Author: Rachel Maddow

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…

The European Commission approved a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, according to drugmaker Gilead.The jab, called lenacapavir, blocks the virus from replicating inside the body.It protects both adults and adolescents from contracting HIV. Clinical Trials Show Full Effectiveness Trials showed lenacapavir prevented HIV infection with 100 per cent effectiveness.Experts called the jab one of 2024’s greatest medical breakthroughs.The drug, branded Yeytuo, will launch across the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.It replaces daily pills with a twice-yearly injection. Rising Cases Spark Urgency HIV diagnoses in Europe rose 11.8 per cent in 2023, reaching more than 24,700 new cases.Gilead’s chief medical officer, Dr.…

Authorities blocked access roads to Parliament, including toll routes, triggering massive traffic congestion across Jakarta.Thousands of students marched toward Parliament on Monday, protesting lawmakers’ excessive housing allowances.Riot police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the advancing demonstrators.Protesters retaliated by throwing bottles and rocks at officers and setting fires beneath a flyover near Parliament.Officials deployed over 1,200 security personnel to guard the heavily protected compound.No injuries were immediately reported from the violent clashes. Anger Over Lawmakers’ Housing Benefits Protesters condemned the 50 million rupiah (€2,637) monthly housing allowance for each of Indonesia’s 580 lawmakers.They argued the allowances are unfair when…

SpaceX launched the CRS-33 mission from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, sending a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.This flight marked the 50th Dragon visit to the space station since its first in May 2012.After stage separation, the Falcon 9 first stage landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic.SpaceX confirmed the Dragon will autonomously dock with the ISS on Monday after a 28-hour journey. Mission Delivers Supplies and Key Experiments The CRS-33 mission carries 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) of food, equipment, and research materials to astronauts onboard.Officials emphasized the mission’s scientific importance, highlighting 50 different studies critical for…

Protesters filled streets across the UK, including Liverpool, to oppose housing asylum-seekers in hotels. Right-wing groups organized demonstrations under the “Abolish Asylum System” slogan in Bristol, Newcastle, and London. Stand Up To Racism staged a counter-protest in Liverpool, while police removed and restrained demonstrators from both groups. Courts Intensify Housing Disputes A recent court ruling blocked asylum-seeker housing in an Epping hotel, fueling opposition campaigns nationwide. Right-wing politicians urged more communities to challenge hotel use in courts, escalating local resistance against asylum accommodations. The ruling complicated government efforts to secure temporary housing, sparking heightened tensions and stronger political pushback. Rising…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine’s security guarantees will include stronger military power and Western commitments deterring Russia. He emphasized NATO’s “unwavering” support during his Kyiv visit with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rutte confirmed NATO funding would secure a steady flow of lethal US weapons to Ukraine. He added that Donald Trump assured US involvement after the White House meeting earlier this week. Leaders Discuss Troops, Sanctions, and Guarantees Rutte said discussions on foreign troop deployment remain unresolved. Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine needs security guarantees to protect future generations from Russian attacks. He called the guarantees essential against any aggressor. Zelenskyy…