Author: Rachel Maddow

Fifth Amendment Invoked During Deposition Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison for sex trafficking, appeared via video call in a deposition related to ongoing investigations into Epstein’s network. Lawmakers are seeking anyone who may have helped facilitate Epstein’s crimes, noting that both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, mentioned repeatedly in newly released documents, had social ties with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. Clemency Contingent on Testimony Maxwell’s attorney, David…

Melting Ice Opens the Door to More Ships As global temperatures rise, the Arctic Ocean is losing sea ice at a rapid pace, opening up shipping routes that were once locked in ice year-round. Cargo vessels, fishing boats and even cruise ships are increasingly navigating these waters, drawn by shorter routes and new economic opportunities. But this surge in Arctic traffic comes with a hidden cost: pollution that is making the region warm even faster. One of the biggest culprits is black carbon, a sooty pollutant released from ship exhaust. When it settles on snow and ice, it darkens the…

LDP Wins Big in Snap Elections Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears set for a commanding victory in Sunday’s snap elections, with early media estimates suggesting her ruling bloc has secured a two-thirds majority in the lower house. If confirmed, this would be the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) strongest showing since 2017 under the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s mentor. The party is projected to win around 300 of 465 seats, up from 198, potentially giving the LDP a super-majority even without its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP). LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki credited the win to voter…

Projects in Italy and Germany Cancelled Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a European battery venture backed by Stellantis, TotalEnergies, and Mercedes-Benz, has officially shelved plans to build gigafactories in Italy and Germany. The Italian metalworkers’ union UILM confirmed the news on Saturday, saying ACC’s Termoli project, along with its German counterpart, will not move forward. Both projects had been paused since 2024 amid slower-than-expected growth in electric vehicle demand. Slower EV Market Forces Strategic Shift ACC cited the need to rethink its approach as demand for electric vehicles in Europe has not met earlier projections. The company has also been considering…

Lawmakers Call for Equal Standards Starting January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will have to follow strict monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of 24 US lawmakers has urged the EU not to grant exemptions to American energy producers if domestic standards fail to meet the bloc’s level of enforcement or accuracy. In a letter obtained by Euronews, the lawmakers describe methane—a potent greenhouse gas up to 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide over the short term—as a key target for preventing wasteful venting and flaring of…

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…