Author: Rachel Maddow

Workers at the Louvre closed the museum on Monday, protesting staffing shortages, security concerns, and working conditions.Labour leaders said 400 employees voted unanimously to strike during a morning meeting.Strikers blocked the iconic glass pyramid entrance, waving flags, banners, and placards.The museum posted an “exceptional closure” notice online and promised refunds to ticket holders.The Louvre normally closes on Tuesdays, and employees may meet again Wednesday to decide whether to continue the strike. Visitors express frustration and sympathy Tourists arriving at the museum reacted with disappointment.Lindsey Hall, from Sacramento, California, had planned to explore the Louvre’s vast art collection with a friend.She…

Gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing ten people, including one attacker. Over a dozen others sustained injuries. A Hanukkah event took place during the attack. Authorities continue investigating the motive behind the violence. New South Wales Police confirmed ten deaths on Sunday at the iconic beach. Officers identified one of the deceased as a gunman. Police said another suspect remains in critical condition in hospital care. Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes along the shoreline. They saw more than a dozen people lying injured on the ground. Bystanders described widespread blood and dozens of victims requiring urgent medical attention. Leaders…

EU fisheries ministers concluded two days of discussions with a binding agreement on fishing quotas for 2026. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved both catch limits and fishing effort levels for the coming year, with some measures extending through 2028. The agreement covers key commercial stocks in the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, giving the fishing industry a clearer and more predictable framework. Fishing effort combines vessel size, engine power, and the number of days spent at sea. After intensive talks, all 27 Member States reached a compromise balancing scientific guidance with economic viability. Danish fisheries…

Officials identified fake websites and political ads in Moldova’s election and misleading videos targeting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.The UK imposed sanctions on Russian media outlets and think-tanks and warned Western nations to counter hostile information campaigns.Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper sanctioned Telegram channel Rybar, the Foundation for the Support and Protection of Compatriots Abroad, and Aleksandr Dugin’s Centre for Geopolitical Expertise.She also targeted two China-based companies for large-scale cyberattacks against the UK and its allies. Cooper Warns of Escalating Hybrid Threats Cooper told the Foreign Office that Russia and other hostile states deploy hybrid threats to sabotage infrastructure and influence democracies.She highlighted…

China’s export surge challenges Europe’s economy, and Goldman Sachs predicts GDP declines in Germany, Italy, France, and Spain.Beijing expands its export-led recovery, intensifying global trade competition.Goldman Sachs lowers European growth forecasts in response to rising Chinese exports.Economist Giovanni Pierdomenico says increased Chinese goods supply will widen Europe’s trade deficit and weaken its international competitiveness.He adds that stronger Chinese competition could reduce euro-area GDP by 0.5% by 2029.Germany faces the largest drag, with GDP likely falling 0.9% over four years.Italy may lose 0.6%, while France and Spain could see declines near 0.4%.Eurozone exporters lost up to four market-share points to Chinese…

The White House created a “Hall of Shame” portal as Trump intensified attacks on news he labels “fake.” Officials designed the site to record alleged hoaxes, anonymous claims, and partisan smears without allowing them to disappear. Portal Criticizes Major News Organizations The website lists The Washington Post as “Offender of the week” and targets The New York Times, CNN, CBS News, and The Independent. The portal assigns claims to reporters and groups them under categories like circular reporting, failure to report, false claim, malpractice, misrepresentation, mischaracterisation, and left-wing lunacy. Accredited agencies such as the Associated Press and Reuters also appear,…

Trump openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize and long sought global recognition. Experts heavily favored him to receive the newly created FIFA award. US President Donald Trump accepted the FIFA peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday. The event gained a pronounced Trump-focused atmosphere, emphasizing his presence in the tournament’s proceedings. Close Ties Shape the Award Trump maintained a strong alliance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who publicly supported him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Infantino praised Trump’s efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire and said, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize.” Infantino…

Watches of Switzerland saw rising sales and profits despite US tariffs reaching 39% on Swiss goods. The company emphasized that demand for high-end watches and jewellery stays strong. Half-year results confirmed that luxury watch sales remain resilient in the US, even with ongoing tariffs on Swiss imports. The UK-listed retailer, Britain’s largest seller of Rolex, Omega, and Cartier watches, reported £845 million (€967 million) in group revenue for the 26 weeks ending 26 October 2025. Revenue rose 10% at constant currency and 8% at reported rates. Adjusted earnings before interest and tax climbed 6% at constant currency to £69 million…

The EU will ban Russian gas pipelines and LNG by late 2026 and mid-2027, with limited exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia.Short-term contracts signed before June 2025 will face phased bans starting April 2026 for LNG and June 2026 for pipeline gas.Long-term LNG contracts may run until January 2027, while long-term pipeline deals stop on September 30, 2027, possibly delayed to November 1.Member states accelerated plans to diversify energy after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and triggered price spikes across Europe.EU data shows dependence on Russian gas dropped from 45% pre-invasion to 13% in early 2025, though imports still reached…

Scientists show that daily orange juice alters thousands of genes in immune cells.Many of these genes regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and control sugar metabolism.These processes directly support long-term cardiovascular health, researchers say.David C. Gaze of the University of Westminster explains how orange juice triggers these genetic changes. Reduced Inflammation and Better Regulation Researchers asked adults to drink 500 ml of pasteurised orange juice daily for two months.After 60 days, stress-activated genes such as NAMPT, IL6, IL1B, and NLRP3 became less active.SGK1, which controls kidney sodium retention, also showed lower activity, helping lower blood pressure.Hesperidin, an antioxidant in oranges, influences…