5 more arrests as Louvre jewel heist probe deepens and key details emerge

PARIS (AP) — Authorities have tightened the dragnet around the Louvre thieves, arresting five more people in connection with the recent crown-jewels heist. The Paris prosecutor says three of the four alleged members of the “commando” team are now in custody. The late-night operations in Paris and nearby areas have increased the total number of arrests to seven. Despite the arrests, the stolen loot, valued at around $102 million, remains missing. The heist, which took place in broad daylight, has sparked a national reckoning over how France protects its treasures. Security gaps at the Louvre have been acknowledged.

Palestinian militants hand over 2 sets of remains of hostages to Red Cross in Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military said Thursday that Palestinian militants handed over remains of two hostages, in the latest indication that the fragile ceasefire agreement is moving forward despite Israeli strikes on Gaza this week. The two sets of remains were given to the Red Cross in Gaza and then transported into Israel under troop escort to be taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification, the Israeli military said. Hamas militants previously have returned the remains of 15 hostages since the start of the ceasefire, with 13 more to be recovered under the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Russia blasts Ukraine’s power grid again, causing outages across the country

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing power outages across the country. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko describes this as “systematic energy terror.” Authorities said Thursday that the strikes killed at least six people, including a 7-year-old girl. Children between 2 and 16 years of age were among the 18 injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says over 650 drones and 50 missiles were used. These attacks aim to disrupt Ukraine’s power grid as winter approaches. The strikes have also damaged energy facilities in Ukraine’s western Lviv region. The Polish military scrambled aircraft in response, closing regional airports to ensure military operations.

King Charles III strips Prince Andrew of titles and evicts him from royal residence

LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace says that King Charles III is stripping his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicting him from his royal residence. In a statement, the palace says Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince. He will move from his Royal Lodge residence into “private accommodation.” The moves follow revelations about Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace said the thoughts of the king and Queen Camilla are with “the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”