Author: Rachel Maddow

Alphabet Stumble Pulls Wall Street Lower US markets slid sharply on Thursday after Alphabet shares dropped more than 4%, setting off a broad sell-off across major indexes. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, marking its sixth decline in seven sessions since hitting a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 606 points, while the Nasdaq lost 1.5% by mid-morning trading. Alphabet weighed heavily on the market despite reporting quarterly profits that beat expectations. Investors instead focused on the company’s warning that spending on equipment and long-term investments could surge to about $180 billion this year — far above analyst…

Musk’s Empire Shifts Toward Space and AI Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reached a valuation of $1.25 trillion (€1.06tn) following its merger with artificial intelligence venture xAI, bringing it closer to Tesla’s market capitalisation and reshaping the distribution of wealth within Musk’s business empire. Tesla currently sits at around $1.58 trillion (€1.34tn), only about 26% higher than the newly combined SpaceX-xAI valuation. On paper, Musk now derives more of his wealth from rockets and AI than from electric vehicles. Tesla Faces Slowing Growth and Strategic Changes Tesla’s stock has struggled in early 2026, down roughly 6% this year after a 16%…

Reports of Fatal Attack Libyan media have confirmed that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed near the western city of Zintan by four individuals. Further details about the circumstances of the attack or the identities of those involved have not yet been released. Confirmation from Adviser and Lawyer Abdullah Othman, Gaddafi’s political adviser, acknowledged his death in a brief Facebook post but offered no additional information. His French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, told AFP that the perpetrators remain unknown. Ceccaldi noted that a close associate had warned about ten days ago of security concerns surrounding Saif al-Islam. Political Team Responds Gaddafi’s political…

Tariff Cuts and Trade Promises President Donald Trump said Monday that he will lower tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to reduce purchases of Russian oil. Trump also claimed India would cut import taxes on U.S. products to zero and commit to buying $500 billion worth of American goods. Trump framed the move as a step toward ending the war in Ukraine, saying on Truth Social that the agreement “will help END THE WAR in Ukraine… with thousands of people dying each and every week.” Modi responded positively on X, calling…

President Donald Trump told reporters that Washington has begun talking with Cuban leaders, even as his administration steps up economic pressure on the communist‑run island by cutting off crucial oil supplies and threatening tariffs on nations that help keep Cuba’s economy afloat. (AP News) Oil Cutoffs as Negotiating Strategy Trump said recent actions to halt Cuba’s access to oil — including stopping shipments from Venezuela after the capture of its president and moving to penalise countries that sell fuel to Havana — are designed to push Cuba toward negotiations. (AP News) Although he offered no specifics about the talks, Trump…

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning that the organisation could run out of money by July unless member states pay their dues in full and on time. Chronic budget shortfalls and delayed contributions are forcing the UN into hiring freezes and program cutbacks. Mounting Unpaid Contributions Threaten Operations Guterres highlighted that some member states fail to pay mandatory contributions, while others pay late, creating a growing financial strain. By the end of 2025, unpaid contributions totaled around $1.6 billion—more than double the amount in 2024—even though over 150 countries had paid. “The current trajectory is untenable,”…

Panama’s highest court has annulled a long-term port concession held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings, igniting criticism from Hong Kong and raising geopolitical concerns over the strategic waterway. The court’s decision follows an audit by Panama’s comptroller, which flagged irregularities in the 25-year extension of the concession approved in 2021. Hong Kong Condemns Court Ruling In response, Hong Kong’s government said Friday it “firmly rejects” the ruling, describing it as harmful to legitimate business interests and warning against coercive or unreasonable measures by foreign governments. Officials emphasized that the decision threatens not just a single company,…

Postal loopholes let banned goods slip through An investigation by German newspaper Bild reveals that Russia has been using a logistics hub in Berlin to bypass EU sanctions, sending prohibited goods to Moscow through international mail channels that face lighter scrutiny. Test shipments equipped with GPS trackers reportedly moved through a warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport without interruption, then traveled through Poland and Belarus before reaching Russia. The operation allegedly relies on shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, which is not authorized to operate in Germany. Because international mail is processed quickly in large volumes, it faces fewer customs…

Economic Growth Holds Steady The US Federal Reserve decided to leave its key interest rate unchanged at roughly 3.6% on Wednesday, halting further cuts after three reductions last year. Officials highlighted a stabilizing job market and upgraded their growth outlook from “modest” to “solid.” With hiring steady and the economy showing healthy expansion, the Fed sees little urgency to lower rates further for now. Inflation and Diverging Views While most policymakers anticipate additional rate cuts later this year, many are waiting to see inflation move closer to the Fed’s 2% target. According to the central bank’s preferred gauge, inflation was…

Lawmakers Call for Clear Rules and Investment MEPs from the European People’s Party are urging the EU to treat nuclear fusion as more than just a research project. In a declaration released Tuesday, they called on the European Commission to establish a clear and predictable regulatory framework to attract private investment, noting that the costs of developing fusion energy will be enormous. “Fusion has reached a turning point,” the declaration reads. “European industrial capability and private investments are converging toward deployment. What is now required is clear political backing and effective mechanisms to attract private capital.” Lawmakers stressed that fusion…