Ruby gemstone sells for record $34.8 million
New York (AFP) – The ruby Estrela de Fura was sold at Sotheby’s in New York, setting a new record price at auction for the precious stone.
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Swiss village reels from Asian Netflix tourist influx
Iseltwald (Switzerland) (AFP) – Ever since the hugely popular South Korean series “Crash Landing on You” aired a romantic scene shot in the picturesque village of Iseltwald, it has been overrun by Asian tourists.
Drone images show the extent of flooding in Ukraine’s Kherson
Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – Drone footage shows flooding in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson after the breach of the Russian-held Kakhovka dam. The dam was breached on Tuesday, forcing thousands to flee their homes as water surged into the Dnipro River, flooding dozens of villages and parts of the regional capital and sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster.
Before and after images as NYC and DC covered in toxic haze from Canadian wildfires
New York (AFP) – Before and after images of New York City and Washington, DC covered in toxic haze as smoke from Canadian wildfires shrouded eastern US cities in a noxious haze again Thursday, delaying flights and disrupting outdoor events in what President Joe Biden called a “stark reminder” of climate change.
UK PM condemns ‘unfathomable’ France knife attack
Washington (AFP) – UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak kicks off his remarks during a visit to the White House by commenting on a knife attack that left four children wounded in the French Alps. “All our thoughts are with those affected by this unfathomable attack,” Sunak says.
US, UK leaders announce new economic partnership
Washington (AFP) – The US and British leaders announce a new economic partnership that will boost industry ties on defense and renewable energy, in the face of growing competition from China.
Biden confident US will fund Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’
Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden voices confidence that the United States would provide long-term military support to Ukraine, despite hesitation among some lawmakers in the rival Republican Party. “The fact of the matter is that I believe we’ll have the funding necessary to support Ukraine as long as it takes,” Biden tells a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
AI meets VR to keep Holocaust memory alive
Inge Auerbacher fears for a future when Holocaust survivors like her can no longer bear witness. But advances in virtual reality and artificial intelligence give her hope their stories will live on.
Rescue operations in Ukraine’s Kherson ongoing after dam breach
Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – All-terrain vehicles and rescue dinghies plough through the still-rising waters as the evacuation operation in the flooded Ukrainian city of Kherson continues following the destruction of a Russian-held dam. Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame over the destruction of the Kakhova hydroelectric dam, which took place as Ukrainian troops prepared to launch an offensive to recover lost territory.
US capital wakes to acrid smell and orange-tinged skies caused by Canadian wildfires
Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to shroud US cities in a noxious haze. Residents in the US capital awoke to an acrid smell and orange-tinged skies.
President Zelensky visits flooded Kherson region
Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the flood-hit southern region of Kherson as evacuations continue after the destruction of a major Russian-held dam on the front line. Thousands have been forced to flee their homes, sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster.
US, Saudi tell Western countries to repatriate IS jihadists
Riyadh (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan urge Western governments to repatriate citizens who joined the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, where thousands still languish in prisons or camps. TO COMPLETE VIDI33HJ7C7_EN
