Author: Rachel Maddow

Zhimin Qian, 47, tricked over 128,000 people in China and converted their money into Bitcoin.UK courts convicted her for a leading role in the world’s largest cryptocurrency seizure, worth £5.5 billion.Also called Yadi Zhang, Qian admitted at Southwark Crown Court to illegally acquiring and holding Bitcoin. Fraud and Escape Police said her guilty plea followed a seven-year investigation into global money laundering.Between 2014 and 2017, Qian orchestrated a large-scale fraud in China, targeting more than 128,000 victims.She fled China using false documents and entered the UK.Authorities reported she tried to launder her stolen funds by buying property in late 2018.The…

Researchers tested VER-01, a cannabis-based extract, on adults with persistent lower back pain. Patients reported meaningful improvements in pain scores within months. Unlike smoking cannabis, the extract delivers controlled doses without exposing patients to harmful combustion or recreational effects. Scientists designed VER-01 to reduce pain while avoiding addiction or serious side effects. Chronic lower back pain affects over 619 million people worldwide, making it the leading cause of disability. Existing treatments, including opioids and NSAIDs, often carry severe risks or fail to provide adequate relief. Many patients endure ongoing pain due to limited safe options. Clinical Trial Demonstrates Significant Benefits…

Germany aims to make the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest conventional army, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in May. The government must fill personnel shortages and equip troops with modern weaponry quickly. Berlin plans €83 billion in defense procurements, prioritizing European manufacturers while limiting US purchases to eight percent. Officials intend to complete 154 major projects between September 2025 and December 2026. Europe tripled arms imports from the US between 2020 and 2024. Germany’s imports rose 334 percent, mostly from the United States. Berlin now emphasizes “Buy European” to reduce dependency on US systems and strengthen domestic arms production. US Dependence and the…

Around 50,000 people marched through Berlin to support Palestinians and condemn the Gaza conflict. Protesters chanted “free, free Palestine” and demanded an immediate end to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Police deployed 1,800 officers to monitor the march from Alexanderplatz to the Victory Column in Tiergarten. Demonstrators called on Germany to stop selling weapons to Israel and urged the EU to impose sanctions. Fifty organizations, including Amnesty International and Die Linke, coordinated the rallies, though some protests faced police intervention. Clashes and Counter-Protests In Kreuzberg, police broke up a pro-Palestine demonstration after participants shouted anti-Israel slogans. About 100 people gathered in Berlin…

Interpol, which includes 196 countries, coordinated a large-scale cybercrime crackdown across Africa.Authorities arrested 260 suspects linked to online romance scams and sextortion during July and August.Investigators targeted criminals who built fake romantic relationships to extort money or blackmail victims with explicit content.The scams reached over 1,400 victims, who collectively lost nearly $2.8 million (€2.4 million).Cyril Gout, Interpol’s acting executive director of police services, said digital crimes, especially sextortion and romance scams, are surging.He added that criminals exploit online platforms, causing severe financial and psychological harm to victims. Local Authorities Crack Down on Fraud Rings Ghanaian police arrested 68 suspects who…

Aid groups recovered five decomposed bodies in eastern Libya, 550 kilometers south of Tobruk.Authorities transported the remains to Tobruk, calling it part of the deadly “death journey.”Abreen, a local NGO, identified the victims as likely Sudanese and shared images of the recovery operation. Migrants Face Extreme Desert and Sea Dangers Migrants cross Libya from Africa and the Middle East, fleeing war and poverty, to reach Europe.Most travel by desert or sea, risking dehydration, starvation, or drowning.In December, 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned near Zuwara.In May, seven Sudanese died after their vehicle broke down in the desert for 11…

A drone fired from Yemen struck Eilat, wounding at least 22 people, local medics reported Wednesday.The Israeli military confirmed air defences failed to intercept the drone before it fell on the Red Sea coast.Authorities have not clarified whether injuries came from the drone or its attempted interception. Officials Secure Site and Warn Residents Police deployed bomb disposal experts to inspect the drone debris.Officials warned the public to avoid the crash area and not touch potential explosives.The IDF instructed residents to follow Home Front Command safety rules and updates on Telegram.Magen David Adom reported two people suffered serious injuries while others…

Donald Trump addressed the UN General Assembly, criticizing Europe’s immigration and climate strategies.He called both issues a “double-tailed monster” destroying European heritage and stability.Trump said, “If you don’t stop people you’ve never seen, your countries will fail.”He accused European leaders of prioritizing political correctness over protecting their nations.Trump demanded an immediate end to open borders and called migration policies a “failed experiment.”He claimed the UN encourages illegal migration and finances global irregular entries.Trump said the UN must “stop invasions, not create or fund them.” Trump Claims Credit for Ending Global Conflicts Trump asserted he ended seven wars in the first…

European lawmakers, Nobel laureates, and former heads of state urged binding international restrictions on AI misuse.They launched the initiative Monday at the UN’s 80th General Assembly in New York.Signatories call for governments to agree by 2026 on “red lines” banning AI uses deemed too harmful.Prominent supporters include Enrico Letta, Mary Robinson, MEPs Brando Benifei and Sergey Lagodinsky, ten Nobel laureates, and tech leaders from OpenAI and Google.They warned that without standards, AI could trigger pandemics, disinformation campaigns, human rights abuses, and loss of control.Over 200 leaders and 70 organisations from politics, science, human rights, and industry backed the campaign. AI’s…

President Trump publicly demanded that Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute figures he considers enemies.He urged immediate action, citing multiple indictments and impeachment efforts against him. Named Targets Include High-Profile Officials Trump listed former FBI Director James Comey, Senator Adam Schiff, and New York AG Letitia James.He claimed they were “all guilty” but said prosecutors had done nothing. Swift Action Follows Federal Prosecutor Dismissal Trump removed U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert after Siebert failed to charge James and Comey.Trump announced he would nominate Lindsey Halligan, a presidential legal aide with no prosecutorial experience, to replace Siebert. Justice Department Faces Intensifying Political Pressure…