NEW YORK: “Lesedi la Rona,” the largest gem-quality rough diamond discovered in more than 100 years, will be auctioned in London next month and is expected to sell for $70 million, international auction house Sotheby’s said on Wednesday.
Ahead of the auction on June 29, the 1,190-carat diamond, its name in Botswana’s Tswana language translates as “Our Light,” was on display at Sotheby’s New York headquarters.
David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry division, said the size of the Lesedi la Rona amazed experts.
“It really just soared off the scale of rare into something just, one off, it’s just unique,” he said.
Unearthed in Botswana in November 2015 by Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp., the gigantic gem is about the size of a tennis ball and is believed to be between 2.5 billion to more than three billion years old.
The Lesedi La Rona’s color and transparency are typical of a rare and coveted subgroup called Type IIa diamonds, according to a study by the Gemological Institute of America.
Bennett said it was second only in size to the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in 1905 in South Africa and weighed more than 3,000 carats. The Cullinan Diamond was later cut into several smaller stones.
The reputation of diamonds mined in Africa has been tarnished in recent decades by rebels in strife-torn countries who forced people to mine them and then sold the so-called “blood diamonds” to raise money to buy arms.
But the Kimberley Process Certification System, a United Nations-backed program that was set up in 2002 following devastating civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia, has made trafficking in conflict diamonds much more difficult.
Sotheby’s said independent reports by experts showed the Lesedi la Rona could have the potential to yield the largest, top-quality diamond ever seen once it has been cut and polished.
“It’s worthwhile for people to come and look at it because you probably won’t be seeing it again in two or three year’s time,” Bennett said. “It may very well be cut up into all these wonderful famous stones.”
World’s biggest diamond to be auctioned in London
World’s biggest diamond to be auctioned in London
UN report sees no active Syrian state links to Al Qaeda
- The US is “reviewing our remaining terrorist designations related to HTS and Syria and their placement on the UN sanctions list,” a State Department spokesperson told Reuters
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations sanctions monitors have seen no “active ties” this year between Al Qaeda and the Islamist group leading Syria’s interim government, an unpublished UN report said, a finding that could strengthen an expected US push for removing UN sanctions on Syria.
The report, seen by Reuters on Thursday, is likely to be published this month.
Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham is Al Qaeda’s former branch in Syria but broke ties in 2016. The group, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, led the rebellion that toppled President Bashar Assad in a lightning offensive in December, and HTS leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa became Syria’s interim president.
The report comes as diplomats expect the United States to seek the removal of UN sanctions on HTS and Sharaa, who has said he wants to build an inclusive Syria with equal rights for all.
“Many tactical-level individuals hold more extreme views than ... Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, who are generally regarded as more pragmatic than ideological,” the UN report said. It covered the six months to June 22 and relied on contributions and assessments from UN member states.
Since May 2014, HTS has been subject to UN sanctions including a global assets freeze and arms embargo. A number of HTS members also face sanctions like a travel ban and asset freeze — including Sharaa, who has been listed since July 2013.
The UN monitors wrote in their report to the Security Council: “Some member states raised concerns that several HTS and aligned members, especially those in tactical roles or integrated into the new Syrian army, remained ideologically tied to Al Qaeda.”
US President Donald Trump announced a major US policy shift in May when he said he would lift US sanctions on Syria. He signed an executive order enacting this at the end of June, and Washington revoked its foreign terrorist organization designation of HTS this week.
The US said then that revoking the designation was a step toward Trump’s vision of a peaceful and unified Syria.
The US is “reviewing our remaining terrorist designations related to HTS and Syria and their placement on the UN sanctions list,” a State Department spokesperson told Reuters.
Diplomats, humanitarian organizations and regional analysts have said lifting sanctions would help rebuild Syria’s shattered economy, steer the country away from authoritarianism and reduce the appeal of radical groups.
Trump and his advisers have argued that doing so would also serve US interests by opening opportunities for American businesses, countering Iranian and Russian influence and potentially limiting the call for US military involvement in the region.
OBSTACLES TO US EFFORT
But Washington faces diplomatic obstacles to get Security Council backing for removing the sanctions.
The US will also need to win support from Russia — which was an ally to Assad — and China for any Syria sanctions relief at the UN, diplomats said.
Both are particularly concerned about foreigners who joined HTS during the 13-year war between rebel groups and Assad. The UN experts said there were estimated to be more than 5,000 foreign fighters in Syria.
The status of foreign fighters has been one of the most fraught issues hindering Syria’s rapprochement with the West. But the US has given its blessing to a plan by Syria’s new leaders to integrate foreign fighters into the army.
“China is gravely concerned about such developments. The Syrian interim authorities should earnestly fulfill their counter-terrorism obligations,” China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong told the Security Council last month.
He said Syria must combat terrorist organizations including “the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party.” Uyghur fighters from China and Central Asia are members of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of the mainly Muslim ethnic minority. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council last month that it was essential Syria’s “army and police are staffed exclusively by professional personnel with untainted track records,” an apparent reference to irregular fighters like militants.
The UN monitors said some foreign fighters rejected the move to integrate them into the military. “Defections occurred among those who see Sharaa as a sell-out, raising the risk of internal conflict and making Sharaa a potential target,” the UN experts said.
French prisoner escapes in fellow inmate’s luggage
- The inmate “took advantage of the liberation of his fellow inmate to hide himself in his luggage and get out,” the statement said
LYON: France’s prison service said Saturday it had launched an investigation after a man escaped by smuggling himself into his cellmate’s bag as he left jail, having served his sentence.
The 20-year-old prisoner escaped from Corbas prison, near Lyon, southeast France, on Friday, broadcaster BFMTV reported.
The inmate was serving several sentences, the prison service said in a statement to AFP.
He “took advantage of the liberation of his fellow inmate to hide himself in his luggage and get out,” the statement said.
The escaped prisoner was also under investigation in a case linked to organized crime, a source close to the affair told AFP.
An internal investigation is underway and Lyon prosecutors had opened their own investigations, the prison service added.
SAB signs on as mentor in ministry’s sustainability program
SAB will mentor a select group of prominent organizations, including Dallah Healthcare Company, Rawabi Holding Company, Middle East Paper Company, and City Cement Company.
Saudi Awwal Bank, one of the leading banks in the Kingdom, has announced its participation in the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s Sustainability Champions Program. The official signing ceremony took place on May 28 at SAB Tower, marking a key milestone in SAB’s commitment to sustainability.
The MEP Sustainability Champions Program aims to enhance sustainability performance across key sectors by partnering with organizations that demonstrate leadership and a commitment to sustainable practices. As a mentor in the program, SAB will utilize its extensive experience and resources to support and guide its mentees on their sustainability journeys.
As part of its role, SAB will mentor a select group of prominent organizations in the program, including Dallah Healthcare Company, Rawabi Holding Company, Middle East Paper Company, and City Cement Company. This initiative marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to enhance sustainability practices across key sectors and achieve Vision 2030 goals.
Tony Cripps, managing director of SAB, said: “Sustainability is no longer a choice — it’s a responsibility. Through our partnership with the MEP Sustainability Champions Program, SAB is taking tangible steps to build the knowledge infrastructure around sustainability and contribute to the Kingdom’s goals. We are proud to be part of this forward-looking initiative, which aligns with our environmental, social and governance strategy and our commitment to supporting sustainable economic growth.”
The signing ceremony marked the beginning of a strategic collaboration focused on sustainability. Senior executives from SAB and the participating mentees attended the event, emphasizing the shared commitment to advancing sustainability across key sectors.
SAB continues to demonstrate its leadership in sustainability through its comprehensive ESG strategy. The bank is actively engaged in various initiatives that foster sustainable economic development in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Through its partnerships with governmental bodies, such as the Ministry of Economy and Planning, SAB plays a key role in driving forward the Kingdom’s sustainability aspirations, contributing to long-term, positive environmental and societal impacts.
Riyadh show addresses KSA’s sports infrastructure ambitions
The first edition of FSB Sports Show Riyadh concluded recently, establishing itself as Saudi Arabia’s largest trade event dedicated to sports infrastructure, leisure facilities and public spaces. Launched in the leadup to landmark events like the 2029 Asian Winter Games and FIFA World Cup 2034, the exhibition has been timely in meeting the surging demand for sports infrastructure in the Kingdom, further aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Program and ongoing stadium and recreational facility development as part of Vision 2030.
FSB Sports Show Riyadh, co-located with International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia, drew significant turnout from government stakeholders, real estate developers, consultants and leisure operators, welcoming more than 13,000 attendees. Visitors included professionals working across stadiums, public parks, schools, and large-scale urban projects, all actively seeking fit-for-purpose, ready-to-deploy solutions.
With packed aisles and a busy show floor, the debut edition highlighted how sports and leisure infrastructure is becoming a central pillar in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions. Furthermore, the “Sport for All” strategy by the Kingdom’s government helps promote physical activity, inclusion, and community well-being by expanding access to sports facilities and encouraging participation across all age groups — from popular sports to public urban sports programs.
The 2025 edition featured 200 exhibiting companies and brands, with participation from both local and international exhibitors across key product categories, including playground and leisure facilities, urban design and architecture, sports surfaces, pool/spa fitting equipment and sports facilities and equipment.
Dedicated country pavilions, including China and Türkiye, showcased innovative solutions in sports flooring, artificial turf, aquatic technologies, outdoor fitness parks, modular structures, urban seating and more.
Besides these pavilions, Italy presented the strongest European participation with 13 exhibitors.
The Saudi Sports and Leisure Summit addressed key themes such as smart facility management, climate-adaptive design and sustainable and adaptive infrastructure. Speakers from Saudi Sports for All Federation, AtkinsRéalis, Saudi Sports Professionals Network and Levelz Gaming Group led discussions that brought together consultants, policymakers and investors focused on reshaping Saudi Arabia’s sports infrastructure through inclusive and accessible spaces.
The two-day feature, ActiveSpaces 360, explored practical conversations and discussions on topics including, modular builds, synthetic turf quality, urban activation, and inclusive space planning.
Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president — construction, dmg events, said: “The response to the first edition of FSB Sports Show Riyadh has been phenomenal. It’s clear there’s a real need for a dedicated trade event that brings together sports infrastructure suppliers and decision-makers, especially as Saudi Arabia accelerates its investments in wellness and active living. We look forward to growing the event even further in 2026 in partnership with Koelnmesse.”
Denis Steker, senior vice president, Koelnmesse GmbH, added: “By connecting international solution providers with Saudi Arabian decision-makers, FSB Sports Show Riyadh has established its role as a go-to sourcing trade exhibition for the Kingdom’s sports infrastructure investment drive.”
North Korean leader Kim reaffirms support for Russia on Ukraine, KCNA says
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed Pyongyang’s “unconditional support” for all actions taken by the Russian leadership to fundamentally resolve the Ukraine situation, the North’s state media reported on Sunday.
Kim made the comment during his meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, state news agency KCNA said.
