A terrifying scene unfolded in the heart of New York City after a vehicle explosion erupted near Wall Street, sending thick black smoke billowing across Lower Manhattan and triggering panic in one of the busiest areas of the financial district. The dramatic incident took place near Broadway and Stone Street, just steps away from the iconic Charging Bull landmark, as shocked onlookers watched flames engulf the vehicle before an explosion rocked the area. Videos from the scene captured emergency crews rushing into action while police barricaded surrounding streets to control crowds and secure the area. Witnesses described moments of chaos as people quickly retreated from the blast zone while smoke rose above nearby buildings in downtown Manhattan. WATCH

A ceremonial royal visit is now at the center of a geopolitical and historical debate. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly stated that he would urge King Charles III to return the Kohinoor diamond if the two meet during the monarch’s upcoming visit for the September 11 commemoration at One World Trade Center. The remark, made during a press briefing, has transformed what was expected to be a symbolic diplomatic engagement into a renewed conversation about colonial history and restitution. The Kohinoor diamond, often called the “Mountain of Light”, remains one of the most contested artifacts of the colonial era. Originally mined in India’s Kollur mines, the gem passed through Mughal and Sikh rulers before coming under British control in 1849 following the Treaty of Lahore, signed by Maharaja Duleep Singh after the Second Anglo-Sikh War. WATCH