Author: Rachel Maddow

Lithuania reported that two Russian military aircraft entered its airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday. The country’s military identified the planes as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling tanker. Officials said the aircraft likely crossed the border during a refuelling training mission from Kaliningrad around 1600 CET. NATO’s Baltic Air Police deployed Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets to patrol the area after the incident. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda called the violation a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity” in a post on X. He condemned the intrusion by the Russian fighter jet and transport plane, demanding a…

Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, is cutting 600 jobs in its AI division, according to US media. The company confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday, even as it recruits more staff for its superintelligence lab. FAIR Unit and AI Infrastructure Teams Face Cuts Axios revealed the layoffs will strike Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit, product-related AI teams, and AI infrastructure groups. The newer TBD Lab will remain untouched. Chief AI officer Alexandr Wang told employees in a memo that affected workers should apply for other roles within Meta. Most will likely secure new positions inside the company. Wang…

TIRANA — Growing evidence suggests that sanctioned Russian interests are exploiting networks in Albania to bypass Western export bans — a troubling development for a NATO member long viewed as a reliable ally in the Balkans. Multiple investigations indicate that through negligence, corruption, or deliberate complicity among officials in Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, certain entities within Albania’s critical infrastructure have facilitated commercial flows that appear to violate international sanctions on Russia and Iran. One investigation by RBC Ukraine uncovered schemes through which banned Russian fuel products were smuggled into Europe via Albanian ports. The report describes deceptive cargo declarations…

European markets rebounded on Tuesday morning after several weeks of weakness and geopolitical tension. Major European indexes opened slightly higher, while Asian markets extended their rallies and US futures dipped modestly. By midday, Milan’s exchange led European gains, rising 0.80%. Bank stocks like UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo advanced, along with energy giant Eni and aerospace firm Leonardo. Their strength helped the Italian market outperform its regional peers. Defence shares also pushed up Germany’s market, but not enough to lift the DAX, which slipped 0.13%. Ship and submarine manufacturer TKMS surged again after its Frankfurt debut at €60 per share on…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to hold new peace talks in Qatar to set conditions for long-term stability. The talks aim to end a week of cross-border clashes that killed dozens. Both governments confirmed an immediate ceasefire after discussions with Qatari mediators in Doha, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced. Turkish negotiators also assisted in brokering the deal. Truce Efforts and Escalating Conflict The agreement ended days of deadly confrontations that left hundreds injured. Both sides pledged to create systems that strengthen peace and maintain the truce. Violence surged earlier this month as each nation accused the other of initiating attacks. Afghanistan rejected…

Americans filled the streets on Saturday in over 2,600 “No Kings” rallies nationwide, protesting President Donald Trump’s leadership. Thousands gathered in major cities including New York, Washington, Boston, and Chicago, demanding accountability and democratic integrity. Crowds packed Times Square and Washington, D.C., chanting “Trump must go now!” while waving banners denouncing his immigration policies. Signs read “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism.” Many demonstrations resembled vibrant street festivals, featuring marching bands, music, and a massive banner displaying the U.S. Constitution’s preamble for people to sign. In Portland, Oregon, protesters dressed as frogs — a new symbol of…

The jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, chaired by Garrick Ohlsson, selected 11 pianists for the highly anticipated final stage. Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz carries the nation’s hopes as the only local contender left in the competition. The world of classical music now celebrates the unveiling of this year’s finalists, with Alexewicz representing Poland on the grand Warsaw stage. Founded in 1927, the Chopin International Piano Competition stands as one of the world’s oldest and most respected musical contests. Since its inception, the event has showcased only the timeless works of Fryderyk Chopin, preserving his musical genius for…

An Oslo court convicted a 28-year-old former US Embassy guard of espionage on Wednesday. Judges ruled that he spied for Russia and Iran and sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison. Prosecutors said the man leaked confidential details about the embassy’s diplomats, floor plans, and security procedures, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. The man admitted the factual claims in the indictment but denied criminal wrongdoing. NRK reported that the man’s anger over US-Israel ties and the Gaza war motivated him to contact Russian and Iranian officials. Defence Lawyers Question Definition of Espionage In a Thursday statement,…

Europe’s Promise Meets an Uncomfortable Reality For decades, Europe has called itself a defender of human rights — a continent where political exiles could seek refuge from persecution. But that image is slipping. Across the European Union, dissidents and reformers speak of a quieter conflict: political prosecutions that pursue them into exile, surveillance that crosses borders, and Western governments that look away. It is a struggle between power and accountability. The accusations are familiar — embezzlement, money laundering, abuse of office. When these claims collapse under scrutiny, others take their place. In the case of former Ukrainian central banker Kyrylo…

China and the US are escalating their trade conflict by imposing fees on each other’s ships, alarming investors. President Trump posted, “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” yet tensions continue to rise. European markets opened lower on Tuesday despite Wall Street’s gains the previous day, when Trump reassured investors about US-China relations. Investor confidence remains fragile as the world’s two largest economies confront each other over trade dominance. Both countries began charging fees on each other’s vessels on Tuesday. Washington set a $50-per-tonne (€43.27) levy on Chinese ships in US ports. Beijing responded with a 400-yuan (€48.65)…