Author: Rachel Maddow

Astronomers in France, Germany, and the U.S. traced the origin of Theia using ancient lunar and terrestrial rocks.Theia, the planet that collided with early Earth, likely formed closer to the Sun than previously thought.For decades, scientists believed Theia struck Earth about 4.5 billion years ago, scattering debris that formed the Moon.The giant impact theory has guided research since the first Apollo samples over 50 years ago.Theia vanished billions of years ago, leaving no direct chemical evidence, so researchers had to find indirect clues.Jake Foster of the Royal Observatory Greenwich said the study almost precisely pinpoints Theia’s birthplace.He emphasized that scientists…

US President Donald Trump met New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday, and the atmosphere surprised many observers with its cordiality. Trump had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job,” while Mamdani had labeled Trump’s administration “authoritarian.” Despite this history, the two men spoke warmly about their shared goals for New York rather than focusing on their past political conflicts. Trump praised Mamdani’s approach and stated, “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people.” Standing beside Trump in the Oval Office, Mamdani maintained a calm, professional demeanor. The meeting provided Mamdani, a…

The European Commission starts infringement proceedings against Italy for applying the golden power rule.Officials say the rule blocked UniCredit’s attempted takeover of Banco BPM.The Commission warns the regulation allows Italy to examine, halt, or impose conditions on banking-sector transactions.Brussels argues the law risks unjustified intervention, undermining free establishment and capital movement in the single market.The EU also says the legislation overlaps with the European Central Bank’s supervisory authority under the Single Supervisory Mechanism.Italy has two months to respond and address the EU’s concerns. Italy Promises Regulatory Clarification Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti pledges to respond to the Commission’s objections in the…

A power outage left tens of thousands of homes without electricity across Paris on Thursday morning.The blackout affected Paris and Hauts-de-Seine, cutting power to 55,000 residences, French media reported.Traffic lights and streetlights went dark, and some metro and suburban train lines stopped running.Commuters and residents faced temporary disruptions to daily routines during the outage. Technical Failure Behind the Blackout Enedis reported the blackout lasted about five minutes, though a few thousand homes remain without electricity.The company traced the problem to a technical incident at the RTE substation in Issy-les-Moulineaux.RTE manages France’s high-voltage electricity transmission and oversees large-scale power distribution.Electricity crews…

Anti-capitalists, climate activists, women’s rights groups, and anti-migrant organisations plan protests highlighting poverty and inequality.Police and army paraded on Wednesday with helicopters, K-9 units, and motorcycle officers to show strength before expected demonstrations.South Africa deployed 3,500 extra officers and placed the army on standby under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili told reporters that authorities anticipate protests in Johannesburg and other major cities.She emphasized authorities will allow protests but enforce lawful limits.Police designated specific areas for demonstrators near the summit venue beside the country’s largest soccer stadium.Airports Company South Africa installed “speakers’ corners” where security will…

Massive Reactor Projects Transform Energy Strategy Czechia plans to generate up to 60 percent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050. Construction crews at Dukovany supervise two new reactors while mobile rigs drill 140 meters underground to test geology for the $19 billion expansion. Officials aim to double national nuclear output and solidify Czechia as one of Europe’s top nuclear-reliant countries. South Korea’s KHNP won the contract over France’s EDF to build two reactors exceeding 1,000 megawatts each. The new units will operate in the late 2030s, complementing Dukovany’s four 512-MW reactors from the 1980s. Officials may add two…

Thousands of young people filled Mexico City streets on Saturday, demanding an end to corruption, violence, and government inaction. The march stretched across 52 cities in Mexico and reached audiences abroad, including in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. The peaceful protest escalated into riots at the Zócalo, injuring 20 civilians, over 100 police officers, and leading to about 20 arrests. The movement erupted after the murder of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo on 1 November. Manzo had repeatedly called on federal authorities to confront organized crime in Michoacán, but his appeals went unanswered. His assassination ignited outrage among…

Activists spoke about climate impacts in their home countries and called for youth representation in UN negotiations. Thousands of protesters returned to the gates of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, blocking access to the venue in a peaceful standoff. Brazilian youth groups, Indigenous communities, and climate activists marched together to demand decisive action during the crucial UN climate conference. Rachelle Junsay from Climate Action Philippines criticized negotiators for ignoring actual victims. She said youth inherit a damaged planet while decision-makers sit comfortably in air-conditioned rooms. Protests Resume After Three-Year Pause Protesters demonstrated outside UN climate talks for the first time since…

Russian forces launched a massive attack on Kyiv early Friday, killing four and injuring 27. Explosions destroyed buildings and sparked multiple fires. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers could not retrieve two bodies trapped in the rubble. Emergency crews treated 27 injured civilians. Nine people, including a pregnant woman, required hospitalization. Two children, aged seven and ten, suffered injuries. Officials urged residents to stay in shelters until air raid alerts ended. Authorities warned of possible power and water outages across the city. Zelenskyy Condemns Targeted Civilian Assault President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack a “deliberately calculated strike against civilians and infrastructure.”…

The Audit Office of Cyprus warned that the nation risks severe water shortages amid climate change pressures. Officials must improve management of the country’s reserves immediately. The Water Development Department (DWD) bears primary responsibility for overseeing supply and ensuring sustainability. Flawed Monitoring and Billing Systems Auditors found major gaps in metering, billing, and documentation. Two intake points supplying 64% of Nicosia’s water received irregular inspections. The DWD lacked access to Limassol meters and Larnaca telemetry, leaving invoices uncertain. Officials observed discrepancies but failed to investigate them, and forms remained incomplete. The computerized billing system also exposed weaknesses in access controls…