Author: Rachel Maddow

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly revealed a sweeping 20-point strategy on September 29 to end the war in Gaza.Trump developed the plan after extensive consultations with Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.Reports indicate that an Israeli airstrike on Doha, which violated Qatar’s sovereignty and targeted Hamas negotiators, triggered Trump’s push to halt the conflict.With domestic politics allowing greater flexibility, Trump increased pressure on Israel during his second term, as Israel had already met key military goals in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza.On October 8, Trump confirmed that Israel and Hamas had signed…

Afghanistan announced on Sunday that its troops killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight clashes along the shared border.Officials said the operation responded to repeated Pakistani violations of Afghan territory and airspace.Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in the country’s east, an attack Pakistan never confirmed.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan troops captured 25 Pakistani army posts and injured 30 soldiers. Kabul Vows to Defend Borders Mujahid told reporters that Afghan forces fully control all official borders and have curbed illegal activity.Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said troops launched “retaliatory and successful operations” against Pakistan’s…

Around 200 US troops arrived in Israel to set up a coordination centre supporting the Gaza ceasefire.US officials said the team would organise humanitarian aid, logistics, and security assistance but would not enter Gaza.US envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Command head Brad Cooper visited Gaza to verify Israel’s initial troop withdrawal.“This mission will succeed without US boots in Gaza,” Cooper said, confirming his command would oversee the effort. Ceasefire Brings Aid and Recovery Efforts The truce requires Hamas to release 48 hostages by Monday, with about 20 believed still alive.In return, Israel will free 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of…

A new wave of evidence has reopened one of the darkest chapters in global finance.More than two decades after the 1998 Holocaust bank settlement was meant to end all disputes over Nazi-era assets, investigators are once again looking at UBS — now accused of concealing accounts that never made it into the restitution process. This report builds on Ami Magazine’s October 2025 investigation by Riva Pomerantz, whose findings, supported by legal filings and intelligence sources, suggest that UBS inherited and hid deposits originally managed by the Basler Handelsbank, a pre-war Swiss institution later absorbed into the bank’s operations. The Settlement…

A retired Israeli rabbi claims to possess evidence of secret Nazi-era Swiss bank accounts that have remained untouched for nearly a century. His investigation is reviving questions about wartime secrecy, Holocaust-era restitution, and whether history’s financial shadows can ever be brought fully to light. A Rabbi with a Briefcase and a Mission At 72, Rabbi Ephraim Meir does not fit the image of a man seeking billions. Soft-spoken and modest, the German-Israeli rabbi divides his time between Torah study and family. Yet within his weathered leather briefcase, he says, lies evidence of one of Europe’s greatest unresolved financial mysteries. According…

The Canary Islands recorded unprecedented tourist arrivals despite protests and stricter overtourism rules.August brought 1.23 million international visitors, a 6% rise from 2024.From January to August, over 10 million foreigners traveled to the islands, ranking them Spain’s third most popular region.The United Kingdom supplied nearly half a million visitors, with Germany contributing a significant portion.Tourism drives about 35% of the islands’ GDP and remains critical to the economy. Year-Round Appeal Draws Crowds The islands attract tourists with warm weather, beaches, forests, mountains, and volcanic landscapes throughout the year.Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro offer…

Sébastien Lecornu resigned as French prime minister on Monday, weeks after his appointment.His departure makes him France’s shortest-serving prime minister since 1958.President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation shortly after Lecornu announced his cabinet.The resignation intensified political instability and raised questions about Macron’s government direction. Cabinet Choices Spark Controversy Lecornu faced harsh criticism from allies and opposition immediately after revealing his ministerial lineup.The conservative Republicans protested former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire’s return as defence minister.Critics argued the cabinet lacked innovation and relied too heavily on familiar politicians.Observers saw Lecornu’s choices as a continuation of past policies rather than a fresh…

Storm Amy killed three people and toppled infrastructure, leaving tens of thousands without electricity across multiple countries.Irish authorities reported a man died in Letterkenny on Friday from weather-related causes.French officials confirmed two men died—one from a fallen tree, another while swimming near Étretat.Amy disrupted roads, railways, and ferries across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia with heavy rain and violent winds. France and Belgium Grapple with Severe Gusts Northern France issued an orange alert as winds reached 131 kph on the coast and 110 kph inland.Storms cut electricity for 5,000 Normandy homes, though some power was later restored.Belgium recorded gusts above…

Donald Trump welcomed Hamas’s statement and claimed they appear ready for lasting peace.He urged Israel to halt bombing Gaza to secure safe and rapid hostage releases.Trump highlighted ongoing discussions to finalize the peace plan’s details and called the day “a big day.”He thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and other Arab and Muslim countries for support. Leaders Respond to Peace Effort Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s readiness to implement the plan’s “first stage,” tied to hostage release.His office stressed Israel’s commitment to pre-set war principles, without addressing Hamas’s remaining demands.Egypt and Qatar welcomed the developments and pledged to continue detailed…

Elon Musk urged his 250 million followers on X to boycott Netflix over a transgender character.He claimed the move protects children from the streaming service’s “woke bias” and LGBTQ+ storylines.Musk reposted a meme showing Netflix as a Trojan horse entering a castle labeled “your kids.” Social Media Row Escalates Musk shared Libs of TikTok’s clip of Dead End: Paranormal Park, declaring, “this is not ok.”He previously clashed with transgender issues, including a public fallout with his daughter Vivian Wilson.In 2020, Musk expressed support for trans people but criticized modern pronoun usage as “an aesthetic nightmare.” Netflix Remains Silent Netflix has…