Ohio lawmakers failed to pass Senate Bill 341, which would have ended child marriage by prohibiting 17-year-olds from marrying adults up to four years older. Despite bipartisan support and no public opposition, the bill stalled before the summer recess, outraging reform advocates.
Democratic senators and two House committees are demanding the National Science Foundation reverse its plan to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $386 million ocean monitoring network. Lawmakers accuse the agency of illegal action and wasting taxpayer money, citing a lack of consultation and potential threats to coastal safety and climate research.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are demanding the National Science Foundation reverse its plan to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $386 million ocean monitoring network. House committees accuse the agency of illegal action, while senators cite potential harm to coastal communities and scientific research.
Georgia lawmakers convene for a special session to address an election system flaw: a law banning QR code vote tabulation after July 1, 2026, with no replacement implemented. Conflicting guidance from the Secretary of State and State Election Board adds to the confusion, potentially leading to legal challenges.
Over 100 UK lawmakers have urged the government to cancel an Israeli real estate event in London, citing its promotion of land sales in illegal West Bank settlements. Organizers deny these claims, stating properties are within the Green Line, but event details mentioning settlements have been removed.
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 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 Democratic lawmakers met with Puerto Rican mayors to address concerns about slow recovery from hurricanes and earthquakes. They pledged to expedite reimbursements and project approvals, citing issues with FEMA staffing and past policy delays. Despite billions allocated, significant funds remain undisbursed due to ongoing challenges.
Right-wing US officials and investors claim China funds anti-data center protests, citing OpenAI's report on Chinese-origin accounts spreading anti-data center messages. Experts are skeptical, suggesting foreign interference amplifies existing US tensions over data centers and AI.
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 lawmakers emphasize the critical need for the US to maintain its lead in AI development over China, citing economic and military implications, during a congressional hearing on AI innovation and dominance.
The Philippine Senate's official website was defaced with a warning message from hacktivists, coinciding with a political crisis over leadership control within the chamber.
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.
DRC's political elite is pushing for constitutional amendments, potentially enabling a third presidential term, despite an ongoing Ebola epidemic and insecurity. Opposition leaders decry the move as a "constitutional coup" and have formed a coalition to resist.
President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting Director of National Intelligence. This move surprised lawmakers and complicated delicate negotiations for the renewal of FISA Section 702, a key surveillance tool, with many critics citing Pulte's lack of national security experience and perceived partisan agenda.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined Germany's reform agenda, focusing on health, pensions, defense, labor, energy, taxes, bureaucracy, and investment. He urged parliament to support the proposals aimed at boosting growth and adapting to global challenges.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will deliver a government statement to parliament on reforms and the upcoming EU summit. Talks with unions and employers on labor market, social security, and bureaucracy reforms were constructive but yielded no decisions. The EU summit will focus on Ukraine and the bloc's long-term budget.
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.
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.
Delaware and New Jersey are advancing legislation to ban cryptocurrency ATMs due to concerns over their use in scams. The FBI reported significant losses and increased complaints related to crypto ATMs in 2025. Other states have already enacted similar bans.
Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee, calling his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein a "grave error in judgment" and stating he "should never have met with Epstein in the first place." Gates denied witnessing any criminal conduct by Epstein and said their relationship, which began in 2011 and ended in 2014, was solely for philanthropic discussions.
Bill Gates testified before the House committee on oversight and reform, stating he had no indication of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal conduct and never visited his properties. Gates admitted to meeting Epstein in 2011 and 2012 for philanthropic discussions, but ended contact in 2014.
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 to Congress that he never had a personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, stating he cut ties when Epstein failed to deliver on fundraising. Gates admitted Epstein used his infidelities to pressure him, but denied witnessing or knowing about Epstein's criminal conduct.
