Louvre Director Resigns After Crown Jewels Heist

In Paris, the director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, resigned on Tuesday following intense scrutiny over an audacious heist of French Crown jewels from the renowned institution last October. French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced the decision, noting that Macron accepted the resignation as a demonstration of responsibility amid calls for enhanced security and institutional renewal at the world's most visited museum.

The theft occurred over a weekend in October, when intruders breached the Louvre and made off with jewels valued at 88 million euros, equivalent to about 102 million dollars, in under eight minutes. The swift operation stunned cultural officials and the public, exposing vulnerabilities at the Paris landmark, which attracts millions of visitors annually and houses priceless artifacts including the Mona Lisa.

Des Cars, appointed to the prestigious role in 2021, had faced mounting pressure since the incident. She immediately offered her resignation on the day of the robbery, citing accountability for the lapse, but the culture minister declined the request at the time. In a November interview, she reflected on the event, stating, "I saw a tragic,...