While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 23, 2025
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Ukrainian experts inspecting debris from a Russian drone at the site of an attack on a kindergarten in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Oct 22.
PHOTO: EPA
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EU approves 19th sanctions package against Russia
EU countries approved a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, the Danish rotating presidency of the EU said on Oct 22.
“We are very pleased to announce that we have just been notified by the remaining member state that it’s now able to lift its reservation on the 19th sanctions package,” it said.
Slovakia was the final hold-out after EU countries agreed on the final text last week.
A Slovak diplomat said the country’s demands were met in new clauses added to the final communique for the EU leaders summit on Oct 23.
Nato chief brushes off Trump-Zelensky rift concerns
PHOTO: AFP
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Oct 22 downplayed concerns about tensions between Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, while reiterating his belief that “only” the US president could achieve peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
Mr Rutte, visiting Washington just days after Mr Trump hosted Mr Zelensky for tense talks, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill before his own White House sit-down later in the day.
Asked if his visit to Washington was a sign that the Trump-Zelensky talks last week were a “disaster,” Mr Rutte said no, describing it as “a successful meeting.”
White House wing to be torn down fully for ballroom
The full East Wing of the White House will be torn down as part of the process to build a new ballroom proposed by President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Oct 22.
“We can confirm that the entire East Wing is going to be modernised and renovated to, I guess, support the... ballroom project,” the official said.
Demolition workers began tearing down the section of the White House that holds offices for the first lady and other staff on Oct 20.
Louvre chief blames CCTV gaps for $130m heist
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Louvre’s cameras failed to detect burglars in time to prevent their audacious daylight heist of some of France’s crown jewels, the museum’s director said on Oct 22, amid growing anger directed at officials over major security lapses.
The thieves broke into the world-famous Paris museum on Oct 19 using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stole jewels worth an estimated €88 million (S$130 million) before escaping on motorbikes.
News of the robbery reverberated around the world, and prompted soul-searching in France over what some viewed as a national humiliation.
IOC wants no sports events in Indonesia after visa ban
ST FILE PHOTO
The International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations on Oct 22 not to host any sports events in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from a world championship that is taking place there this month.
The IOC said in a statement it was also cutting off all discussions about any potential Olympic Games bid by Indonesia until the government provided assurances that all athletes, irrespective of nationality, would be eligible to compete there in future.
Indonesia has repeatedly expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 summer Olympics, but the Oct 22 IOC decision has all but buried the country’s chances of landing the Games in 11 years’ time.
