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Top-Secret Maps Of French Government Buildings Stolen From Contractor's Car

LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR, LE PARISIEN (France)

Worldcrunch

PARIS - Highly confidential layouts of the Élysée Palace (the presidential residence), the Interior Ministry and the Paris Police Department have been stolen from a contractor’s car in Paris, the French daily Le Parisien reports.

According to Le Nouvel Observateur, a flash drive containing detailed maps of the three strategically important buildings was in the possession of a contractor working for the company tasked with setting up optic fiber networks, as part of the installation of CCTV in the capital.

As the man was picking up a relative from the Gare du Lyon train station on Sunday, one or more individuals broke into his car, stealing several personal belongings – including the precious flash drive.

On the victim’s own admission, the top-secret maps were not encoded and can therefore be seen by anyone.

An investigation has been launched to determine whether the theft was premeditated -- meanwhile, says Le Nouvel Observateur, the burglars now have access to every detail of every room of three of France's most sensitive governement buildings.

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Geopolitics

China's Military Intentions Are Clear — And Arming Taiwan Is The Only Deterrence

China is spending more money on weapons and defense than ever. The reason is evident: Xi Jinping wants to take Taiwan. Europe should follow the U.S. and support Taipei militarily as the only way to deter Beijing from war.

Photo of Military drills in Taiwan amid rising China-U.S. Tensions

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard at a base during a military drill simulating defense operations against a possible Chinese PLA intrusion

Gregor Schwung

-OpEd-

BERLIN — Fear is never the best advisor.

It is, however, an understandable emotion when China announces the biggest increase in its defense budget in memory. And when Beijing does so after siding with Russia in the Ukraine war with its supposed "peace plan" and justifying the increase with an alleged "escalating oppression" of China in the world.

The budget plan unveiled by outgoing Premier Li Keqiang calls for a 7.2% increase in defense spending. That's more than in previous years — and just the official figure.

Experts estimate the true spending is much higher, as Beijing finances its military through numerous shadow budgets.

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