Author: Rachel Maddow

Belgian authorities closed the airspace over Brussels Zaventem Airport after reports of a drone flying above the airfield. The public broadcaster VRT confirmed the incident late Tuesday night, saying all departing and arriving flights were immediately suspended. The airport briefly reopened before closing again after a second drone was spotted. Liège Airport, which initially received diverted planes from Brussels, also shut down after a separate drone sighting. A spokesperson for skeyes, Belgium’s civil aviation authority, said the first incident occurred around 8 p.m. local time, forcing flights to divert to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi. Officials said both airports would remain closed…

Tensions in Nigeria surged after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action over alleged Christian persecution. On Sunday, Nigerians awoke to reports that Trump had instructed the Pentagon to prepare intervention plans. He warned that if Nigeria failed to protect Christians, the U.S. would halt aid and “go in guns-a-blazing” to eliminate Islamist terrorists. Trump posted, “I am directing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorists strike our cherished Christians.” The comments ignited fierce debate across Nigeria, already struggling with insecurity and sectarian violence.…

Heavy rains triggered massive mudslides that destroyed over 1,000 homes in Kenya’s western Rift Valley. Authorities confirmed that at least 21 people died, and more than 30 remain missing after the disaster struck Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday. Continuous downpours have pounded the region throughout the country’s short rain season, worsening the destruction. Several major roads remain impassable, and the government has deployed helicopters to airlift victims. Officials flew 30 severely injured survivors to a hospital in Eldoret City for emergency treatment. Residents Describe Panic as Disaster Hit Local witnesses said they heard a deafening roar before the…

A new international study revealed that artificial intelligence responds most effectively when prompted in Polish, while English only ranked sixth. Researchers from the University of Maryland and Microsoft examined 26 languages to identify which ones AI systems process with the highest accuracy. The research team evaluated several leading AI platforms—OpenAI, Google Gemini, Qwen, Llama, and DeepSeek—using identical inputs in each language. Their analysis overturned assumptions about English dominance in AI communication. “Our tests delivered results few expected,” the report stated. “Polish ranked first for comprehension and performance, whereas English finished sixth when handling long and complex prompts.” Machines Excel at…

Strong iPhone demand pushed Apple’s revenue higher in the three months ending in September, closing its fiscal year with record profit. The company posted stronger-than-expected results despite global trade tensions and growing competition in artificial intelligence. Apple’s September-quarter success came mainly from the powerful debut of the iPhone 17 line-up. “Apple proudly reports a record September-quarter revenue of $102.5 billion, including all-time highs for iPhone and Services,” said CEO Tim Cook. Driven by iPhone sales, Apple earned $27.5 billion (€23.8bn), nearly double its profit from a year earlier. Its stock climbed 2% in after-hours trading. Although the iPhone 17 lacks…

Human Rights Watch urged Merz to condemn Turkey’s repression of opposition leaders, including Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a stronger strategic partnership between Europe and Turkey during his first official visit to Ankara. He praised Turkey’s vital mediating role in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Merz spoke beside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, days after Turkey and the United Kingdom sealed a multi-billion-euro agreement to sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Germany, part of the consortium that builds the aircraft, recently ended its resistance to exporting them to Turkey. Reports indicated that Germany also supported Turkey’s involvement in…

Massive destruction across the Gaza Strip has made it nearly impossible for Hamas to locate and retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages buried under rubble. On Saturday, an Egyptian convoy carrying excavators and bulldozers entered Gaza to assist in recovery efforts. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement requires Israel to return 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli body recovered. So far, Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies, while Hamas has returned 18 Israeli bodies. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages. U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “watching closely” to ensure the remaining bodies are returned within 48…

The Louvre quietly moved part of its jewellery collection to the Bank of France vaults on Friday after a major theft. French radio network RTL reported that police escorted the transfer to ensure maximum security. The relocated items included the famed “Crown Jewels” from the Apollo Gallery and several other pieces from across the museum. The bank’s underground vault, located 27 metres beneath its Paris headquarters, houses 90% of France’s gold reserves. Museum officials ordered the precautionary move to protect the remaining treasures following last week’s high-profile robbery. Thieves Execute Bold Daylight Robbery at Louvre Last week, multiple thieves stormed…

The Pentagon announced that the U.S. military will deploy the USS Gerald R. Ford near South America. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier and its strike group to join U.S. Southern Command operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the move on social media, saying the deployment will strengthen America’s ability to detect and disrupt criminal networks threatening U.S. security. The USS Ford, currently stationed in the Mediterranean, will sail with five destroyers. Deploying such a vessel marks a significant escalation of U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and near Venezuela, where forces have already increased sharply in recent…

Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuania’s airspace for about 18 seconds on Thursday, the Lithuanian military reported. Officials identified the planes as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling tanker. They appeared to conduct a refuelling exercise when they crossed from Russia’s Kaliningrad region into NATO territory 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 condemned the intrusion on X, calling it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.” In a video statement, he said, “I strongly condemn the violation of Lithuanian…