FRANCE: A motorist rammed pedestrians and cyclists today across two neighbouring towns on the Ile d’Oleron, a French island off the Atlantic coast, injuring nine people before being detained by gendarmes, officials said.

Two of the injured are in critical condition, said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, saying that an investigation is under way.

GERMANY: A man suspected of promising to get weapons for an attack on Jewish targets in Germany was arrested today in Denmark, according to German authorities.

The suspect, an Afghan national who was identified as Tawab M, in line with German privacy rules, had allegedly been in contact with a Danish national who is suspected of gathering information on Jewish locations and individuals in Berlin for Iranian intelligence.

UNITED STATES: The government shutdown in the United States became the country’s longest ever as it entered its 36th day today.

The shutdown has disrupted the lives of millions with federal workers going without pay, programme cuts and flight delays.

President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government.

MEXICO: President Claudia Sheinbaum said today that the harassment she suffered from a drunk man in the street near Mexico’s seat of government was an assault on all women and that’s why she decided to press charges against him.

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada had announced overnight that the man had been arrested.

In a video circulating widely on social platforms, the m appeared to lean in for a kiss and touch the president’s body with his hands on Tuesday.