Louvre director acknowledges failure after jewel heist and says she offered to resign

PARIS (AP) — The Louvre’s director on Wednesday acknowledged a “terrible failure” at the Paris tourist attraction after a daylight crown jewel heist over the weekend, and said that she offered to resign but it was refused. The world’s most-visited museum reopened earlier in the day to long lines beneath its landmark glass pyramid for the first time since one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world with its audacity and scale. In testimony to the French Senate, Louvre director Laurence des Cars said that the museum had a shortage of security cameras outside the monument and other “weaknesses” exposed by Sunday’s theft.

Vance denies the US dictates to Israel as he meets with Netanyahu over Gaza ceasefire

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance sought Wednesday to ease concerns in Israel that the Trump administration was dictating terms to its closest ally in the Middle East, as he and other top U.S. envoys visit Israel this week to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement. “We don’t want in Israel a vassal state, and that’s not what Israel is. We want a partnership, we want an ally,” Vance said beside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to a reporter’s question about whether Israel was becoming a “protectorate” of the U.S. Netanyahu — who will meet with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday — expressed similar sentiments while acknowledging differences of opinion as they push forward the U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement.

Tropical Storm Melissa brings heavy rain to Haiti and Dominican Republic

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Melissa has dumped heavy rain on parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Forecasters warn of a significant flood risk in the northern Caribbean. On Wednesday, the slow-moving storm was about 320 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Dominican President Luis Abinader announced school closures in nine provinces under alert. Officials urged residents in flood-prone areas to seek higher ground. A hurricane watch is in effect for southern Haiti, and Jamaica is under a tropical storm watch. Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Friday.

More than 40 people killed in a crash of buses and other vehicles in western Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Police say at least 46 people have been killed in a highway crash in western Uganda after two buses collided while trying to overtake other traffic. The crash early Wednesday also involved two other vehicles. Several others were injured in the crash that happened after midnight local time on the highway to Gulu, a major city in northern Uganda. Police initially gave the death toll as 63 in a statement, but later revised it down to 46, saying some people found unconscious at the crash scene were actually still alive. Fatal road crashes are common in Uganda, where roads are often narrow.