Another prominent building in France has fallen victim to theft as silverware worth thousands of dollars was stolen from the Presidential Palace in Paris, months after the Louvre museum heist.

Authorities have caught the culprits, three men, who worked at the official residence of the French President, will stand trial next year for stealing silverware and a table worth between 15,000 to 40,000 euros.

The Élysée Palace’s head steward first reported the disappearance. Several of the missing items were spotted on an online auction website which led authorities to open an investigation.

The investigation team determined that one of the silver stewards was behind the theft and his records suggested that additional thefts were being planned.

Around 100 items were recovered from the steward, including a plate stamped “French Air Force” and “Severes Manufactory” ashtrays that are not available to the general public.

Two other suspects were arrested on Tuesday, December 16, and all the items were returned to Élysée Palace.

The culprits, charged with stealing movable property listed as national heritage, appeared in court on Thursday, December 18. They face up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine.

The defendants are now placed under judicial supervision and the trail is postponed till February 2026. 

Pakistan Under-19 cricket team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has criticised India over “unethical conduct” during their ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 final.

The Green Shirts thumped their arch-rivals in the final on Sunday, sparking scenes of jubilation in the Pakistani camp in Dubai.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Sarfaraz slammed the Indian team’s behaviour during the final.

“India’s behaviour regarding the game was not good, and the Indian team’s conduct in cricket was unethical,” he said. “But we celebrated the victory with sportsmanship, because there should always be sportsmanship in cricket; what India did is their own action.”

Cricketing relations between the two neighbouring countries have remained tense due to geopolitical tensions.

In September, India’s Suryakumar Yadav snubbed customary handshakes with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha and players during their three Asia Cup 2025 games, including the final.

The absence of the traditional handshake at the conclusion of the matches drew global attention, with observers pointing to a lack of sportsmanship and game spirit from India.

The Indian team also refused to collect the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Pakistan in the final by five wickets.

The move reportedly came on the directives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

‘Cash reward of Rs10m for each team member’

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a cash reward of Rs10 million for each team member in recognition of their historic achievement.

PM Shehbaz announced the reward during a luncheon hosted for the U19 Asia Cup-winning side at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The premier also announced Rs2.5 million for the support staff.

“You gave the opposition a defeat they could not even imagine. We defeated India in Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” he told the players and the support staff.

Acknowledging the side’s triumph, PM Shehbaz said that the Green Shirts had lifted the nation’s head with pride, adding, “You have won the hearts of 240 million people.”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi said that the credit for the victory in the tournament goes to the team for staying focused on the game.

He also noted that the cricket board was building a High-Performance Centre in Lahore, which would benefit the players.

Palace aides are reportedly diving into action as they are forced to make last-minute changes before releasing an important message from King Charles.

The monarch, who is expected to address the public in a Christmas broadcast as per annual tradition, had received a devastating news of the attacks on Bondi Beach in Australia, for which he was left “appalled and saddened”.

Christmas speech made by the monarch is usually written and pre-recorded before the big day. However, as the attacks in Australia emerged, royal experts have suggested that the lack of mention of the incident, in the country he is also the Head of State for, would reflect badly.

“To remain relevant the King’s festive set-piece has to be responsive to outside events, however awful, that unfurl on the eve of the holiday season,” Sky News Australia correspondent, Tessa Dunlop, remarked.

She explained that since Charles is “well positioned to show leadership in Australia’s hour of darkness”, a Christmas broadcast from a king would “provide balm” to the victims and their families.

The royal author noted that the King has established himself as a “defender of all faiths” so he must try to maintain that.

Although, the King has shown swift action is releasing a statement expressing his thoughts whenever tragedy had struck in one of his states of nations in the commonwealth. It was also no different this time.