Author: Emily Harper

Government Admits Failure as Investigation Widens France’s justice minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged Monday that the country’s authorities “failed” to prevent the brazen theft of priceless royal jewellery from the Louvre Museum, calling the incident a national humiliation. The admission came as police intensified their hunt for four suspects behind one of the most audacious art crimes in recent French history. The burglars struck early Sunday morning, using a truck platform to access the museum’s first floor and seize eight historic pieces — including necklaces, brooches, and diadems once belonging to 19th-century queens and empresses. Among the stolen items were an…

Third-Quarter Data Highlights a Weaker Expansion China’s economy grew 4.8% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, marking its slowest pace since late 2023 and slightly below analysts’ expectations of 5%. The figure compares with 5.2% growth in the second quarter and underscores the difficulty Beijing faces in sustaining momentum amid property market stress, subdued consumer sentiment, and ongoing trade frictions. On a quarterly basis, GDP rose 1.1%, showing a modest improvement from 0.8% in the prior quarter. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, overall economic activity remains stable but uneven. The services sector continued to expand, buoyed by…

In a significant shift in migration and travel management, the Entry/Exit System (EES) introduced by the European Union became operational on 12 October 2025, marking the beginning of a phased rollout of a new digital framework for registering non-EU nationals entering and leaving the Schengen external borders. Under this system, traditional passport stamps will gradually be replaced by electronic records capturing travel document data and biometric identifiers. Registration Process And Scope Of Application The new border architecture mandates that non-EU and non-Schengen nationals provide their passport information, facial image, and fingerprints at their first entry or exit from the participating…

Red Bull Star Reignites Championship Hopes Max Verstappen has reignited his bid for a fifth Formula 1 World Championship after a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix cut Oscar Piastri’s lead to just 40 points. Once trailing by more than 100, the Dutch driver has closed the gap with a surge of dominant performances — three Grand Prix victories and a Sprint win — putting the Red Bull ace firmly back in contention. The weekend in Austin showcased Verstappen at his best. Leading every lap in both the Sprint and main race, he faced little threat beyond a…

Argentina’s new President Javier Milei has secured a $20 billion financial package from the United States, but now confronts the more immediate challenge of maintaining popular backing in domestic politics. While the aid is intended to shore up Argentina’s finances, its success depends heavily on Milei’s ability to deliver tangible improvements amid economic strain. Incoming Aid From U.S. Tied to Electoral Stakes The deal underscores Milei’s alignment with U.S. interests at a moment when Washington is watching Latin America’s political orientation closely. The package comes at a time when Argentina is battered by inflation, capital flight, and industrial contraction. Critics…

France finds its public finances under severe strain as the government grapples with simultaneous political stalemate and mounting expenditures. The deadlock stems from President Emmanuel Macron’s inability to push through reforms following Parliamentary opposition, forcing the state to rely instead on emergency measures. Analysts warn that this lack of clear direction has weakened investor confidence and exacerbated pressure on the French budget. The parliament’s resistance has centered on contentious reforms to pensions and public sector wages. Macron’s administration, lacking a commanding parliamentary majority, has increasingly resorted to executive decrees and provisional spending allocations. This governance model has left major economic…

Falcon 9 Expands Starlink Network From Florida SpaceX achieved its 130th Falcon 9 launch of the year as the company continues its unprecedented pace in 2025. The latest mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at dawn, carrying 28 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit. The reusable rocket’s first stage, designated B1095, successfully landed on the droneship Just Read The Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean about eight and a half minutes after liftoff. It marked the third flight and landing for this particular booster, which had previously supported two other Starlink missions. Meanwhile, the Falcon…

Italy’s cabinet on October 17, 2025 approved a draft budget law for 2026 that includes €18.7 billion in combined tax cuts and increased public spending, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. (The government intends to submit the proposal to parliament for final approval before year’s end. Meloni affirmed that no cuts will be made to welfare programs, and that authorities will evaluate invoking an EU “escape clause” to expand defense outlays without breaching fiscal rules. Fiscal Strategy and Defense Spending The budget scheme signals a shift toward more expansive policies after years of austerity. Meloni’s administration plans targeted income tax…

The United States faces one of its most prolonged federal shutdowns in history, inching closer to surpassing the 35-day record set during President Donald Trump’s first term. As both parties dig in, the effects ripple across federal workers, essential services, and the broader economy. Democrats demand protections for Americans at risk of losing healthcare coverage, while the Trump administration leverages the shutdown to advance its priorities. Mounting Toll on Federal Workers The shutdown, which began on October 1, has sidelined hundreds of thousands of government employees. Out of nearly 2.3 million federal civilian workers, about 750,000 are furloughed each day,…

Massive Strikes Cripple Gas Infrastructure Ukraine’s energy network suffered severe damage after Russia launched one of its largest assaults of the year, hitting gas facilities across multiple regions. The attack coincided with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington for high-level talks with U.S. President Donald Trump about supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. According to Ukrainian officials, more than 300 drones and 37 missiles — many of them ballistic — were fired overnight, striking facilities in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, and Vinnytsia. The Shebelinka gas processing plant in the Kharkiv region was among the hardest hit, with staff reporting…