Briefly

KOREAN PENINSULA

US envoy to visit for possible three-way talks

The newly appointed US special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Sung Kim, will make his first visit to the Republic of Korea this week for a possible three-way meeting with counterparts from Seoul and Tokyo, a ROK Foreign Ministry official said on Wednesday. The visit, from Saturday to June 24, comes after US President Joe Biden and ROK President Moon Jae-in held their first summit in May, injecting fresh urgency into efforts to engage Pyongyang in talks on its nuclear programs.

UNITED NATIONS

Guterres urges rivals to respect Gaza truce

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the full respect of the cease-fire agreed between Israel and militant groups led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on May 20. Responding to a question about the secretary-general's reaction to Tuesday's escalating violence, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary-general, said at a regular news conference the secretary-general "expresses concern over the most recent round of violence".

BOTSWANA

World's third-largest diamond unearthed

A 1,098-carat diamond believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined has been discovered in Botswana, according to a joint venture between Anglo American's De Beers and the government. The stone was presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday. It is the third largest in the world, behind the 3,106-carat Cullinan stone recovered in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.

UNITED STATES

Arrest made after Asian woman, 94, stabbed

San Francisco police arrested a man hours after he allegedly stabbed a 94-year-old Asian woman on Wednesday in an unprovoked attack, officials said. Officers responded to a report about a stabbing and found the woman with several stab wounds and rendered medical aid while medics arrived at the scene. Detectives found a knife near the crime scene and obtained a photo of the man. Two hours later, officers arrested Daniel Cauich, 35.

Agencies - Xinhua