Author: Rachel Maddow

Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later behind the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago. Scientists located traces of the bacterium in a mass grave beneath Jerash’s ancient ruins in Jordan. They identified the microbe through DNA analysis, marking the first direct biological evidence of the pandemic. Justinian Plague’s Deadly Reach The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE and spread across the eastern Mediterranean and Byzantine Empire. Historians estimate the pandemic killed between 15 and 100 million people during two centuries of recurrence. Researchers linked the outbreak to Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium that drove later waves like the…

Russia deployed 142 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported on Telegram. Explosions erupted in Kherson, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro during the attack. Ukrainian forces shot down 126 drones, but 16 drones struck 10 locations. Kherson Suffers Casualties and Damage Local media confirmed two deaths and 14 injuries in Kherson. Drones destroyed nine houses, schools, a hospital, an administrative building, a gas station, and several cars. Odesa Faces Energy Crisis Chornomorsk suffered the heaviest damage in Odesa, leaving at least 29,000 residents without electricity. District Governor Oleg Kiper reported crews restored power to critical infrastructure using…

The Israeli army attacked Gaza City Friday and declared it a combat zone.International organisations and aid groups immediately condemned the offensive.Health officials reported 63,025 deaths in Gaza, including 59 in the past 24 hours.Churches and aid groups stayed in the city to help displaced residents.Israel said Hamas leaders hide in Gaza City and operate active tunnels.Explosions and smoke appeared across southern Israel as fighting resumed.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel must destroy Hamas to prevent another October 7 attack. Civilians Endure Violence and Displacement Gaza City residents said international criticism did not stop Israel’s attacks.Mohamed Aboul Hadi reported massacres continued…

A 14-year-old boy confessed to police that he deliberately started multiple wildfires.He rode his scooter to forest areas and used matches to ignite blazes.Authorities suspect he caused fires in Seidões, Ardegão, and Arnozela. Motive and Investigation Police said the boy acted out of anger over poor school results and social struggles.They have not ruled out that he may have acted with others.Officers launched an investigation after repeated fires struck the same regions.Braga Judicial Police completed their inquiry and sent the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.The Family and Children’s Court will handle the case. Arrests and Fire Response By 20…

Experts link rising temperatures and lower rainfall to more intense and frequent forest fires.The 2025 wildfire season in Europe has already shattered records for burned land.Fires have destroyed over one million hectares in the EU, exceeding Corsica’s total area.This area burned is more than four times last year’s total. EU Fire Statistics Authorities declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Among 27 EU nations, only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta avoided wildfires.Italy and Romania each reported more than 450 blazes, topping the list.Damage does not always match fire counts: Cyprus reported three…

Gunfire erupted Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during first-day mass.The shooter fired a rifle through church windows while also carrying a shotgun and a pistol.Police confirmed he killed two children, aged eight and ten, and wounded 17 others before killing himself.Authorities contained the shooter and declared no ongoing threat to residents. Officials Condemn Attack Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the shooting “sheer cruelty and cowardice” in a press briefing.Governor Tim Walz described the attack as “horrific” and prayed for students and teachers affected.Children’s Minnesota admitted five victims, while Hennepin Healthcare treated additional patients from the shooting.President Donald…

The European Commission approved a twice-yearly HIV prevention shot across the EU, confirmed Gilead.The European Medicines Agency recommended lenacapavir last month, calling it a first-of-its-kind treatment.Gilead will market the injection as Yeytuo in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Lenacapavir Blocks Virus Transmission Lenacapavir acts as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), stopping HIV from replicating in the body.The injection protects both adults and adolescents from infection.Clinical trials showed complete effectiveness, earning praise as a major 2024 medical breakthrough.Yeytuo eliminates the need for daily PrEP pills, offering a twice-yearly alternative. Rising Cases Highlight Need for Prevention HIV diagnoses rose 11.8 per cent in…

Thousands of students marched toward Indonesia’s Parliament on Monday to protest lawmakers’ lavish benefits.Riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters trying to reach the Parliament compound.Demonstrators criticized 580 House members for receiving 50 million rupiah (€2,637) monthly housing allowances since September 2024.Protesters argued the benefits are unfair amid widespread economic hardship affecting most citizens. Clashes and Roadblocks Disrupt City Protesters threw rocks, bottles, and set fires under a flyover near Parliament’s heavily guarded entrance.Authorities blocked streets and toll roads, causing severe traffic congestion across Jakarta.Police deployed over 1,200 personnel to secure the Parliament building.Officials reported no immediate injuries from…

SpaceX launched the CRS-33 Dragon mission to the ISS from Cape Canaveral on Sunday.This launch marked the 50th Dragon visit since the spacecraft’s first resupply mission in May 2012.After stage separation, the Falcon 9 first stage landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic.SpaceX expects the Dragon to autonomously dock with the ISS on Monday after a 28-hour flight. Mission Delivers Supplies and Science CRS-33 carries 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) of food, experiments, and essential supplies for the ISS crew.Officials emphasized the mission also supports critical scientific research for human space exploration.Astronauts will conduct 50 experiments addressing…

The government must legally provide housing for asylum-seekers. Before 2020, using hotels attracted little attention.Rising asylum-seeker numbers in 2020 forced the Conservative government to quickly find new housing solutions.Over 27,000 unauthorized arrivals occurred this year, nearly 50% more than last year.By June, the government housed just over 32,000 asylum-seekers in hotels, up from 29,500 a year earlier, still below the September 2023 peak of 56,000.Between July 2024 and June 2025, 111,084 people applied for asylum, the highest yearly total since 2001.The National Audit Office reported that 35% of asylum accommodation residents temporarily lived in hotels. Protests and Public Response Protesters…