Author: Rachel Maddow

Zhimin Qian, 47, defrauded more than 128,000 victims in China before attempting to launder cryptocurrency through UK property purchases. UK authorities convicted the Chinese woman for a major role in a Bitcoin fraud after the world’s largest cryptocurrency seizure, valued at more than £5.5 billion (€6.3 billion). Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, admitted guilt on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London for illegally acquiring and holding cryptocurrency. Her guilty plea followed a seven-year international money-laundering investigation, Metropolitan Police confirmed. Seven-Year Probe and Seizure of Assets Police stated that Qian orchestrated large-scale fraud in China between 2014 and 2017…

Researchers tested VER-01, a cannabis extract, on 820 adults with chronic lower back pain. Patients taking VER-01 reported notable pain reductions, improved sleep, and better physical function over several months. Trial participants who received the extract experienced a 1.9-point drop in pain scores after three months of treatment. Those on placebo showed only a 0.6-point decline, confirming the extract’s stronger effect. In a six-month extension, VER-01 users reported further pain reduction, showing sustained benefits. Safer Option Compared With Current Treatments Existing therapies often fail to relieve chronic pain or carry major risks. Opioids create high addiction potential, while NSAIDs can…

Germany plans to build the strongest conventional force in Europe, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared in May. Officials must solve staffing shortages through new service models and quickly modernize the Bundeswehr with advanced equipment. Reports say Berlin will invest up to €83 billion in armaments between 2025 and 2026, prioritizing European suppliers. Only eight percent of contracts will go to the United States. Germany will push 154 major procurements under the plan. European states once relied heavily on US defense exports. Imports from America tripled between 2020 and 2024. Germany alone increased imports by 334 percent, with 70 percent coming directly…

Around 50,000 people filled Berlin’s streets on Saturday to support Palestinians and condemn the Gaza conflict. Protesters shouted “free, free Palestine” and demanded an end to Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Police deployed 1,800 officers to monitor the crowds marching through the German capital’s downtown area. Demonstrators urged Germany to stop exporting weapons to Israel and called for EU sanctions against the country. Berlin, alongside the US and Italy, remains a key arms supplier to Israel despite growing domestic criticism. Protesters gathered at Alexanderplatz before marching toward the Victory Column in Tiergarten, waving flags and carrying banners. Political and Civil Groups…

Interpol, the largest global policing body with 196 member countries, coordinated a continent-wide crackdown on digital crime. The operation, carried out in July and August, spanned 14 African nations and targeted criminal networks behind romance scams and sextortion schemes. Investigators revealed that perpetrators lured victims into fabricated online relationships, then either extracted money through fake fees or blackmailed them using explicit images. The sweep resulted in 260 arrests, a significant blow to groups exploiting vulnerable internet users. Interpol confirmed that more than 1,400 victims suffered losses totaling nearly $2.8 million (€2.4 million). Officials emphasized the urgency of addressing this rising…

Rescue crews in eastern Libya recovered five decomposed bodies suspected to be migrants.Authorities located the remains 550 kilometers south of Tobruk in the Great Sand Sea.Workers transported the bodies to Tobruk, the Red Crescent confirmed.The group called the discovery part of the “death journey” migrants endure through deserts.Local aid group Abreen suggested the victims were Sudanese and released photos of the operation. Libya as a Dangerous Migration Hub Libya borders six countries and stretches along the Mediterranean, making it a major route to Europe.Migrants fleeing conflict and poverty face perilous land and sea crossings from Libyan territory.In December, 61 migrants…

A drone launched from Yemen struck Eilat on Wednesday, wounding at least 22 people, according to medics.The Israeli military confirmed the drone crashed near the Red Sea coast after defences failed to stop it.Magen David Adom said two people suffered serious injuries, while others sustained lighter wounds. Authorities Warn Public to Avoid Debris Police in Eilat urged residents to stay away from the crash site and avoid touching drone fragments.Bomb disposal experts examined the wreckage to determine whether explosives remained.Officials advised the public to follow Home Front Command safety instructions shared through official channels. Regional Tensions Escalate With Houthi Attacks…

Donald Trump delivered his first UN General Assembly speech since 2020 on Tuesday.He warned Europe that immigration and climate policies are destroying its heritage and creating an “unmitigated disaster.”Trump called migration and climate action a “double-tailed monster” devastating the continent.He told European leaders they were “being nice” and “politically correct” while destroying their culture.Trump urged them to “end the failed experiment of open borders” immediately.He claimed Europe faces collapse unless leaders stop irregular migration. Trump Accuses UN of Fueling Migration Trump accused the United Nations of facilitating irregular migration worldwide.He claimed the UN enabled “millions” of migrants to enter the…

European lawmakers, Nobel winners, and ex-heads of state urged binding international rules on AI’s most dangerous uses.They launched the initiative Monday during the UN’s 80th General Assembly in New York.Supporters called for governments to agree by 2026 on “red lines” banning harmful AI applications.They warned misuse could spark pandemics, disinformation, rights abuses, and loss of human control over advanced systems.More than 200 figures and 70 organisations from politics, science, and industry endorsed the appeal. Mounting Concerns Over Real-World AI Threats A recent psychiatric study found leading chatbots gave unsafe or inconsistent advice on suicide.Researchers said such failures could worsen mental…

President Trump publicly pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute figures he calls his enemies.He named James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James as people who must face charges.Trump criticized prior investigations as unfair and demanded, “Justice must be served, now!” Firing Signals Escalation of Political Pressure Trump dismissed U.S. attorney Erik Siebert after he failed to charge Comey and James.He nominated Lindsey Halligan, his personal legal team member, to replace Siebert in the Eastern District of Virginia.Halligan has no prosecutorial experience, raising concerns about politicization in federal law enforcement offices. Broader Push Against U.S. Attorneys Trump’s allies reportedly pressured…