Archive
Earlier stories from The Curtain, kept together for browsing.
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America Votes as Control of Congress Hangs in the Balance
Americans are voting on Tuesday, 3 November, in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term, and serve as the…
The Shot in the Wheat Field That History Still Cannot Agree On
Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 death is widely understood as suicide, but a disputed theory that he was shot by someone else continues to be debated.
The Painting Paris Tried to Destroy With Umbrellas
Édouard Manet’s Olympia scandalised visitors at the 1865 Paris Salon, confronting them with a modern woman who refused to look away.
An Armoured Amphibian That Grew Up Drinking Seawater Rewrites an Evolutionary Rule
Two Triassic fossils from China point to Gerrothorax maritimus, a heavily armoured amphibian that may have spent its entire life in the sea.
The 'Weird Kitten' Hiding in Plain Sight Turns Out to Be a New Species
A rescued kitten in Bolivia’s Yungas helped scientists identify Leopardus tilcayo, a newly described tiger cat whose range and population remain unknown.
Israel's Final Count Confirms a Parliament No One Can Govern
Israel’s final election count gives Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats, the opposition 48 and Arab-led parties 19, leaving coalition talks with no easy path to a majority.
Spain Counts 69 Dead as Investigators Ask How a Train Was Sent Towards Another
The death toll in the Toledo high-speed rail collision has reached 69. A preliminary report points to a chain of failures, while investigators examine the signalling outage and control-room decisions.
Billions Drain From Binance Hot Wallets in Suspected Hack as Withdrawals Pause
Large transfers from Binance-labelled hot wallets triggered a security investigation, but Binance has not confirmed a breach or any impact on customer funds.
Homeland Security Scrambles After Leak Exposes More Than 40,000 Workers
The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a reported breach involving more than 41,000 employees and contractors, including personnel connected to undercover operations.
In Amsterdam's Art Zoo, the Animals Roam Free and the Visitors Are Behind Bars
Amsterdam’s Art Zoo turns the natural-history display inside out: preserved animals appear to roam a 17th-century canal house while visitors move through cages.
Moscow Comes Under Mass Drone Attack as Ukraine Warns of Missile Shortage
Russian officials reported hundreds of drones headed toward Moscow as Ukraine’s president warned that Patriot interceptors remain in short supply ahead of winter.
Israel's Vote Count Nears Its End With No Bloc Able to Govern
With more than 90% of votes counted, provisional projections leave Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats, the opposition at 48 and Arab-led parties at 19.
Spain Reels as Death Toll Climbs After Toledo High-Speed Collision
At least 68 people have died after a Renfe high-speed train struck a stationary Iryo train near Urda in Toledo. The toll remains provisional as investigators examine a signalling failure and control-centre decisions.
Britain Commits £10 Billion in Fresh Support for Ukraine as Winter Nears
The UK has announced a package of more than £10 billion in economic and military support for Ukraine, including £500 million for air defences this winter.
The Day Israel Went Back to the Ballot Box for the First Time Since October 7
Israel’s first national election since the October 7 attacks puts security, accountability and coalition-building at the center of the vote.
The Real Story of Islam’s Rapid Expansion
Arab-led armies expanded across a vast region with remarkable speed. The spread of Islam as a religion was a much slower, varied process.
In Ethiopia’s Highlands, a Week of Attacks Leaves a Community Counting Its Dead
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church says 60 people were killed in two attacks in Oromia. Responsibility remains disputed, and residents have fled.
Is Britain Quietly Reopening the Brexit Debate? The Free Movement Question Returns
Ministers say officials will explore long-term UK–EU options, including free movement, while stressing that no policy decision has been made.
A Royal Tour Begins, and an Old Question Refuses to Stay in the Past
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Caribbean tour begins amid renewed calls for Britain to address its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
France Offered Its Students Billions. They Said: Not Enough.
Paris announced education investments and reforms after weeks of demonstrations. Teachers and student representatives say the package falls short.
When the Lights Went Out in Southeast Sudan, It Was Not Just Darkness
Drone strikes damaged substations and triggered outages across southeast Sudan, disrupting daily life and putting the national grid at risk.
Anthropic’s $16.3 Billion in Revenue and $80.7 Billion Loss Put Its IPO Under Scrutiny
Anthropic’s S-1 shows explosive first-half growth, an unusually large accounting loss, and long-term infrastructure commitments that investors will have to weigh.
The Company Spending $175 Billion on AI Just Offered 60,000 People a Way Out
Microsoft’s voluntary exit offer could reach about 60,000 employees, while its 2026 capital-spending plans show the scale of its AI infrastructure bet.
Healey's First Budget Offers Households Breathing Space as Growth Forecast Falls
John Healey’s first Budget offers a £100 energy payment to eligible households and a fuel-duty freeze, as the OBR cuts its 2027 growth forecast to 1%.