Forget France: The Louvre Museum jewelry heist was a classic case of German efficiency.

Photos of a German-made freight lift that the thieves used in a lightning-fast daylight heist at the Louvre have gone viral. And its manufacturer is now riding high from the unexpected endorsement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in London on Friday for talks with two dozen European leaders who have pledged military help to shield his country from future Russian aggression if a ceasefire stops the more than three-year war.

The meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also due to assess ways of helping protect Ukraine's power grid from Russia's almost daily drone and missiles attacks as winter approaches, enhancing Ukrainian air defenses, and supplying Kyiv with longer-range missiles that can strike deep inside Russia.

Russia's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 16.5 percent and said growth had slowed to almost zero as the economy sags under the cost of the Ukraine offensive and Western sanctions.

Russia's economy "continues to return to a balanced growth path," the bank said in a statement, reversing course from two years of rapid expansion fueled by military spending. It said inflation would remain high for longer than previously expected and GDP growth would be lower.

President Donald Trump is suggesting he could call on Israel to release imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, the most popular and potentially unifying Palestinian leader, as the United States aims to fill a leadership vacuum in postwar Gaza.

Trump, in an interview published Thursday, said he has discussed the potential for Barghouti's release with White House aides.

Tensions between the U.S. and China escalated in the weeks leading up to a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In response to recent U.S. restrictions, China plans to expand permitting requirements on rare earth products. Trump has threatened a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. Such is the game between the world's two largest economies, with both sides seeking an upper hand in the highly-watched trade negotiations.

Here's a look at how it unfolded over the past month.

Doctors have long known that heat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and other organs. Those risks are exacerbated for pregnant people, as the body's processes for staying cool are altered.

Pakistani authorities are using anti-smog guns in the eastern city of Lahore for the first time this winter in a bid to combat hazardous air pollution, officials said Thursday.

Real Madrid and a red-hot Kylian Mbappé host Barcelona on Sunday aiming to hit back at their rivals after losing all four clasicos last season.

Antonio Conte is looking to whip his players into shape like a "tiger tamer" for Napoli's Serie A match against his former team Inter Milan on Saturday.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk revealed he led a players-only meeting at the start of the week after a run of four straight losses.