Good morning. It's Saturday, Oct. 25, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a forged Rembrandt painting, what killed Napoleon's army, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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German police announced yesterday that they had busted a transnational scheme to sell 20 forgeries of paintings by artists including Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. Several suspected fakes were seized during coordinated raids across Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein last week.
Authorities allege that a 77-year-old German man led 10 accomplices in the scheme that priced the counterfeits between $465K and $150M. Investigators became suspicious after the man tried to sell two supposedly original Picasso paintings on the art market, then claimed to possess Rembrandt’s "De Staalmeesters" despite the original hanging in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. An art expert confirmed that the Rembrandt was a copy, rather than a lost masterpiece. The rest of the confiscated works will be examined in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, French investigators have collected over 150 forensic samples from the scene of Sunday’s Louvre heist as they pursue the suspects and attempt to recover the roughly $102M in stolen jewels. |
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US strikes another alleged drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tren de Aragua was operating the boat. The strike, which killed six, was the 10th since September and the second linked by the Trump administration to the Venezuelan gang. The attack occurred overnight between the Pentagon flying bombers over Venezuela’s coast Thursday and sending an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America yesterday. The moves add to what has already been the largest US military buildup in the Caribbean since the 1980s. |
Inflation rate increased less than expected last month.
The consumer price index, which measures changes in the cost of a basket of goods and services, rose 0.3% month-over-month in September and 3% year-over-year. Economists expected respective readings of 0.4% and 3.1%. The index is the only official economic data released during the government shutdown. US stock markets closed higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.8%, Dow +1.0%, Nasdaq +1.2%). Separately, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. |
Trump ending trade negotiations with Canada over TV ad.
Ontario's provincial government planned to spend $54M distributing a video of former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs on US TV stations (watch here). However, following President Donald Trump's reaction Thursday night, Ontario's premier said he'd pause the ad campaign so trade talks could resume. Trump claimed the video aimed to influence a November Supreme Court hearing on tariffs. |
NY attorney general pleads not guilty to federal fraud charges.
The Justice Department indicted Letitia James earlier this month for allegedly lying to secure a lower mortgage, saving $18.9K. James denies the allegations, and her lawyers are seeking to dismiss the case on several grounds, including vindictive and selective prosecution. James, who oversaw a successful 2024 civil fraud case against Trump, was released on her own recognizance. A trial is set for Jan. 26. |
New DNA evidence reveals what killed Napoleon's army.
Fewer than 50,000 of the roughly 600,000 soldiers on Napoleon Bonaparte's 1812 invasion of Russia survived. Historians have attributed their deaths to a mix of freezing temperatures, starvation, typhus, and trench fever. However, new DNA analysis of fallen soldiers' teeth reveals paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever—two previously unsuspected bacterial infections—likely hastened the army's demise. |
Tropical Storm Melissa could strengthen to Category 5 hurricane.
Three people died in Haiti as Tropical Storm Melissa brought intense rain and wind. The system is anticipated to intensify into a major hurricane as it moves through the Caribbean this weekend. Forecasters warn of potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. As of this writing, Melissa is not expected to hit the mainland US. |
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Furloughed federal workers eat for free at Jon Bon Jovi's New Jersey restaurant. (More)
... and Pennsylvania pizzeria gives free meals to kids in need while SNAP benefits are paused. (More)
Community honors fatally shot 18-year-old girl whose heart saved a 7-year-old. (More)
Taylor Swift's $100K donation to 2-year-old battling rare brain cancer inspires chain reaction of donations. (More)
Chick-fil-A cashier compels deaf 4-year-old to sign his name for first time. (More, w/ video) |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Kyla J. in Crete, Nebraska.
"My husband and I recently bought mums from a local vendor for my daughter's upcoming outdoor wedding. As we were loading mums into our vehicle, a younger man was loading mums into his truck. I asked if he also had a wedding, since his truck was full of the gorgeous flowers. He kind of laughed and said that actually in the early morning hours before anyone rises, he places them on porches of the elderly folks in his small town. So far he hadn't been caught. When I talked to the vendor after he left regarding his kindness, the vendor said he's been doing that for several years."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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1440 Explores: Ghosts 👻 — Coming Oct. 30 |
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Why do people believe in ghosts? For thousands of years, humans have told stories of spirits that linger after death. In our next "1440 Explores" episode, out Thursday, Oct. 30, we uncover why these stories persist—and what they reveal about our need for meaning and connection.
Follow below to hear "Ghosts" when it drops, and catch up on past episodes:
🍺 Alcohol: How humanity’s oldest vice shaped society and our brains.
💳 Credit Cards: How one morning in Fresno, California, changed how we spend.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube |
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"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun." |
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