Author: Rachel Maddow

Brazilian Supreme Court justices ruled that Jair Bolsonaro attempted a coup after losing the 2022 election. A majority of the five-member panel voted Thursday to convict him for trying to retain office despite defeat. Justice Cármen Lúcia cast her guilty vote a day after Justice Luiz Fux argued for Bolsonaro’s acquittal. Three justices already declared him guilty on five counts, while one vote remains pending before sentencing. Political Fallout and Global Repercussions The ruling has deepened political divisions and may spark backlash from the United States government. Former US President Donald Trump defended Bolsonaro, branding the proceedings a “witch hunt.”…

Eyewitnesses recorded Charlie Kirk suffering a gunshot to the neck during a Utah Valley University debate. Videos showed him clutching his wound as blood poured, before aides rushed him off stage for treatment. Police immediately detained a suspect but later released the individual. Authorities confirmed an active investigation has begun. Trump Confirms Death of Conservative Leader President Donald Trump announced Charlie Kirk’s death later Wednesday on Truth Social, praising him as “great and legendary.” Trump said Kirk loved America’s youth deeply and earned admiration nationwide, especially from himself and Melania. The president expressed condolences to Kirk’s wife Erika and family,…

Israeli forces struck senior Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, escalating their campaign under “Summit of Fire.” Netanyahu’s office confirmed Israel acted alone, stating, “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.” Eyewitnesses reported loud explosions and rising smoke over the Katara district in northern Doha. Hamas Political Bureau Under Fire Unconfirmed reports suggest all four members of Hamas’ Political Bureau were killed or remain missing after the strike. Qatari officials denied confirmed deaths but admitted the attack damaged residential buildings housing Hamas leadership. The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the assault, calling it “reckless Israeli behaviour” and…

French anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier faces trial in Besançon, accused of poisoning 30 patients between 2008 and 2017. Authorities link him to 12 deaths in two clinics. He faces life imprisonment if convicted. Investigation Triggered by Cardiac Arrest The case began in 2017 after Sandra Simard, 36, suffered cardiac arrest during routine surgery. Tests showed lethal potassium in her anaesthesia bag. Investigators connected the incident to other suspicious cases. Prosecutors allege Péchier sabotaged infusion pouches to harm colleagues, then intervened during resuscitations. Péchier Denies All Allegations The 53-year-old, banned from practising, denies responsibility for any poisonings. His defence insists he will…

US President Donald Trump issued his “last warning” to Hamas on Sunday, demanding acceptance of a US-brokered ceasefire plan. He announced that Israel had already accepted the proposal. Trump posted on Truth Social, urging an end to the war and the return of hostages. Proposal Outlines Prisoner Exchange US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff delivered the proposal to Hamas on Sunday. The plan reportedly offers an end to Israel’s military campaign in exchange for the release of all hostages. In return, Israel would release up to 3,000 Palestinian prisoners. Reports say 48 hostages remain in Gaza, but only about 20 may…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Vladimir Putin’s invitation to meet in Moscow, calling it unrealistic and insincere. He told ABC News that he could not visit “the capital of this terrorist” while Ukraine suffers daily missile strikes. Zelenskyy instead invited Putin to travel to Kyiv for direct discussions. Disputes Over Negotiation Conditions Former US President Donald Trump pushed for direct talks between the two leaders, making it a key goal of his Alaska summit with Putin. Trump later claimed the meeting would follow Zelenskyy’s Washington visit and talks with European leaders. Moscow, however, added new conditions and escalated shelling of…

An electric streetcar derailed in Lisbon on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others. The yellow-and-white tram, which climbs a steep city hill, toppled onto its side along a narrow road. Portuguese television showed the crumpled roof and sides as dozens of emergency responders rushed to assist. The crash occurred around 6 pm, during the evening rush hour, local media reported. President Responds to Tragedy President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed condolences to the victims’ families and all those impacted by the disaster. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the derailment. Glória Tram’s Role…

Residents in Dupnitsa reported seeing a black panther, which triggered a police probe and online jokes. Authorities continue the hunt for the mysterious animal. A local villager filmed a dark animal he believed to be the feared feline. Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the filming site with police officers. Police questioned the man who recorded the video, which showed a large black animal moving through tall grass. Nachov explained that police have not decided whether to set up an emergency search headquarters. He added that the witness compared the animal to a large dog. Dupnitsa lies about 66 kilometres south of…

OpenAI unveiled new parental controls for ChatGPT following a lawsuit over Adam Raine’s death in April. The company promised to release tools within a month allowing parents to manage their children’s ChatGPT use. Parents will link accounts, monitor features, review chat history, and control memory, which stores user details. ChatGPT will notify parents if it detects “acute distress” in a teenager, guided by expert recommendations. OpenAI has not explained what triggers alerts, leaving uncertainty about the exact mechanism. Parents accuse chatbot of harmful influence Adam Raine’s parents sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, blaming ChatGPT for fostering a psychological dependency.…

Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, the Black Death bacterium, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago. They located its epicentre for the first time, solving a centuries-old mystery about the world’s first recorded pandemic. Evidence Found in Ancient Jerash Researchers discovered Yersinia pestis DNA in teeth from a mass grave beneath Roman ruins in Jerash, Jordan. The findings provided the first direct biological proof linking the bacterium to the Justinian Plague. Lead author Rays HY Jiang said scientists had only relied on written accounts until now. He explained the results gave the missing genetic evidence of how the pandemic spread through…