Star power fails to perk up France's premiere wine auction / Photo: ARNAUD FINISTRE - AFP
-
Jose Mujica: Uruguay's tractor-driving leftist icon
-
Uruguay's ex-president Mujica dead at 89
-
It's showtime at Eurovision as semis begin
-
DeChambeau says '24 PGA near miss a major confidence boost
-
Gaza, Trump dominate politically charged Cannes Festival opening
-
Carney says new govt will 'relentlessly' protect Canada sovereignty
-
Gaza rescuers says Israeli strikes kill 28 near hospital
-
Schauffele still has something to prove after two major wins
-
US inflation cooled in April as Trump began tariff rollout
-
US reverses Biden-era export controls on advanced AI chips
-
Trump, casting himself as peacemaker, to lift Syria sanctions
-
US Ryder Cup captain Bradley eyes LIV's Koepka, DeChambeau
-
Musetti battles Medvedev and match-point rain delay to reach Rome quarters
-
Rights groups urge court to halt UK fighter jet supplies to Israel
-
Steamy excitement at Eurovision contest
-
Forest hit back over criticism of owner Marinakis over Nuno clash
-
Sean Combs's ex Cassie says he 'controlled' her life with violence
-
Mali dissolves political parties in blow to junta critics
-
Blackmore's history-making exploits inspiring to all: de Bromhead
-
Southern Hills named host of 2032 PGA Championship
-
Injury may delay outdoor season start for Norway's Ingebrigtsen
-
Tour de France to go through Paris' historic Montmartre district
-
'We can't go back': India's border residents fear returning home
-
Finland returns sacred stool looted by France to Benin
-
Israel PM says army entering Gaza 'with full force' in coming days
-
Sean Combs's ex Cassie says he 'controlled' her life
-
Carney forms new Canada govt to reshape US ties
-
Everton to preserve Goodison Park for women's team
-
Stocks mixed after cool US inflation and as rally tapers
-
Thomas confident at PGA having won a major at Quail Hollow
-
Trump slashed US cancer research by 31 percent: Senate report
-
US inflation cooled in April as Trump rolled out tariffs
-
Dutch climate group launches new case against Shell
-
Dutch rider van Uden springs surprise to win Giro sprint
-
Tour de France to pass through historic Montmartre
-
'Apprentice' star Jeremy Strong says 'truth under assault'
-
India kills 3 suspected militants in Kashmir as Pakistan ceasefire holds
-
Cannes Festival opens under pressure to take stance on Gaza war
-
Rahm says no need to play perfect to win majors, just have faith
-
US consumer inflation cooled in April as Trump rolled out tariffs
-
Kurds see ball in Ankara's court after PKK says disbanding
-
Zelensky urges Trump to make Putin meeting happen
-
UN agency finds Russia responsible for 2014 downing of airliner over Ukraine
-
Halle Berry trips up on Cannes festival's new dress code
-
NFL sets first regular-season games in Dublin, Berlin, Madrid
-
Stocks mostly higher on cool US inflation
-
Former England scrum-half Care to retire
-
Spieth's career Slam hopes at PGA boosted by McIlroy Masters win
-
Test final must trump IPL, says South Africa coach
-
'I thought I was going to die,' Kardashian tells Paris robbery trial
NYSE - LSE
| RBGPF | 1.27% | 63.81 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.01% | 22.078 | $ | |
| RYCEF | 2.08% | 10.6 | $ | |
| NGG | 0.07% | 67.575 | $ | |
| SCS | -0.6% | 10.755 | $ | |
| RIO | 1.59% | 62.405 | $ | |
| BCE | -2.34% | 22.045 | $ | |
| BCC | 1.33% | 94.359 | $ | |
| RELX | 1.11% | 52.41 | $ | |
| JRI | -1.01% | 12.88 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.42% | 22.393 | $ | |
| VOD | 0.22% | 9.09 | $ | |
| AZN | -1.7% | 67.795 | $ | |
| GSK | -2.44% | 36.481 | $ | |
| BTI | -0.49% | 40.78 | $ | |
| BP | 1.77% | 30.735 | $ |
Star power fails to perk up France's premiere wine auction
Hollywood stars including Eva Longoria and Dominic West on Sunday attended a centuries-old charity wine auction in the French town of Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wines, though the sums raised fell short of expectations.
The world's oldest wine auction garnered fewer funds than organisers had hoped for, with just under 14 million euros ($14.7 million) -- well below last year's result and the 2022 record of 29 million euros.
"Let's bid high. What you're buying here represents lives saved," said British actor Dominic West, best known for playing King Charles III in the hit series "The Crown".
"Help us help others. Thank you very much," French actor Jean Reno told the hundreds of potential buyers.
The top prize, a barrel of first-growth Beaune wine -- the equivalent of 288 bottles -- sold for 360,000 euros plus a supplemental donation of 100,000 euros.
The proceeds from the barrel's sale will go to the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity, represented by West and French actor Zabou Breitman, and Spanish NGO Global Gift Foundation (GGF), which supports vulnerable children, whose ambassadors were Reno and Longoria.
MSF has said it would use its share of the sale to fund a project to curb dengue fever in Honduras, where cases are shooting up due to climate change.
"In Brazil, we have a lot of dengue fever (cases), we already know what that means," said the Brazilian buyer, Alaor Pereira Lino.
- Limited lots -
Proceeds from the rest of the sale were limited by the number of lots, at just 445 this year, the second-lowest figure in the history of the auction sale, which has existed since 1794.
Weather conditions slashed the harvest by half compared to the usual production, the Hospices de Beaune vineyard manager Ludivine Griveau told AFP.
The group of medical facilities counts on the money from the auction to maintain and modernise its centres, expenses that are not paid for by the French state.
The Hospices, which are home to one of the most prestigious vineyards in the world, have mainly lived off donations since they were founded.
"We are happy anyway," the hospital group's director Guillaume Koch told AFP.
"The money from the sale is vital."
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN