Louvre Heist, No King's Protests, & Bird Poop

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Adam Rogers
October 20, 2025

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Thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday morning in a four-minute daylight heist while tourists were inside. The robbers used a basket lift to break through a window, smashed display cases in the French Crown Jewels gallery, and stole nine pieces of Napoleon-era jewelry before escaping on motorcycles. The museum closed immediately.
Construction work on the building allowed the thieves to bypass normal security and reach the gallery displaying the French Crown Jewels. One stolen piece, believed to be Empress Eugénie's crown, was found broken outside. Authorities said the items have 'inestimable heritage value.'
The Louvre’s security has been strained after staff walkouts over overcrowding and understaffing earlier this year. The museum’s last major robbery occurred in 1998, when a painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (Le Chemin de Sèvres) was cut from its frame and stolen.

About 7 million people protested the Trump administration Saturday at more than 2,700 No Kings rallies nationwide, up from 5 million in June. Demonstrators from Los Angeles to New York demanded protection of constitutional rights and opposed the government shutdown.
Democratic politicians joined the rallies. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker warned in Chicago that Trump is "coming for immigrants, Black and brown people, LGBTQ people, and political opponents." Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told thousands in Boston that "standing up to a wannabe dictator" is patriotism.
The 'No Kings' name references opposition to authoritarianism and executive overreach, echoing the Founders' rejection of monarchy. Some Texas officials mobilized the National Guard to monitor for unrest, though demonstrations remained mostly peaceful nationwide.

Americans have vastly different views of the economy based on income, according to JPMorgan's Cost of Living Survey. High earners rated their financial confidence at 6.2 out of 10 while low-income consumers scored 4.4, a 30-point gap.
Nearly 60% of high-income consumers said monthly bills were easier to cover compared to six months ago. Only 30% of low-income respondents said the same. High earners were also more likely to plan increased spending on nonessential items, while lower-income groups cut back on basics.
The University of Michigan's consumer survey confirmed the pattern, with top earners reporting sentiment 25% higher than bottom earners over the past two years.

Typhoon Halong destroyed remote Alaska villages with 100 mph winds last weekend, displacing thousands of residents for at least 18 months as officials seek federal disaster aid. (More)

The Secret Service found a hunting stand with a view of Trump's Air Force One exit spot during security sweeps at Palm Beach airport, prompting an FBI investigation. (More)

Border agents in Arizona caught a sap-sucking bug never before found in the US hidden in Mexican vegetables and returned it to prevent crop damage. (More)

Japan's ruling party agreed to ally with the opposition Innovation Party, clearing the path for Sanae Takaichi to become Japan's first female prime minister. (More)

A North Korean soldier crossed the dangerous fortified border into South Korea on Sunday and asked to stay, the first such defection since August 2024. (More)

Israel halted Gaza aid and launched strikes after two soldiers were killed, leaving 29 Palestinians dead, including children, in the biggest test of the week-old ceasefire. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.53%, Nasdaq +0.52%, Dow +0.52%). Stocks rose after the US softened its tone on trade talks with China. (More)

Bitcoin fell to $103,745 Friday morning, its lowest since June and down 6.5% this week after hitting a record $126,000 in early October. (More)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that blocking China from U.S. AI technology hurts America too, saying his company went from 95% market share there to zero. (More)

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels left with a hamstring injury in his second setback this season as the Commanders lost 44-22 to Dallas, falling to 3-4. (More)

Kevin Durant took a two-year, $90 million deal with Houston, sacrificing about $30 million from his max salary to chase another championship at age 37. (More)

Florida fired coach Billy Napier after a 23-21 win over Mississippi State, citing his 22-23 record didn't meet the program's on-field expectations. (More)

MIT built the first lab-grown brain tissue with all major cell types, offering a better way to study diseases and revealing how Alzheimer's genes damage cells. (More)

Pickleball eye injuries rose by 405 cases a year as the sport boomed, with most victims over 50, leading researchers to push for protective eyewear standards. (More)

Scientists found that dark matter could explain mysterious gamma rays near our galaxy's center just as well as neutron stars can, boosting hopes of confirming its existence. (More)

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