Author: Rachel Maddow

The EU will ban Russian gas pipelines and LNG by 2027, granting emergency exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia.Short-term contracts signed before June 2025 face phased bans starting April 2026 for LNG and June 2026 for pipeline gas.Long-term LNG contracts continue until January 2027, while long-term pipeline gas deals stop in September 2027, potentially delayed to November.Member states accelerated the move after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sending energy prices soaring across Europe.EU data shows the bloc cut dependence on Russian gas from 45% to 13% by mid-2025, yet imports still reached €10 billion. Landlocked Countries Seek Protection Most EU…

Scientists discovered that drinking orange juice daily changes thousands of immune-cell genes.Many of these genes regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and control sugar metabolism.These processes play a crucial role in long-term cardiovascular health, researchers say.David C. Gaze of the University of Westminster explained that orange juice impacts the body’s regulatory systems. Reduced Inflammation and Blood Pressure Researchers asked adults to drink 500 ml of pasteurised orange juice daily for two months.After 60 days, stress-related genes NAMPT, IL6, IL1B, and NLRP3 showed lower activity.The SGK1 gene, which controls kidney sodium retention, also became less active.These results support previous findings showing that…

Bitcoin dropped below €75,000 on Monday as the cryptocurrency market continued its sharp post-October decline.European trading showed Bitcoin fell more than 5%, marking another losing month for digital assets.After peaking around €110,000 in early October, Bitcoin faced sustained sell-offs and large liquidations.In November, Bitcoin lost over 16% of its value, briefly approaching €74,000.Other top cryptocurrencies also declined, with Ethereum and Solana dropping more than 5%, extending October’s downtrend.Bitcoin attempted to stabilise last month, but price rebounds remained brief and failed to hold. Investors Retreat From Risky Assets Stocks and risky assets fell in recent weeks as investors shifted toward safer…

New research identifies over 237 cyber operations against space infrastructure from 2023 through 2025.Experts warn that cyber warfare increasingly threatens satellites and communications systems.Between January 2023 and July 2025, attackers struck the space sector repeatedly during the Gaza conflict.The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zürich analyzed social media posts, news reports, and cybercrime forums to document these attacks.Attackers targeted both Israeli space agencies and international organisations.The report highlights the highest surge occurred during Israel-Iran clashes in June 2025, recording 72 attacks in one month.Report author Clémence Poirier notes this spike represents nearly one-third of all incidents during the…

Ukraine struck two oil tankers hours before drones hit Russia’s Novorossiysk terminal.Sea drones attacked the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal at around 4AM, local media reported.Russia halted operations at one of its largest oil terminals following the overnight strike. Tanker Assault Prompts Swift Rescue Operations The Black Sea attack targeted two oil tankers off Turkey’s coast, Ukrainian forces claimed responsibility.Coast guard teams rescued both crews after the explosions triggered a major emergency response.The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk.The second tanker, Virat, suffered damage 35 nautical miles off Turkey shortly after the…

Global measles deaths fell dramatically since 2000, yet officials now report signs of a resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 47 per cent rise in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia last year, largely due to declining vaccination rates. Experts warn that decades of progress in reducing infections and fatalities are now slipping. In 2024, measles killed roughly 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five. That represents a sharp drop from 780,000 deaths in 2000. The WHO stressed that every preventable death remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000. Infections Climb as…

A lack of park rangers and inaccurate weather predictions led thirty tourists to tackle the O Circuit trek despite worsening conditions. Torres del Paine National Park, in remote and icy Patagonia, attracts 250,000–300,000 visitors annually. Thousands aim to complete its iconic trekking routes. On 17 November, a violent blizzard struck the O Circuit, killing five trekkers and leaving dozens stranded in whiteout conditions for hours. This tragedy, triggered by severe weather, highlights ongoing safety problems in Patagonia’s parks, which critics have increasingly questioned. Chaos on John Garner Pass The group left Los Perros campsite between 5 and 7 am to…

Dozens rallied in central Paris on Tuesday to condemn rising domestic violence and honour its victims.Activist Marie-Josée, 78, signed a banner, mourning five women killed last week by partners or ex-partners.The protest preceded the government receiving a report urging radical reform in handling domestic abuse.Officials submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending magistrates focused solely on intrafamilial violence cases.Le Parisien revealed the report before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlighting domestic violence’s complexity.Protesters said conditions for women continue to worsen despite longstanding political promises.Marie-Josée said equality has regressed since the 1990s and criticized…

Japan has launched a bold initiative to ease overtourism in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto by encouraging visitors to explore lesser-known regions. The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) has partnered with All Nippon Airways (ANA) to offer free domestic flights across ANA’s entire regional network to travellers from the UK and Europe. The programme will run from 24 November to 31 January 2026 and aims to redirect tourist flows, making overcrowded destinations less pressured while giving travellers a chance to discover Japan’s hidden gems. The initiative forms part of the “Stopover & Add-on Free Fare” scheme, which allows eligible economy…

The UN climate summit failed to deliver a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels, leaving the EU increasingly isolated. COP30 in Belém concluded with a final text that offered no roadmap, prompting critics to call it an empty deal and a moral failure. The United States withdrew from climate negotiations, creating both a political and financial gap, while President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a con job. Countries heavily dependent on fossil-fuel revenue, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, opposed any target or timeline for phasing out fossil fuels. One day before the summit ended, the EU threatened…