Two paintings by Frans Hals, possibly depicting his children, are returning to the Netherlands after a century abroad. The Frans Hals Museum and the Mauritshuis jointly purchased "Boy Playing the Violin" and "Girl Singing" for $7.8 million. The museums will share the works, displaying them in Haarlem and The Hague, highlighting their cultural significance.
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The US Coast Guard released a video from the Titan's support ship, the Polar Prince, capturing the moment of its implosion in June 2023. The video shows Stockton Rush's wife and an OceanGate employee monitoring the descent when a faint bang was heard, believed to be the implosion. Shortly after, tracking was lost.
FEMA's new head, David Richardson, sparked controversy by seemingly unaware of the US hurricane season during a staff briefing, raising concerns about the agency's readiness. Despite a Homeland Security spokesperson claiming it was a joke and affirming preparedness, the remark, coupled with staff departures and reduced preparations, drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders.
Italy's foreign minister on Wednesday again urged Israel to stop its strikes on Gaza, while warning that expelling Palestinians from the territory "is not and never will be an acceptable option". "I want to reiterate today in this chamber with the utmost clarity -- the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza is not and will never be an acceptable option," Tajani said.
Since relocating to California in 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's presence in Montecito has drawn varied reactions. While Prince Harry is seen as approachable and friendly, Meghan Markle maintains a low profile, says local journalist Richard Mineards. He noted Markle's detachment from community events, contrasting it with Oprah Winfrey's active involvement.
A one-month-old baby girl, Kiyanna Winfield, was found dead in a Queens apartment, initially suspected to be from a dog mauling. However, a preliminary medical report indicated the infant died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), with the dog's bites occurring postmortem.
Zimbabwe has announced plans to kill dozens of elephants to manage the population within the Save Valley Conservancy, where the current elephant population far exceeds the land's carrying capacity. The initiative aims to mitigate ecological damage caused by overpopulation. Meat from the culled elephants will be distributed to local communities, while the ivory will be secured by the state wildlife authority.
Egypt has denied that a controversial court ruling over Sinai's Saint Catherine monastery threatens the UNESCO world heritage landmark, after Greek and church authorities warned of the sacred site's status. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's office defended the ruling Thursday, saying it "consolidates" the site's "unique and sacred religious status", after the head of the Greek Orthodox church in Greece denounced it.
Top security officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue highlighted the interconnectedness of global security, citing China and North Korea's support for Russia as evidence of blurred regional lines. Concerns were raised that Russia's success in Ukraine could embolden China in the Indo-Pacific, particularly regarding Taiwan. A unified global approach is needed to address the coordinated authoritarian axis of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
South Africa's communications minister refuted the claims that a draft policy easing Black ownership requirements for tech firms was designed to favor Elon Musk's Starlink. Minister Solly Malatsi defended the directive before Parliament, denying it was specifically for Starlink, despite Musk's criticism of the ownership laws. The policy aims to boost competition by allowing more operators into the market.
Iran executed Pedram Madani for allegedly spying for Mossad. Madani was convicted of transmitting classified information and meeting Mossad officers. He was also accused of traveling to Israel and acquiring illicit wealth. This execution follows similar cases of individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. Tensions between Iran and Israel remain high amid ongoing regional conflicts. Iran accuses Israel of covert operations within its borders.