Washington

Donald Trump has turned down a seven-day plan put forward by Iran, declining the timetable offered amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. The rejection keeps pressure on negotiations, and reactions online are debating what the refusal means for diplomacy and the risk of further escalation between Washington and Tehran.

The United States has refused to back a United Nations declaration on preparing for future pandemics, according to The New York Times. The decision sets Washington apart from other member states on global health cooperation and raises questions about the future of international pandemic readiness efforts.

The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys met in a Week 2 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, with the league publishing full game highlights. The NFC East rivalry game is drawing heavy attention from football fans, with more than two million people engaging with the highlights as fans discuss the key plays and results.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is pressing Washington to avoid another round of export restrictions on ASML's China business. The appeal comes as US lawmakers pursue legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The dispute puts the Netherlands between American security concerns and the interests of its most valuable technology company, and observers are watching whether the new US Congress moves ahead with the measures.

US semiconductor export restrictions were notably absent from the agenda when President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit. Analysts say both leaders prioritised broader trade and geopolitical issues, leaving the tough technology controls largely untouched. Commentators are debating whether the omission signals a softening of Washington's chip policy toward Beijing or merely a temporary deferral of a festering dispute.

Forecasters are tracking a powerful coastal storm expected to hit this weekend, raising questions about whether it will behave like a nor'easter or take on hurricane-like characteristics. The storm could bring strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain to the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region and along the East Coast. Local outlets are urging residents to monitor updates as the weekend approaches and conditions could change.

Chinese AI startup Moonshot is reportedly seeking access to additional Nvidia Blackwell chips, according to a report circulating this week. The news comes just a week after a Trump administration official flagged an export control breach involving Nvidia's advanced chips. The development highlights continuing tensions over US restrictions on selling cutting-edge semiconductors to Chinese companies, a dispute that has become a central flashpoint in the technology rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Osprey numbers are declining along the US East Coast, and scientists say they have identified a likely cause, according to The Washington Post. The report has drawn attention among birdwatchers, conservationists and coastal communities who have long tracked the fish-eating raptor, once recovering strongly from pesticide-era declines.

The Washington Post reports on a woman who helped lead a far-right internet movement and was then attacked and rejected by the same community she helped build. The piece examines how online extremist groups often turn against prominent figures within their own ranks, and what her experience reveals about the movement's internal dynamics.

New research points to the Earth's crust actively stretching and tearing beneath the Pacific Northwest, the region sitting atop the Cascadia subduction zone. The finding has drawn attention from science readers concerned about earthquake risk in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and what deep tectonic activity could mean for future seismic hazards.

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.

Chinese low-cost, open-source AI models now account for the majority of global developer traffic, according to reports drawing concern in Washington. Officials worry the widespread adoption of Chinese models gives Beijing influence over critical software infrastructure worldwide. Analysts note the models' affordability and open licensing have made them attractive to developers, especially in emerging markets, intensifying US-China competition over AI standards and supply chains.

Vogue World: Milano featured humanoid robots walking the runway alongside models, in a show blending fashion and technology. Washington Post columnist Shane O'Neill highlights that the robots were included because the event's creative director, Juan Costa Paz, chose to put them there, making the machines a deliberate artistic statement rather than a stunt.