Author: Rachel Maddow

Governments Try to Calm Fears Over Rising Energy Bills European Union countries have agreed to tweak a key financial safeguard to prevent sharp jumps in carbon prices once a new tax on road transport and buildings comes into force. The adjustment is aimed at smoothing out potential shocks when the expanded carbon market — known as ETS2 — begins operating in 2028. The new system will put a price on emissions from cars, vans, and heating fuels, meaning households and businesses that rely on fossil fuels are likely to see higher costs. That prospect has already stirred political tension. Some…

Brussels Weighs Tougher Energy Measures The European Union is prepared to move ahead with a sweeping ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, even if G7 partners fail to agree on a coordinated approach. Valdis Dombrovskis said a joint decision with the G7 would be preferable, but stressed it was not essential. Brussels is aiming to have its 20th sanctions package approved by 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If adopted, the proposal would effectively end the G7 price cap on Russian oil within EU jurisdiction by prohibiting European companies from servicing Russian tankers…

A Personal Bond Framed as Political Support U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio brought a clear message from Donald Trump to Budapest: Washington wants Viktor Orbán to succeed. Speaking alongside Orbán after the Munich Security Conference, Rubio emphasized the close personal relationship between the Hungarian leader and Trump, saying it has strengthened ties between the two countries. Rubio went further, stating that Trump is “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success, framing Hungary’s prosperity as aligned with U.S. national interests. He also pointed to Hungary’s recent one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports as evidence of that relationship at work.…

Is the West in Decline — or Reinventing Itself? This year’s gathering at the Munich Security Conference exposed a widening divide over what the West stands for — and whether it is in need of rescue. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a stark warning, arguing that America has no intention of presiding over what he called the West’s “managed decline.” He urged European allies to confront what he sees as policy failures tied to climate and migration, saying Washington wants partners ready to fix the system, not defend the status quo. At the same time, Rubio struck a…

Europe’s Voice Missing From Negotiations At the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a blunt message: it is a “big mistake” that European leaders are largely absent from the U.S.-brokered negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia. Zelenskyy stressed that any lasting peace must reflect the security concerns of the entire continent — not just Kyiv and Washington. His comments echoed recent remarks by Emmanuel Macron, who suggested Europe may need to rethink its own security framework in the face of an increasingly aggressive Moscow. Another round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia…

The United Nations has voted to establish a 40-member international scientific panel to examine the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, a decision that passed despite firm opposition from the United States. The resolution was approved by the UN General Assembly in a 117-2 vote, with the U.S. and Paraguay voting against it and Tunisia and Ukraine abstaining. Russia, China and several European nations supported the measure. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the initiative as a crucial milestone in building a shared global understanding of AI. He said the new body would provide independent, science-based analysis at a time when…

There was a clear message coming out of Brussels this week: if NATO is to remain strong, Europe will need to shoulder more of the burden. While both American and European officials appear to agree on that principle, their reasons for doing so are not entirely the same. Speaking at a meeting of NATO defence ministers, US Under Secretary of War Eldridge Colby called for what he described as “NATO 3.0.” In his view, that means European allies taking primary responsibility for the conventional defence of the continent. According to Colby, Europe should provide the bulk of the forces needed…

A Devastating Day in Tumbler Ridge At least nine people have died following a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, marking one of the deadliest school attacks in Canada in decades. Police confirmed that six victims were found inside the school building, while another person died en route to hospital. The suspected gunman was also discovered dead at the scene with what authorities believe to be a self-inflicted injury. In addition to those killed, two more bodies were located at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident. Investigators have not yet explained how those…

Invoking the Fifth Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee during a deposition on Monday. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison camp in Texas for sex trafficking, pleaded her Fifth Amendment rights in a video call with lawmakers. The committee is investigating individuals connected to Epstein who may have helped facilitate his abuse of minors in the 1990s and 2000s. Clemency as a Condition for Testimony Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, told lawmakers that she would be willing to testify if US President…

Melting Ice Opens the Arctic to More Ships As global temperatures rise, Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than ever, opening shipping routes that were previously frozen year-round. Cargo vessels, fishing boats, and even some cruise liners are now navigating these northern waters, but this surge in traffic comes at a steep environmental cost. Ships emit black carbon, or soot, which settles on ice and snow, darkening the surface. This reduces the reflective ability of ice, causing it to absorb more heat and accelerate melting. “It ends up in a never-ending cycle of increased warming,” says Sian Prior, lead adviser…