Author: Rachel Maddow

The Louvre transferred part of its jewelry collection to the Bank of France’s underground vaults on Friday, French radio network RTL reported. The transfer followed last week’s theft of eight crown jewels, which caused national outrage and renewed scrutiny over museum security. Police escorted the jewelry discreetly through Paris to safeguard the pieces, including those once displayed in the Apollo Gallery. The Bank of France’s vault, located 27 meters beneath its headquarters, already holds 90% of the nation’s gold reserves. Officials said the move was a precaution to prevent further losses amid growing public pressure. Thieves Execute High-Value Robbery in…

The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that the U.S. will send the USS Gerald R. Ford to the waters off South America. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier and its strike group to join U.S. Southern Command operations. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the deployment aims to locate, monitor, and dismantle criminal networks threatening U.S. interests. The USS Gerald R. Ford, supported by five destroyers, currently operates in the Mediterranean Sea. The move signals a sharp rise in U.S. military activity across the Caribbean and near Venezuela. Deploying an aircraft carrier marks a significant expansion of American power in…

Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuania’s airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday, according to the country’s military. Officials identified the aircraft as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling plane. They reportedly crossed into Lithuania from Russia’s Kaliningrad region around 1600 CET during a refueling exercise. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled to patrol the area. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda denounced the incursion on X, calling it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.” In a video statement, Nausėda said he “strongly condemns the violation” and demanded a response. Moscow has not…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is eliminating 600 jobs in its AI division, according to US media. The company confirmed on Wednesday that it will remove roughly 600 artificial intelligence roles while continuing to recruit for its superintelligence lab. FAIR and AI Infrastructure Teams Face Major Layoffs Axios first revealed the cuts, which impact Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit, along with its product-focused AI and AI infrastructure teams. The newer TBD Lab remains unaffected. Axios cited a memo from chief AI officer Alexandr Wang, who urged affected employees to apply for other positions within Meta. Most…

European markets regained ground on Tuesday after a week of weakness and political uncertainty. Investors cautiously returned to equities, driving modest gains across major indexes. Asian markets extended their rally, while US futures slipped slightly. By midday, Milan’s stock exchange led the region with a rise of 0.80%. Italian heavyweights UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, Eni, and defence firm Leonardo lifted the index. In Germany, defence shares supported trading activity, but the DAX still dipped 0.13%. Shipbuilder TKMS surged again after its Monday IPO, climbing 6.28% to nearly €64 per share. Rheinmetall AG rose 0.48% in Frankfurt, while BAE Systems in London…

AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest pension fund, announced plans to invest £500 million in the UK rental market. The fund aims to expand its property portfolio, starting with a student housing development in Bristol. The investment marks a significant step for AustralianSuper in diversifying its assets outside Australia. The UK rental sector, particularly student accommodation, has seen strong demand in recent years. Analysts say this makes the market attractive for long-term institutional investors. The Bristol development is the first in a series of planned investments. The project will focus on high-quality student housing, meeting growing demand from both domestic and international students.…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to resume peace talks in Qatar to define terms for lasting stability. Both governments accepted a ceasefire after meetings with Qatari mediators in Doha, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed. The agreement ends a week of intense border clashes that killed dozens and injured hundreds. Afghan and Pakistani representatives will meet again soon to strengthen peace mechanisms and maintain the truce. Turkish envoys also helped negotiate the deal. Escalation and Retaliation Along the Border Violence surged earlier this month as both nations blamed each other for attacks. Afghanistan denied hosting militants who launch strikes across the frontier, a…

Thousands of protesters gathered in cities across the United States on Saturday to denounce President Donald Trump’s leadership during massive “No Kings” demonstrations. Organizers held more than 2,600 rallies from New York to Washington, D.C., marking the third major mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House. Crowds filled Times Square, Boston Common, Chicago’s Grant Park, and hundreds of smaller towns. Protesters waved signs reading “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism.” Bands played, and participants marched behind a giant banner featuring the U.S. Constitution’s preamble, “We The People.” By midday, thousands were chanting “Trump must go now!”…

An international jury led by Garrick Ohlsson has selected 11 pianists for the final stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz remains his nation’s only contender, carrying local hopes into the final performances in Warsaw. The announcement marked a major moment for the global classical music community, which now turns its attention to the final round. The event, founded in 1927, stands as one of the world’s most prestigious and historic piano competitions. Since its beginning, every participant has performed music composed solely by Fryderyk Chopin, honoring his enduring influence. Eleven Virtuosos Prepare to Compete…

An Oslo court convicted a 28-year-old former US Embassy guard of espionage on Wednesday, ruling that he spied for Russia and Iran. Judges sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison after finding him guilty on five espionage-related charges. The court acquitted him of gross corruption. Prosecutors said the man shared confidential information about the embassy’s diplomats, floor plans, and security routines with foreign agents, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The man admitted the facts in the indictment but denied criminal intent. NRK reported that the man’s anger over US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza…