The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has resigned months after a dramatic theft involving France’s historic crown jewels.

Her resignation was submitted to President Emmanuel Macron, who reportedly described the move as an act of responsibility amid ongoing scrutiny of the museum’s security systems.

The theft occurred on the morning of 19 October last year, when intruders used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony overlooking the River Seine.

Authorities have arrested four main suspects in connection with the incident. However, the eight stolen pieces — valued at approximately €88m — remain missing.

Among the items taken was a diamond and emerald necklace once gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife. During their escape, the thieves dropped a 19th-century diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, causing damage. The museum has since released images showing the crown to be nearly intact and potentially restorable.

The Louvre, which attracts more than 8.7 million visitors annually and houses masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, has faced increasing attention over its infrastructure.

Shortly after the theft, des Cars acknowledged that the museum’s external CCTV system was outdated. Notably, the only camera monitoring the exterior wall breached during the break-in was not directed toward the balcony used by the suspects.

Security upgrades had been planned, including a proposal to double surveillance coverage, but funding constraints posed challenges for implementation.

A parliamentary inquiry is now examining the circumstances that allowed the theft to occur. A preliminary report has pointed to systemic weaknesses in security arrangements.

In recent weeks, the museum has also confronted additional operational pressures, including a suspected ticket fraud scheme and a water leak — issues that have intensified calls for institutional reform.

A 24-year-old British national is among 19 people who lost their lives following a devastating bus accident in Nepal, authorities have confirmed.

The tourist bus was en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara when it lost control and plunged approximately 200 metres down a steep slope before crashing onto the banks of the Trishuli River in Dhading district early Monday morning.

A total of 44 people, including the driver, were on board at the time of the incident. While 19 people died, 25 others sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals in Kathmandu for treatment. Children were reported to be among the passengers.

Nepalese authorities identified the British victim as Stewart Dominic Ethan, although his identity has yet to be formally confirmed by the UK Foreign Office, which said it is providing support to the family affected by the tragedy.

Rescue operations involved multiple emergency teams, including police, military personnel, and specialist divers. According to police spokesperson Abinarayan Kafle, 17 victims died at the scene, while two others succumbed to injuries later in hospital.

Officials also indicated that a Chinese citizen may be among the dead, though this has not been fully confirmed. Among the injured are nationals from China and New Zealand.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Road accidents remain a significant challenge in Nepal due to difficult terrain, narrow mountain routes, and road conditions. A similar tragedy occurred in 2024 when a bus travelling between Pokhara and Kathmandu fell into the Marsyangdi River in Tanahun district, resulting in at least 14 fatalities.

Despite such risks, Nepal continues to attract visitors from around the world, particularly adventurers drawn to the Himalaya, home to some of the highest peaks globally, including Mount Everest. Tourism, especially mountaineering, remains an important contributor to the nation’s economy, generating significant revenue each year through climbing permits.

A powerful winter storm sweeping through the northeastern United States has led to the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights, creating widespread travel disruptions and prompting emergency measures across several states.

According to flight tracking platform FlightAware, a total of 5,326 flights within, into, or out of the United States were cancelled by 08:45 GMT (03:45 ET) on Monday.

States including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island declared states of emergency as heavy snowfall and strong winds intensified conditions across the region.

Authorities in New York City announced the closure of public schools on Monday — marking the first blizzard warning for the city in nearly a decade. Officials confirmed that 13 school buildings would remain open as warming centres to support residents affected by the extreme weather.

Closures were also reported in parts of Pennsylvania and surrounding states, while in Washington DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that public schools would operate on a two-hour delayed schedule.

The storm’s impact extended beyond the United States. Several transatlantic flights from the UK were cancelled, including departures from Heathrow Airport to major US cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Flights from Manchester and Edinburgh to New York were also cancelled, alongside some services between the US and Dublin Airport due to adverse weather.

The blizzard has already delivered up to 18 inches (45cm) of snow in eastern Pennsylvania, with forecasts suggesting totals could reach as much as 2 feet (60cm) in some areas before conditions ease Monday night.

Wind gusts of up to 70mph are expected to create dangerous snow drifts and could bring down trees and power lines, increasing the risk of outages.

The National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has issued winter storm and blizzard warnings affecting tens of millions of residents across the region.

A blizzard warning is triggered when sustained winds or frequent gusts exceed 35mph (56km/h), accompanied by significant falling or blowing snow for at least three hours — conditions now being experienced across large parts of the northeast.

The storm is expected to move into maritime Canada by Monday night, while another system — known as an Alberta clipper — could bring additional snowfall to the region later in the week.