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Author's articles
Rare blue diamond fetches $21.5 mn at auction in Geneva
An exceptionally-rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva late Tuesday, selling for $21.5 million, Sotheby's auction house said. Ahead of its final showing in Geneva on Tuesday, it was unveiled as part of a Sotheby's debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, where it was showcased alongside seven other "extraordinary" diamonds and gemstones collectively worth over $100 million.
Russia jails prominent vote monitor for five years
Russia on Wednesday sentenced a high-profile election monitor to five years in prison, part of an intensifying crackdown by the Kremlin against independent critics and opponents. Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023, as part of a crackdown on Kremlin critics and opponents that has accelerated amid Moscow's military offensive on Ukraine.
Umbro owner in joint bid for Le Coq Sportif
A consortium that includes the US owner of sportswear brand Umbro and French telecom billionaire Xavier Niel unveiled Wednesday an offer to acquire France's struggling sportswear label Le Coq Sportif for 60 million euros ($68 million). The consortium would immediately inject 60 million euros into Le Coq Sportif and save its historic site at Romilly-sur-Seine in northeastern France.
Tom Cruise has world guessing as he unleashes 'Mission: Impossible' at Cannes
Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" powers into the Cannes film festival for its premiere on Wednesday on a steamroller of hype, with the world asking if this will be the final curtain for agent Ethan Hunt. Fans will find out if this really is the end of the road for secret agent Ethan Hunt when "The Final Reckoning" is released in Europe and the Middle East from May 21.
China's Tencent posts forecast-beating Q1 revenue on gaming growth
Chinese internet giant Tencent on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected increase in first-quarter revenue, propelled by growth in gaming as the firm's strategic drive into artificial intelligence deepens. In a breakdown of sales, Tencent said that revenue from domestic games increased 24 percent year-on-year, while international games saw a 23 percent rise.
France summons cryptocurrency businesses after kidnappings
The French interior minister said Wednesday he will meet with cryptocurrency professionals to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings for ransom following several such high-profile cases in France.
Baidu plans self-driving taxi tests in Europe this year
Chinese tech giant Baidu plans to start testing self-driving taxis in Europe for the first time by the end of this year, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to AFP on Wednesday. A source confirmed to AFP that Baidu will set up a local entity in Switzerland in order to begin tests there before the end of 2025.
Burberry warns 1,700 jobs at risk after annual loss
British luxury fashion label Burberry said Wednesday it could shed almost one-fifth of its global workforce over two years to reduce costs as it fell into an annual net loss. Net loss stood at £75 million ($99.8 million) in the 12 months to the end of March, compared to a profit of £270 million one year earlier, Burberry said in a statement.
Colombia joins Belt and Road initiative as China courts Latin America
Colombia formally agreed on Wednesday to join China's vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, as Beijing draws Latin America closer in a bid to counter the United States. On the sidelines of a major gathering of regional leaders in Beijing on Wednesday, Colombia became the latest country to join the vast, global initiative.
AFP
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