Good morning. It's Saturday, Feb. 14—and also Valentine's Day (we're sure you didn't forget)! In today's weekend edition, we're covering how the Louvre was allegedly robbed of over $11M, a flight to the International Space Station, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.6 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
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French police investigating an $11.8M fraud scheme at the Louvre detained nine people this week, including two museum employees and several tour guides.
Officials began investigating the alleged scheme after the Louvre filed a complaint in December 2024 about two Chinese tour guides suspected of reusing tickets to bring Chinese tourists into the museum. Investigators used surveillance and wiretaps to confirm that some guides were reusing tickets, strategically splitting tour groups to avoid guide fees, and paying employees in cash to evade ticket checks. The network is suspected of bringing in up to 20 tour groups a day over the past decade and investing profits in real estate in France and Dubai. French prosecutors suggested that a similar fraud scheme may have also occurred at the Palace of Versailles.
Separately, a water pipe burst overnight Thursday, damaging a 19th-century ceiling painted by Charles Meynier (see here). A water leak in November damaged several hundred works in the library of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities. |
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Partial government shutdown begins over DHS funding.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired at midnight after talks about immigration enforcement reforms reached an impasse. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol—two DHS agencies at the center of the debate—are expected to tap into roughly $140B allocated in another spending bill passed last year. Meanwhile, many employees of other DHS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, will have to work without pay. |
Federal authorities investigating ICE officers for lying under oath.
The federal government yesterday opened a criminal probe into statements made by two immigration officers about the nonfatal shooting of Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis last month. The news comes as a judge yesterday also dismissed charges against Sosa-Celis and another Venezuelan man involved in the incident. The officers, who were put on administrative leave, risk termination and criminal prosecution. |
Inflation eases more than expected, hits nearly five-year low.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics yesterday reported the consumer price index rose 2.4% year-over-year in January—down 0.3% from December and the lowest since May. The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, was up 2.5% last month—its most gradual increase since April 2021. The data suggests inflation is cooling, but prices are still about 25% higher than five years ago.
Relatedly, surveyed Americans plan to spend $87 on their partner, on average, this Valentine's Day, down roughly 44% from last year. |
US to send advanced aircraft carrier to Middle East as Iran tensions mount.
The US military yesterday said it is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford—the world's largest aircraft carrier—to the Middle East to reinforce another carrier sent last month. The move comes after indirect nuclear arms talks between the US and Iran in Oman stalled. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he intends to continue talks with Iran but warned he may take action if a nuclear deal is not reached. |
Bangladesh Nationalist Party to win first election since 2024 uprising.
The party secured over two-thirds of the seats in parliament, 18 months after student-led protests ousted the country's longest-serving prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Her Awami League party was barred from the election. Meanwhile, Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. He was fleeing charges filed by Hasina’s government, including corruption and alleged involvement in grenade attacks. |
US figure skater Ilia Malinin fails to medal in Olympic men's free skate.
The 21-year-old figure skater, widely known as "Quad God," placed eighth in yesterday's competition after a slew of mistakes, including two falls. The Virginia native entered the rink as the favorite, holding a five-point lead over Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who went on to earn silver. Ultimately, Mikhail Shaidorov outperformed them both to win Kazakhstan's second-ever Winter Olympic gold medal. |
New crew expected to reach the International Space Station today.
The two American astronauts, one French astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut launched into orbit early yesterday morning. They will meet two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut—a slimmer crew than usual due to a first-of-its-kind medical evacuation last month. As of this writing, the new arrivals are expected to dock today at roughly 3:15 pm ET and remain on the ISS for about eight months, conducting experiments on food production in space, among other topics. |
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Mother and son make history as Mexico’s only alpine skiers in the Milano Cortina Olympics and the Olympics' first mother-son duo. (More) |
Personal injury lawyer, 54, becomes the United States' oldest Winter Olympian at age 54, helping the American curling team score one point against Switzerland Thursday. (More) |
Nashville man shares oatmeal and stories with his 98-year-old neighbor during a winter storm check-in. (More) |
Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern fosters community by making his grandma's soup at a Minneapolis pay-what-you-can café. (More) |
Stranger reunites a woman with her custom prosthetic leg roughly 10 months after it was swept out to sea. (More) |
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In partnership with Immersed |
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Big Tech Is Watching This Pre-IPO Company |
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Humankind(ness), Love Story Edition |
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Dear readers— This month, we're pausing our usual act of kindness stories to share a sampling of your love stories. This week's theme is tending to the flame. |
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"I’ve learned that love speaks in different languages. For years, my wife would come home from shopping for something she needed and surprise me with a gift: sneakers, a work shirt, even a nose-hair trimmer. I’m frugal and not very materialistic, so I’d say, 'Thanks, but I don’t need another one,' or, 'Why spend money on me?' Then it clicked. While shopping for herself, she was thinking of me. She took time to choose something, just because. Gift-giving is her love language, and it’s beautiful. Now I accept each gift with genuine, excited gratitude." |
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— Phill L. in Huntington, New York |
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"When my wife says 'I love you,' sometimes I'll ask, 'How do you know?' I've done this throughout our relationship, not because I don't believe her, but because I want her to be mindful. It's easy to say 'I love you.' But it's not words—it's actions, behaviors, and things we do without thinking that mean the most. The answer to this question is sometimes a small gesture and sometimes a grand one. And sometimes, I'll tell her how I know she loves me right when she does something. It's something we do that keeps us both mindful of how we treat each other and brings about thoughts and conversations that go deeper than 'What's for dinner?'" |
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— Crystal A. in Dallas, Georgia |
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"In 9th grade algebra class, I looked up to see the new boy enter the room. An absolute knowing washed over me that he would be my husband. We started dating that week and never stopped. We’ve been married for 57 loving, happy years because we say I love you with meaning every day. We laugh every day, and humor has also helped us cope with dark days. Disagreements are always focused outward on the issue, not toward each other. Our solid foundation isn’t made of big things. It’s a tight web constructed over years by small, daily kindnesses; respect; random touching; unexpected love notes; holding hands; and putting each other first when it counts. We are still best friends." |
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— Terry M. in Boynton Beach, Florida |
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Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what kinds of experiences would you like to read about next? Tell us here. And if these stories made you smile—share our email (copy URL here). |
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Coming Soon: 1440 Explores the Supreme Court |
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No cameras have ever been allowed inside. Nine unelected members serve for life. And their decisions touch nearly every part of American society. In our upcoming episode of "1440 Explores," we take you inside the Supreme Court—how it works, how cases get there, and what happens behind those closed doors. Follow the show now so you don't miss our episode on Thursday, Feb. 19 (Apple | Spotify | YouTube). |
And catch up on some of our favorite episodes while you wait: |
> Generative AI: How ChatGPT really works (Listen)
> Cell Phones: The forgotten fight that put a phone in your pocket (Listen)
> Wildfires: How fire turned from our greatest tool to an imminent threat (Listen) |
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"Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet." |
- Author and poet Katharine Lee Bates |
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