Catherine Connolly's presidential victory, Carly Rae Jepsen's wedding, Hailey Bieber's clap back, The Louvre heist arrest

Leftist Catherine Connolly won the Irish presidential race

Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election in a decisive landslide, capturing 63% of first-preference votes, according to official results. 

Her center-right opponent, Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael, trailed far behind with just 29% of the vote.

“I would be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honor,” she said in her victory speech.

Connolly was a former barrister and lawmaker since 2016, who has built her political reputation on progressive advocacy. She has openly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and warned against the European Union’s growing militarization amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Hailey Bieber claps back at haters saying ‘she looks trans’

Hailey Bieber is shutting down online hate with grace and confidence. 

The 28-year-old model addressed cruel comments from haters who claim she “looks trans” during an episode of the In Your Dreams with Owen Thiele podcast.

When the host asked if people actually said that, Hailey replied, “When people are trying to be mean, they’re like, ‘She looks trans.’ And I’m like, ‘Why do you think that’s a diss?’” 

She went on to praise the trans community, adding, “Some of the most beautiful women and men in the world are trans.”

The Rhode founder made it clear that such comments don’t faze her. “I just don’t take that offensively at all,” she asserted.

Carly Rae Jepsen ties the knot with producer Cole M.G.N.

Hitmaker Carly Rae Jepsen married music producer Cole M.G.N. in an intimate ceremony at New York City’s historic Chelsea Hotel on October 4, according to Vogue.

Held in the hotel’s Bard Room with around 100 guests, the celebration blended romance and artistry.

“We knew we wanted a location that meant something to us, and the Chelsea Hotel had become a home away from home every time we were in New York,” Jepsen told the outlet, adding that the Chelsea’s rich creative history made it the perfect setting. 

“For planning, we had weekly dates to talk out all the details of the wedding. This way it was only ever fun and not too much at once,” she added.

Guests were treated to a surprise performance by Rufus Wainwright, who delivered a moving a cappella rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2.” 

“This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime New York moment,” Jepsen shared.

The couple’s nuptials come just over a year after Jepsen announced their engagement on Instagram in September 2024, showing off a striking gold ring set with a dark gemstone.

Two people arrested for the Louvre heist

French authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with the theft of crown jewels worth €88 million from the Louvre Museum in Paris. 

The dramatic arrests come nearly a week after four thieves armed with power tools carried out the daylight robbery that shocked the world.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, one suspect was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria. Another suspect, reportedly preparing to travel to Mali, was also taken into custody on Saturday evening. 

Investigators confirmed that DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene helped identify at least one of the suspects. 

Police are currently questioning the suspects under specialist custody rules that allow detention for up to 96 hours. 

Meanwhile, investigators continue their search for the remaining members of the group responsible for one of the most brazen art heists in recent French history.

ICYMI:

• RAYE shared the happy news that her car, stolen on her birthday last year, has finally been found—with all her cherished songwriting books still inside. The singer, who had paused her album-making process after losing the notebooks, expressed her relief and joy at being reunited with the personal works that hold the heart of her creative journey.

• Rachel Zegler and Ben Platt are teaming up for a special limited concert run of The Last Five Years at the London Palladium next spring, celebrating the beloved musical’s 25th anniversary.

• BTS is reportedly gearing up for their biggest tour yet, featuring around 65 shows worldwide, according to Bloomberg, with their highly anticipated new album expected to drop at the end of March.

• A full cast recording of Evita starring Rachel Zegler is set to be released next year, giving fans a chance to relive the acclaimed production through its official soundtrack.

— Bea Bertuldo

Subscribe to the newsletter to discover new releases through Pop Base weekly and to find out what songs we declare the best of the week.