Author: Rachel Maddow

US and European defence officials signaled agreement this week that NATO must evolve to remain effective, with Europe expected to assume more responsibility for its own defence. While both sides support the shift, their motivations differ: Washington seeks to pivot attention toward other regions, while Europeans aim to guard against uncertainty in US policy. US Under Secretary of War Eldridge Colby described the move as “NATO 3.0,” calling on European allies to take the lead in conventional defence across the continent. “Europe should field the preponderance of the forces required to deter and, if necessary, defeat conventional aggression in Europe,”…

At least nine people have died following a school shooting in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The suspected shooter was also found dead, and several others sustained injuries in one of the deadliest school attacks in Canada in decades. Multiple Victims Found at School and Nearby Home Authorities reported six victims were discovered inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, with another person dying while being transported to the hospital. The suspected gunman was also found deceased at the scene, apparently from a self-inflicted injury. Police later confirmed that two more victims were found at a nearby residence connected…

Silence in Congress, Appeal to the White House Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee during a deposition on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison camp in Texas after being convicted of sex trafficking. Her refusal came as lawmakers intensified efforts to uncover who may have helped Epstein carry out years of abuse. Clemency Offer Tied to Testimony While declining to cooperate, Maxwell signaled through her legal team that she would be willing to testify if…

Melting Ice Opens New Routes — and New Risks Rising global temperatures are rapidly shrinking Arctic sea ice, opening shipping routes that were once locked in ice year-round. As more vessels move through these waters, a troubling side effect has emerged: a surge in black carbon pollution. This soot, released mainly from ship exhaust, settles on snow and ice, darkening the surface and causing it to absorb more heat from the sun. The result is faster melting in a region that is already warming quicker than anywhere else on the planet. “It becomes a self-reinforcing loop,” says Sian Prior of…

American skier Breezy Johnson claimed Olympic gold in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina. This victory marked the first gold medal for Team USA at the Games and thrilled fans across the country. Johnson delivered a flawless run on a challenging course, completing the downhill in a time that outpaced her rivals by over half a second. Her speed, precision, and composure under pressure proved decisive in a field of the world’s top skiers. The 27‑year‑old from Park City, Utah, has been a rising star in alpine skiing. She had narrowly missed podium finishes in previous…

Landslide Win Boosts LDP Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set for a commanding victory in snap elections, with media estimates suggesting her ruling bloc has captured around 300 of 465 seats in the lower house. If confirmed, this would mark the Liberal Democratic Party’s strongest showing since 2017 under the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s mentor. The results give the LDP a solid majority and could even allow it to govern without its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party. LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki hailed the result as voter approval for Takaichi’s “responsible, proactive fiscal policies and a strengthening of…

Termoli and German Factories Canceled Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has officially abandoned plans to build new electric vehicle battery gigafactories in Italy and Germany, the Italian metalworkers’ union UILM confirmed. ACC management reportedly told the union that the Termoli project, along with the German site, will not move forward, ending years of anticipation. The factories had been on hold since 2024 as the company reevaluated the market and technology choices. Slower EV Demand Forces Strategic Shift ACC, a joint venture backed by Stellantis, TotalEnergies, and Mercedes-Benz, cited weaker-than-expected electric vehicle demand as the main reason for shelving the projects. The…

Calls for Consistent Standards Across Borders Starting January 2027, European importers of oil and gas must meet strict monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements for methane emissions from their suppliers. In response, 24 US lawmakers have urged the European Union not to grant exemptions to American energy companies if domestic standards fall short in accuracy or enforcement. In a letter obtained by Euronews, the lawmakers described methane—a short-lived gas up to 30 times more potent than CO₂—as a major contributor to climate change and a key target for reducing wasteful flaring and venting of natural gas. They stressed that clear, consistent…

Alphabet Shockwaves Hit Wall Street US markets retreated sharply on Thursday after Alphabet shares dropped more than 4%, dragging major indexes lower and unsettling investors. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, moving toward its sixth loss in seven sessions since hitting a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 606 points, while the Nasdaq slid 1.5%. Despite Alphabet posting better-than-expected quarterly profits, investors focused on the company’s warning that spending on equipment and long-term investments could soar to around $180 billion this year — far exceeding forecasts and raising concerns about mounting costs across the tech sector. Job Market Signals…

SpaceX Surges in Value Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reached a valuation of $1.25 trillion (€1.06tn) after merging with his artificial intelligence venture xAI, bringing it closer to Tesla’s $1.58 trillion (€1.34tn) market capitalisation. On paper, this makes SpaceX the main driver of Musk’s wealth, surpassing the electric carmaker for the first time. The tie-up reflects Musk’s growing emphasis on AI and space exploration as key pillars of his business empire. Tesla Faces Slowing Growth and Strategic Shift Tesla’s performance has softened at the start of 2026, with shares down roughly 6% after reporting a 16% decline in vehicle deliveries and…