Author: Rachel Maddow

The European Commission launches infringement proceedings against Italy over its golden power rule blocking UniCredit’s Banco BPM takeover.The Commission criticizes the regulation for giving Italy broad authority to review, stop, or impose conditions on bank deals.Officials warn the rule, though meant to protect national security, risks unjustified interventions that threaten free establishment and capital movement.The EU notes that the Italian law overlaps with the European Central Bank’s exclusive supervisory powers.Italy has two months to address the Commission’s objections and correct the identified issues. Italy Promises Cooperative Response Economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti says Italy will respond to the EU’s objections through…

A power outage left tens of thousands of homes without electricity across Paris Thursday morning.The blackout affected the Hauts-de-Seine region as well, cutting power to roughly 55,000 households, French media reported.Traffic lights and streetlights went dark, and several metro and suburban train lines stopped operating.Commuters faced delays, and city services struggled during the brief disruption. Technical Failure Triggers Blackout Enedis reported that the outage lasted about five minutes, though a few thousand homes still remain without power.The operator traced the failure to a technical incident at the RTE substation in Issy-les-Moulineaux.RTE oversees France’s high-voltage electricity transmission and manages large-scale energy…

Activists from anti-capitalist, climate, women’s rights, and anti-migrant groups plan protests highlighting poverty and inequality.South African police and army displayed force on Wednesday using helicopters, motorcycles, and K-9 units ahead of G20 demonstrations.Officials deployed 3,500 additional police and put the army on standby under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili told reporters that authorities expect protests in Johannesburg and other major cities.She stated that citizens can exercise their right to protest but must follow the law.Police designated specific zones near the summit venue for protesters to gather, close to the country’s largest soccer stadium.Airports Company South…

Massive Expansion at Dukovany and Temelín Czechia aims to generate up to 60 percent of electricity from nuclear power by 2050. Crews expand the Dukovany plant by adding two new reactors. Engineers drill 140 meters underground to confirm geological stability for the $19 billion project. Officials plan to double national nuclear output, cementing Czechia as a top European nuclear producer. South Korea’s KHNP won the construction contract over France’s EDF. Each new reactor will produce more than 1,000 megawatts. The reactors will complement Dukovany’s four older 512-MW units and enter service in the second half of the 2030s. KHNP also…

Thousands of young people marched through Mexico City on Saturday, protesting corruption, violence, and government inaction. The demonstration spanned 52 cities nationwide and reached international solidarity in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. The protest turned chaotic in the Zócalo, injuring 20 civilians, more than 100 police officers, and resulting in about 20 arrests. The movement gained momentum after the 1 November assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo, who had repeatedly warned the federal government about organized crime in Michoacán. His murder became a rallying point for a generation frustrated with political corruption and institutional neglect. The march…

Activists highlighted climate impacts in their home countries and pushed for youth representation in UN negotiations. Thousands marched to the gates of the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, staging a peaceful standoff outside the venue. Brazilian youth organizations, Indigenous groups, and environmental activists called for urgent action during the high-stakes UN climate meeting. Fridays for Future representatives emphasized the need to include young voices in decision-making panels. Rachelle Junsay from Climate Action Philippines criticized negotiators for excluding communities most affected by climate change. She said decision-makers discuss solutions in air-conditioned rooms while the real victims remain unheard. Protests Return…

Russia launched a massive combined attack on Kyiv early Friday, killing four and injuring 27. Fires erupted, and residential buildings suffered extensive damage. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that rescue workers could not yet recover two bodies from the rubble. Officials are still gathering details about the victims. Emergency crews treated at least 27 people injured by multiple strikes. Nine of them, including a pregnant woman, required hospitalization. Among the injured were two children aged 7 and 10. Zelenskyy Details the Scale President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “deliberately calculated” to inflict maximum harm on civilians and infrastructure. He reported…

Swiss banking giant UBS AG is facing renewed international attention following new findings that suggest it may still hold assets linked to Jewish families whose wealth was seized during the Nazi era. Investigative reporting by Eric Frey in Der Standard (link), Riva Pomerantz in Ami Magazine (link), and Peter Hell in BILD (link) have exposed archival evidence pointing to accounts that may never have been fully reconciled. For investors in the Gulf who rely on UBS for managing sovereign, family, and private wealth portfolios, the revelations raise both historical and contemporary concerns about asset security and institutional transparency. Rediscovered Archives…

The Audit Office of Cyprus found serious flaws in managing water reserves amid climate change and growing scarcity. Officials warn the Water Development Department (DWD) must take immediate action to protect national resources. Metering Failures and Billing Gaps Auditors discovered lapses in metering, billing, and record-keeping. Inspectors noted two key intake points, supplying 64% of Nicosia’s water, lacked regular checks. The DWD could not access Limassol meters or Larnaca telemetry systems, creating uncertainty about invoiced amounts. Officials observed unexplained discrepancies in readings but failed to investigate. Auditors also highlighted weak access control and poor data security in the computerized billing…

A car exploded near New Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring several others. Flames spread to nearby parked vehicles, triggering a large fire. Police and emergency teams quickly cordoned off the area. Firefighters Respond to Intense Blaze Multiple fire engines rushed to the scene after witnesses reported the blast near a Red Fort metro station gate. Firefighters worked to control the fire and prevent further damage. Rescue teams evacuated injured people while police secured the site. Eyewitnesses Describe Devastation A local resident told NDTV he heard a “window-shattering sound” and then saw flames engulf…