Washington desk

Filed from the Washington desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Entertainment · 2 days ago

Godzilla Minus Zero’s Hollywood Ovation Turns Tokyo Festival Into Monster‑Mania

Candy Voss, Washington desk

At the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, two sold‑out screenings of Takashi Yamazaki’s sequel ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ earned a Hollywood‑style standing ovation, with costumed fans clutching plastic mons…

Entertainment · 2 days ago

Taika Waititi Calls Critics ‘Sad Lost Souls’ While Defending ‘Klara and the Sun’

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Taika Waititi posted the poster for his dystopian film ‘Klara and the Sun’ on Instagram, highlighting its 78% Rotten Tomatoes audience rating and declaring he hasn’t read a review in fifteen years. He dismissed cri…

Business · 2 days ago

Soft‑Baked Tractor Wheels Recalled After Toddler Choking Reports

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The FDA warned that Once Upon a Farm’s Tractor Wheels soft‑baked bars can cause choking in toddlers, leading the company to recall the product from stores across the United States.

Business · 2 days ago

US Turns Into Global Thoroughbred Hub, Horses From Abroad Bunch Up In Marquee Races

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The United States has become the unexpected epicenter for international thoroughbred racing, as more overseas horses line up in marquee events like the Kentucky Derby, turning the sport into a bustling global marketplace…

Business · 3 days ago

Data Center Plans Turn Monongahela National Forest Into a Neon Nightlife Hub

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A massive data center project slated for thousands of acres near West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest has sparked a grassroots backlash, as residents fear the loss of pristine dark skies and scenic wilderness.

Finance · 3 days ago

ECB posts ‘robust’ job ad, hunting for chief who can balance rates, rhetoric and runway walks

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The European Central Bank has issued a tongue‑in‑cheek recruitment notice for its next president, demanding political acumen, economic wizardry and a flair for the dramatic.

World · 3 days ago

9th Circuit Rejects Trump’s Attempt to Discard Over 20,000 California Mail‑In Ballots, Calling It Plainly Unconstitutional

June Harrow, Washington desk

A three‑judge panel of the 9th Circuit voted 2‑1 to reject Donald Trump’s request to set aside over 20,000 California mail‑in ballots, describing the move as plainly unconstitutional. The ballots remain in the…

Technology · 4 days ago

Binance Halts Withdrawals After $6.3 B Crypto Heist; North Korea Hackers Claim the Loot

Rita Knox, Washington desk

Binance froze all withdrawals after a record‑breaking $6.3 billion crypto theft that a research lab linked to a North Korean elite hacking unit. The exchange reassured users that their personal balances remain safe,…

Entertainment · 4 days ago

Byron Allen Sells Starz, Leaving Steven Mnuchin to Wonder About His Stockpile

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Byron Allen sold his entire 10 % stake in Starz—1.8 million shares—between Aug 9 and Sep 29 at $21‑$27 per share, cashing in after buying the stake from former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.