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Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched through Budapest on Thursday in a show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as he faces one of the most competitive elections of his 15-year rule. The demonstration, called a “peace march” by organizers, coincided with Hungary’s Oct. 23 national holiday, commemorating the crushed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising. Waving Hungarian flags and banners reading “We don’t want to die for Ukraine,” marchers voiced support for Orbán’s stance against Western involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. Participants from across Hungary and neighboring countries filled central Budapest, crossing the Danube’s Margaret Bridge toward the parliament building. Many echoed Orbán’s message of defending Hungary’s sovereignty and Christian values. “Orbán is the only leader who can protect our country from external threats,” said Babett Lugosi, one marcher. Orbán, the European Union’s closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly opposed military aid to Ukraine and called for an immediate ceasefire. His government maintains warm ties with Moscow while clashing with Kyiv and EU leaders over sanctions and war policy. Following the march, Orbán was expected to address supporters, rallying his base as his ruling Fidesz party trails in polls behind Péter Magyar’s new center-right Tisza party. Magyar, a former Fidesz insider, has gained popularity with promises to tackle corruption and revive Hungary’s struggling economy, which has suffered from high inflation and stagnation. In response, Orbán’s allies organized Thursday’s mass demonstration to project unity and strength ahead of the vote scheduled six months from now. Across Budapest, buses brought in supporters from rural areas and even Hungarian communities in Romania’s Transylvania region. Meanwhile, Magyar’s supporters held a rival rally in central Budapest, highlighting the deepening political divide. Both gatherings served as an early test of momentum heading into a high-stakes election that could reshape Hungary’s political landscape. One participant, Sándor Kerekes, who traveled from Romania, said he joined to show solidarity. “It’s important to stand together for peace and unity among nations,” he said.

British counterterrorism police have arrested three men in London on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said Thursday. The Metropolitan Police said the suspects—aged 44, 45, and 48—were detained at separate addresses under the National Security Act on allegations of “assisting a foreign intelligence service.” Officers confirmed that the country involved is Russia and that multiple properties across London are being searched as part of the investigation. British officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of waging a growing campaign of espionage, sabotage, and cyber operations against the United Kingdom. “We’re seeing more ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services, and these arrests are part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt such activity,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London’s counterterrorism policing unit. MI5 chief Ken McCallum said last week that Russia “is committed to causing havoc and destruction,” adding that authorities have recently disrupted several hostile surveillance plots targeting individuals viewed as enemies by Russian leaders.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday warned that European Union partners must share the risks if they plan to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets held in Belgium to support Ukraine’s economy and military efforts. Ukraine’s projected budget and defense needs for 2026 and 2027 are estimated at around $153 billion. The European Commission has been developing a plan to use frozen Russian assets as collateral to secure funding, with the largest portion—approximately $225 billion—stored in Belgium. The Belgian government, however, is cautious about releasing the funds without guarantees from other EU nations. “If we want to provide these funds to Ukraine, it must be a collective effort,” De Wever told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels. “Otherwise, any Russian retaliation would hit Belgium alone, which is not reasonable. We are a small country, and retaliation could be severe, including the seizure of European-owned assets in Russia.” The EU’s proposed mechanism, described by the European Commission as a “reparation loan,” would see member states guarantee a loan of about $165 billion to Kyiv. The money would not come directly from frozen Russian assets, and Ukraine would only repay the EU if Russia pays significant war reparations for the destruction caused during the conflict. If Moscow refuses, the assets would remain frozen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized the plan, calling it an attempt to “illegally confiscate Russian property.” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarified that the EU is not confiscating the assets but using their cash balances to issue a loan to Ukraine, with repayment contingent on Russia’s reparations. De Wever emphasized that Belgium has yet to see the legal framework for the plan and called for careful scrutiny, noting, “This is a major step that has never been attempted, not even during the Second World War, so it cannot be taken lightly.” Source: AP

Just days after the shocking theft at Paris’s Louvre Museum, speculation is mounting over the possible fate of the stolen royal jewels, valued at more than $100 million (88 million euros). Some experts caution that the items could soon — if not already — be melted down or broken into smaller pieces, which could later be sold as new necklaces, earrings, or other jewelry without attracting much attention. “You don’t even have to put them on a black market, you just put them in a jewelry store,” said Erin Thompson, an art crime professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. “It could be sold down the street from the Louvre." Thompson and others say this approach has become more common with stolen jeweled and metal goods, as thieves try to cover their tracks and profit. Christopher Marinello, lawyer and founder of Art Recovery International, added: “By breaking them apart, they will hide their theft.” He noted that moving the pieces out of France and through jewel cutters in other countries could make them even more “traceless.” While dividing or melting the items reduces their historical value, it also makes them easier to sell. “The real art in an art heist isn’t the stealing, it’s the selling,” explained Robert Wittman, former FBI art crime investigator. He expressed skepticism that Sunday’s thieves could successfully monetize the Louvre jewels intact, pointing to their identifiable clarity and historic gold composition. “Because of what they are, there’s really no point destroying them,” Wittman said.Scott Guginsky, executive vice president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, noted: “It’s not something that you can move on the open market. It’s nothing that can go through an auction house." He added, “I can’t see them stealing it without having an idea what they want to do. There’s always a person willing to buy stolen jewelry. No matter what it is, somebody will buy it.” Sara Yood, CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, said the age of some jewels could make them harder to track if altered. “Because these are historical pieces, it’s rather unlikely that it has those identifying features,” she noted. Experts also point out that bigger gems can be recut to become unrecognizable, although finding skilled people to do so without questions is a challenge. Thompson added, “the guys who actually enter the museums are usually all hired hands, and they’re almost always caught in these cases.” Source: AP

European Union leaders are set to approve a fresh round of sanctions against Russia and advance plans to use Moscow’s assets frozen in Europe to support Ukraine’s war effort and economy for at least the next two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the one-day summit in Brussels, as he and European allies push for a ceasefire to end nearly four years of conflict. “Both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia remain the two necessary requirements to achieve a just and lasting peace,” EU Council President António Costa said in an invitation letter to EU leaders. The summit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump paused plans for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he did not want it to be “a waste of time.” The move adds another twist to Trump’s stop-and-go efforts to resolve the war. EU leaders are also discussing ways to remain engaged in Trump’s Gaza peace plan. While the EU is the world’s largest donor to Palestinians, it has limited influence over Israel, partly due to divisions among member states, and has struggled to play a significant role in the conflict. In contrast, the EU’s position on the Ukraine war is clearer. The summit occurs as Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the approaching winter. Earlier this week, Ukraine’s strongest European supporters, forming a “coalition of the willing,” opposed any pressure on Kyiv to cede territory captured by Russia in exchange for peace, as Trump recently suggested. The U.K. will host a meeting of the coalition’s more than 30 members on Friday. On the EU side, leaders plan to push ahead with using billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s military and economic needs, despite concerns about potential consequences. Belgium holds the largest share of these frozen assets, estimated at $225 billion, and has sought guarantees from other European partners before releasing any funds. Ukraine’s budget and defense requirements for 2026 and 2027 are projected at around $153 billion. The EU summit is also expected to approve a new “road map” to prepare Europe for potential Russian aggression by the end of the decade, as officials warn that Russia could target another European country within three to five years. Source: AP

The Louvre Museum in Paris was struck by a daring theft on Sunday morning, when robbers stole eight priceless pieces of Napoleonic jewelry in a four-minute raid. Using a truck-mounted ladder to access the gilded Galerie d’Apollon on the second floor, the thieves cut through a window with an angle grinder. While one stolen crown, belonging to Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III’s wife, was recovered nearby after being dropped, reports Al Jazeera. The Louvre, once a royal palace and opened to the public in 1793, has long attracted thieves seeking its treasures. Over time, its collection has faced multiple heists, from the iconic Mona Lisa to jewelry and smaller artworks. 1911: The Mona Lisa Heist Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa became globally famous after being stolen in 1911. Italian worker Vincenzo Peruggia hid overnight in the museum and removed the painting unchallenged, carrying it out under a sheet. The theft prompted a massive police investigation, drawing in figures such as poet Guillaume Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso, though neither was implicated. The painting remained in Peruggia’s apartment until 1913, when he attempted to sell it in Italy and was arrested. The Mona Lisa returned to the Louvre in 1914, cementing its international fame. Nazi Threats and WWII Safeguards During World War II, the Nazis sought to loot the Louvre, but director Jacques Jaujard preemptively evacuated over 1,800 cases of artworks, including the Mona Lisa, to the countryside. While some Jewish-owned art was stolen during the occupation, much was later recovered, and the Louvre now displays many of these pieces. Later Thefts The museum saw further thefts through the 20th century. In 1966, five pieces of jewelry loaned to the U.S. were stolen en route back to Paris but later recovered. In 1990, a Renoir painting and some jewelry went missing, with some items never traced. Why the 2025 Jewelry Heist Is Different Art historian Noah Charney notes that this robbery is distinct because it targeted jewelry, not paintings. While artworks hold cultural value, jewelry carries intrinsic value — gold, gems, and craftsmanship — which can be broken down and sold, making recovery extremely difficult. Unlike paintings, which retain most of their value intact, stolen jewels can be recut and dispersed quickly, often rendering them untraceable. “The only hope for recovery is offering a reward higher than the component value, encouraging thieves to return the items intact,” Charney explained. Otherwise, the pieces could be dismantled within hours, leaving little chance of retrieval. This heist highlights the challenges museums face in protecting high-value items that can vanish not only through theft but through transformation, complicating efforts to safeguard cultural heritage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw large-scale nuclear force drills involving test missile launches, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed their planned summit on the war in Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, the exercises involved all components of Russia’s nuclear triad. A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk site in northwestern Russia, while a Sineva ICBM was fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea. Tu-95 strategic bombers also took part, launching long-range cruise missiles. The drills were aimed at testing command-and-control readiness, including the procedures for authorizing the use of nuclear weapons, the Kremlin said. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, briefed Putin via video link, describing the exercise as a routine but comprehensive readiness test. Putin stressed that the drills had been scheduled in advance, though their timing coincided with Trump’s announcement that his planned meeting with the Russian leader in Budapest had been put on hold. Trump said Tuesday he did not want the meeting to be a “waste of time.” The postponement followed a call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two sides reportedly failed to agree on the framework for peace talks in Ukraine. Lavrov reiterated on Tuesday that Moscow opposes an immediate ceasefire, while Trump has continued to shift his position throughout the year on whether a truce should precede broader negotiations or allow Ukraine to reclaim occupied territories. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said both leaders agreed that the summit required more preparation before moving forward. “No one wants to waste time — neither President Trump nor President Putin,” Peskov told reporters. “Both leaders value effectiveness and productivity, and that requires proper groundwork.” The drills, held amid heightened global tensions, underscore Moscow’s continued emphasis on showcasing its nuclear capabilities while diplomatic uncertainty clouds future talks on the Ukraine conflict.

Mosquitoes have been detected in Iceland for the first time after the country experienced record high temperatures this spring. Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason noticed the mosquitoes over several nights last week while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths, local media reported. He discovered two female mosquitoes and one male, later confirmed as Culiseta annulata, a species capable of surviving harsh winters. Before this finding, Iceland was one of only two mosquito-free regions in the world, alongside Antarctica, due in part to its cold climate. The insects were found in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik. Hjaltason shared pictures of the insects on a local wildlife Facebook page, describing them as "a strange fly on a red wine ribbon," according to Icelandic media. "I could tell right away that this was something I had never seen before," he wrote, adding, "the last fortress seems to have fallen." He sent the mosquitoes to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed their species. Alfreðsson told CNN that while Culiseta annulata is common in parts of Europe and North Africa, the method by which they reached Iceland remains unclear. The country’s previously mosquito-free status was attributed to its cold climate and lack of stagnant water suitable for breeding, according to the World Population Review. This year, Iceland saw multiple record-breaking temperatures. May normally rarely exceeds 20C (68F), but highs above this threshold persisted for 10 consecutive days. The warmest day reached 26.6C (79.8F) at Eglisstaðir Airport. A June study by the Global Heat Health Information Network highlighted that such climate shifts could significantly affect delicate ecosystems adapted to cold conditions. The UN’s climate body has confirmed human influence has "unequivocally" warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land, with last year being the hottest on record. Alfreðsson noted that further monitoring next spring will determine if the mosquito species has "truly become established in Iceland." Hjaltason speculated on their arrival, saying, "One always suspects Grundartangi - it's only about six kilometers from me, and things often arrive with ships and containers, so it's possible something came in that way. But if three of them came straight into my garden, there were probably more."

Six people were arrested after a crowd outside a Dublin-area hotel housing migrants threw bricks, bottles, and fireworks at police and set a police van on fire, Ireland’s national police force, the Garda Siochana, said Wednesday. One officer was treated for a foot injury. The incident occurred Tuesday evening outside the CityWest Hotel in Saggart, following reports of a sexual assault in the area. Hundreds gathered, waving Irish flags, and some attempted to charge the police line using horse-drawn carts. Officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Police Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the violence as “thuggery by a mob intent on violence,” while Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the disorder was unjustified. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed a man had been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault. Hotels housing asylum-seekers have frequently attracted protests in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Britain, often linked to crime reports and fueled by anti-immigration and far-right campaigns. O’Callaghan said the use of such incidents to stir unrest is “not unexpected,” emphasizing that peaceful protest is a democratic right, but violence is not. 

The Louvre reopened Wednesday to long queues under its iconic glass pyramid, just three days after one of the century’s most high-profile museum thefts, in which thieves stole eight pieces from France’s Crown Jewels. The Sunday heist, carried out near the Mona Lisa, involved smashing two display cases in the Apollo Gallery and fleeing on motorbikes. Authorities say the thieves spent less than four minutes inside. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged security failings, calling the incident a “very negative image of France.” The stolen items include a sapphire diadem, necklaces, earrings, and diamond pieces linked to 19th-century queens and empresses. One emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugénie was recovered damaged outside the museum. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau valued the haul at €88 million ($102 million), warning the historical significance could be lost if the jewels are dismantled for resale. The theft has intensified scrutiny of the Louvre’s security. President-director Laurence des Cars faced the Senate culture committee, though she remains in her post. Critics highlight gaps in staffing, overcrowding, and uneven rollout of new security measures, including expanded cameras and a command post announced earlier this year. While star attractions such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace remain open, the Apollo Gallery’s sealed and guarded displays reflect the breach’s symbolic weight — underscoring the fragility of France’s cultural heritage.