The Washington Times AI News Desk

NASA rover finds organic molecules on Mars, suggesting it could have harbored life in distant past

NASA's Curiosity rover has uncovered the most diverse collection of organic molecules ever found on Mars, scientists announced Tuesday, a discovery that adds to evidence that the Red Planet once had conditions capable of supporting life.

April 22, 2026

Georgia man convicted of physical, sexual abuse of 2 minors while serving as Army soldier in Germany

A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted a Georgia man Friday of sexually and physically abusing two minors while he was stationed in Germany as a U.S. Army soldier, the Justice Department announced.

April 22, 2026

Erie woman indicted for allegedly taking bribes to approve fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims

An Erie, Pennsylvania, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and theft of government property stemming from an alleged scheme to accept unauthorized payments from unemployment claimants during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.

April 22, 2026

Can states require Ten Commandments in public school classrooms? A court just said yes

Can states require the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms? A federal appeals court just said yes -- and in doing so, scrapped the legal framework that stopped such laws for 50 years.

April 22, 2026

‘Michael’ director questions Jackson abuse allegations ahead of biopic’s release

Antoine Fuqua, the director of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael," said he is skeptical of the child sexual abuse allegations against the late pop star, even as the film hits theaters amid largely negative reviews and renewed debate over Jackson's legacy.

April 22, 2026

Baby elephant makes Earth Day debut at National Zoo

A 2-month-old Asian elephant named Linh Mai made her public debut Wednesday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, marking the first elephant birth at the facility in nearly 25 years and drawing a crowd of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the endangered species' newest arrival on Earth Day.

April 22, 2026

Washington Commanders enter 2026 NFL draft with No. 7 pick, pressing needs at receiver, corner

The Washington Commanders head into the 2026 NFL draft -- which opens Thursday night in Pittsburgh -- holding six picks but only two in the first three rounds, a lean haul that puts a premium on hitting early selections.

April 22, 2026

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