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When Representative Mike Johnson arrived in Congress in 2017, he received an important piece of advice from a fellow Louisianan, Representative Steve Scalise. Be careful about your early alliances that you make, Scalise told Johnson, as the younger Republican recalled in a C-SPAN interview that year. Avoid getting marginalized or labeled in any way.

Six years later, Johnson has followed that advice all the way to the House speakership, reaching a post that is second in line to the presidency faster than any other lawmaker in modern congressional history. Staunchly conservative and closely aligned with former President Donald Trump, the 51-year-old former talk-radio host made few headlines and fewer enemies as he climbed the ranks of his party.

With a 220209 House vote this afternoon, Johnson was able to forge a consensus that eluded three previous aspirantsincluding his own mentor, Scaliseto replace Kevin McCarthy. He earned unanimous support from Republican members, who stood and applauded when he clinched a majority of the chamber. His victory ends a weeks-long power struggle that immobilized the House as a war started in the Middle East and a government shutdown loomed.

Johnsons win was as sudden as it was improbable. Early yesterday afternoon, he lost a secret-ballot vote to become the House GOPs third speaker nominee in as many weeks. But the winner of that tally, Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, faced immediate backlash from social conservatives and Trump allies over his support for same-sex marriage and his 2021 vote to certify Joe Bidens election as president. More than two dozen Republicans told Emmer that they would not support him in a public floor vote, putting him in the same perilous position as the previous GOP speaker nominee, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio. While Emmer was trying to win them over, Trump denounced him as a globalist RINO. Emmers nomination was dead after just four hours.

David A. Graham: The House Republicanss new litmus test

As the fifth-ranking House GOP leader, Johnson was next in line. Late last night, he captured the nomination in the second round of balloting. His victory was far from unanimous, but rank-and-file Republicans who had initially voted against Johnson, apparently weary after weeks of infighting, decided to support him.

Johnsons ascent is a product of both the GOPs ideological conformity and its ongoing loyalty to Trump. His record in the House is no more moderate than Jordans, whose preference for antagonism over compromise turned off an ultimately decisive faction of the party. Both Johnson and Jordan served as chairs of the Republican Study Committeethe largest conservative bloc in the Houseand played key roles in Trumps effort to overturn his defeat in 2020. Johnson enlisted Republican lawmakers to sign a legal brief urging the Supreme Court to allow state legislatures to effectively nullify the votes of their citizens. Despite Johnsons involvement, he won the support of at least one Republican, Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, who had refused to vote for Jordan, because the Ohioan didnt acknowledge the legitimacy of Bidens win.

For electorally vulnerable House Republicans, Johnsons relative anonymity was an asset. They rejected Jordan in large part because they feared that his notoriety and uncompromising style would play poorly in their districts. By contrast, Johnson, who heeded Scalises advice to avoid being marginalized or labeled, comes across as mild-mannered and polite. He could be harder for Democrats to demonize. Johnson is so little known that operatives at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which sent out a flurry of statements criticizing each successive speaker nominee, were still combing through his record and listening to old recordings of his radio show this morning. Mike Johnson is Jim Jordan in a sports coat, a spokesperson, Viet Shelton, told me. Electing him as speaker would represent how the Republican conference has completely given in to the most extreme fringes of their party.

The next few weeks will test whether the inexperienced Johnson is in over his head, and just how far to the right Johnson is willing to push his party. Youre going to see this group work like a well-oiled machine, Johnson, flanked by dozens of his GOP colleagues, assured reporters after securing the nomination last night. Hell have plenty of doubters. The new speaker will be leading the same five-vote majority that routinely rebuffed McCarthy, forcing him to rely on Democrats to pass high-stakes legislation.

Read: The real-world consequences of the House speaker fight

Congress faces a November 17 deadline to avoid a government shutdownthe result of a five-week extension in funding that ultimately cost McCarthy his job. Johnson has circulated a plan to Republicans that suggested he would support another stopgap measure, for either two or five months, to buy time for the House and Senate to negotiate full-year spending bills.

Hell also confront immediate pressure to act on the Biden administrations request for more than $100 billion in aid to Israel and Ukraine. Like Jordan, Johnson has supported aid for Israel but has opposed additional Ukraine funding. We stand with our ally Israel, Johnson said last night; he made no mention of Ukraine.

If the GOP holds on to its majority next year, Johnson would have a say in whether the House certifies the presidential winner in 2024. When a reporter asked him last night about his role in helping Trump try to overturn the 2020 election, the Republicans around him, unified and jubilant for the first time in weeks, started to jeer. A few members booed the buzzkill in the press corps. Shut up! yelled one lawmaker, Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina. Johnson, the conservative without enemies, merely shook his head and smiled. Next question, he replied. Next question.

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Suspects arrested over Louvre heist ‘partially admit involvement’ – as officials address inside job theory

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October 29, 2025

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Suspects arrested over Louvre heist 'partially admit involvement' - as officials address inside job theory

The two suspects arrested over the Louvre jewellery heist have “partially” confessed to their involvement in the robbery, according to a prosecutor.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed the development at a news conference on Wednesday.

Four thieves stole nine items – one of which was dropped and recovered at the scene – in a heist pulled off while the world-famous Paris museum was open to visitors on 19 October.

It took the thieves less than eight minutes to steal the jewels. They forced open a window and cut into cases with power tools after gaining access via a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift.

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Suspects in Louvre robbery ‘partially confessed’

Ms Beccuau also said the jewels had not yet been recovered.

“These jewels are now, of course, unsellable,” said Ms Beccuau. “Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. It’s still time to give them back.”

‘No evidence’

Ms Beccuau also addressed reports that police believe the robbery could have been an inside job.

She said that there was “no evidence the thieves benefited from inside help”.

Under French rules for organised theft, custody can run up to 96 hours. That limit is due to expire late on Wednesday, and prosecutors must charge the suspects, release them or seek a judge’s extension.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaks during a press conference about the investigation into the Louvre robbery. Pic: Reuters
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Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaks during a press conference about the investigation into the Louvre robbery. Pic: Reuters

One suspect is a 34-year-old Algerian national who has been living in France since 2010, Ms Beccuau said. He was arrested Saturday night at Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to fly to Algeria with no return ticket.

Ms Beccuau said that he was living in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers, and was known to police mostly for road traffic offences.

The other suspect, 39, was arrested Saturday night at his home in Aubervilliers.

“There is no evidence to suggest that he was about to leave the country,” said Ms Beccuau.

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Louvre jewels ‘have not returned’

The man was known to police for several thefts, and his DNA was found on one of the glass cases where the jewels were displayed, and on items the thieves left behind, she added.

Earlier, French police acknowledged major gaps in the Louvre’s defences.

Paris police chief Patrice Faure told politicians that ageing security systems had left weak spots.

“A technological step has not been taken,” he said.

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Mr Faure also revealed that the Louvre’s authorisation to operate its security cameras quietly expired in July and had not been renewed.

He said the first alert to police came not from the Louvre’s alarms, but from a cyclist outside who dialled the emergency line after seeing helmeted men with a basket lift.

Members of a forensic team inspect a window believed to have been used by the culprits. Pic: Reuters
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Members of a forensic team inspect a window believed to have been used by the culprits. Pic: Reuters

Mr Faure also rejected calls for a permanent police post inside the museum, warning it would set an unworkable precedent and do little against fast and mobile thieves.

“I am firmly opposed,” he said. “The issue is not a guard at a door; it is speeding the chain of alert.”

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Israel carries out fresh strike on Gaza and accuses Hamas of preparing ‘imminent terror attack’

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October 29, 2025

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Israel carries out fresh strike on Gaza and accuses Hamas of preparing 'imminent terror attack'

The Israeli military says it has carried out a fresh strike on Gaza, in a move that will further raise concerns about the fragility of its ceasefire with Hamas.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it conducted the strike on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in the area of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

It said the site was being used to store weapons that it claimed were “intended to be used for the execution of an imminent terror attack against IDF soldiers”.

“IDF soldiers in the southern command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” a spokesperson said.

People living in Gaza City said they heard an explosion in Gaza and saw a column of smoke.

Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered earlier strikes after claiming troops had come under fire. Pic: Reuters
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Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered earlier strikes after claiming troops had come under fire. Pic: Reuters

It comes after hospital officials said at least 104 people, including 46 children, had been killed overnight in Gaza after Israel launched new strikes.

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after an Israeli official reported that troops had come under fire in southern Gaza.

Israel claimed a soldier was killed on Tuesday afternoon by “enemy fire” in the southern city of Rafah.

Read more:
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Israel says one of its soldiers killed in Gaza

The decision also followed Hamas’s handover on Monday of body parts that Israel said belonged to a hostage whose remains were partly recovered earlier in the conflict.

Hamas has denied any role in the Rafah shooting and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire.

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The recent ‘ferocious’ attacks are the deadliest strikes since the ceasefire agreement took hold earlier this month.

‘Nothing is going to jeopardise the ceasefire’

US President Donald Trump had said the ceasefire was not at risk, telling reporters: “As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier.”

He added: “So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back. Nothing is going to jeopardise [the ceasefire].

“You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”

Following the latest strikes, the Israeli military said it would continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement. It added that it would respond firmly to “any violation”.

Donald Trump said the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was not at risk. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump said the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was not at risk. Pic: Reuters

‘Very disappointing and frustrating’

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, said on Wednesday that the attack on the Israeli soldier and the following airstrikes had been “very disappointing and frustrating for us”.

Qatar had been leading peace efforts in Gaza, along with the US and Egypt.

At the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, al-Thani said Hamas militants had been clear they were prepared to give up governance of the enclave, which they have run since 2007.

He added that Qatar had been pushing them to acknowledge that they need to disarm.

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Microsoft outage knocks Office 365 and X-Box Live offline for thousands of users

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October 29, 2025

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Microsoft outage knocks Office 365 and X-Box Live offline for thousands of users

Microsoft Azure was down for thousands of users on Wednesday due to issues with its domain name system.

Microsoft said it was “investigating an issue with the Azure Portal where customers may be experiencing issues accessing the portal”.

It later said a fix had rolled out to solve the issue.

Azure was down for more than 105,000 users, Downdetector, which tracks online outages, said on X. It said Microsoft 365 was down for nearly 9,000 users.

The tech company said it was reviewing reports of an issue impacting Azure and services, including an impact on the Microsoft 365 admin center.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Sky News: “We are working to address an issue affecting Azure Front Door that is impacting the availability of some services. Customers should continue to check their Service Health Alerts and the latest update on this issue can be found on the Azure status page.”

On Downdetector, a website that tracks online outages, users reported issues with Office 365, Minecraft, X-Box Live, Copilot, Costco, Starbucks, and many other services.

Alaska Airlines posted on its X account that the outage is at the heart of problems affecting its systems, including check-in services.

The issue came hours before Microsoft was set to release its quarterly earnings report.

Amazon’s AWS cloud service faced an outage last week, which caused global chaos on thousands of sites, including some of the web’s most popular apps, such as Snapchat and Reddit.

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