Author: Rachel Maddow

The Israeli army attacked Gaza City Friday and declared the area a combat zone.International organisations and aid groups immediately condemned Israel’s operation.Gaza health officials reported 63,025 deaths, including 59 in the last 24 hours.Churches and aid groups pledged to stay in the city to help displaced residents.Israel said Hamas leaders hide in Gaza City and operate an active tunnel network.Explosions and smoke erupted across southern Israel as fighting escalated.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel must destroy Hamas to prevent another October 7 attack. Civilians Endure Violence and Displacement Gaza City residents said international criticism did not stop Israel’s military strikes.Mohamed…

A 14-year-old boy admitted setting several fires in Portugal, using matches after riding his scooter into forests.Police suspect he started blazes in Seidões, Ardegão, and Arnozela.The boy told officers he acted out of frustration over poor school results and social struggles.Authorities have not ruled out that he acted with others. Authorities Investigate Repeated Fires Police launched inquiries after wildfires repeatedly erupted in the same parishes during summer.Officials reported daily destruction, alarming residents and burning large areas of forest.Braga Judicial Police completed the investigation and transferred the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.The Public Prosecutor will forward the case to the…

Scientists say rising temperatures and reduced rainfall worsen forest fire risks across Europe.The 2025 wildfire season has already shattered records for land burned. Unprecedented Damage Across the Continent Fires destroyed over one million hectares in the EU, exceeding Corsica’s total area.That area burned is more than four times last year’s total.Authorities declared over 1,800 forest fires, releasing more than 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta reported zero wildfires.Italy and Romania each recorded more than 450 fires.Cyprus reported three fires, yet those blazes caused severe damage.Spain lost over 400,000 hectares, and Portugal lost 260,000…

Gunfire erupted Wednesday at Annunciation Catholic School during morning mass, killing two students and wounding 17 others.Police confirmed the shooter carried a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and opened fire through the church windows.The shooter then took his own life. Authorities reported no ongoing threat to residents. Officials Respond and Condemn Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the attack “sheer cruelty and cowardice” at a press briefing.Governor Tim Walz described the shooting as “horrific” and prayed for students and teachers.Children’s Minnesota admitted five victims, while Hennepin Healthcare treated additional patients from the scene.President Donald Trump said he received briefings and promised continued…

The European Commission approved a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection across member states.Gilead confirmed the authorization follows the European Medicines Agency’s recommendation last month.Lenacapavir, marketed as Yeytuo, will be available in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Lenacapavir Delivers Breakthrough HIV Protection Lenacapavir acts as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), blocking HIV replication and spread in the body.It protects adults and adolescents from acquiring HIV.Clinical trials showed the injection prevented all infections, earning recognition as a major medical advance in 2024.Yeytuo offers the first twice-yearly PrEP option, replacing daily pill regimens. HIV Infections Rise Across Europe HIV cases increased 11.8 per cent in…

Thousands of students marched toward Indonesia’s Parliament in Jakarta to protest lawmakers’ lavish benefits.Riot police fired tear gas as protesters tried to approach the compound.Protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers and set fires under a nearby flyover.Authorities blocked streets and toll roads, creating severe traffic jams across the city.Security forces deployed over 1,200 personnel to guard the heavily protected Parliament building. Outrage Over Housing Benefits Reports revealed 580 House members receive 50 million rupiah (€2,637) per month in housing allowances.Protesters condemned the benefits as unfair while many citizens face severe economic hardship.The housing allowance alone equals roughly 20 times…

SpaceX launched the CRS-33 mission from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, sending Dragon to the ISS for the 50th time.The first stage separated successfully and landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.SpaceX confirmed the Dragon spacecraft will autonomously dock with the ISS on Monday after a 28-hour flight. Resupply and Scientific Research The CRS-33 mission delivers 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) of food, supplies, and experiments to ISS astronauts.SpaceX officials highlighted that the mission also supports 50 scientific studies critical for future human space travel.Researchers will test whether blocking a protein that drives bone loss can protect…

The government must legally provide housing for asylum-seekers. Before 2020, using hotels caused little public attention.Rising asylum-seeker numbers in 2020 forced the Conservative government to find new housing solutions quickly.Asylum-seeker arrivals have surged: over 27,000 people arrived this year, nearly 50% more than last year.The government housed just over 32,000 asylum-seekers in hotels by June, up from 29,500 a year earlier.Hotel numbers remain below the September 2023 peak of more than 56,000 people.Between July 2024 and June 2025, 111,084 people applied for asylum, the highest yearly total since 2001.In May, the National Audit Office reported that 35% of asylum accommodation…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said NATO will strengthen Ukraine’s army and secure commitments from the US and Europe to deter Russia. He called the alliance’s support “unwavering” and said it “continues to grow.” Rutte confirmed NATO plans to fund a steady flow of lethal US weapons to Ukraine. He said President Donald Trump affirmed America’s involvement in providing security guarantees after a White House meeting. Rutte explained the agreement will ensure Putin never dares to attack Ukraine again. Discussions about foreign troops, intelligence, sea, and air support are ongoing but unfinished. Zelenskyy Demands Strong Security Guarantees President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…

German prosecutors arrested Serhii K., a Ukrainian citizen, for allegedly coordinating the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Authorities detained him overnight in Italy’s Rimini province and identified him as one of the operation’s organizers. Explosions Heightened Energy and War Tensions On September 26, 2022, explosions ruptured Nord Stream 1 and damaged Nord Stream 2 under the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 1 had supplied Russian gas to Germany until Moscow cut deliveries in August 2022. Germany suspended Nord Stream 2 certification before Russia’s February invasion, so the pipeline never entered service. The attacks intensified Europe’s effort to reduce reliance on Russian…