Author: Rachel Maddow

Hong Kong’s government has pushed back strongly against a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court that voided a long-standing concession allowing CK Hutchison to operate ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, calling the move unacceptable and harmful to business confidence. The decision, handed down late Thursday, declared the concession unconstitutional following an audit by Panama’s comptroller that alleged irregularities in a 25-year extension approved in 2021. Hong Kong Condemns the Ruling In a statement released Friday, the Hong Kong government said it “strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects” the court’s decision. It warned against the use of coercive or…

How banned goods quietly reach Moscow Russia has been using a logistics setup in Berlin to sidestep European Union sanctions, quietly sending restricted goods to Moscow through international mail channels that face lighter oversight, according to an investigation by German newspaper Bild. Test shipments fitted with GPS trackers and filled with sanctioned items reportedly passed through a logistics warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport without interference. From there, the parcels were forwarded through Poland and Belarus before reaching Russia. The investigation found that the operation relied on shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, despite the fact that Germany’s Federal Network…

Economy Shows Strength, Cuts Put on Hold The US Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday to keep interest rates unchanged, pressing pause after cutting rates three times last year. The benchmark rate remains at around 3.6%, a move that reflects growing confidence in the health of the economy. In its statement, the Fed said the labour market appears to have stabilised and described economic growth as “solid,” an upgrade from last month’s more reserved assessment. With hiring holding up and no clear signs of economic strain, officials see little urgency to push borrowing costs lower just yet. Inflation Still the Sticking…

From Lab Experiments to Real-World Power European lawmakers are calling on the EU to take nuclear fusion seriously as a future source of electricity, arguing that the technology has moved beyond theory and deserves clear political and regulatory backing. In a declaration released this week, members of the European People’s Party said fusion energy could play a key role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness—if investors are given the certainty they need. The appeal was made during a public hearing in the European Parliament, where MEPs stressed the need for a predictable legal framework. With fusion projects expected to cost billions, lawmakers…

Eight Countries Get Green Light Under SAFE Programme The European Commission has approved defence investment plans from eight EU countries under a major new loan scheme designed to strengthen Europe’s military readiness. Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland will have access to a combined €74 billion through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, part of the EU’s wider Readiness 2030 strategy. Poland alone accounts for €43.7 billion of the total. SAFE is one of the flagship initiatives aimed at dramatically boosting defence spending before the end of the decade, as intelligence agencies warn that Russia could…

The World Bank Group has opened its first-ever office in Doha, a move that signals a deeper partnership with Qatar and highlights the country’s growing role in global development and finance. The office was officially inaugurated on Sunday and represents a new stage of cooperation between the World Bank Group and Qatari institutions. It will focus on development financing, mobilising private investment and supporting countries affected by fragility and conflict. The office is hosted at the headquarters of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), working closely with the Ministry of Finance. Speaking at the opening ceremony, World Bank Group President…

Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are continuing this weekend in Abu Dhabi, bringing together representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. The talks come nearly four years into the war and mark an unusual moment of direct, parallel engagement among all three sides. Donbas at the Heart of the Discussions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is a central focus of the talks. He described the meetings as significant, noting that such trilateral discussions have been rare since the invasion began. In a video message, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian…

‘Wrong to Diminish’ Allied Sacrifice The UK government has pushed back strongly after US President Donald Trump suggested NATO allies did not fight on the front lines in Afghanistan. British officials said his remarks were wrong and ignored the scale of the sacrifice made by allied forces during the conflict that followed the 9/11 attacks. In a Fox News interview aired on Thursday, Trump appeared unaware that 457 British service personnel were killed in Afghanistan. He claimed NATO allies sent troops but kept them “a little back” from the fighting — comments that quickly sparked outrage in the UK. Britain…

Bilateral Talks Not Yet a NATO Agreement Spain’s foreign minister has stressed that any security framework for Greenland negotiated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte must be reviewed by all member states. Speaking to Euronews at the World Economic Forum in Davos, José Manuel Albares said the recent deal between Rutte and US President Donald Trump is a bilateral arrangement, “not NATO… it is the Secretary General of NATO talking to one of the allies.” Albares added that details of the agreement remain limited. “I talked to the ministers of foreign affairs of all those allied countries, and they have…

A newly approved artificial intelligence system could change how doctors spot fetal abnormalities, addressing a long-standing problem in prenatal care where many issues go undetected. Bringing AI Into the Scan Room The United States Food and Drug Administration has cleared an AI-powered software developed by American start-up BioticsAI for use in clinical settings. The technology works alongside standard ultrasound machines, analysing images as they are captured and alerting clinicians to potential concerns during routine pregnancy scans. Ultrasound examinations are a cornerstone of prenatal care, offering insights into a baby’s development before birth. While they can reveal a range of structural…