Author: Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 20 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. She earned her degree in Political Science and Journalism from Stanford University. Throughout her career, she has contributed to outlets such as MSNBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Known for her thorough reporting and compelling storytelling, Rachel delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and global developments.
Refusing to Testify Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday. Speaking via video call from her federal prison in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment rights. Lawmakers are investigating individuals connected to Epstein who may have helped facilitate his abuse, which targeted girls as young as 11. Clemency Conditional on Testimony Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, told lawmakers that she would be willing to testify if granted a pardon by former President Donald Trump. Markus claimed…
Melting Ice Opens New Shipping Lanes As global temperatures rise, Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than ever, opening waterways that were once frozen year-round. This new accessibility has triggered a surge in ship traffic, from cargo vessels to fishing boats and even cruise liners. But the increase comes at a steep environmental cost: black carbon, or soot, emitted by ships, lands on ice and snow, reducing reflectivity and accelerating melting. “It ends up in a never-ending cycle of increased warming,” says Sian Prior, lead adviser for the Clean Arctic Alliance. The melting ice not only worsens local warming but…
Voters Deliver a Powerful Mandate Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was heading for an overwhelming victory in Sunday’s snap election, riding a wave of early popularity and becoming the strongest leader the ruling party has seen in years. Media projections suggest her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies secured a two-thirds majority in the lower house — the party’s best showing since 2017 under former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Early estimates put the LDP on track to win around 300 of the 465 seats in parliament, a dramatic jump from its previous tally. The result means the party may…
Gigafactory Projects Put to Bed Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a key player in Europe’s electric vehicle battery push, has abandoned plans to build large-scale battery factories in Italy and Germany. The decision was confirmed by Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM, which said ACC management had formally dropped the proposed gigafactory in Termoli as well as a similar project in Germany. Both sites had been frozen since 2024, but the latest confirmation makes clear they will not be revived. Slower EV Demand Changes the Picture ACC, which is backed by carmaking heavyweight Stellantis, pointed to weaker-than-expected growth in electric vehicle sales as…
Lawmakers warn against carve-outs for American energy firms From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification standards tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of US lawmakers is now urging Brussels to stick firmly to those rules and resist calls to exempt American energy producers if US standards fall short on accuracy or enforcement. In a letter obtained by Euronews and signed by 24 members of Congress, the lawmakers describe the EU’s methane regulation as a vital tool to curb the wasteful venting and…
Alphabet Slide Drags Wall Street Lower US markets moved sharply lower on Thursday after Alphabet shares sank more than 4%, setting off a wider sell-off across equities and other asset classes. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, putting it on course for its sixth decline in seven sessions since reaching a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 606 points, while the Nasdaq slipped 1.5%. Despite posting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, Alphabet weighed heavily on the market after warning that spending on equipment and infrastructure could surge to around $180 billion this year, far above forecasts. The prospect of sharply rising…
Space and AI Close In on Tesla’s Crown Elon Musk’s SpaceX has vaulted to a $1.25 trillion (€1.06tn) valuation after combining with artificial intelligence venture xAI, dramatically reshaping the hierarchy of his business empire. The merged SpaceX-xAI entity now sits much closer to Tesla, whose market value stands at about $1.58 trillion (€1.34tn), a gap of just 26%. On paper, Musk’s personal wealth is now more closely tied to rockets and AI than electric cars. Tesla, once the clear centerpiece of Musk’s portfolio, has stumbled entering 2026. Shares are down roughly 6% this year after the company reported a 16%…
Conflicting Details Emerge From Western Libya Libyan media outlets have reported that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed near the western city of Zintan. According to early reports, he was attacked and killed by four individuals, though no further details about the incident or the suspects have been made public. Adviser and Lawyer Confirm Death Abdullah Othman, a political adviser to Saif al-Islam, confirmed the death in a brief statement posted on Facebook. He did not provide information on how the killing took place or who was responsible. Saif al-Islam’s French lawyer,…
A Trade Reset Tied to Russian Oil President Donald Trump said he plans to lower U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil. The move follows months of pressure from Washington, as India had ramped up purchases of discounted Russian crude after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump said the agreement also includes India slashing import taxes on U.S. products to zero and committing to buy $500 billion worth of American goods. “This will help end the war in Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, arguing that…
President Donald Trump says the United States has begun preliminary talks with Cuba, even as his administration ramps up economic pressure on the communist-run island by cutting off key oil supplies. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday night while flying to Florida, Trump offered few details but said simply, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.” Oil Cuts Used as Leverage The outreach comes after a series of aggressive moves aimed at squeezing Cuba’s energy lifeline. In recent weeks, the US halted oil shipments from Venezuela following the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro and moved to restrict supplies…