Voters Deliver a Strong Mandate Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looked set for a decisive victory in Sunday’s snap election, with early estimates showing her ruling bloc securing a commanding two-thirds majority in the lower house. Media projections suggest the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could win around 300 of the chamber’s 465 seats, its strongest showing since 2017 under former prime minister Shinzo Abe. The result would restore the LDP’s dominance after years of sliding support and could even allow the party to govern without its junior coalition partner. LDP secretary general Shunichi Suzuki said voters had endorsed Takaichi’s “responsible,…
Author: Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow is a freelance journalist based in Beijing, China, with over 20 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. She holds a degree in Communication and Journalism from Stanford University. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to leading outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, and CNN. Recognized for her insightful analysis and engaging reporting style, Rachel delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on key national and international developments.
Gigafactory plans put on ice Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a key player in Europe’s push to build its own electric vehicle battery supply chain, has dropped plans to build large battery factories in Italy and Germany. The decision comes after electric vehicle demand across Europe grew far more slowly than expected. Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM said ACC management confirmed that the proposed gigafactory in Termoli, Italy, will not go ahead. The same fate awaits a planned site in Germany, ending months of uncertainty around both projects, which have been on hold since 2024. EV demand fails to meet expectations ACC,…
Pressure to Keep Standards Equal From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification rules tied to methane emissions. Now, a group of US lawmakers is urging the EU not to water those rules down by granting exemptions to American energy producers if US standards fall short. In a letter seen by Euronews, 24 members of Congress argue that the EU’s methane regulation is a vital tool to curb emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide over the short…
Tech Slide Sends Wall Street Retreating US stocks fell sharply on Thursday after Alphabet shares dropped more than 4%, dragging major indexes lower and unsettling markets well beyond equities. The S&P 500 slid 1.2%, marking its sixth decline in seven sessions since hitting a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 606 points, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. Alphabet weighed heavily on the market despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits. Investors reacted negatively after the company said capital spending could surge to around $180 billion this year, far above analyst forecasts. The move sparked broader concerns about costs across…
Space and AI Surge Past Electric Cars Elon Musk’s SpaceX has surged to a valuation of $1.25 trillion (€1.06tn) after merging with artificial intelligence venture xAI, dramatically narrowing the gap with Tesla and reshaping the balance inside Musk’s business empire. Tesla is now valued at about $1.58 trillion (€1.34tn), just 26% higher than SpaceX’s latest private valuation. On paper, Musk now draws more of his personal wealth from rockets and AI than from electric vehicles. Tesla’s position has weakened since the start of 2026. Shares are down roughly 6% after the company reported a 16% drop in vehicle deliveries and…
Conflicting Details Surround Fatal Attack Libyan media outlets have reported that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed near the city of Zintan in western Libya. According to the reports, he was attacked and killed by four individuals, though specific details about how the incident unfolded remain unclear. Advisers Confirm Death, Questions Remain Abdullah Othman, Saif al-Islam’s political adviser, confirmed the death in a brief statement posted on Facebook, offering no further information about the circumstances or the identities of those involved. His French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, told AFP that the attackers have…
Trade Deal Tied to Russian Oil President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to cut U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from 25%, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. The move follows months of pressure from Trump, who has repeatedly urged India to reduce its reliance on discounted Russian crude since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump also claimed India would slash import taxes on American goods to zero and commit to buying $500 billion worth of U.S. products. Announcing the decision on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement would…
The United States has begun preliminary talks with Cuba, President Donald Trump said over the weekend, even as his administration ramps up economic pressure on the communist-led island by cutting off critical oil supplies. Speaking to reporters while flying to Florida on Saturday night, Trump offered few details about the outreach but said simply, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.” Pressure Campaign Targets Energy Supplies Trump’s comments come after a series of moves aimed at tightening the screws on Havana. In recent weeks, the administration cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, supplies Cuba relies on to keep its…
The United Nations could run out of money within months unless member states urgently settle their unpaid bills, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday, describing the organisation’s financial situation as increasingly unsustainable. Guterres said long-standing budget shortfalls, driven by late or incomplete payments from member countries, have forced the UN into hiring freezes and spending cuts, threatening its ability to function. Unpaid Contributions Fuel Growing Deficit In a letter to member states, Guterres said the UN is facing a stark choice: countries must either pay their mandatory contributions in full and on time, or agree to major changes to the…
Hong Kong’s government has pushed back strongly against a decision by Panama’s highest court to cancel a long-standing concession that allowed a subsidiary of CK Hutchison to operate key ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. In a statement issued on Friday, the government said it “strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects” the ruling, warning against what it described as the use of coercive or unreasonable measures that damage the legitimate interests of Hong Kong businesses operating overseas. A ruling shaped by audits and geopolitics Panama’s Supreme Court ruled late Thursday that the concession held by Panama Ports Company,…
