Author: Rachel Maddow

Two Russian military planes entered Lithuania’s airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday, the Lithuanian military reported. Officials identified the aircraft as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling tanker, likely conducting a refueling exercise. The jets crossed into NATO territory from Russia’s Kaliningrad region around 1600 CET. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled and began patrolling the area. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda condemned the intrusion in a post on X, calling it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.” He strongly denounced the incursion, saying Russia’s actions demanded a firm response. Moscow…

Meta has eliminated 600 positions in its artificial intelligence division, US media reported. The company confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday while continuing to recruit new employees for its superintelligence lab. Axios revealed the cuts will hit Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team, product-focused AI, and AI infrastructure divisions. The newer TBD Lab will remain unaffected. Employees Urged to Seek Internal Roles Chief AI officer Alexandr Wang informed staff about the changes in a memo, encouraging affected workers to apply for other roles within Meta. Axios noted that most displaced employees are likely to secure new positions inside the company. Wang…

TIRANA — Mounting evidence suggests that sanctioned Russian networks may be exploiting Albania as a gateway to bypass Western trade restrictions — a development raising alarm across Europe’s security and energy circles. Several investigations indicate that through negligence, smuggling, or outright corruption among officials within the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, entities in Albania’s critical-infrastructure sectors have enabled commercial exchanges that appear to violate sanctions on both Russia and Iran. One major investigation by RBC Ukraine uncovered that banned Russian fuel products were being moved through Albanian ports under falsified cargo manifests. In one instance, two vessels docking at…

European markets climbed on Tuesday morning, recovering after two weeks of weakness and political uncertainty. Most indexes in Europe opened higher as Asian shares extended gains, even while US futures edged lower. By midday, Milan’s stock exchange led Europe with a 0.80% rise, driven by banks such as UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, energy group Eni, and aerospace giant Leonardo. Defence shares also supported gains in Germany, although the DAX index still slipped 0.13%. German shipbuilder TKMS, which produces submarines and naval vessels, continued to surge after debuting on Monday at €60 per share. Its stock rose 6.28% by late morning,…

By Rachel Maddow | Mir NewsAdapted from an interview originally published by the Abu Dhabi Times A sweeping investigation and international lawsuit against UBS Group AG are shedding new light on how Swiss financial institutions allegedly concealed Jewish-owned assets from the Holocaust era. According to Dr. Gerhard Podovsovnik, Vice President of AEA Justinian Lawyers, millions of wartime accounts were excluded from postwar restitution processes — a failure that he describes as “systematic and deliberate.” In an interview with the Abu Dhabi Times, Dr. Podovsovnik — who represents Rabbi Ephraim Meir in the case — said his team is now fielding…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to meet again in Qatar to set terms for enduring peace. The agreement follows a week of deadly border clashes that killed dozens. Qatari mediators confirmed that both sides will hold follow-up talks to build a framework for long-term stability. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced that Afghanistan and Pakistan accepted an immediate ceasefire after discussions in Doha. Turkish negotiators also helped finalize the agreement. Both nations pledged to form mechanisms that will preserve peace and maintain the ceasefire in the coming days. Escalation Along the Border Clashes intensified earlier this month as each nation accused the other…

Americans flooded the streets on Saturday to oppose President Donald Trump’s leadership during “No Kings” demonstrations held nationwide. Organizers coordinated over 2,600 rallies in cities including New York, Washington, Boston, and Chicago, as well as in hundreds of smaller towns. By midday, thousands gathered in Times Square and Washington, D.C., waving signs that read “Trump must go now” and chanting against the president’s immigration policies. Protesters carried slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism.” Many rallies resembled festivals, featuring marching bands, a massive “We the People” banner for signatures, and frog-costumed demonstrators from Portland, Oregon,…

Under the leadership of Garrick Ohlsson, the jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition selected 11 pianists for the highly anticipated final stage. Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz carries the nation’s hopes as the sole local performer to qualify. The classical music world now knows the finalists competing in Warsaw’s most distinguished musical event. Since its founding in 1927, the competition has stood as one of the oldest and most revered contests for pianists, dedicated entirely to celebrating Fryderyk Chopin’s masterpieces. Global Talents Prepare for the Final Stage Alongside Alexewicz, the finalists include Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori…

A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old Norwegian man of spying for Russia and Iran. The man, a former security guard at the US Embassy in Norway, received a three-year and seven-month prison sentence on Wednesday. Prosecutors said he shared embassy floor plans, security procedures, and details about diplomats, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. The man admitted to the indictment’s facts but denied criminal guilt. NRK reported that US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza motivated him to contact Russian and Iranian officials. The case has drawn strong attention due to its international implications and timing amid…

Relations between the US and China continue to worsen as both countries impose shipping fees, unsettling investors. The new trade battle unfolds despite President Trump’s social media claim: “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” European markets opened lower on Tuesday despite Monday’s Wall Street rally, sparked by Trump’s assurances about US-China relations. Investor confidence remains fragile as the two largest economies escalate trade hostilities. Both nations began charging fees on each other’s ships on Tuesday after Washington’s probe into China’s dominance in shipbuilding. The US set a $50 (€43.27) per tonne fee on Chinese vessels entering its…