标签： Europe

The recent robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris has thrust France’s Crown Jewels into the global spotlight, an outcome no marketing campaign could achieve. While the nation mourns the breach of its national heritage, the crime has paradoxically elevated the stolen artifacts to celebrity status, reminiscent of how the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 transformed it into the world’s most famous artwork. The heist has captivated global media, with nightly newscasts from the U.S. to Asia broadcasting images of the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery and the missing jewels to millions. This surge of attention rivals, or even surpasses, the frenzy following Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s 2018 music video filmed at the museum. Among the treasures that escaped the thieves’ grasp is Empress Eugénie’s emerald-set crown, which may now become the gallery’s most talked-about relic. The Louvre reopened to maximum crowds just days after the robbery, despite the ongoing investigation and heightened security concerns. For France, the loss is not merely financial but a tear in the fabric of its national history. The jewels, which represent the transition from monarchy to modern France, are seen as chapters of the country’s past. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the theft as an “immeasurable” heritage loss, while Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged “a terrible failure” in security. The heist has drawn visitors to the museum, many of whom come to see the site of the crime rather than the missing artifacts. Curators warn that recutting or melting the jewels would be a second violence, as their authenticity lies in their unbroken history. Whether this loss will lead to legend remains the Louvre’s uneasy future.

Simone Quilici, the newly appointed director of Rome’s Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, has clarified his vision for the iconic amphitheater, emphasizing that it will not become a venue for electronic dance music parties. In an interview with The Associated Press, Quilici addressed the backlash from archaeologists, locals, and even music enthusiasts who feared the ancient structure could be damaged by loud, bass-heavy events. He stressed that any concerts held at the Colosseum must respect its status as a ‘sacred space,’ integral to Roman identity and imbued with religious significance, such as hosting the Via Crucis procession during Easter. Quilici envisions hosting acoustic or jazz performances, poetry readings, and theater productions, with artists like Sting as potential performers. He also plans to expand the existing platform to accommodate these events and introduce historically accurate gladiatorial reenactments. Quilici aims to balance cultural enrichment with preservation, ensuring the Colosseum remains a site of both historical and artistic significance. Additionally, he hopes to encourage tourists to explore lesser-known sites like the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, and the Appian Way, which are part of the broader archaeological park. By creating new access points and connections between these sites, Quilici seeks to manage crowds more effectively and restore the heart of Rome as a cohesive cultural hub.

Sadettin Karagoz, the founder of a Turkish charity, has been arrested following allegations of sexual exploitation of vulnerable women seeking aid. The accusations, uncovered by a BBC investigation, reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse within the organization, which was initially seen as a beacon of hope for Syrian refugees in Ankara. Karagoz denies all charges, claiming his charity has helped over 37,000 people and that the allegations are baseless. However, multiple women have come forward with harrowing accounts of sexual assault and harassment, painting a starkly different picture. The charity, known as the Hope Charity Store, was established in 2014 and has been widely recognized for its humanitarian efforts, even receiving a local newspaper award in 2020. Despite its public acclaim, internal testimonies suggest a darker reality. Three women, including a Syrian refugee named Madina, have accused Karagoz of sexual assault, with seven others corroborating their stories. The victims, fearful of stigma and deportation, initially remained silent, but the BBC’s investigation has spurred legal action. Karagoz, a retired bank worker, has previously faced similar accusations in 2019 and 2025, but insufficient evidence led to dropped charges. This time, however, two additional women have testified, resulting in his arrest. Karagoz has cited health issues, including the removal of a testicle in 2016, as evidence of his inability to engage in sexual activity, but medical experts dispute this claim. The case highlights the vulnerability of refugee women and the systemic challenges in addressing sexual violence in Turkey.

In the wake of a daring daylight heist that exposed significant security vulnerabilities, the Louvre Museum has relocated some of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France. The transfer, overseen by a secret police escort on Friday, moved the treasures to a highly secure vault located 26 meters below the Bank’s headquarters in central Paris. This vault, known as the “Souterraine,” houses 90% of France’s gold reserves, Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks, and other national treasures, with an estimated total value of €600 million (£520 million).

The Souterraine is designed to withstand all forms of attack, featuring a 50cm-thick, seven-tonne flame-resistant concrete door reinforced with steel, and a 35-tonne rotating concrete turret that prevents forced entry. This move comes after masked thieves used an angle grinder to breach a reinforced window in the Louvre’s Gallery of Apollo last Sunday, making off with treasures worth €88 million (£77 million), including a necklace belonging to Napoleon’s wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie.

Despite the swift action by the thieves, who used a mechanical ladder on a lorry to access a first-floor balcony, two of the stolen items, including Empress Eugenie’s Crown, were later found near the museum. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended. However, Louvre director Laurence des Cars highlighted the museum’s weak and aging infrastructure, revealing that the sole security camera monitoring the exterior wall where the break-in occurred was facing the wrong direction.