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Thieves steal French crown jewels

They included the emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife Empress Marie Louise, and the diadem of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.

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•A tiara worn by the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III was stolen

Thieves wielding power tools raided the Louvre in broad daylight Sunday, taking just seven minutes to grab some of France’s priceless crown jewels, but dropping a gem-encrusted crown as they fled, officials and sources said.

Authorities recovered the 19th-century crown — damaged — near the museum.

The spectacular heist, one of several to target French museums in recent months, forced the closure of the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum and home to the Mona Lisa.

Police are looking for a team of four thieves, Paris’s chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau, told the BFMTV channel.

Soldiers patrolled the famed glass pyramid entrance, while evacuated visitors, tourists and passersby were kept at a distance behind police tape.

It was “like a Hollywood movie”, one American tourist, Talia Ocampo, told AFP.

It was “crazy” and “something we won’t forget — we could not go to the Louvre because there was a robbery”, she said.

A culture ministry statement said eight items of jewellery had been stolen from the Gallerie Apollon which houses the French crown jewels.

“Two high-security display cases were targeted, and eight objects of invaluable cultural heritage were stolen,” said the ministry statement.

They included the emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife Empress Marie Louise, and the diadem of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.

Beccuau said the thieves threatened museum guards with the angle grinders they used to break into the jewellery cases. She said a team of 60 investigators were assigned to the crime.

– ‘Unsellable’ –

The robbers used a powered, extendable ladder of the sort used to hoist furniture into buildings to get into a gilded gallery housing the crown jewels, sources and officials said.

The 19th-century crown of Empress Eugenie, was found broken near the museum afterwards, a source following the robbery said, asking to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The crown, featuring golden eagles, is covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, according to the museum’s website.

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South Africa Anti-Immigration Peaceful Protests To Continue Weekly Till Demands Are Met

A senior reporter, Channel, Africa, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, reported that the anti-immigration protests held across several South African cities remained largely peaceful despite isolated incidents of violence and attempted looting.

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The organisers of South Africa anti-immigrant protest have announced that come next week, from Thursday, every Thursday, they will be taking to the streets until the government heeds to their call and ensure that all undocumented nationals leave the country.

A senior reporter, Channel, Africa, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, reported that the anti-immigration protests held across several South African cities remained largely peaceful despite isolated incidents of violence and attempted looting.

She also revealed that organisers intend to continue with weekly demonstrations from next Thursday until their demands are met.

Mahlangu further reported that an inter-ministerial committee comprising ministers within South Africa’s security cluster commended the largely peaceful conduct of the protests while condemning isolated incidents of violence reported across the country.

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Cut Petrol Prices Now, Trump orders Retailers

Trump warned that his administration would not tolerate price gouging, describing the practice as illegal and cautioning retailers that those who ignore the call to lower prices could face “big problems

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United States President Donald Trump has directed gasoline retailers across the country to reduce pump prices without delay.

Trump issued the directive in a post on his Truth Social platform, accusing fuel retailers of keeping prices unnecessarily high despite crude oil trading at about $68 per barrel.

“Gasoline retailers must get their prices down immediately”, the president declared, urging companies to “do what they know is right” by passing lower costs on to consumers.”

He argued that declining global crude oil prices should translate into immediate relief for American motorists.

Trump warned that his administration would not tolerate price gouging, describing the practice as illegal and cautioning retailers that those who ignore the call to lower prices could face “big problems.”

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JUST IN: Third Batch of Evacuated Nigerians from SA Arrives in Lagos Amid Xenophobia Fears

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A fresh group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has landed safely in Lagos as the Federal Government continues its voluntary repatriation exercise amid heightened anti-immigrant tensions in the country.

The Air Peace flight carrying approximately 271 returnees touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday morning, shortly before 11 a.m. This marks the third major batch in the ongoing operation.

Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and other relevant agencies were on ground to receive the evacuees, who will undergo documentation, profiling, and medical checks before reintegration support.

The latest flight departed Johannesburg late Monday night / early Tuesday, following an earlier departure from Nigeria. It forms part of President Bola Tinubu administration’s efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of citizens choosing to return home voluntarily.

Prior batches included around 258-268 returnees who arrived on June 11 and 66 more on June 25, bringing the cumulative total to over 500 before today’s arrival. The government has indicated plans for additional flights to accommodate more registered Nigerians wishing to leave South Africa.

The evacuations come ahead of and in response to planned anti-migrant protests in South Africa on June 30, with reports of over 15,000 Nigerians still potentially interested in returning amid fears of xenophobic attacks, looting, and harassment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged remaining Nigerians in South Africa to stay vigilant, maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission, and take advantage of available evacuation support where needed. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely while providing consular assistance.

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