Author: Rachel Maddow

Global measles deaths dropped sharply since 2000, but health officials now warn of a dangerous resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that measles cases jumped 47 per cent in Europe and Central Asia last year, driven by declining vaccination coverage. Officials say global gains in reducing infections and deaths are slipping. In 2024, measles killed roughly 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five, down from 780,000 in 2000. WHO stressed that every preventable death remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives globally since 2000 (WHO, 2025). Outbreaks Expand Across Continents Measles infections are rising worldwide, with…

Tourists ignored warnings and trekked the O Circuit despite worsening weather and no rangers on site.Torres del Paine National Park hosts up to 300,000 visitors annually, many aiming for multi-day treks.A violent blizzard struck the O Circuit on 17 November, killing five hikers and stranding dozens in whiteout conditions.The disaster exposed weaknesses in park safety measures and drew criticism of Patagonia’s management. Trekkers Struggle Against Extreme Conditions Around 30 international hikers left Los Perros campsite before dawn to cross John Garner Pass.The morning began with light rain and moderate winds, but conditions deteriorated rapidly at higher elevations.By late morning, visibility…

The recent invalidation of criminal cases against former FBI director James Comey and former state attorney Letitia James has drawn fresh attention to the process of appointing interim U.S. attorneys. Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent limiting politically motivated indictments that rely solely on questionable appointments. Federal courts dismissed the cases after determining that the prosecutor who filed the charges had been unlawfully appointed. This decision underscores the importance of proper legal procedures in the justice system. Without a lawfully appointed prosecutor, any indictment may be deemed invalid, regardless of the evidence or allegations. Comey and James…

Protesters exposed failures in France’s response to domestic violence as new data alarmed the nation.Dozens filled central Paris on Tuesday night and condemned the escalating gender-based violence while they honoured victims.Activist Marie-Josée, 78, voiced her despair as the crowd remembered five women killed last week by partners or former partners.Demonstrators gathered only hours before the government received a major report urging drastic reform in the justice system’s handling of domestic abuse.Officials submitted the report on Tuesday to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and urged the state to test a magistrate dedicated solely to intrafamilial violence.Le Parisien revealed the report earlier this…

Japan introduced a new strategy to ease overtourism in busy cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. The Japan National Tourism Organisation and All Nippon Airways now offer free domestic flights to UK and European travellers. The campaign runs from 24 November to 31 January 2026 and encourages visitors to explore lesser-known regions. The programme forms part of the “Stopover & Add-on Free Fare” scheme, which lets eligible economy passengers book up to two free domestic flights when they make an international booking by 31 January. Travellers can schedule these domestic departures anytime after that date. This system lets passengers fly to…

The UN climate summit failed to deliver a fossil-fuel phase-out plan, leaving the EU increasingly isolated as global ambition weakens.COP30 in Belém ended with a final text that avoided any transition roadmap, prompting critics to call the result an empty deal and a moral failure.The United States abandoned climate negotiations and created a political and financial gap, while President Donald Trump called climate change a con job.States reliant on fossil-fuel profits, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, rejected every attempt to set a phase-out target.EU representatives threatened to reject the final agreement because nearly 200 nations needed to…

Scientists long believed Theia struck early Earth, yet they lacked direct chemical proof because Theia vanished billions ago.Astronomers in France, Germany, and the United States analysed ancient lunar and terrestrial rocks to uncover Theia’s origin.Researchers now propose that Theia formed much nearer to the Sun than earlier theories suggested.They argue that this long-lost planet arose in the inner Solar System before colliding with young Earth.For decades, scientists have supported the giant impact theory to explain the Moon’s creation.This idea states that debris from the collision produced the Moon and left Theia’s material in both bodies.Apollo missions supplied samples that helped…

Trump met Zohran Mamdani on Friday and found an unexpectedly friendly tone.He had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job.”Mamdani had criticized Trump’s administration as “authoritarian” yet greeted him warmly.Both leaders emphasized shared goals to improve New York rather than highlight disagreements.Trump praised Mamdani, saying he might surprise conservative voters.The mayor-elect stood beside him as Trump expressed admiration in the Oval Office.The meeting gave both politicians political exposure and influence.Mamdani, once little-known, gained a platform to engage the nation’s most powerful leader.Trump gained a chance to highlight affordability issues amid rising political pressure.Supporters on each…

The European Commission launches infringement proceedings against Italy for applying its golden power rule during UniCredit’s attempted takeover of Banco BPM.The rule lets the Italian government examine, halt, or condition banking-sector deals.Commission officials argue the measure, designed to protect national security, instead enables unjustified interference that restricts free establishment and capital movement across the single market.They also claim the legislation conflicts with the European Central Bank’s exclusive authority under the Single Supervisory Mechanism.The Commission gives Italy two months to address the identified issues. Italy Responds to Commission Concerns Italy’s economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti states that officials will answer the objections…

A large power outage struck parts of Paris and Hauts-de-Seine on Thursday morning.The blackout initially cut electricity to 55,000 homes before the number dropped to a few thousand.The outage shut down traffic lights, streetlights, and several metro and suburban train lines.Enedis, the electricity grid operator, said the blackout lasted about five minutes for most areas.Some households, however, continue to experience extended outages. Cause Identified by Grid Operators Enedis reported that a technical incident at the RTE substation in Issy-les-Moulineaux triggered the blackout.RTE oversees France’s high-voltage electricity transmission network and confirmed the substation failure.The incident disrupted power distribution across several neighbourhoods…