Author: Rachel Maddow

Eurozone inflation increased to 2.2% in September, rising from 2.0% in August, Eurostat’s flash estimate confirmed.Prices rose 0.1% month-on-month, repeating August’s pace, and matched economists’ expectations.Core inflation, excluding food and energy, stayed firm at 2.3% for the fifth consecutive month. Services drove inflation higher with a 3.2% annual rise, edging up from 3.1% in August.Food, alcohol, and tobacco prices grew 3.0%, easing slightly from 3.2%.Non-energy industrial goods held steady at 0.8%, while energy prices fell 0.4%, a slower decline than August’s 2.0%. Estonia recorded the eurozone’s highest inflation at 5.2%, followed by Croatia and Slovakia at 4.6% each.Cyprus posted no…

Zhimin Qian, 47, deceived more than 128,000 people in China between 2014 and 2017. She stored the stolen wealth in Bitcoin after executing her large-scale fraud. Police confirmed she fled China using false documents before entering the UK. She then tried to launder the illicit cryptocurrency by purchasing property in late 2018. UK Authorities Secure Record-Breaking Seizure Officers seized 61,000 Bitcoins from Qian, valued at over £5.5 billion (€6.3 billion). A seven-year global money laundering investigation led to her guilty plea in London’s Southwark Crown Court. Police described the case as one of the UK’s largest money laundering prosecutions. They…

Researchers tested VER-01, an experimental cannabis extract, on patients with persistent lower back pain. Patients reported meaningful pain reductions after months of treatment. Unlike smoking cannabis, the extract delivers controlled doses without harmful combustion effects. Scientists designed VER-01 to target pain while minimizing risks of addiction or severe complications. Chronic back pain affects more than 619 million people globally, making it the most common cause of disability. Conventional painkillers like opioids carry high addiction potential, while NSAIDs raise cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks. For many, treatment options remain limited and ineffective, highlighting the urgent need for safer alternatives. Clinical Trial Provides…

Germany plans to strengthen its military independence with a major procurement plan worth up to 83 billion euros. Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to build Europe’s strongest conventional force, addressing personnel shortages and upgrading equipment simultaneously. Officials aim to allocate most contracts to European firms, with only eight percent going to U.S. suppliers. Between September 2025 and December 2026, Berlin expects to launch 154 defence projects, signaling a shift in strategy. Transatlantic Dependence Faces Challenges US exports to Europe tripled from 2020 to 2024, making Washington the top arms supplier to NATO allies. Germany’s imports rose 334 percent, with 70 percent…

Around 50,000 people filled central Berlin on Saturday to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. Protesters marched from Alexanderplatz to the Victory Column while chanting “free, free Palestine” and urging peace. Police deployed about 1,800 officers to supervise the march and prevent disorder during the demonstration. The demonstrators demanded Germany stop supplying arms to Israel and called for European Union sanctions. Berlin remains one of Israel’s largest weapons suppliers, alongside the US and Italy, despite mounting criticism. In August, Germany temporarily suspended some arms exports for Gaza after opposition to Israel’s planned offensive. Protests Expand Across Europe Around 50 organisations,…

Interpol, the world’s largest policing organisation with 196 member states, coordinated a wide crackdown on digital crime across Africa.Authorities carried out the operation in July and August, leading to 260 arrests tied to romance fraud and extortion plots.The suspects used social media, dating platforms, and messaging apps to deceive targets into sending money or compromising images.Investigators confirmed that the scams reached over 1,400 victims, who collectively lost nearly $2.8 million (€2.4 million). Scammers Manipulated Trust to Steal and Blackmail Interpol explained that perpetrators constructed fake romantic connections, then exploited victims financially or through sexual blackmail.Many criminals tricked individuals into paying…

Rescue teams in eastern Libya recovered five decomposed bodies believed to be migrants.Authorities and crews found the remains 550 kilometers south of Tobruk in the Great Sand Sea.Workers transported the remains to Tobruk, according to the Red Crescent, which called the tragedy part of the “death journey.”Abreen, a local aid group, suggested the victims were Sudanese migrants and released photos from the recovery operation. Migration Routes and Ongoing Tragedies Libya borders six countries and has a Mediterranean coastline, making it a major transit route for migrants heading to Europe.Migrants fleeing war and poverty often risk dangerous desert and sea journeys.In…

A drone launched from Yemen struck Eilat, wounding at least 22 people, according to Israeli medics.The Israeli military confirmed the drone crashed near the Red Sea after defences failed to intercept it.Authorities advised residents to avoid the site and follow Home Front Command’s safety guidelines. Bomb Experts Examine Site Police deployed bomb squads to analyze the drone and warned civilians against touching potential explosives.Emergency services reported two people in serious condition, while others suffered only minor injuries.Officials stressed continued caution as investigations into the drone’s components progressed. Houthis Escalate Regional Attacks Iran-backed Houthis have targeted Israel with drones and missiles…

Trump told the UN that Europe’s immigration and climate policies are destroying heritage and creating disaster.He labeled immigration and climate action a “double-tailed monster” tearing Europe apart.He urged leaders to end open borders immediately, warning their nations would collapse if they failed.Trump accused European leaders of political correctness and said they were sacrificing culture to appear “nice.”He stressed his love for Europe but said he hated seeing it devastated by policies on migration and energy.Trump claimed the United Nations enabled migration worldwide, even financing irregular flows into the United States.He urged the UN to stop invasions instead of supporting and…

European lawmakers, Nobel winners, and ex-leaders demanded binding global rules against AI’s most dangerous applications.They launched the campaign Monday during the UN’s 80th General Assembly in New York.The initiative urged governments to set “red lines” by 2026, banning harmful AI uses under all circumstances.Supporters included Mary Robinson, Enrico Letta, MEPs Brando Benifei and Sergey Lagodinsky, ten Nobel laureates, and tech leaders.They warned of risks ranging from pandemics and mass disinformation to human rights abuses and loss of control.Over 200 prominent figures and 70 organisations from politics, science, and industry signed the appeal. Present Risks Highlight Urgent Need A psychiatric study…