Author: Rachel Maddow

Global measles deaths fell dramatically since 2000, yet officials now report signs of a resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 47 per cent rise in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia last year, largely due to declining vaccination rates. Experts warn that decades of progress in reducing infections and fatalities are now slipping. In 2024, measles killed roughly 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five. That represents a sharp drop from 780,000 deaths in 2000. The WHO stressed that every preventable death remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000. Infections Climb as…

A lack of park rangers and inaccurate weather predictions led thirty tourists to tackle the O Circuit trek despite worsening conditions. Torres del Paine National Park, in remote and icy Patagonia, attracts 250,000–300,000 visitors annually. Thousands aim to complete its iconic trekking routes. On 17 November, a violent blizzard struck the O Circuit, killing five trekkers and leaving dozens stranded in whiteout conditions for hours. This tragedy, triggered by severe weather, highlights ongoing safety problems in Patagonia’s parks, which critics have increasingly questioned. Chaos on John Garner Pass The group left Los Perros campsite between 5 and 7 am to…

Dozens rallied in central Paris on Tuesday to condemn rising domestic violence and honour its victims.Activist Marie-Josée, 78, signed a banner, mourning five women killed last week by partners or ex-partners.The protest preceded the government receiving a report urging radical reform in handling domestic abuse.Officials submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending magistrates focused solely on intrafamilial violence cases.Le Parisien revealed the report before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlighting domestic violence’s complexity.Protesters said conditions for women continue to worsen despite longstanding political promises.Marie-Josée said equality has regressed since the 1990s and criticized…

Japan has launched a bold initiative to ease overtourism in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto by encouraging visitors to explore lesser-known regions. The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) has partnered with All Nippon Airways (ANA) to offer free domestic flights across ANA’s entire regional network to travellers from the UK and Europe. The programme will run from 24 November to 31 January 2026 and aims to redirect tourist flows, making overcrowded destinations less pressured while giving travellers a chance to discover Japan’s hidden gems. The initiative forms part of the “Stopover & Add-on Free Fare” scheme, which allows eligible economy…

The UN climate summit failed to deliver a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels, leaving the EU increasingly isolated. COP30 in Belém concluded with a final text that offered no roadmap, prompting critics to call it an empty deal and a moral failure. The United States withdrew from climate negotiations, creating both a political and financial gap, while President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a con job. Countries heavily dependent on fossil-fuel revenue, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, opposed any target or timeline for phasing out fossil fuels. One day before the summit ended, the EU threatened…

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…