How banned goods slip through Europe Russia has found a way to get around EU sanctions by quietly routing restricted goods through a logistics hub in Berlin, according to an investigation by German tabloid Bild. The report claims sanctioned items are being sent to Moscow via international mail, which faces lighter checks than standard exports. Test packages fitted with GPS trackers reportedly moved without obstruction through a logistics hall near Berlin Brandenburg Airport, before travelling onward through Poland and Belarus to Russia. The shipments allegedly carried labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, even though that operator is not authorised to…
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.
Rates Stay Put After a Year of Cuts The US Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday to keep interest rates unchanged, pressing pause after cutting its key rate three times last year. The benchmark rate remains at around 3.6%, reflecting growing confidence among policymakers that the economy is holding up well. In its statement, the Fed said economic growth remains “solid,” upgrading its outlook from the “modest” pace described a month earlier. Officials also pointed to signs that the job market has stabilised, reducing the urgency to lower borrowing costs further for now. Inflation Still the Key Question Despite the pause,…
Lawmakers Call for Clear Rules to Attract Investment Members of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party are urging the EU to move faster on nuclear fusion, arguing the technology is no longer a distant scientific experiment but a realistic future energy source. In a declaration released Tuesday, lawmakers called on the European Commission to establish a clear and predictable regulatory framework that would give investors the confidence to back fusion projects, which are expected to require enormous funding. The appeal comes as the Commission prepares to unveil a dedicated fusion energy strategy. While no timeline has been confirmed,…
Eight Countries Approved for New Defence Funding The European Commission has approved national investment plans from eight EU countries under a new €150 billion defence loan scheme, marking a major step in the bloc’s push to strengthen its military readiness. Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland will collectively receive access to €74 billion through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, with Poland alone accounting for €43.7 billion of that total. This follows an earlier round of approvals in January, when another eight countries secured €38 billion in funding. In total, 19 member states have applied to…
The World Bank Group has officially launched its first office in Doha, signaling a new chapter in its relationship with Qatar and underscoring the country’s growing influence in global development and finance. A Regional Hub for Development Cooperation Opened on Sunday, the Doha office is designed to act as a regional centre for collaboration between the World Bank Group and Qatari institutions. Based at the headquarters of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and supported by the Ministry of Finance, the office will focus on development financing, mobilising private investment, and supporting countries affected by fragility and conflict. World Bank…
Focus Turns to Donbas as Talks Resume Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are set to continue on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, bringing together delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the talks are expected to centre largely on the future of the eastern Donbas region, a key flashpoint in the nearly four-year war. Zelenskyy described the discussions as significant, noting that such three-way meetings have been rare. He said Ukrainian officials were keeping him closely informed, adding that Kyiv was waiting to hear clear signals from Moscow. While acknowledging…
Britain Rejects Claims NATO Troops ‘Stayed Back’ The UK government has strongly criticised comments by Donald Trump after the former US president suggested NATO allies, including Britain, did not fight on the front lines in Afghanistan. Speaking to Fox News, Trump appeared unaware that 457 British soldiers lost their lives during the conflict, implying allied troops were kept away from direct combat. Official UK figures show that 405 of those deaths were the result of hostile action, underlining the frontline role British forces played alongside the United States following the 11 September attacks. NATO Allies Answered the Call After 9/11…
Bilateral Talks, Not a NATO Decision Any new security arrangement for Greenland negotiated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte must be presented to all alliance members before it can carry weight, Spain’s foreign minister has said. Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, José Manuel Albares stressed that recent talks between Rutte and US President Donald Trump amounted to a bilateral exchange, not an agreed NATO position. “This is not NATO,” Albares told Euronews. “It is the Secretary General of NATO talking to one of the allies.” He added that no detailed information has…
Prenatal ultrasounds are a routine part of pregnancy care, yet they still miss a significant number of fetal abnormalities. Now, a newly approved artificial intelligence tool could help doctors spot potential problems earlier and more accurately. AI Joins the Ultrasound Room The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new AI-powered software developed by American start-up BioticsAI for clinical use. The system works alongside existing ultrasound machines, analysing images in real time as scans are performed. Its goal is simple but ambitious: to help doctors identify fetal abnormalities that might otherwise go unnoticed. Using large datasets drawn from global…
Poland has significantly boosted its gold holdings, with the National Bank of Poland (NBP) now sitting on around 550 tonnes of bullion worth more than €63 billion. The move places the country among Europe’s biggest gold holders and signals a clear long-term strategy focused on stability and independence in an uncertain global economy. A Strategic Bet on Stability For years, NBP president Adam Glapiński has argued that gold plays a unique role in Poland’s reserves. Unlike other assets, it carries no credit risk, is not tied to the monetary policy decisions of foreign governments, and tends to hold its value…
