World
The latest world news and analysis from JournalArta Global.
Beau Lamarre-Condon surgery alleged: court hears timeline
A Sydney court heard that Beau Lamarre-Condon underwent a minor operation two days after Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were allegedly killed. The surgeon said the procedure caused no physical restrictions, and Lamarre-Condon was discharged two hours later. CCTV footage presented at trial also showed him visiting hardware stores before driving to the area where the bodies were found.
Snake rattled rolls away: How dwarf reed snakes escape
Researchers at Toho University filmed dwarf reed snakes rolling away at almost 9mph, roughly four times their normal slithering speed. The study explains how the small reptiles keep their heads pointed forward and navigate a narrow track while performing the escape manoeuvre. The findings were published in Current Biology.
Once-in-a-lifetime chance: Japan launches Mars moon mission
Japan has launched the MMX spacecraft to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars’s moons, in a mission that aims to return material to Earth in 2031. The Japan-led project will test a rover and lander on the moon and could help scientists investigate how Phobos and Deimos formed. The launch also marks the first attempt to land a spacecraft on either Martian moon.
Beetles can sense wildfires, while controlled burns cut ticks
Fire beetles detect infrared radiation and can gather around recently burned areas, including cleanup zones after fires in north Spokane. Prescribed burns have a different effect: research cited by FOX Weather found repeated burns can reduce encounters with ticks carrying pathogenic bacteria, though a single burn may temporarily increase tick numbers.
Trump Blames Migrants and Communists for France Unrest at Rally
Donald Trump used a rally in Kansas to portray unrest in France as a warning for US voters ahead of the midterm elections. The protests began over school conditions and the cost of living, then spread to fuel prices and other economic grievances. Rioting in several cities led to 1,800 arrests and overnight curfews in some areas.
Space We’ve Gone Exploration: Voyager scientist warns of shift
Voyager imaging team member Garry Hunt says space activity has shifted from exploration toward exploitation as the spacecraft approaches a light-day from Earth. In an interview on The Register’s Kettle podcast, he recalled why NASA sent two probes toward the outer planets and how scientists viewed them as keys to understanding the solar system and life’s origins.
Birdman copper plate 700-year-old may depict woman warrior
A copper plate from Etowah, now held by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, shows a bird-costumed figure carrying a severed head and a club or mace. Researchers Billie Follensbee and Katie Buford argue that prominent right breasts and a slender body challenge the long-standing assumption that the figure was a male warrior. The artifact may also reflect gender-variant roles in Indigenous society.
French Bond Sell-Off Deepens as Protest Risks Fuel Investor Worries
French government bonds and shares fell after violent protests over the weekend, as investors weighed political uncertainty against the government’s effort to rein in public spending. The 10-year bond yield rose to 4.925%, while the gap between French and German borrowing costs reached its highest level since Oct. 5, according to LSEG data cited by Yahoo Finance.
Massive Chinese Crime Ring Used Staples Hack to Steal $425,000
A massive Chinese crime ring accessed Staples’ customer support system and used the intrusion to issue gift cards, according to court records reviewed by 404 Media. Investigators said the cards were spent at retailers including Target, Sephora and Lowe’s, with purchases spanning multiple states. The case also describes how hackers hijacked customer-service sessions to generate cards and move stolen merchandise through a nationwide operation.
French calls partial curfews as riots hit businesses
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called for local curfews after weekend riots and looting, giving regional mayors more power to impose restrictions. The move follows reports that more than 2,000 businesses were directly affected. In Coulaines, the mayor has already barred minors from being outside after 23:00 local time.
Cornwall Holiday-Let Tax Refunds Put £10m Council Support at Risk
Cornwall Council says tax refunds linked to holiday-let status have cost it about £10m so far this financial year and could affect support for low-income households. Councillors and campaigners want the law changed, while industry representatives say qualifying rentals are legitimate businesses that support local tourism and jobs.
Robot factories and hypersonic missiles draw JPMorgan investment
JPMorgan Chase says it invested $5 billion in startups during the first year of its U.S. security and resiliency initiative, reaching halfway to its initial target. The bank holds stakes in Hadrian, which builds automated factories, and Castelion, which is developing hypersonic missiles. Co-President Doug Petno said the program may grow beyond its original goal.
French Police Lost Control as Riots Overwhelmed Cities
France’s interior minister acknowledged that police lost control in several cities after weekend protests exceeded intelligence estimates. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for local, partial curfews where needed, while President Emmanuel Macron ordered a review of security planning and intelligence failures. Authorities reported looting, arrests and injuries among security forces.
France Protests Push Bond Yields Higher as Budget Pressure Grows
French bonds and stocks fell after violent protests over the weekend, raising concern among investors as the government prepares a budget to rein in its deficit. The yield on France’s 10-year debt rose to 4.849%, widening the gap with German borrowing costs. The government is also weighing pension and departmental spending cuts, while political pressure threatens to complicate those plans.
Companies Exploiting Welfare System in UK Housing Scheme
A BBC Panorama investigation found that some private providers receive housing benefits for supported accommodation while residents say they were left without promised care. Birmingham accounted for £410m in payments for the system in the last financial year, and the investigation also identified claims involving people who did not live in the properties.
Macron slams unbridled riots as France faces new clashes
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned violence during cost-of-living protests as clashes and looting continued in Paris. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, and almost 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured, France’s interior ministry said. Macron said authorities could ban some rallies and promised support for affected businesses, while political figures sharply disputed the causes and handling of the unrest.
France struggles contain fallout after protests turn violent
France is assessing damage after protests over classroom and hospital conditions and living costs drew more than half a million people on Saturday and descended into clashes, looting and fires. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 2,000 people were arrested nationwide. Political leaders traded blame as authorities faced calls to protect public order and repair damaged buildings.
BBC reports protests France: Fires and clashes shown
A report by BBC Paris correspondent James Waterhouse described protests across France as mostly peaceful while showing footage of fires, clashes with police and looted businesses. A separate Fox News report cited more than 600 injured police officers and nearly 2,000 arrests between Saturday and Sunday. The source also reported that a historic town hall in Limoges was largely lost after a fire.
EU steel tariffs threaten Ukraine exports, Metinvest chief says
Metinvest chief executive Yuriy Ryzhenkov is urging the European Union to exempt Ukrainian steel from import restrictions, saying the measures aimed at curbing cheap imports also hit a country whose mills face Russian bombardment. Ukraine’s steel industry estimates exports to the EU could fall by about 50–60%. The EU says a country-specific quota still guarantees Ukrainian exports, though at a lower level than in past years.
Europe Protests Spread From France to Five Other Countries This Week
Protests over living costs, education, housing and workplace safety have spread across France, Albania, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece, Newsweek reported. In France, demonstrations that began over school conditions widened into broader economic unrest. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said at least 550,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, while 1,800 people were arrested and more than 500 police officers and firefighters were injured.
France’s riots death throes test Macron’s grip on power
Rioting damaged shops and public spaces in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges, while two people died during the unrest, according to the source report. President Emmanuel Macron said public gatherings could be banned if needed and promised consequences for looters. The report describes the violence as a blow to his remaining domestic political capital, with repair costs running into the hundreds of millions.
Anger shame Macron denounces France protest violence
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed action after riots and looting in France, saying those responsible would “pay for their crimes”. The Interior Ministry reported nearly 2,400 arrests on Saturday and about 1,000 police and gendarmes injured. Macron also promised a crisis unit to provide urgent aid, as political figures blamed the government and criticised its response.
Meloni Backs Police After Milan Cost-of-Living Protest Clashes
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned violence during protests over the cost of living and voiced support for law enforcement. Clashes in Milan included looted stores and smashed windows, while police used water cannons to disperse the crowd. The Associated Press, citing LaPresse, reported that 50 demonstrators were detained and at least two officers were hurt.
Photos show aftermath riots as France counts damage
France surveyed widespread destruction after protests over living costs and school conditions turned violent in several cities. Police reported 1,800 arrests nationwide, while the BBC cited about 1,800 and described damage to shops, cars and public buildings. In Limoges, fire badly damaged the historic town hall; Paris residents and shopkeepers began clearing debris from streets and storefronts.