Author: Rachel Maddow

The EU plans to end all dependence on Russian gas and LNG by late 2026 and mid-2027.Lawmakers approved a ban that blocks Russian pipeline gas and LNG, while granting limited emergency exceptions to Hungary and Slovakia.The rules state that short-term contracts signed before June 2025 will face phased bans starting in April and June 2026.Long-term LNG deals may continue until January 2027, while long-term pipeline contracts face a ban from September 2027, possibly shifting to November 2027.Member states accelerated efforts to diversify energy supplies after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine sent prices soaring across Europe.EU data shows dependence on Russian…

Researchers found that drinking orange juice daily changes how thousands of immune-cell genes function.Many affected genes regulate blood pressure, limit inflammation, and control sugar metabolism, supporting long-term heart health.David C. Gaze of the University of Westminster explains that these genetic shifts improve cardiovascular regulation. Reducing Inflammation and Supporting Vessels Adults drank 500 ml of pasteurised orange juice daily for two months in recent studies.After 60 days, inflammation-related genes such as NAMPT, IL6, IL1B, and NLRP3 showed lower activity.The SGK1 gene, which controls kidney sodium retention, also decreased its activity, easing blood pressure.Researchers suggest orange juice relaxes blood vessels, reduces inflammation,…

Bitcoin dropped sharply on Monday and fell below €75,000 as the wider crypto market extended its steep decline after the October peak.Cryptocurrencies entered another month in the red as Bitcoin slid more than 5% in early European trading and moved under €75,000.Bitcoin reached a record of about €110,000 in early October, then entered a long downturn as traders triggered major liquidations and sell-offs.In November, Bitcoin lost over 16% of its value and briefly approached €74,000.Other leading cryptocurrencies also declined on Monday, with Ethereum and Solana losing more than 5% and extending the downward trend that began in October.Bitcoin displayed short…

Global measles deaths dropped sharply since 2000, but health officials now warn of a dangerous resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that measles cases jumped 47 per cent in Europe and Central Asia last year, driven by declining vaccination coverage. Officials say global gains in reducing infections and deaths are slipping. In 2024, measles killed roughly 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five, down from 780,000 in 2000. WHO stressed that every preventable death remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives globally since 2000 (WHO, 2025). Outbreaks Expand Across Continents Measles infections are rising worldwide, with…

Tourists ignored warnings and trekked the O Circuit despite worsening weather and no rangers on site.Torres del Paine National Park hosts up to 300,000 visitors annually, many aiming for multi-day treks.A violent blizzard struck the O Circuit on 17 November, killing five hikers and stranding dozens in whiteout conditions.The disaster exposed weaknesses in park safety measures and drew criticism of Patagonia’s management. Trekkers Struggle Against Extreme Conditions Around 30 international hikers left Los Perros campsite before dawn to cross John Garner Pass.The morning began with light rain and moderate winds, but conditions deteriorated rapidly at higher elevations.By late morning, visibility…

The recent invalidation of criminal cases against former FBI director James Comey and former state attorney Letitia James has drawn fresh attention to the process of appointing interim U.S. attorneys. Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent limiting politically motivated indictments that rely solely on questionable appointments. Federal courts dismissed the cases after determining that the prosecutor who filed the charges had been unlawfully appointed. This decision underscores the importance of proper legal procedures in the justice system. Without a lawfully appointed prosecutor, any indictment may be deemed invalid, regardless of the evidence or allegations. Comey and James…

Protesters exposed failures in France’s response to domestic violence as new data alarmed the nation.Dozens filled central Paris on Tuesday night and condemned the escalating gender-based violence while they honoured victims.Activist Marie-Josée, 78, voiced her despair as the crowd remembered five women killed last week by partners or former partners.Demonstrators gathered only hours before the government received a major report urging drastic reform in the justice system’s handling of domestic abuse.Officials submitted the report on Tuesday to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and urged the state to test a magistrate dedicated solely to intrafamilial violence.Le Parisien revealed the report earlier this…

Japan introduced a new strategy to ease overtourism in busy cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. The Japan National Tourism Organisation and All Nippon Airways now offer free domestic flights to UK and European travellers. The campaign runs from 24 November to 31 January 2026 and encourages visitors to explore lesser-known regions. The programme forms part of the “Stopover & Add-on Free Fare” scheme, which lets eligible economy passengers book up to two free domestic flights when they make an international booking by 31 January. Travellers can schedule these domestic departures anytime after that date. This system lets passengers fly to…

The UN climate summit failed to deliver a fossil-fuel phase-out plan, leaving the EU increasingly isolated as global ambition weakens.COP30 in Belém ended with a final text that avoided any transition roadmap, prompting critics to call the result an empty deal and a moral failure.The United States abandoned climate negotiations and created a political and financial gap, while President Donald Trump called climate change a con job.States reliant on fossil-fuel profits, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, rejected every attempt to set a phase-out target.EU representatives threatened to reject the final agreement because nearly 200 nations needed to…

Scientists long believed Theia struck early Earth, yet they lacked direct chemical proof because Theia vanished billions ago.Astronomers in France, Germany, and the United States analysed ancient lunar and terrestrial rocks to uncover Theia’s origin.Researchers now propose that Theia formed much nearer to the Sun than earlier theories suggested.They argue that this long-lost planet arose in the inner Solar System before colliding with young Earth.For decades, scientists have supported the giant impact theory to explain the Moon’s creation.This idea states that debris from the collision produced the Moon and left Theia’s material in both bodies.Apollo missions supplied samples that helped…