Author: Rachel Maddow

The Louvre moved part of its jewelry collection to the Bank of France vaults on Friday as a security precaution. French radio network RTL reported that police escorted the transfer after last week’s shocking theft of eight crown jewels from the museum. Officials discreetly relocated the items, including the “Crown Jewels” from the Apollo Gallery and other valuable pieces from across the museum. The vault, located 27 meters beneath the bank’s Paris headquarters, already stores about 90% of France’s gold reserves. The decision followed intense public pressure and growing concerns about the safety of the museum’s priceless artifacts. Thieves Execute…

The Pentagon announced an aircraft carrier deployment near South America on Friday.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the US Southern Command.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the move aims to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities.The USS Gerald R. Ford sails with five destroyers in its strike group.The carrier currently operates in the Mediterranean Sea.Sending a carrier intensifies military presence in the Caribbean and off Venezuela. Strikes, Targets, and Tough Rhetoric Hegseth said the military conducted a tenth strike on a suspected drug boat hours earlier.Officials reported six fatalities from…

Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday, according to Lithuania’s military. The aircraft, identified as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling plane, reportedly crossed the border from Russia’s Kaliningrad region during a refuelling training exercise at around 1600 CET. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled and began patrolling the area. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda denounced the act as a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity” in a post on X. In a video statement, Nausėda condemned the violation and insisted that Lithuania must respond firmly. Moscow…

Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, is cutting 600 jobs in its artificial intelligence division, US media reported. The company confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday while continuing to recruit for its superintelligence lab. FAIR and Infrastructure Teams Face Major Cuts Axios reported that the layoffs will hit Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit, product-focused AI teams, and AI infrastructure groups. The newer TBD Lab unit remains unaffected. Chief AI officer Alexandr Wang, in a memo cited by Axios, urged displaced employees to apply for other roles within Meta. The company expects most to find new positions internally. Meta Refines…

TIRANA — Mounting evidence suggests that sanctioned Russian interests may be exploiting weak oversight in Albania to skirt Western trade restrictions, raising serious concerns among European and NATO allies. Through a mix of negligence, corruption and opaque corporate structures, companies operating within Albania’s critical infrastructure sectors appear to have enabled transactions that violate international sanctions on Russia and Iran. A recent investigation by RBC Ukraine found that banned Russian fuel was being smuggled into Europe through Albanian ports. According to the report, two vessels docking at Porto Romano near Durrës in January falsely declared their cargo as cement but were,…

European markets gained ground on Tuesday morning after several sessions of weakness. Investors cautiously bought back shares despite ongoing geopolitical tension. Most major indexes opened slightly higher as Asian markets extended their gains while US futures drifted lower. Milan led Europe’s rebound, climbing 0.80% before midday. Banks including UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo boosted the rally, joined by energy giant Eni and aerospace leader Leonardo. Germany’s defence sector also rose, though the DAX still slipped 0.13%. Newly listed shipbuilder TKMS surged 6.28% after debuting in Frankfurt at €60 per share. Rheinmetall AG added 0.48%, while BAE Systems in London dropped 0.91%.…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to resume discussions in Qatar to create terms for long-term peace. The agreement ended a week of deadly cross-border clashes that claimed dozens of lives. Qatari mediators in Doha facilitated the negotiations, leading both nations to announce an immediate ceasefire, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. The ceasefire concluded one of the deadliest confrontations between the two countries in recent years, which killed dozens and wounded hundreds. Both governments committed to forming systems that strengthen stability and ensure the truce lasts. They also decided to meet again soon to maintain progress toward peace. Turkish negotiators played a…

More than 2,600 rallies erupted across the United States on Saturday as thousands protested President Donald Trump’s rule during the “No Kings” demonstrations. Americans filled streets in Washington, New York, Chicago, and Boston, expressing frustration over what they see as an erosion of democracy. By midday, thousands crowded Times Square and the National Mall, chanting “Trump must go now!” and waving signs denouncing his immigration policies. Many carried banners reading “Resist Fascism” and “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting.” The gatherings felt part protest, part celebration. Marching bands played, crowds signed a massive banner featuring the U.S. Constitution’s preamble, and…

The jury of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, led by Garrick Ohlsson, selected 11 pianists for the final round in Warsaw. Among them, Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz carries the nation’s hopes as the only local finalist. The competition, founded in 1927, stands as one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious classical music contests. Since its creation, participants have performed exclusively the works of Fryderyk Chopin, honoring the legendary Polish composer. Global Talents Prepare to Perform Chopin’s Masterpieces The finalists represent nine countries from across the globe. Joining Alexewicz are Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan),…

A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old Norwegian man of spying for Russia and Iran while working as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Norway. The court sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison. Prosecutors said the man gave foreign agents embassy floor plans, security routines, and details about diplomats, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The man admitted to the facts in the indictment but denied committing any crime. NRK reported that his anger over U.S. ties to Israel and the war in Gaza motivated him to contact both Russia and Iran. Defence Disputes Severity…