The Washington Times AI News Desk

Mets fans blame ‘Curse of the Mambino’ after Mamdani’s mascot hug precedes 12-game skid

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited Citi Field on April 9, posed for photos with Mr. and Mrs. Met -- and the New York Mets have not won since.

April 22, 2026

Obama production company Higher Ground to go independent amid leadership shake-up

Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground will transition to an independent operation when its current Netflix deal expires later this year -- a move that comes after a string of senior executive departures that has reshaped the company's leadership heading into its next chapter.

April 21, 2026

Ukrainian prankster hacks Russian drone meeting, exposes China reliance

A Ukrainian prankster infiltrated a closed-door Russian government meeting on drone production, exposing Moscow's near-total dependence on Chinese components for its military drone program.

April 21, 2026

Fresno man pleads guilty to wire fraud schemes totaling $45 million in investor losses

A Fresno man pleaded guilty to a pair of wire fraud conspiracies that together cost investors roughly $45 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

April 21, 2026

11 scientists are dead or missing — and the details have the FBI, Pentagon and White House alarmed

Eleven U.S. scientists tied to nuclear and space research have died or disappeared over three years. The FBI, Pentagon and Department of Energy are now investigating -- and no connection has been established yet.

April 21, 2026

Who is John Ternus, and why is Apple betting its future on him?

Apple announced Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer on Sept. 1, handing the reins to John Ternus -- a 25-year company veteran who has quietly shaped nearly every device Apple sells.

April 21, 2026

ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ dominates evening news with 8.4M viewers as CBS, NBC falter

ABC's "World News Tonight with David Muir" remained the nation's most-watched evening newscast during the week of April 6, pulling 8.417 million total viewers and extending its lead over rivals NBC and CBS to the widest margin in more than three decades.

April 21, 2026

Florida ransomware negotiator pleads guilty to betraying clients to hackers, DOJ says

A Florida man who formerly worked as a ransomware negotiator has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit ransomware attacks against U.S. companies, the Justice Department announced.

April 21, 2026

That Ticketmaster countdown clock was lying to you, and now Live Nation owes $9.9 million

Live Nation, the concert giant that owns Ticketmaster, will pay $9.9 million to the District of Columbia to settle allegations that it misled customers about ticket prices, charged hidden fees, and used illegal pressure tactics for at least a decade, the District's attorney general announced.

April 21, 2026

5 questions about the deaths of U.S. and Mexican officials in Chihuahua

Four officials -- two local government investigators and two U.S. Embassy instructors -- died in an accident on Sunday while returning from an operation to destroy clandestine laboratories belonging to criminal groups in a rural area of Chihuahua, a northern Mexican state.

April 21, 2026

NASA ships Artemis III rocket stage to Kennedy Space Center

NASA has begun shipping the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket intended for the Artemis III mission from its manufacturing facility in New Orleans to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant milestone in the agency's effort to return humans to the Moon, the agency said in a press release.

April 21, 2026

‘Michael’ review roundup: Critics split on Jackson biopic ahead of Friday opening

The long-gestating Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" opens in theaters Friday to a sharply divided critical reception, with reviewers largely praising star Jaafar Jackson's uncanny performance while faulting the film for sidestepping the more controversial chapters of the pop icon's life.

April 21, 2026

Hardee’s franchisee ARC Burger files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid $29M in debt

A Hardee's burger chain franchisee that once operated dozens of locations across nine states has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation, adding another casualty to a fast-food industry battered by closures and financial distress.

April 21, 2026

Whoopi Goldberg claims Trump ‘planning’ military draft amid Iran war

"The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg claimed Monday that the Trump administration is preparing to institute a military draft in connection with its ongoing military operation in Iran -- remarks that drew pushback even from a fellow panelist on the program.

April 21, 2026

Miss Universe Puerto Rico names second transgender contestant

Miss Universe Puerto Rico has announced that Gabriel Rodriguez Velazquez will compete in its 2026 national pageant, becoming the second openly transgender woman to enter the competition.

April 21, 2026

Alex Jones vows to fight on as satirists seek control of Infowars

Alex Jones isn't going down without a fight, and he's making sure his audience knows it.

April 21, 2026

Gut bacteria may flag Parkinson’s disease risk years before symptoms appear

The bacteria living in your gut may hold clues about your risk of developing Parkinson's disease long before any tremors or movement problems begin, according to a new study that researchers say could eventually lead to earlier screening and new prevention strategies.

April 20, 2026

Who is John Ternus, Apple’s next CEO?

When Apple announced Monday that John Ternus would succeed Tim Cook as chief executive officer on Sept. 1, the move confirmed what many industry observers had increasingly expected.

April 20, 2026

Alex Jones could see Infowars licensed to The Onion under new court deal

The parent company of The Onion filed a request Monday in a Travis County District Court to license the Infowars website for $81,000 per month, according to reports. The move is the latest in the satirical outlet's long-running effort to gain control of the platform founded by Alex Jones.

April 20, 2026

Study: Older Americans, service members wait longer on financial complaints

Service members and older adults are less likely to get timely company responses to financial complaints, even as overall response rates have improved.

April 20, 2026