Briefly

EUROPE

Spanish gold coin breaks record at auction

A large gold coin minted in 1609 for Spain's King Philip III broke records to become the most valuable coin in Europe at a sale in Switzerland on Monday. The unique 339-gram piece sold for 2,817,500 Swiss francs ($3.49 million). It had a starting price of 2 million Swiss francs, the Geneva-based Numismatica Genevensis SA auction house said, confirming it had broken the European record for most valuable coin. The Centen, or 100 escudos in a former Spanish currency, was made in the central Spanish city of Segovia out of gold brought from conquerors who went to the Americas or "New World". It was made as a show of regal wealth and power, equaling many years' salary, and is the largest in modern European history.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban says 10 people killed in airstrike

Afghanistan's Taliban government on Tuesday accused Pakistan of launching overnight airstrikes in three eastern provinces, killing 10 people, including nine children, in a sign of worsening tensions between the two neighbors. Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Afghan government, said on X that Pakistan "bombed" the home of a civilian in Khost Province, killing nine children and a woman. He said additional strikes were carried out in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, injuring four others. Pakistan's military and government did not immediately comment on the allegation, which comes more than a month after cross-border clashes erupted when the Afghan government claimed Pakistani drone strikes hit Kabul.

THAILAND

Govt to send aircraft carrier for flood relief

Thailand was preparing on Tuesday to send an aircraft carrier with relief supplies and medical teams to its south, where more heavy rain intensified the worst floods in years, which have killed 13 people and hobbled rescue and evacuation efforts. Floodwaters running as high as 2 meters in some areas have hit nine Thai provinces and eight states in neighboring Malaysia, across a swathe of hundreds of kilometers devastated last year by seasonal monsoon floods that killed 12. The Thai navy said it was preparing to send a flotilla of 14 boats and the aircraft carrier, accompanied by helicopters, doctors, supplies and field kitchens capable of serving 3,000 meals a day.

Agencies - Xinhua