Evasion

President Trump's nominee to lead the FDA faced a Senate confirmation hearing where, according to Senator Patty Murray, the candidate refused to answer basic questions about established science. Murray shared footage of the exchange, drawing wide attention to concerns about whether the nominee will uphold scientific consensus on matters like vaccine safety and drug approvals. Critics see the evasiveness as a red flag for the agency's future leadership.

Environmental groups accuse US datacenter developers of manipulating regulatory processes to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, according to reporting by Tom Perkins in the Guardian. The allegations add to growing concern over the environmental impact of rapidly expanding datacenter construction across the United States, as critics say firms are exploiting loopholes in key pollution rules to fast-track build-outs without adequate oversight.

A leasing director at Karkaunsl has reportedly received a jail sentence after 866 imported cars were undervalued, avoiding nearly S$10 million in Additional Registration Fees. Singapore authorities treat car tax evasion seriously given high vehicle taxes, and the case has drawn attention for its scale. Further details on the court ruling and the director's identity remain limited.

Reports say Russian men are fleeing the country in large numbers to avoid conscription, as the confirmed death toll among Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine reaches 250,000. The figures highlight the mounting human cost of the conflict and the pressure on Russia to keep finding new recruits. The scale of the losses and the exodus is drawing international attention and debate over the war's trajectory.

A US Senate report alleges Iran is using Tether's stablecoin to move money and circumvent international sanctions. The claim puts fresh scrutiny on the world's largest stablecoin issuer and its role in cross-border finance, reviving debate over how crypto is used by sanctioned states and whether issuers can effectively freeze or block such flows.

A US Senate investigation has found that Iran's government has made extensive use of Tether's USDT stablecoin, according to a Wall Street Journal risk report. The findings are expected to intensify scrutiny of Tether's role in sanctions evasion and could add pressure on US lawmakers considering stricter regulation of dollar-pegged stablecoins.

A US Senate report alleges that Tether, the stablecoin issuer, has been used by Iran to dodge American sanctions, and that the company is tied to Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary and former Wall Street executive with longstanding connections to the firm. The findings have prompted criticism and accusations of corruption involving senior figures in the Trump administration.

An investigation claims the United Arab Emirates is relying on Aviacon Zitotrans, a Russian cargo airline linked to Moscow's war effort, to carry out missions in Africa. The company has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada and Ukraine for supporting Russia's invasion. The report raises questions about Gulf-Russian cooperation and sanctions enforcement.

Donald Trump was pressed on who should be held accountable when AI agents cause harm, but he did not answer the question, instead shifting the discussion to renaming so-called 'SI', a reference to artificial intelligence. Critics argue the evasion matters as AI systems take on more autonomous roles, and accountability rules remain undefined in the United States. The exchange was captured in press coverage of his remarks.