The Louvre’s president and director, Laurence des Cars, acknowledged ongoing security shortcomings following the theft of Crown jewels worth over €88 million three weeks ago. In an interview Friday, she said a “master plan” to upgrade the museum’s security, including improvements to video surveillance, is being implemented. A recent report by the French Court of Audit criticized the museum for prioritizing acquisitions and visible projects … Continue reading Louvre museum director defends security plan after audit slams spending

Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc in central Vietnam on Thursday after devastating the Philippines, where it killed at least 188 people, mostly in Cebu province. The storm brought torrential rains and powerful winds to areas already flooded from record rainfall, leaving homes destroyed, trees uprooted, and tens of thousands displaced. Survivors in the Philippines are now struggling to salvage belongings and clear debris as floodwaters recede, … Continue reading Typhoon Kalmaegi slams into Vietnam after unleashing deadly destruction in the Philippines

China’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has officially entered service, marking a major milestone for the world’s largest navy, Chinese state media reported. Unlike China’s first two carriers, the Fujian was both designed and built domestically and features an electromagnetic catapult system capable of launching heavier aircraft, including the J-35 stealth fighter, J-15T heavy fighter, and KJ-600 early-warning plane. President Xi Jinping … Continue reading China aims to expand its power in the Pacific with its new Fujian aircraft carrier

U.S. forces conducted another strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, raising the death toll from the Trump administration’s campaign to at least 70. The strikes, launched in September, have targeted boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, destroying at least 18 vessels, though the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence linking them to … Continue reading US strikes another alleged drug boat bringing death toll from campaign in Latin America to 70

Israeli jets carried out airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday, escalating their near-daily attacks after warning residents to evacuate. The strikes followed Hezbollah’s call for the Lebanese government to avoid negotiations with Israel. Israel said it targeted Hezbollah military infrastructure, accusing the group of rebuilding its capabilities nearly a year after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Lebanese officials condemned the strikes, saying they hit … Continue reading Israeli jets strike southern Lebanon towns

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the war in Sudan is spiraling out of control, urging an immediate halt to the fighting and violence. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reportedly backed by the UAE, recently seized El Fasher in Darfur after an 18-month siege, with reports emerging of civilians being shot, including in a maternity hospital. The two-year civil war between the Sudanese Armed … Continue reading Sudan civil war spiralling out of control, UN secretary general says

Fierce street fighting continues in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces advance on the strategic city, much of which lies in ruins. Ukraine’s general staff denied claims that its troops were encircled, but analysts warn the situation is deteriorating, with Russian forces only a few kilometres from surrounding Ukrainian positions. Kyiv deployed special forces in a daring operation to shift momentum, but the effort has … Continue reading Russian forces appear to tighten grip on strategic city of Pokrovsk

Typhoon Kalmaegi has killed at least 66 people and left 26 missing in the central Philippines, with widespread flooding trapping residents on rooftops and sweeping away vehicles. Six of the fatalities occurred when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur while en route to provide disaster relief. Cebu province, still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in late September, was hardest hit, prompting … Continue reading Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll rises to 66 as widespread flooding hits central Philippines

Gaza’s largest functioning hospital received the bodies of 15 more Palestinians returned from Israel, continuing exchanges outlined in last month’s fragile ceasefire. Since the U.S.-brokered agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross has transported 285 bodies to Gaza, though identifying them is hindered by limited DNA testing. The returns coincide with Israel receiving the body of Itay Chen, an Israeli soldier killed in the … Continue reading Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza

Prosecutors in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore have seized hundreds of millions of dollars in assets belonging to Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, accused by the U.S. of leading a global cyber-scam syndicate. Chen, founder of Prince Holding Group, faces U.S. charges of wire fraud and money laundering, alongside a massive seizure of $14 billion in bitcoin, and joint sanctions from the U.S. and U.K. authorities. … Continue reading Prosecutors seize yachts, luxury cars from man accused of running Cambodia cyberscams

Japan has deployed troops to Akita Prefecture to help manage a surge in bear attacks, which have injured over 100 people and killed at least 12 since April. Both brown bears and Asiatic black bears have been increasingly seen near schools, train stations, supermarkets, and hot springs as they forage ahead of hibernation. The operation involves soldiers setting up food-lured box traps, transporting local hunters, … Continue reading Japan deploys the military to counter a surge in bear attacks

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the police operation against Rio de Janeiro’s Red Command gang, which left 121 dead, “a massacre.” The raid involved thousands of officers clashing with heavily armed gang members who reportedly used drones dropping explosives. Police identified 99 of the dead as criminals, including 42 with active arrest warrants, though the operation also claimed some police lives. The … Continue reading Brazil’s president calls for investigation after 121 killed in police operation against gang

A man drove his car into pedestrians and cyclists on France’s Ile d’Oléron on Wednesday morning, injuring at least ten people, four critically. The 35-year-old local suspect, known to police for prior behavioral and alcohol issues, shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, intentionally set his vehicle on fire, and was subdued with a stun gun before being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The rampage … Continue reading Driver ‘shouting Allahu Akbar’ ploughs into crowd on French holiday island

Central Vietnam is grappling with severe floods and landslides that have killed at least 37 people, displaced tens of thousands, and left many areas without power or communication. Heavy rains in late October inundated villages, swept away homes, and blocked major highways, while rivers in Hue City reached dangerous levels. Rescuers and aid workers have delivered food, water, medicine, and shelter, and are helping restore … Continue reading Vietnam flood death toll rises to 37

Authorities in Tanzania are facing international scrutiny over deadly crackdowns on post-election protests, with the main opposition party, Chadema, claiming security forces have secretly disposed of hundreds of bodies. Protests erupted after the Oct. 29 election, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with over 97% of the vote amid low turnout and barred opposition candidates. Security forces used live bullets and tear gas, enforcing a … Continue reading Tanzanian opposition claims security forces are secretly dumping bodies after election violence

Thirteen suspected cartel members were killed Monday in a shootout with authorities in Guasave, Sinaloa, while four others were arrested and nine kidnapped victims rescued. The clash began when security forces on patrol were attacked by gunmen hiding under a bridge. Authorities seized seven vehicles, high-powered weapons, and tactical gear following the firefight. Sinaloa has been engulfed in a violent internal war within a major … Continue reading 13 suspected drug cartel members killed in shootout with police in Mexico

A Chinese court has sentenced five senior members of the notorious Bai family mafia to death, part of a wider conviction of 21 family members and associates for fraud, homicide, injury and other crimes. The Bais ran a criminal empire based in Laukkaing that evolved from casinos and red‑light districts into massive cyberscam operations exploiting trafficked workers, many of them Chinese. Authorities say their networks … Continue reading China sentences infamous Myanmar scam mafia members to death

Typhoon Kalmaegi has killed at least 26 people in the Philippines, mostly due to flooding across central provinces like Cebu and Southern Leyte. Floodwaters trapped residents on rooftops and submerged vehicles, while power outages were reported in affected areas. Separately, six people died when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed while delivering aid to storm-hit provinces, the AP has reported. The typhoon, with winds of … Continue reading Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves at least 26 dead in Philippines, with survivors trapped on roofs and in cars

Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on a train in the U.K. He was arrested at Huntingdon station Saturday night after multiple people were injured and also faces charges of actual bodily harm and possession of a bladed article. Williams is linked to a previous incident on Nov. 1 at Pontoon Dock tube … Continue reading UK stabbing suspect named, charged with attempted murder

An avalanche on Monday struck a base camp on Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal, killing five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides. Five other foreigners were injured, though their identities and nationalities have not been released. Rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather, preventing a helicopter from reaching the site, with authorities planning another attempt at dawn. The U.S. State Department said it is monitoring … Continue reading Avalanche in Nepal kills 7 climbers on Mount Yalung Ri

A 66-year-old worker, Octav Stroici, died after being trapped for nearly twelve hours when part of Rome’s medieval Torre dei Conti collapsed. He was conscious during the rescue, but his heart stopped in the ambulance and doctors were unable to save him. Stroici, a Romanian national, had been carrying out conservation work on the abandoned 13th-century tower near the Roman Forum. Rescue efforts were complicated … Continue reading Worker dies after partial collapse of medieval tower in Rome

The U.S. has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution proposing an international force in Gaza for at least two years, with the possibility of extensions through 2027. The International Security Force (ISF) would be an enforcement, not peacekeeping, mission tasked with securing borders, protecting civilians and humanitarian corridors, training a new Palestinian police force, and demilitarizing Gaza, including disarming Hamas if necessary. The draft … Continue reading U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate

The Vatican has ruled that Mary should not be called the “co-redeemer” of the world, affirming that Jesus alone saved humanity. The decree, approved by Pope Leo, ends decades of theological debate within the Catholic Church about Mary’s role in redemption. The document warns that the title “co-redemptrix” could cause confusion about core Christian beliefs. While acknowledging Mary’s vital role as the mother of Jesus … Continue reading Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is taking steps to preserve evidence of potential war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city of El-Fasher, reportedly killing hundreds of civilians. Witnesses described house-to-house killings and sexual assaults, and the World Health Organization reported at least 460 people killed at a hospital, with doctors and nurses abducted. The ICC said the … Continue reading ICC prosecutor warns Sudan’s paramilitary forces may be committing war crimes

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the eastern city of Pokrovsk to maintain control amid an intense Russian offensive, its military chief Oleksandr Syrskii said. Russia has sought to capture the city, a key supply route and “gateway to Donetsk,” since mid-2024, and taking it would mark Moscow’s most significant territorial gain since seizing Avdiivka. Russian authorities claim they have encircled Ukrainian forces and posted … Continue reading Ukraine sends special forces to eastern city Pokrovsk amid Russia offensive