The Hub • Special Events

Former Far-Right Group Member Found Guilty of Murdering Argentina Rugby Star A former member of a violent far-right group was found guilty on Friday of murdering former Argentina rugby international Federico Aramburu four years ago in Paris, following an altercation near the Boulevard Saint-Germain. Loik Le Priol, 32, whom the court said was “animated by the will to kill”, was sentenced to 26 years in prison. “The narcissistic, intrusive and uncontrollable rage of Loik Le Priol ultimately led to the gratuitous killing of Mr. Aramburu,” the presiding judge said. In his closing statement to the court earlier on Friday, Mr. Le Priol asked Mr. Aramburu’s family for forgiveness. “I’m Christian like you, the pope is here today, I don’t know if it’s a sign — hope one day you can find the strength to forgive me.” His associate Romain Bouvier, 35, also a former member of the now-banned GUD group (Groupe Union Defense), ​was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 19 years in prison. The court said that Mr. Le Priol and Mr. Bouvier formed “a deadly pair, united by a shared fascination with weapons and violence.” Both men are already serving prison sentences for aggravated assault in a separate case. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Pope Leo Urges Church To Face Failings Before Meeting French Abuse Survivors Pope Leo on Sunday urged the Catholic Church to admit its own failings and heal “deep wounds” inflicted within its ranks, hours before he was set to meet victims of child abuse by priests in France. Leo, addressing crowds stretching out over a large field near the famed Catholic shrine in Lourdes, said the Church must have the courage to face its past but did not directly reference abuse scandals in France that sparked nationwide shock. “In order to heal the deep wounds, infidelities and painful errors that have occurred within (the Church), we must humbly place ourselves under the Lord’s purifying gaze,” the first US pope told an estimated 150,000 people gathered in the field on a sunlit day. Leo is on a whirlwind three-city, four-day visit to France, where he has again urged the world to reconsider the development of artificial intelligence. He drew around 800,000 people for an outdoor Mass on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Saturday. In an earlier, closed-door meeting with French bishops on Sunday, Leo did directly refer to “the painful scourge of abuse committed against minors by members of the clergy,” according to a Vatican-provided text. Leo has previously apologised directly for abuse scandals that have damaged the Church’s credibility across the world. On a trip to Spain in June, he told bishops there that they must listen to survivors and offer them reparations. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs Called To Appear at Australian AI Probe The CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic have been called to testify before an Australian Senate inquiry on AI after reports that a rogue OpenAI bot hacked the national health-system database, according to the inquiry chair. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Medicare breach, describing it as one of the most significant incidents of AI agents accessing external systems outside the US. Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic have received written requests to appear at the inquiry, which will hold public hearings in Canberra on Thursday, according to a spokesperson for Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the inquiry chair. OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. The OpenAI agent’s breach of a major government agency may prompt the Albanese government to strengthen AI-specific legislation planned for next year. Tech policy experts note this could further strain Australia-US relations, already tested by Canberra’s ban on social media for teens. The Senate inquiry is evaluating the potential impacts of AI and data centers on Australian communities, industries, water, and energy. It is one of several ongoing state and federal investigations into AI. “There are serious questions for Sam Altman to answer about the OpenAI hack of Australian government websites,” Ms. Hanson-Young said in a statement. Mr. Altman and Mr. Amodei “must appear, respond to the Senate’s questions, and engage in an honest discussion about what effective, lasting regulation of this industry should look like,” she said. Albanese, who disclosed the June Medicare breach on Thursday, called it “unacceptable” and stated he had expressed “extreme concern” to Mr. Altman. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Avvenire originally published this article, and TheO translated and lightly edited it. Théophile and The Others: the Six Young People with Down Syndrome Serving as Altar Boys at the Pope’s Mass by Matteo Liut The initiative started when the youngest group member gave Pope Francis a letter during a Vatican audience. At Place de la Concorde, they showed that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Théophile, eleven years old and passionate about the circus, expressed his wish to serve at the Pope's Mass when he met Pope Francis last June. According to his mother, Violaine (as reported by Aleteia), he repeated this desire early in the morning. Later that day, during a Vatican audience with the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, he gave the Pope a letter signed by himself and five other young people with Down syndrome, requesting to serve as altar boys at the Mass in Paris. The Pope immediately agreed and promised to fulfill their request. Arrangements were confirmed a few weeks later. After presenting the letter and receiving a blessing, Théophile remained by the Pope's side and simply said, "I love you." This occurred on June 22, during the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation's audience with the Pope, marking the centenary of the French geneticist's birth. According to the Foundation, Pope Francis showed great affection for the eight young people with Trisomy 21 in the delegation, embracing them and supporting the organization’s commitment to life and human dignity. On Saturday, September 26, at Place de la Concorde, Théophile was among about four hundred altar servers assisting Pope Leo during the final celebration of his apostolic visit to Paris. He was joined by Maxime, François, Foucauld, Timothée, and Jérôme—six young men with Down syndrome, aged 11 to 28, all affiliated with the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation. Together, they served at the altar before the crowd gathered in the square and along the Champs-Élysées. Their participation was not just symbolic or part of

ONE-SENTENCE-NEWS Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić resigned on Sunday at the conclusion of his final term, prompting early presidential elections. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Macron Invokes Europe’s Judeo-Christian Foundation As Leo Visits France In his speech on Monday for a major address on peace and European unity attended by Pope Leo, and several heads of state French President Manuel Macron said Europe was built on a "Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian foundation", invoking the continent's religious heritage. The remarks were notable from the leader of a constitutionally secular state, in a country that regularly agonises over national identity, religion and the place of faith in public life, notes Reuters. Mr. Macron, who attended Leo's last mass in Metz on Monday after skipping other religious services, said Europe's heritage had helped crystallise "the primacy of the person" and later "the free and rational individual". "Our Europe ... is above all a civilisation," Macron said. "This Europe of our cities and villages, schools and universities, cafes and public squares, was built on a Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian foundation." Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Pope Leo Urges Europe To Remember Christian History Pope ​Leo urged Europe to remember ​its Christian history in a speech delivered in Metz, the ​hometown ‌of Robert ⁠Schuman, a founding father of ‌the European Union, during his four-day ⁠visit to France. "One cannot speak of Europe without mentioning Christianity," he said. The pontiff praised European integration ​and multiculturalism, adding that dialogue ‌with others was a "social and political necessity" and urging ‌EU leaders to give "real substance" to ​words such as freedom, democracy and unity. "Europe has flourished and ​progressed when it ​has been able to ​draw on the best aspects of ​its past and reinvent them in new and creative ways through encounters with ⁠others," the pope said. In his speech, Pope Leo also warned that relations between nations were becoming "increasingly uncivilised" with people boasting of "lies and deceit", and urged Europe to help "break this cycle". "Relations between individuals and states are becoming increasingly uncivilised. The value of keeping one's word is dismissed. Instead, people boast of lies and deceit," he said. "Europe can help to break this cycle through the respect for others that it has learned to cultivate and preserve." Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

French Far-Right Leader Bardella Denies Media Claim He Made Antisemitic Remarks French far-right leader Jordan Bardella on Monday denied a report by investigative website Mediapart alleging he made antisemitic remarks in private messages over a decade ago, calling the allegations “crude fabrications”. The report comes as Bardella’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, whose presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is leading polls ahead of next year’s election, seeks to clear its racist image and build close ties with Israel. “I formally dispute the accusations against me by Mediapart, which attributes to me deranged and antisemitic remarks that I supposedly made when I was a minor. These are obviously crude forgeries,” Mr. Bardella stated. He said he had instructed his lawyer to pursue “all necessary proceedings” against Mediapart. Mediapart, in a report published on Monday, said it had reviewed dozens of private messages from 2013-2015 – the early years of Bardella’s career in the National Front, the forerunner of the RN – that it said showed a pattern of antisemitic and conspiratorial rhetoric. Mediapart cited one message in which it said Bardella claimed “all the banks are owned by Jews”. The left-leaning outlet, which has a long history of unearthing political scandals in France, said it had independently authenticated the private messages, and had also drawn on testimony from former party colleagues, which it named with first names and the initial of their last names. A slew of antisemitic and racist comments by some RN candidates derailed the party’s hopes of winning a parliamentary majority in France’s legislative vote in 2024. Mr. Bardella at the time pledged to avoid such “casting errors” in the future by systematically kicking out any candidates with a history of toxic statements. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Congo Politician Beaten To Death After Urging Ebola Prevention On Radio, Party Says A senior member of Congo’s ruling party was beaten to death after taking part in a radio programme to raise awareness about the Ebola outbreak, a party representative said on Monday. The incident happened on Sunday in Butembo, North Kivu province, which has recently become a hotspot in the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Marie-Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the UDPS party’s federal executive committee in Butembo and a party spokesperson, was attacked by residents of his neighbourhood after appearing on a radio show during which he promoted Ebola prevention measures, the UDPS federation in Butembo said in a statement. The party said the attackers beat him, looted his belongings and set his house on fire. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, how many were involved or what motivated it. But the party said Karondwa was “an innocent victim for having defended the party’s position on the existence of the Ebola virus disease (…) and the threat it poses to the population.” Karondwa later died from his injuries, the party said. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on Ebola response teams, underscoring persistent mistrust among the population. On Saturday, armed men attacked a hand-washing checkpoint in nearby Beni territory, killing at least one person and wounding several others, a local civil society group reported. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

China’s Industrial Profit Growth Slows Further Profits at China’s industrial firms in August rose 4.2 per cent from a year earlier, down from 11.2 per cent in July. While profit increased 15.7 per cent in the first eight months, easing from 17.6 per cent in the January-July period, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday. The wine, beverages and refined tea manufacturing industry was among the worst performers, with profits falling 34.7 per cent. Earlier this month, a central bank adviser warned that AI may worsen and extend China’s imbalance between robust supply and subdued demand, reinforcing calls for measures to boost consumer spending and strengthen balance sheets throughout the economy. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

Australian Central Bank Expected To Raise Rate The Highest Since 2008 Financial markets are fully priced for two more rate rises this year and imply a strong chance of a follow-up move, which would take the cash rate above 5 per cent. Marking the RBA’s fourth increase this year, a 25-basis-point rise on Tuesday would bring the benchmark rate to 4.6 per cent – a 15-year-high. Market expectations suggest that RBA Governor Michele Bullock may implement another rate hike before Christmas. As previously stated, Ms. Bullock aims to slow economic growth and raise Australia's unemployment rate. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism. We are committed to combatting Antisemitism and racism.

UPDATE- The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised the cash rate to a 15-year high of 4.6 per cent and signaled that further increases may be needed this year to address inflation. This move is likely to increase public concern about the cost of living under the Albanese government. All nine voting members of the RBA board unanimously supported the 0.25 percentage point increase, citing elevated inflation at 3.5 per cent and the need to prevent ongoing price pressures in the economy. RBA's Governor reiterated that the jobless rate – currently 4.6 per cent – may need to go as high as 5 per cent for inflation to return sustainably back within the RBA’s target band for inflation. Traders lifted bets on a further RBA rate hike, with swaps pricing a 56 per cent chance of a follow-up move in November. Theo. Economy, Unalienable Rights & Ideas for an intelligent, mature audience. Intellectual, no emotionalism.

. Hijack Scare Over Saudi Arabia: What We Know About the FlyDubai FZ1073 Incident Wednesday, 30 September 2026 https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2253078/flydubai-live-hijacking-fears-dubai-tel-aviv A FlyDubai passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv triggered a major regional security alert on Wednesday morning after transmitting emergency transponder codes, including one reserved for hijackings. The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent security consultation. As of the latest reporting, no hijacking has been confirmed. Multiple Israeli media outlets now say the most likely explanation is a physical altercation between the two pilots in the cockpit. The sequence of events Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered A6-FKF, departed Dubai International Airport at approximately 03:05 UTC, bound for Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. More than 150 passengers were reported aboard, with several outlets putting the figure closer to 180. At 05:31 UTC, roughly halfway through the route and over Saudi airspace, the aircraft began transmitting squawk code 7700, the international signal for a general emergency. Seven minutes later, at 05:38 UTC, the transponder switched to 7500, the code used exclusively to indicate unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. Flight-tracking data then showed the aircraft leaving ground-based radar coverage at 06:11 UTC. A 7700 signal was picked up by satellite at 06:28 UTC, and the final satellite contact was recorded at 06:58 UTC near Tabuk Regional Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The plane reportedly descended to what Israeli outlet Ynet described as a "suspicious altitude" before diverting toward Saudi territory. It landed safely at Tabuk. The security response The 7500 transmission prompted an immediate military reaction. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, and unconfirmed local reports said Saudi Arabia also deployed aircr

. ...following on... Why the codes matter Transmitting 7500 does not, by itself, prove a hijacking occurred. The code can be entered accidentally or as a result of transponder issues, though switching from 7700 to 7500 mid-flight is a deliberate act that always triggers full security protocols. That distinction explains why governments responded urgently even as officials stressed there was no evidence of unlawful interference. Where things stand The aircraft is on the ground in Tabuk with its passengers and crew safe. Investigations by Saudi, UAE and Israeli authorities are ongoing, and the definitive cause is expected to emerge from crew interviews and flight-data review rather than from the transponder record alone. For now, the credible consensus is that this was a cockpit dispute that escalated into an international security scare, not an act of terrorism or hijacking. Any account stating otherwise is ahead of the evidence. Sources The Mirror (live) — 'Fight' erupts on flight to Tel Aviv as 'hijack' alert issued https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/flydubai-hijacking-fz1073-israel-emergency-37716939 Arab Times — Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Hijack Alert https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/flydubai-flight-diverts-to-saudi-arabia-after-hijack-alert/ BNO News — Israel-bound flight sends hijacking alert after altercation between pilots https://bnonews.com/index.php/2026/09/israel-bound-flight-sends-hijacking-alert-after-altercation-between-pilots/ Additional reference: Türkiye Today — Report points to dispute between pilots https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/flydubai-flight-to-tel-aviv-reportedly-sends-hijack-code-israel-scrambles-jets-3229273 ... More Authorities are investigating whether one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot. Another plane is expected to be sent from Dubai to Saudi Arabia to pick up the passengers and continue on to Israel. t.me/idostandwithisrael/27874 .