Author: Rachel Maddow

Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in May. The government faces two challenges: addressing troop shortages with new service models and rapidly modernizing equipment. Officials drafted an €83 billion procurement program, Politico reported. Most contracts will go to European suppliers, with only eight percent reserved for the U.S. Between September 2025 and December 2026, Berlin expects 154 major defense purchases. Europe’s reliance on American arms soared since 2020. Imports from the U.S. to Europe, including Ukraine, tripled compared to the previous five years. American exports to Europe rose from 13 percent of the total…

Over 50,000 protesters filled Berlin’s streets on Saturday to support Palestinians in Gaza and demand peace. Demonstrators chanted “free, free Palestine” and condemned the humanitarian crisis caused by the Israel-Hamas war. Police reported 1,800 officers monitored the march, which stretched through central Berlin from Alexanderplatz to the Victory Column. Protesters demanded Germany stop arms sales to Israel and urged the EU to impose sanctions against Tel Aviv. Germany, a major supplier of weapons to Israel, suspended some exports in August following backlash over Netanyahu’s offensive. Multiple Groups Join Forces Around 50 organisations, including Amnesty International and the party Die Linke,…

Interpol, the world’s largest police network with 196 member states, coordinated a cybercrime crackdown across Africa.Authorities arrested 260 suspects in July and August for romance and extortion schemes run online. Victims Tricked Through Deception and Blackmail Scammers built false romantic ties to steal money or blackmail with explicit images, investigators confirmed.Over 1,400 victims lost nearly $2.8 million during the wave of online fraud operations.Ghanaian police detained 68 suspects using fake identities for extortion and secret recordings.Senegalese authorities arrested 22 suspects who posed as celebrities to swindle more than 100 victims of $34,000.In Côte d’Ivoire, police captured 24 suspects who exploited…

Rescue teams in eastern Libya recovered five decomposed bodies believed to be migrants.Authorities located the remains 550 kilometers south of Tobruk in the Great Sand Sea.Workers transported the remains to Tobruk, the Red Crescent confirmed.The group called the tragedy part of the “death journey” migrants endure across deserts.Abreen, a local aid group, said the bodies likely belonged to Sudanese migrants.The group posted photos of the operation, including one showing decomposed clothing. Libya’s Role in Dangerous Journeys Libya borders six nations and has a long Mediterranean coastline, making it a key migration route.Migrants escaping war and poverty risk dangerous land and…

A drone launched from Yemen struck Eilat on Wednesday, wounding at least 22 people, according to medics.The Israeli military confirmed the drone fell on the Red Sea coast after defenses failed to intercept it.Emergency responders reported two people sustained severe injuries while others suffered lighter wounds. Authorities Secure Crash Area Police urged residents to avoid the crash site as bomb experts inspected the drone debris for explosives.The Israeli Defense Forces told citizens to follow Home Front Command instructions for ongoing safety measures.Officials said investigations continue to determine whether injuries came from the drone or interceptor activity. Houthi Strikes Escalate Regional…

Donald Trump warned European leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.He said uncontrolled migration is “destroying your heritage” and ruining European countries.Trump described immigration and climate policies as a “double-tailed monster” devastating Europe.He argued that leaders invite failure by accepting people “you have nothing in common with.”“I love Europe,” Trump said, “but I hate to see it devastated by energy and immigration.”He urged Europe to abandon “the failed experiment of open borders” immediately.Trump also claimed the United Nations enables irregular migration into Europe and the United States.He accused UN agencies of “financing invasions” instead of stopping them. Trump Highlights…

European lawmakers, Nobel laureates, and former heads of state demanded binding international limits on harmful AI.They launched the initiative Monday at the UN’s 80th General Assembly in New York.The campaign urged governments to agree by 2026 on “red lines” prohibiting dangerous AI uses.Signatories included Mary Robinson, Enrico Letta, several MEPs, ten Nobel laureates, and leaders from OpenAI and Google.They warned of threats like engineered pandemics, disinformation, rights abuses, and loss of human control.Over 200 prominent figures and 70 organisations from politics, science, and industry endorsed the appeal. Growing Concerns Over AI’s Real-World Harms A psychiatric study revealed chatbots gave inconsistent…

President Trump publicly demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute officials he considers his adversaries.He called for immediate action, citing multiple indictments and impeachments “OVER NOTHING.”Trump specifically named James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James as targets for prosecution.He told reporters, “They have to act. They have to act fast.” Ouster of U.S. Attorney Sparks Concern Trump removed Erik Siebert, the Eastern District of Virginia U.S. attorney, after failed inquiries into Comey and James.He announced plans to nominate Lindsey Halligan, a former insurance lawyer on his personal legal team, to replace Siebert.Halligan has no prior prosecutorial experience, raising questions about politicization…

A cyberattack disabled electronic check-in and boarding systems, forcing Brussels, Heathrow, and Brandenburg airports to operate manually.The disruption caused delays, cancellations, and long queues for thousands of passengers across Europe on Saturday. Brussels Airport Cancels and Redirects Flights Brussels Airport confirmed the cyberattack targeted its service provider, not airlines or airport infrastructure.Officials said nine flights were cancelled, four were redirected, and 15 faced delays exceeding an hour.Spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli warned passengers of continued disruption, advising only confirmed travelers to come.With 35,000 departures scheduled Saturday, Brussels later announced half of Sunday’s flights would also be cancelled. Brandenburg and Heathrow Manage…

The United States imposed 50% tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports in June.Authorities also now demand importers prove the origin of metals within finished products.European industries say the requirement creates heavy costs and administrative headaches. Industry Struggles With Complex Origin Rules The “melt and pour” rule makes tracing steel and aluminium origins extremely complicated.The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said suppliers often lack necessary information for compliance.ACEA noted that single components sometimes fall under several tariff categories like steel, aluminium, and copper.Car manufacturers already report “substantial” financial damage as they calculate the full impact. Broader Tariffs Hit Multiple Sectors In…