The Washington Times AI News Desk

Spain ranks third in global tourism earnings behind the U.K. and France

Spain achieved a new tourism milestone in 2025, welcoming 96.8 million foreign visitors and generating record revenue despite growing concerns about housing pressures from mass tourism.

February 4, 2026

Bill Gates denies allegations in Epstein docs, as ex-wife says he must answer questions

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has strongly denied allegations contained in recently released documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while his ex-wife Melinda French Gates said her former husband needs to address the claims himself.

February 3, 2026

From garages to war zones: Startups crash Pentagon’s drone party

The Pentagon on Tuesday named 25 defense manufacturers competing for its $1 billion Drone Dominance Initiative.

February 3, 2026

Waymo robotaxis prepare for global expansion with $16 billion in new funding

Robotaxi pioneer Waymo has raised $16 billion in new funding at a $126 billion valuation as it expands its self-driving car service globally while facing competition from Tesla and Amazon-backed rivals.

February 3, 2026

5 questions about ICE’s record deportation numbers

ICE is now deporting more than 1,450 people per day and booking in migrants at a rate exceeding 1,500 per day, both record-breaking paces according to agency data covering Jan. 8-25.

February 3, 2026

Super Bowl turns into partisan battleground over Bad Bunny and immigration enforcement

America's biggest sporting event has become the latest political battleground, with Republicans launching a counter-Super Bowl and liberals demanding immigration enforcement stay away from the stadium.

February 3, 2026

Palantir stock jumps after blowout earnings beat Wall Street estimates

Palantir Technologies shares jumped Tuesday after the defense and data analytics firm reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by accelerating demand from government customers and continued strength in its U.S. commercial business.

February 3, 2026

Cracker Barrel orders traveling employees to eat at company restaurants

Cracker Barrel has implemented a strict new travel policy requiring employees on business trips to dine at the chain's own restaurants for most or all of their meals, according to an internal memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

February 3, 2026

Panama court voids Chinese company’s control of critical canal ports in major win for Trump admin

Panama's Supreme Court has voided contracts allowing Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two critical port facilities at the Panama Canal, marking a significant victory for Trump administration efforts to secure the waterway against Chinese influence.

February 2, 2026

Deep-sea rare earth discovery could reshape Japan’s reliance on Chinese minerals

Japan has achieved a world-first milestone by successfully drilling and retrieving rare earth-containing sediment from nearly 6,000 meters below the sea surface near Minamitorishima island, marking a significant step toward reducing its dependence on China for critical minerals.

February 2, 2026

No relief in sight: Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter misery

Punxsutawney Phil delivered his trademark prediction Monday, forecasting six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania.

February 2, 2026

Biden White House adviser says Melania Trump got more done in one year than Jill Biden did in four

An adviser to the Biden White House tells Seen, Heard & Whispered that first lady Melania Trump has done more in her first year than Jill Biden did in four full years.

February 1, 2026

Spain’s immigration reform offers hope to asylum seekers and workers without papers

Spain announced it will grant residency and work permits to immigrants who arrived before Dec. 31, 2025, have lived in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record, offering legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers who have been filling essential jobs in the Spanish economy.

January 31, 2026

5 questions about Minnesota’s challenge to federal immigration enforcement

Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, denied Minnesota's emergency request to halt the surge of federal immigration enforcement officers in the state.

January 31, 2026

Full ‘Snow Moon’ to reach peak illumination Sunday night. Here’s when to see it

Residents across the Washington region will have a chance to see February's full moon this weekend, as the so-called Snow Moon reaches peak illumination Sunday evening.

January 31, 2026

Where bots go to socialize: Inside Moltbook, the AI-only social network

Moltbook is an experimental platform where AI agents interact autonomously. Research shows such systems can develop shared behaviors without human direction.

January 30, 2026

Hollywood reacts to Catherine O’Hara’s death: How celebrities are mourning the comedy icon

Catherine O'Hara's death at her Los Angeles home prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and fans who recognized her as one of the most brilliant comedic talents of her generation.

January 30, 2026

GOP lawmaker holds House floor hostage to force Senate vote on voter ID

A Florida Republican is threatening to bring House business to a halt unless the Senate passes sweeping election integrity legislation that would require voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

January 30, 2026

Don Lemon arrest fallout: 5 constitutional questions that could rewrite press freedom

With the federal arrest of Don Lemon in Los Angeles, a complex legal battle begins that pits the sanctity of worship against the freedom of the press. We break down the 5 essential questions that could alter the future of reporting in America.

January 30, 2026

5 questions about Trump’s Federal Reserve chairman nominee

President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh, 55, to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Friday.

January 30, 2026