Author: Rachel Maddow

Hurricane Melissa made landfall early Wednesday near Chivirico in Santiago de Cuba with winds reaching 193 kilometres per hour. The powerful Category 3 storm struck after pummelling Jamaica, leaving widespread destruction across the Caribbean. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that authorities evacuated more than 700,000 residents ahead of the storm. Forecasters warned that Melissa would cause severe damage across Santiago de Cuba and nearby provinces. The hurricane is expected to generate storm surges up to 3.6 meters and drop as much as 51 centimetres of rain across eastern Cuba. US forecasters cautioned that intense rainfall could trigger life-threatening floods and…

San Antonio’s housing market is shifting in favor of buyers in the third quarter of 2025. A combination of increased inventory and cautious buyer behavior is reshaping the local market. Monthly home sales saw fluctuations during the quarter. July experienced a 10% decline compared to the previous month. Sales slightly rebounded in August and ended September with a 5% year-over-year improvement. Analysts say these trends reflect a more balanced market, where buyers have more options and sellers adjust expectations. Inventory levels remained around six months, a figure that signals a balanced market. This gives buyers more time to explore listings…

Switzerland’s financial sector is once again under international examination following new allegations concerning undisclosed assets linked to the Nazi era. In an exclusive interview with the Abu Dhabi Times, Dr. Gerhard Podovsovnik, Vice President of AEA Justinian Lawyers, accused the Swiss government and its major banks of maintaining dormant accounts dating back to the Second World War. The claims reopen a long-standing debate about Switzerland’s wartime neutrality and the transparency of its banking system, issues that resurfaced in the 1990s and now appear poised for renewed legal and public scrutiny. Legal Action and Historical Context Dr. Podovsovnik’s firm has filed…

Massive destruction across the Gaza Strip has made it difficult for Hamas to locate and recover the bodies of Israeli hostages buried under rubble. On Saturday, Egypt sent its first convoy of heavy machinery, including excavators and bulldozers, into Gaza to assist with the search. Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Israel agreed to return 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli body recovered. So far, Israel has handed over 195 Palestinian bodies, while Hamas has returned 18 Israeli ones. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages. U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “watching very closely” to ensure the…

The Louvre secretly transferred part of its jewellery collection to the Bank of France vaults on Friday for safekeeping. French broadcaster RTL reported that police escorted the items, which included pieces from the Apollo Gallery and other museum sections. Officials took the step after last week’s daring robbery, where eight crown jewels vanished from the world-famous museum. The bank’s underground vault, located 27 metres beneath its Paris headquarters, stores 90% of France’s gold reserves and now guards the transferred collection. Authorities said the move aimed to protect the remaining treasures while investigators continue to track the stolen pieces. Thieves Execute…

The U.S. military has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford near South America, escalating its presence in the region. The Pentagon confirmed the move on Friday, adding to a growing American buildup in the Caribbean and off Venezuela’s coast. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier and its strike group to join U.S. Southern Command operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the deployment aims to detect, monitor, and disrupt networks threatening U.S. safety and prosperity. The USS Gerald R. Ford, supported by five destroyers, currently operates in the Mediterranean Sea. The decision to move a carrier marks a significant…

Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace on Thursday for about 18 seconds, according to the country’s military. The aircraft, identified as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling plane, reportedly crossed from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad around 1600 CET. Officials said both planes appeared to be on a refuelling training mission. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled and began patrolling the area. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda condemned the incursion on X, calling it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.” “I strongly denounce the violation of Lithuanian airspace by Russian…

Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, announced the dismissal of 600 employees from its AI division. The company confirmed on Wednesday that it continues hiring for its superintelligence lab while executing these layoffs. Cuts Target FAIR and AI Infrastructure Units Axios revealed that the job cuts impact Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) group, along with its product-focused AI and AI infrastructure teams. The newer TBD Lab remains unaffected. Chief AI officer Alexandr Wang, in a memo cited by Axios, urged affected employees to apply for other internal roles. Most displaced workers are expected to secure new positions within Meta.…

European markets opened higher on Tuesday, regaining ground after recent losses. Traders reacted cautiously to persistent geopolitical risks but pushed shares modestly upward. Most major indexes showed gains after Asia’s rally, while US futures slipped slightly. By midday, Milan’s stock exchange led European performance with a rise of 0.80%. Banking giants UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, along with energy group Eni and aerospace firm Leonardo, boosted Italy’s market. In Germany, defence shares lifted sentiment but failed to offset a 0.13% decline in the DAX. TKMS, Germany’s submarine and battleship manufacturer, continued to surge after its IPO debut at €60 per share…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to meet again in Qatar to build conditions for long-term peace. Their decision follows a week of deadly border clashes that killed dozens. Both sides accepted an immediate ceasefire after negotiations with Qatari mediators in Doha, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed. The agreement ended a week of intense fighting that killed dozens and injured hundreds, marking the most violent episode between the nations in years. The sides promised to create joint mechanisms to strengthen stability and peace. They also planned new discussions in the coming days to maintain the truce. Turkish envoys helped secure the deal, the…