Author: Rachel Maddow

The Canary Islands recorded record visitor numbers this year despite growing protests over overtourism.August alone attracted 1.23 million international tourists, a 6% increase from last year.From January to August, more than 10 million foreigners visited, ranking the islands third in Spain.British tourists made up nearly half a million visitors in August, with Germans contributing a large share.Tourism continues to support about 35% of the islands’ economy. Attractions and Accessibility Draw Crowds Warm climate, beaches, forests, mountains, and volcanoes make the islands attractive year-round.The seven main islands include Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro.Flights from…

Sébastien Lecornu resigned as French prime minister on Monday, weeks after his recent appointment.His resignation made him France’s shortest-serving prime minister since 1958.President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation hours after Lecornu announced his new cabinet.The sudden departure intensified political instability and signaled fresh turmoil in French government. Cabinet Sparks Controversy Lecornu faced immediate criticism from allies and opposition members after unveiling his ministerial lineup.The conservative Republicans condemned Bruno Le Maire’s return as defence minister, calling it unacceptable.Critics accused Lecornu of failing to bring new faces or ideas to government. Critics Highlight Lack of Renewal Twelve of Lecornu’s eighteen ministers previously…

Storm Amy killed three people and knocked out power for tens of thousands across Europe over the weekend.Irish authorities reported a man died in Letterkenny, while French officials confirmed two fatalities from storm-related incidents.The storm caused widespread travel chaos across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia, grounding ferries and blocking roads. France and Belgium Struggle with Damage Northern France issued orange alerts as gusts reached 131 kph on the coast and 110 kph inland.Two men died in separate incidents: one struck by a tree branch, another while swimming near Étretat.Belgium reported wind speeds over 100 kph and closed Ostend breakwaters, issuing…

Donald Trump praised Hamas for accepting parts of his peace plan and urged Israel to halt its strikes immediately.He stressed stopping attacks would allow safe and rapid hostage release.Trump posted on social media: “I believe they are ready for a lasting peace.”He thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and other nations for helping mediate the situation.Trump added, “This is a big day. We must finalize details in concrete terms.” Leaders Respond to Peace Effort Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s readiness for the plan’s first stage, focusing on hostage release.His office later said Israel would continue pursuing its…

Elon Musk urged his X followers to boycott Netflix over a cartoon featuring a transgender character.He claimed the action protects children from what he calls “woke bias.”Musk repeatedly attacked the show Dead End: Paranormal Park, highlighting its LGBTQ+ content. Controversy Flares Over Trans Representation Musk reposted a meme portraying Netflix as a Trojan horse entering children’s homes.He shared clips from Libs of TikTok, declaring, “this is not ok.”Musk has publicly clashed with transgender issues, including a fallout with his daughter Vivian Wilson. Netflix Stays Silent Amid Debate Netflix has not responded to Musk’s social media campaign.The company previously defended its…

SK Hynix and Samsung will profit from surging demand for high-bandwidth memory as OpenAI launches its $500bn Stargate project.Shares jumped sharply in Seoul, with SK Hynix up 10% and Samsung Electronics rising more than 3%.Both firms will supply HBM chips for OpenAI’s supercomputer, securing a critical role in the global AI push. Samsung leads global DRAM and NAND flash production, powering data centers, servers, and smartphones worldwide.SK Hynix ranks second in DRAM output and dominates HBM, supplying ultra-fast chips for Nvidia AI processors.Together, they control over half the memory market, shaping prices, capacity, and technology direction in the digital economy.…

Eurozone inflation climbed to 2.2% in September, rising from 2.0% in August, Eurostat reported.Monthly prices increased 0.1%, repeating August’s pace, while core inflation held steady at 2.3%.Services led price gains with a 3.2% annual rise, and food, alcohol, and tobacco rose 3.0%. Energy prices fell 0.4%, easing from August’s 2.0% decline, while non-energy industrial goods remained at 0.8%.Estonia recorded the highest inflation at 5.2%, followed by Croatia and Slovakia at 4.6% each.Cyprus saw no change, France increased 1.1%, and Italy and Portugal rose 1.3% and 1.0% respectively. ECB Maintains Rates Amid Rising Prices The ECB kept its deposit facility rate…

Zhimin Qian, 47, tricked over 128,000 people in China and tried to hide stolen cryptocurrency in the UK.UK courts convicted Qian of leading a Bitcoin scam connected to the world’s largest crypto seizure, worth £5.5 billion.Also called Yadi Zhang, Qian admitted at Southwark Crown Court to unlawfully acquiring and holding cryptocurrency. Escape and Laundering Efforts Police said her guilty plea followed a seven-year international money laundering investigation.From 2014 to 2017, Qian ran a huge fraud in China, converting victims’ money into Bitcoin assets.She fled China using fake documents and entered the UK, attempting to launder the funds by buying property…

Researchers tested VER-01, a cannabis-derived extract, on adults suffering persistent lower back pain. Patients reported meaningful pain relief over several months. Scientists developed VER-01 to reduce pain without causing addiction or severe side effects. Chronic lower back pain affects around 619 million people globally, making it the leading cause of disability. Traditional treatments like opioids carry high addiction risks, while NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, can harm the heart and digestive system. Many patients struggle to find effective alternatives, highlighting a critical need for safer therapies. Clinical Trial Shows Measurable Benefits The study enrolled 820 adults who failed to respond to non-opioid…

Germany will build Europe’s strongest conventional army, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared in May. The government must address personnel shortages and rapidly equip troops with modern weaponry. Berlin plans a €83 billion procurement program, directing most orders to European manufacturers and only eight percent to the USA. Officials intend to complete 154 major defense projects between September 2025 and December 2026. Sipri data shows European NATO members doubled arms imports from 2020-2024, with Germany’s imports rising 334 percent, mostly from the US. Germany now promotes a “Buy European” approach to reduce dependency on American military systems. Risks of American Dependence US…