Author: Rachel Maddow

A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old Norwegian man on Wednesday for spying on behalf of Russia and Iran. The man, a former security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Norway, received a three-year and seven-month prison sentence for espionage. Prosecutors said he provided details about embassy diplomats, floor plans, and security routines, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. They said he knowingly handed over sensitive information that could expose U.S. operations in Norway. The man admitted to the facts of the indictment but denied criminal guilt. NRK reported that he contacted Russian and Iranian officials after becoming angry about U.S.…

China’s Golden Week holiday set new records for domestic travel and tourism spending, reflecting strong recovery and growing consumer confidence. During the week-long holiday, approximately 888 million domestic trips were taken, marking a more than 15% increase compared with the same period last year. Tourism revenue also surged, reaching 809 billion yuan (around $113.5 billion), a similar 15% year-on-year rise. Analysts say these figures demonstrate that China’s domestic tourism sector is not only rebounding but also expanding beyond pre-pandemic levels. The surge was fueled by a combination of factors. Rising incomes, relaxed travel restrictions, and a renewed interest in cultural…

Relations between China and the US continue to deteriorate as both nations impose new shipping fees, alarming investors. The trade conflict escalates despite President Trump’s social media assurance: “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” European stock markets opened lower on Tuesday, ignoring Wall Street’s Monday rally after Trump’s optimistic remarks about Beijing. Investor confidence remains fragile as the world’s two largest economies clash over trade. Both countries began imposing mutual shipping fees on Tuesday after Washington’s probe into China’s growing shipbuilding dominance. The US set a $50 (€43.27) per tonne charge on Chinese ships in American ports,…

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a far-reaching plan on 29 September to end the prolonged Gaza conflict. The agreement, known as Trump’s 20-point plan, represents the most ambitious diplomatic effort to resolve hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Negotiated with input from regional powers including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, the plan outlines a phased approach toward peace, disarmament, and reconstruction. According to officials, Trump pushed for an immediate end to the war following Israel’s strike on Doha, which violated Qatar’s sovereignty during a failed attempt to eliminate Hamas negotiators. The incident drew strong international condemnation…

Afghanistan announced on Sunday that its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight border fighting.Officials said the operation responded to what they called repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the clashes and accused Pakistan of aggression along the frontier.He said Afghan troops captured 25 Pakistani army posts and left 30 soldiers wounded.“The situation on all borders is fully under control,” Mujahid told reporters in Kabul. Kabul Vows Retaliation Amid Rising Tensions Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said its forces carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border.The ministry warned that any future violation would trigger a…

A delegation of Hong Kong business leaders and consular officials began a tour of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on October 10. The visit aims to explore new business opportunities and strengthen economic ties between Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, said at the launch ceremony that the tour will promote collaboration by combining Xinjiang’s advantages with Hong Kong’s strengths. “Xinjiang offers strategic location, rich resources, and diverse industries. Hong Kong brings expertise in funding, services, and innovation,” he noted. The delegation includes representatives from Hong Kong’s consular corps…

About 200 US troops began arriving in Israel to build a coordination centre supporting humanitarian, logistical, and security operations for Gaza.US officials confirmed that the troops will not enter Gaza but will oversee the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.US envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Command chief Brad Cooper visited Gaza on Saturday to verify Israel’s first phase of troop withdrawal.“This effort will proceed without US boots on the ground in Gaza,” Cooper said, confirming his command would lead the mission. Ceasefire Opens Path for Aid and Recovery Under the truce deal, Hamas will release 48 remaining hostages by Monday,…

Tech Giant Expands Data Power in Wallonia Google invests €5 billion to expand its Belgian data and AI infrastructure, marking its largest project in the country. The initiative creates 300 new jobs and enhances data capacity in Wallonia, reinforcing Europe’s shift toward sustainable digital growth. The company expands its Saint-Ghislain site to accelerate AI and cloud service access across the continent. “With today’s announcement, Google deepens its Belgian presence and opens new doors for AI-driven transformation,” said Bikash Koley, Vice President for Global Infrastructure at Google. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever welcomed the announcement as a milestone for both…

A 72-year-old Israeli rabbi says he possesses evidence of secret Nazi-era Swiss bank accounts untouched since World War II. His investigation is reviving uncomfortable questions about Swiss secrecy, wartime finance, and the unfulfilled promises of restitution. The Rabbi with the Evidence Rabbi Ephraim Meir, a soft-spoken German-Israeli scholar, carries with him a briefcase filled with what he says are copies of banking records and affidavits linking six numbered Swiss accounts to Nazi affiliates in the late 1930s. As first reported by Riva Pomerantz, an investigative journalist with Ami Magazine, Meir claims that the heirs of one account holder formally transferred…

The Canary Islands broke visitor records again this year despite mounting protests against overtourism.New data from August revealed the extent of overcrowding across the archipelago.The islands welcomed 1.23 million foreign tourists, the highest number ever recorded for that month.This total marked a 6% rise from August 2024, continuing Spain’s broader trend of record-breaking summers.From January to August 2025, more than 10 million international visitors arrived across the islands.The Canary Islands ranked as Spain’s third most visited region during that period.Nearly half a million visitors came from the United Kingdom, while German tourists also made up a large share.Tourism contributes around…