Author: Rachel Maddow

Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted Jair Bolsonaro for attempting to stage a coup after losing the 2022 election. Three of five justices found him guilty on five counts; one justice has not yet voted. Justice Cármen Lúcia ruled for conviction Thursday, after Justice Luiz Fux voted to acquit the former president. The panel will determine Bolsonaro’s sentence once all five justices vote, potentially sending him to prison for decades. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro under house arrest on August 5 for violating political messaging restrictions. International Reactions and Political Tensions The ruling deepens Brazil’s political divisions and may trigger backlash…

Hong Kong’s property market downturn is hitting global investment firms hard, with Schroders now under growing pressure as banks move to seize assets linked to its real estate portfolio. Plunging property values, weak rental demand, and a lack of recovery signs have created a challenging environment that is reshaping the city’s once-booming commercial sector. According to government data, average prices for office buildings in Hong Kong have fallen by 48% from their 2018 peak, while retail space values are down 39%. The steep decline has eroded the collateral value for many loans, prompting banks to act swiftly to reduce exposure…

Israeli forces attacked senior Hamas officials in Doha on Tuesday, expanding operations under “Summit of Fire.” Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said Israel independently planned, executed, and takes full responsibility for the strike. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions and smoke rising over the Katara district after Israeli air force jets carried out the attack. Casualty Reports Remain Unclear Initial unconfirmed reports suggest four Hamas Political Bureau members were killed or remain missing. Qatari officials later stated no deaths had been confirmed but acknowledged residential buildings housing Hamas leaders suffered damage. The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as reckless and launched high-level…

Frédéric Péchier faces charges for allegedly poisoning 30 patients at Besançon clinics between 2008 and 2017. Twelve victims died. Authorities investigated Péchier after Sandra Simard suffered cardiac arrest during a routine surgery in January 2017. They found a lethal potassium dose in her anaesthesia bag. Allegations of Deliberate Medical Sabotage Prosecutors claim Péchier contaminated colleagues’ infusion pouches and then assisted in resuscitations, saying he “always had a solution.” Péchier denies all wrongdoing. Victims’ ages ranged from 4 to 89. His defense team insists he will prove his innocence. Lengthy and Technical Trial Continues The trial, set to last until December,…

US President Donald Trump warned Hamas on Sunday to accept a US-brokered ceasefire that Israel already approved. He posted on Truth Social, “Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end! This is my last warning. There will not be another one.” Ceasefire Proposal Details US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff reportedly sent the proposal to Hamas on Sunday. The deal asks Hamas to release all hostages immediately. In return, Israel would free up to 3,000 Palestinian prisoners. The US would support ending Israel’s military operations as part of the agreement. Hostage Count and Pressure on Hamas Officials say…

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…