WAO ART #116

The largest ruby ever to come to auction, the 55.22-carat "Estrela de Fura" from Mozambique, has sold for a record-breaking $34.8m at Sotheby's. The gem was cut from a 101-carat rough stone found in a mine in Mozambique last year. Polished rubies of more than five carats are extremely rare.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro has arrived in China for her first visit since the country broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March. She will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss future ties and attend the inauguration of Honduras' embassy in Beijing.

Cathie Wood of Ark Invest is sticking to her prediction that Bitcoin will exceed $1 million by the end of the decade, despite regulatory crackdowns. Wood believes Bitcoin is a perfect hedge against inflation and counterparty risk. She also expressed confidence in Coinbase.

Ukraine has launched a significant assault on Russian lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, with reports suggesting it marks the start of Kyiv's bid to reclaim territory lost to Russian occupation. The combat against Russian positions is said to involve Western-supplied tanks.

Australian airline Qantas has relaxed its gender-based uniform rules, allowing male employees to wear makeup and have long hair, while female employees will no longer have to wear makeup and heels. Both men and women will be allowed to wear the same sorts of jewellery, including large watches.

Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on seven charges, including mishandling classified documents and obstructing efforts to investigate, according to his lawyer. The charges are federal crimes that can carry a prison sentence on conviction. Trump is campaigning to return to the White House in 2024.

China's national internet regulator is seeking to restrict the use of mobile file-sharing services such as AirDrop and Bluetooth in a move that will expand its censorship machine. The regulator wants service providers to prevent the spread of illegal and "undesirable" information.