Author: Rachel Maddow

Anti-capitalists, climate activists, women’s rights groups, and anti-migrant organisations plan protests, highlighting poverty and inequality in South Africa.Police and army held a parade on Wednesday with helicopters, K-9 units, and motorcycles to show force before the G20 summit.Officials deployed 3,500 extra police officers and placed the army on standby under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili told reporters authorities expect protests in Johannesburg and other major cities.She confirmed that citizens can protest, but only within legal boundaries.Police designated specific areas near the exhibition centre beside the country’s largest soccer stadium for protesters to gather.Airports Company South…

Major Construction Push Reshapes the Energy Landscape Czechia aims to produce up to 60 percent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050. The massive cooling towers at the Dukovany power station rise over an expanding construction zone where crews prepare for two additional reactors. Mobile drilling rigs pull samples from 140 meters underground and verify the site’s suitability for a $19 billion project. Officials plan to at least double national nuclear output and strengthen Czechia’s role as one of Europe’s most nuclear-reliant nations. South Korea’s KHNP won a tender over France’s EDF to build the plant. Engineers will install…

Thousands of young Mexicans took to the streets of Mexico City on Saturday, protesting corruption, violence, and government neglect. The march spanned 52 cities nationwide and extended to international locations, including the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In the capital, clashes at the Zócalo left 20 civilians and more than 100 police officers injured, with around 20 arrests reported. The movement ignited after the 1 November assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo. Manzo had repeatedly appealed to federal authorities to confront organized crime in Michoacán. His murder fueled widespread anger among young citizens who feel ignored by Mexico’s…

Activists described climate impacts in their home countries and demanded stronger youth participation in UN negotiations. Thousands of protesters returned to the gates of the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, blocking the entrance in a peaceful standoff. Brazilian youth groups, activists, and Indigenous communities marched together to pressure leaders during the critical UN climate meeting. Members of Fridays for Future urged negotiators to include young people in formal discussions. Rachelle Junsay from Climate Action Philippines voiced frustration, saying youth will inherit a damaged planet. She said decision-makers talk comfortably inside negotiation rooms while real victims remain excluded from the…

Russian forces struck Kyiv early Friday, killing four and wounding 27, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Fires engulfed several districts, and rescue teams could not reach two bodies trapped in rubble. Emergency crews responded across the city as at least 11 residential buildings suffered severe damage. Zelenskyy Denounces Attack on Civilians President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the assault a “deliberately calculated attack” targeting civilians and infrastructure. He said Russia used 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic types. Nine people required hospitalization, including a pregnant woman. Two children, aged seven and ten, suffered injuries during the strikes. Falling debris sparked…

Switzerland’s reputation for financial discretion is once again under scrutiny. UBS AG, the country’s largest bank, now finds itself at the center of a global controversy following reports that it may still hold assets linked to Jewish victims of the Nazi regime. A series of international investigations—by Eric Frey in Der Standard (link), Riva Pomerantz in Ami Magazine (link), and Peter Hell in BILD (link)—has reignited a debate long thought settled. Hidden Archives, New Exposure The controversy stems from recently uncovered archives at Credit Suisse, which merged with UBS in 2023. These documents, numbering in the tens of thousands, appear…

Amid an escalating water shortage, the Audit Office of Cyprus urged swift reforms to safeguard the nation’s dwindling reserves. The report stressed that effective water management has become critical as climate change intensifies scarcity across the island. The Water Development Department (DWD), responsible for overseeing water distribution and sustainability, now carries an even greater responsibility to ensure the Republic’s resources remain secure and efficiently managed. Weak Oversight and Mounting Debt Auditors found major flaws in supply monitoring, billing accuracy, and data control. Two key intake points, responsible for 64% of Nicosia’s consumption, were rarely inspected. The DWD lacked access to…

A car exploded near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring several others. The explosion triggered a fire that destroyed nearby vehicles and sent thick smoke across the area. Police officers quickly sealed off the site as emergency responders arrived. Emergency Crews Battle Flames Multiple fire engines sped to the scene after reports of a blast near a Red Fort metro station gate. Firefighters fought the blaze that spread among parked cars. Police and rescue teams worked together to evacuate the injured and secure the area. Police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi confirmed the casualties…

Iraq entered early voting on Sunday as military personnel and displaced citizens cast ballots ahead of Tuesday’s crucial parliamentary election. About 1.3 million members of the army and security services, along with roughly 26,000 displaced people, are eligible to participate. The election will decide whether Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani secures a second term amid rising regional tensions involving Israel and Iran. A total of 7,744 candidates are contesting seats, most representing parties aligned with sectarian interests. Analysts say the outcome could shift Iraq’s political landscape and redefine its delicate balance between Tehran and Washington. Election officials organized polling stations…

UBS AG, Switzerland’s premier banking institution, faces escalating scrutiny over allegations that it continues to hold undisclosed Nazi-era accounts. The claims—revived through coordinated investigations in Europe and the United States—threaten to ignite one of the most consequential compliance crises in modern banking history. Century-Old Assets, Modern Compliance Challenges Viennese lawyer Dr. Gerhard Podovsovnik and Rabbi Ephraim Meir have filed renewed claims asserting that UBS inherited dormant accounts from the former Basler Handelsbank, a bank later absorbed into its corporate structure. According to investigations by Eric Frey of Der Standard (read article) and Riva Pomerantz of Ami Magazine (see feature), six…