress for review, citing the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) as precedent. The act requires congressional review of agreements related to Iran's nuclear program.
Two US lawmakers, Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senator Rubén Gallego, are backing a non-binding resolution opposing any executive clemency for Sam Bankman-Fried. The resolution states that a pardon would weaken deterrence and send a damaging message regarding financial fraud.
Sama Safi, a 20-year-old Palestinian American psychology student, has been held in Israeli military detention for nearly two weeks without charge. US lawmakers are calling for her release, citing her chronic medical condition and potential targeting based on alleged affiliation with a student organization. Her family and lawyer express concern over her treatment and the broader issue of administrative detention.
US lawmakers and witnesses warned at a congressional hearing that the US must lead the next phase of responsible AI innovation, not China. Concerns were raised about national security and China's rapid advancements in AI, with calls to maintain American technological superiority.
US Democratic lawmakers met with Puerto Rican mayors to address concerns about slow recovery from hurricanes and earthquakes. They pledged to push for faster reimbursements and project approvals, citing issues with federal funding disbursement and FEMA staffing.
US lawmakers introduce legislation to create a DOJ-led task force coordinating federal, state, and local investigations into cryptocurrency theft, scams, and digital asset crimes, amid over $11 billion in reported crypto-related losses in 2025.
Taiwanese official Cheng met with US lawmakers, stressing the KMT's commitment to military cooperation but also the need for financially sound defense acquisitions. Cheng's visit includes stops in San Francisco, Boston, and New York, with Washington being the main destination.
South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission fined Coupang 624.68 billion won for violating safety obligations and illegally collecting personal data, leading to a leak affecting 37.5 million users.
The Manhattan Institute, a right-wing think tank, is pushing "civil terrorism" legislation to increase penalties for minor crimes during protests. This follows its role in dismantling DEI initiatives. Other articles discuss AI regulation under Trump, election integrity concerns, ballot seizures, labor department civil rights enforcement, the Office of Remigration, police license plate tracking, 2028 presidential ticket scrambles, Republican funding issues, and a Meta employee's detention.
Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee, addressing his past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. Gates stated he "never victimised anyone" and called his meetings with Epstein a "grave error in judgment."
US lawmakers Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens are introducing the "Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act" to ban Chinese-badged vehicles from entering the US, citing national security and economic concerns. The bill aims to prevent data collection and surveillance by Chinese technology in vehicles.
The US House Ways and Means Committee has released seven draft bills to clarify and simplify digital asset taxation, including reduced paperwork for crypto holders, clarity on mining/staking, and a potential 'de minimis' exception for small transactions, ahead of a Tuesday hearing.
