Morning brief: ‘No Kings’ protest, Heist at the Louvre, Bolivia elects new leader

Political upheaval, high-profile theft, and courtroom drama marked the weekend’s major global developments.

From mass demonstrations across US cities to a daring jewel heist at the Louvre and a closely watched antitrust case in Texas, the weekend’s news cycle captured turbulence across politics, law, and culture.

Meanwhile, Bolivia ushered in a new political era with the election of Rodrigo Paz, signaling a decisive end to the country’s long-standing leftist governance.

Millions protest Trump’s expanding presidential powers

Massive “No Kings” protests erupted across the United States on Saturday as demonstrators denounced President Donald Trump’s use of executive authority since returning to the White House in January.

Crowds filled major cities, including New York, Washington, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles, chanting slogans such as “Democracy not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is not optional.”

Organisers said nearly seven million people participated nationwide, describing the events as peaceful despite the deployment of National Guard troops in several states.

Protesters accused Trump of overreaching by deploying federal forces to US cities and dismantling government agencies through executive orders.

Trump dismissed the demonstrations as insignificant, telling reporters, “I think it’s a joke. I looked at the people, they’re not representative of this country.”

He added that he was “no king” and claimed he was working to make the country great.

Allies of the president accused participants of being aligned with the far-left Antifa movement, calling the events “the hate America rally.”

Louvre targeted in daring daylight heist

In Paris, French police launched an extensive manhunt after four thieves carried out a meticulously planned daylight raid on the Louvre, stealing eight “priceless” pieces of historic jewellery.

The robbery occurred in the museum’s Apollon gallery, home to France’s crown jewels, forcing the world-renowned museum to close for the day.

Among the stolen artefacts was an emerald and diamond necklace once gifted by Napoleon to his wife, Marie Louise, as well as sapphire jewellery belonging to Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Queen Hortense of Holland.

A 19th-century crown worn by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was recovered nearby, damaged but intact.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on France Inter radio that the items held “unmeasurable heritage value,” describing the incident as a “well-organised raid.”

Security footage is being reviewed as investigators work to trace the culprits.

Judge Keeps Musk’s antitrust case in Texas court

A US federal judge ruled that the lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s companies X and xAI, accusing Apple and OpenAI of maintaining artificial intelligence monopolies, will remain in Fort Worth, Texas.

Judge Mark Pittman, in a wryly worded four-page order, noted that none of the companies had more than minimal connections to the area but encouraged them to relocate there if they preferred to have the case heard locally.

In a footnote, Pittman even directed the firms to Fort Worth’s Business Services website to get the process started.

His comments appeared to criticise “forum-shopping,” a tactic where plaintiffs file suits in jurisdictions perceived as more favourable.

The order comes amid growing scrutiny of such legal strategies. Pittman himself, a Trump appointee, acknowledged the Fort Worth division’s heavy caseload compared to nearby Dallas, suggesting the companies’ filing choice was strategic.

Musk, who controls both X and Tesla, has been a frequent litigant in the Texas district.

Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia’s presidential election

In Bolivia, centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won the presidential runoff election, defeating conservative rival Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga with 54.5% of the vote, according to early results from the electoral tribunal.

Paz, representing the Christian Democratic Party, will take office on November 8.

His victory ends nearly two decades of dominance by the leftist Movement to Socialism (MAS) party, which had governed since 2006.

The election outcome reflects voter discontent amid Bolivia’s worst economic crisis in a generation.

Despite his win, Paz faces a divided legislature, meaning he will need to build coalitions to govern effectively.

His administration will inherit a fragile economy and the task of restoring political stability after years of ideological polarisation.

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