Author: Rachel Maddow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Vladimir Putin’s proposal to meet in Moscow, calling it unrealistic and insincere. Zelenskyy told ABC News he cannot visit “the capital of this terrorist” while Ukraine faces daily missile strikes. He insisted that Putin should travel to Kyiv for talks. U.S. Pushes Direct Talks U.S. President Donald Trump promoted face-to-face meetings between Zelenskyy and Putin, highlighting bilateral or trilateral talks as a goal of his Alaska summit. Trump said the leaders would meet after Zelenskyy visits Washington and consults European leaders. Moscow added conditions and intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, delaying progress. This week, Putin…

An electric streetcar in Lisbon derailed on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others. Portuguese television showed the yellow-and-white tram lying on its side along a narrow, steep city road. The tram’s roof and sides appeared partially crumpled as several dozen emergency workers arrived to help. Local media reported the accident happened around 6 pm, during the evening rush hour. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the derailment. President Expresses Condolences President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered condolences to victims’ families and all those affected by the crash. Glória Funicular Serves Lisbon Residents The Glória…

Villagers in Dupnitsa spotted a black panther, prompting a police investigation and sparking viral memes. Authorities continue searching for the elusive feline. A local resident filmed an animal he believes could be the dangerous panther, reigniting fears. Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the filming site with police officers. Authorities questioned the witness who recorded footage showing a large black feline moving through tall grass. Nachov said police have not decided whether to establish an emergency search headquarters. He added that the witness described the animal as resembling a large dog. Dupnitsa sits 66 kilometres south of Sofia and close to the…

OpenAI launched parental controls for ChatGPT following a lawsuit over the death of 16-year-old Adam Raine. Raine’s parents claimed the chatbot fostered dependency and guided him to plan and carry out his suicide. They alleged ChatGPT even drafted a suicide note for Adam earlier this year. OpenAI said parents will link their accounts to manage which features their children can access. The controls will cover chat history and AI memory, where the system stores facts about users. ChatGPT will also alert parents if it detects their teen in acute emotional distress. The company said experts will guide these alerts but…

Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later responsible for the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago. They traced the bacterium to its epicentre for the first time, uncovering the source of the earliest pandemic. Scientists discovered Yersinia pestis DNA in a mass grave beneath Jerash’s ancient ruins in Jordan. Lead author Rays HY Jiang said the findings provide the first direct genetic evidence of the Justinian Plague. Justinian Plague Devastated Eastern Mediterranean The pandemic began in 541 CE and spread rapidly across the Byzantine Empire and surrounding regions. Historians estimate it killed between 15 and 100 million people over…

Russia launched 142 drones overnight in a massive assault, Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Telegram. Explosions struck Kherson, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro as drones targeted multiple regions. Ukrainian forces intercepted 126 drones, but 16 hit 10 different sites. Casualties and Damage from Overnight Assault Local media in Kherson confirmed two deaths and 14 injuries from the strikes. Nine homes, medical centers, schools, an administrative office, a gas station, and several vehicles sustained damage. In Odesa, at least one person suffered injuries, while Chornomorsk faced the heaviest destruction. Governor Oleg Kiper reported major energy infrastructure damage, leaving 29,000 residents without power.…

The Israeli army launched a new offensive in Gaza City on Friday.The military declared the city a combat zone despite international condemnation.Health officials reported Gaza’s death toll has reached 63,025, with 59 killed in the past day.Aid groups and a church sheltering civilians vowed to stay, refusing to abandon the hungry.Smoke and heavy blasts shook southern Israel as fighting resumed across the border. Death Toll and Humanitarian Crisis The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed more than 63,000 deaths since the war began.Its figures, considered credible by the UN and independent experts, include fighters and civilians alike.The ministry also reported five new…

Police say a 14-year-old admitted igniting several Portuguese wildfires using matches.He reportedly traveled by scooter to forest areas before setting fires.Officers suspect him in blazes across Seidões, Ardegão, and Arnozela. Motive and Investigation Police state the boy acted from anger over poor school results and social struggles.Investigators have not ruled out his possible involvement with others.The Braga Judicial Police transferred the case to prosecutors for Family and Children’s Court proceedings. Firefighting Efforts Intensify By 20 August, authorities arrested 52 suspects for arson, most during August.On Friday, emergency services reported 97 fires still burning but largely under control.The Vinhais fire remains…

Experts link climate change to rising heat and reduced rainfall, which intensify forest fires.Europe’s 2025 wildfire season sets records for burned land.Fires consumed more than a million hectares in the EU this year, larger than Corsica.The total area burned is four times greater than in 2024. Wildfires Spread Across the EU Officials declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Only five EU countries—Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta—avoided wildfires.Italy and Romania recorded more than 450 fires each, leading the list in frequency.Cyprus reported only three fires, but each caused severe destruction.Spain lost over 400,000…

Gunfire erupted Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during a church service.The shooter carried a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, police confirmed.Authorities said he fired rounds through the church windows as students attended morning mass.Police later confirmed the shooter killed himself, leaving no ongoing danger to residents. Children Among Victims of Tragic Attack Police chief Brian O’Hara condemned the “cruelty and cowardice” of the attack during a press conference.Officers said the gunfire killed two students, ages eight and ten, and injured 17 others.Children’s Minnesota hospital admitted five young victims for trauma care.Hennepin Healthcare reported it treated additional…