Japan's ruling coalition is projected to have won the most votes in an election held just two days after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, local media said Sunday. The ex-premier's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are expected to claim between 70 and 83 of the 125 upper house seats up for grabs, according to national broadcaster NHK. Even before Abe's murder, the LDP and Komeito were expected to cement their majority, though the final number of seats will be scrutinised for signs of whether the attack bolstered support for them. 
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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told NHK, "I think it is significant we were able to complete the elections." He had insisted the election proceed despite the assassination, saying "we must never allow violence to suppress speech." Abe was gunned down at close range on Friday in the western region of Nara and died of blood loss at a local hospital. His body was brought to his family home in Tokyo on Saturday. The assassination rattled the nation and sent shockwaves around the world, prompting an outpouring of sympathy even from nations with which the hawkish Abe had sometimes difficult relations, like China and South Korea.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-elon-musks-hyperloop-still-popular-even-after-decade-of-setback-496171">Why is Elon Musk's 'hyperloop' still popular even after decade of setback?</a> 
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Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, who sought to lift the economy out of chronic deflation with his bold "Abenomics" policies, beef up the military and counter China's growing clout, died after being gunned down during a campaign speech two days before the election. The death of the namesake of Japan's "Abenomics" policy makes any immediate challenge to Abe's legacy highly unlikely but could eventually allow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to phase out Abe's government spending and monetary stimulus.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Kishida, 64, was once described as among Abe's favoured successors and holds a solid majority in parliament with Komeito. But he faces significant policy headwinds, including rising prices and energy shortages, particularly after an early summer heatwave that led to a power crunch. 
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(with inputs from agencies) 
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Japan's ruling coalition is projected to have won the most votes in an election held just two days after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, local media said Sunday.

Japan's ruling coalition is projected to have won the most votes in an election held just two days after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, local media said Sunday. The ex-premier's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are expected to claim between 70 and 83 of the 125 upper house seats up for grabs, according to national broadcaster NHK. Even before Abe's murder, the LDP and Komeito were expected to cement their majority, though the final number of seats will be scrutinised for signs of whether the attack bolstered support for them. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told NHK, "I think it is significant we were able to complete the elections." He had insisted the election proceed despite the assassination, saying "we must never allow violence to suppress speech." Abe was gunned down at close range on Friday in the western region of Nara and died of blood loss at a local hospital. His body was brought to his family home in Tokyo on Saturday. The assassination rattled the nation and sent shockwaves around the world, prompting an outpouring of sympathy even from nations with which the hawkish Abe had sometimes difficult relations, like China and South Korea. Also Read: Why is Elon Musk's 'hyperloop' still popular even after decade of setback? Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, who sought to lift the economy out of chronic deflation with his bold "Abenomics" policies, beef up the military and counter China's growing clout, died after being gunned down during a campaign speech two days before the election. The death of the namesake of Japan's "Abenomics" policy makes any immediate challenge to Abe's legacy highly unlikely but could eventually allow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to phase out Abe's government spending and monetary stimulus. Kishida, 64, was once described as among Abe's favoured successors and holds a solid majority in parliament with Komeito. But he faces significant policy headwinds, including rising prices and energy shortages, particularly after an early summer heatwave that led to a power crunch. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan election: Kishida's coalition projected to win in wake of Abe's assassination

On the occasion of the holy festival of Eid al-Adha, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, through a personal letter to the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, extended on his own behalf &amp; People of India, warm greetings to the President &amp; People of Türkiye, as per a tweet by Indian Embassy in Turkey.

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On the occasion of holy festival of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EidAlAdha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EidAlAdha</a>; Prime Minister of India H.E. Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> through a personal letter to President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Mr. <a href="https://twitter.com/RTErdogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RTErdogan</a>, extended on his own behalf &amp; People of India, warm greetings to President &amp; People of Türkiye.
— India in Türkiye (@IndianEmbassyTR) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianEmbassyTR/status/1546073453396107265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Indian and Turkish diplomats met after a four-year pause for political consultation in Ankara on June 10. For a long time, both countries have been looking at their relations only within their bilateral merits, but in recent years, India has become more active in the entire Indian Ocean region, including the Persian Gulf and Indo-Pacific. And, Turkiye&nbsp;has also been active in Central Asia and Eurasia, reconnecting with the Turkic population and cultures forming the Organization of Turkic States. India and Turkiye&nbsp;trade is reaching a nearly $10 billion benchmark, and India-Turkiye&nbsp;commercial and tourism relations have been increasing, therefore both countries cannot avoid a wider political consultation.

As reported by ANI, the Eleventh Session of India-Turkey Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) was held in Ankara where both the countries agreed to hold the next round of consultations in the former country on mutually convenient dates next year. Minister of External Affairs Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma, led the Indian delegation for the FOC. During the consultations, both the countries exchanged their views on bilateral, multilateral and global issues including Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/lgbt-community-parade-in-madrid-demanding-end-of-animal-cruelty-496131#they-are-not-as-difficult-496124">&nbsp;In pics: LGBT community parade in Madrid demanding end of animal cruelty</a>

&nbsp;"Both sides have also appreciated the commercial ties, which were on an upward trajectory with bilateral trade exceeding USD 10 billion in 2021-2022," the MA statement added.

They also agreed to commemorate 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in a befitting manner. The two sides had also reviewed the situation in their respective regions and also exchanged views on several multilateral issues. India and Turkiye&nbsp;enjoy close, friendly and deep-rooted ties dating back several centuries and share civilizational links. The recent political exchanges have&nbsp;imparted fresh momentum to our bilateral ties and opened several new avenues for cooperation.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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On the occasion of the holy festival of Eid al-Adha, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, through a personal letter to the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, extended on his own behalf & People of India, warm greetings to the President & People of Türkiye, as per a tweet by Indian Embassy in Turkey.

On the occasion of the holy festival of Eid al-Adha, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, through a personal letter to the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, extended on his own behalf & People of India, warm greetings to the President & People of Türkiye, as per a tweet by Indian Embassy in Turkey. On the occasion of holy festival of #EidAlAdha; Prime Minister of India H.E. Shri @narendramodi through a personal letter to President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Mr. @RTErdogan, extended on his own behalf & People of India, warm greetings to President & People of Türkiye. — India in Türkiye (@IndianEmbassyTR) July 10, 2022 × Indian and Turkish diplomats met after a four-year pause for political consultation in Ankara on June 10. For a long time, both countries have been looking at their relations only within their bilateral merits, but in recent years, India has become more active in the entire Indian Ocean region, including the Persian Gulf and Indo-Pacific. And, Turkiye has also been active in Central Asia and Eurasia, reconnecting with the Turkic population and cultures forming the Organization of Turkic States. India and Turkiye trade is reaching a nearly $10 billion benchmark, and India-Turkiye commercial and tourism relations have been increasing, therefore both countries cannot avoid a wider political consultation. As reported by ANI, the Eleventh Session of India-Turkey Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) was held in Ankara where both the countries agreed to hold the next round of consultations in the former country on mutually convenient dates next year. Minister of External Affairs Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma, led the Indian delegation for the FOC. During the consultations, both the countries exchanged their views on bilateral, multilateral and global issues including Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. Also Read: In pics: LGBT community parade in Madrid demanding end of animal cruelty "Both sides have also appreciated the commercial ties, which were on an upward trajectory with bilateral trade exceeding USD 10 billion in 2021-2022," the MA statement added. They also agreed to commemorate 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in a befitting manner. The two sides had also reviewed the situation in their respective regions and also exchanged views on several multilateral issues. India and Turkiye enjoy close, friendly and deep-rooted ties dating back several centuries and share civilizational links. The recent political exchanges have imparted fresh momentum to our bilateral ties and opened several new avenues for cooperation. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PM Modi wishes Eid al-Adha through personal letter to Turkish President

A cask of rare scotch whisky has set a new world record after selling for £16m ($20mn) to a private collector in Asia. The single malt dates to November 1975 and smashed the previous record of £1m ($1.2mn) set in April this year, the Financial Times reports.

As reported by The Guardian, Thomas Moradpour, the president and chief executive of Ardbeg’s owner, Glenmorangie, a subsidiary of the LVMH luxury goods group, said the record-breaking cask was a source of pride for the local community. He said the people of Islay had seen the distillery come back from the brink of extinction to become “one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world”.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-did-century-old-3800-tonne-building-in-shanghai-start-walking-496092">&nbsp;How did this century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai start 'walking'?</a>

Known as Cask No 3, the whisky was produced at the 207-year-old Ardbeg distillery, on the Scottish island of Islay. It sold for more than twice the amount the distillery and its entire stock was bought for in 1997. The distillery will draw around 88 bottles of whisky from the cask in each of the next five years and deliver them to the buyer. That’s about £36,000 ($43,000) per bottle. The record sale comes after the supermarket Morrisons accidentally priced bottles of scotch whisky at just £2.50 ($3), a 93% discount from its usual price of £36 ($43), last month.

Bill Lumsden, the head of distilling and whisky creation at Ardbeg, said, as reported by The Guardian, “I’ve really only tasted a whisky like this two or three times in my career. “It has an emotional, comforting quality to it I find hard to put into words.”

(with inputs from agencies)

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A cask of rare scotch whisky has set a new world record after selling for £16m ($20mn) to a private collector in Asia. The single malt dates to November 1975 and smashed the previous record of £1m ($1.

A cask of rare scotch whisky has set a new world record after selling for £16m ($20mn) to a private collector in Asia. The single malt dates to November 1975 and smashed the previous record of £1m ($1.2mn) set in April this year, the Financial Times reports. As reported by The Guardian, Thomas Moradpour, the president and chief executive of Ardbeg’s owner, Glenmorangie, a subsidiary of the LVMH luxury goods group, said the record-breaking cask was a source of pride for the local community. He said the people of Islay had seen the distillery come back from the brink of extinction to become “one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world”. Also Read: How did this century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai start 'walking'? Known as Cask No 3, the whisky was produced at the 207-year-old Ardbeg distillery, on the Scottish island of Islay. It sold for more than twice the amount the distillery and its entire stock was bought for in 1997. The distillery will draw around 88 bottles of whisky from the cask in each of the next five years and deliver them to the buyer. That’s about £36,000 ($43,000) per bottle. The record sale comes after the supermarket Morrisons accidentally priced bottles of scotch whisky at just £2.50 ($3), a 93% discount from its usual price of £36 ($43), last month. Bill Lumsden, the head of distilling and whisky creation at Ardbeg, said, as reported by The Guardian, “I’ve really only tasted a whisky like this two or three times in my career. “It has an emotional, comforting quality to it I find hard to put into words.” (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rare scotch whisky sold for $20mn to a private collector in Asia. What's so special?

In pics: LGBT community parade in Madrid demanding end of animal cruelty

A century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai was lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated with the help of technology, dubbed the ‘walking machine’. The building was moved back to its original position on July 8, as part of a renovation project. It's the largest and heaviest masonry structure transportation project in the city.

After precise measurement and calculation, sliding rails were set at the bottom of the building to push the 3,800-tonne building to the designated position.

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3,800-ton century-old building slowly "walking" in Shanghai<a href="https://t.co/fCeTbKpR7M">pic.twitter.com/fCeTbKpR7M</a>
— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) <a href="https://twitter.com/CGMeifangZhang/status/1545945354197139456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In 2020, Shanghai moved another building using the same ‘walking' technology when an 85-year-old five-storey primary school building in the city's eastern Huangpu district was shifted.

 
The supports act like robotic legs. They're split into two groups which alternately rise up and down, imitating the human stride. Attached sensors help control how the building moves forward, Lan Wuji, chief technical supervisor of the project had told CNN. "It's like giving the building crutches so it can stand up and then walk," he said.

Structural moving is the process of lifting an entire building from the foundation and moving it elsewhere. It is an increasingly common way to preserve historic buildings that might otherwise be razed to make way for development. It's also a way to place a building in a safer location if it's threatened by flooding.

While almost anything can be moved structurally, from old churches to nuclear reactors, the buildings that are moved are set apart by their weight and sometimes by the difficulty of movement. From telephone company headquarters to airport terminals, engineers have carried out unprecedented feats to preserve these structures.

(with inputs from agencies)

A century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai was lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated with the help of technology, dubbed the ‘walking machine’.

A century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai was lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated with the help of technology, dubbed the ‘walking machine’. The building was moved back to its original position on July 8, as part of a renovation project. It's the largest and heaviest masonry structure transportation project in the city. After precise measurement and calculation, sliding rails were set at the bottom of the building to push the 3,800-tonne building to the designated position. 3,800-ton century-old building slowly "walking" in Shanghaipic.twitter.com/fCeTbKpR7M — Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) July 10, 2022 × In 2020, Shanghai moved another building using the same ‘walking' technology when an 85-year-old five-storey primary school building in the city's eastern Huangpu district was shifted. The supports act like robotic legs. They're split into two groups which alternately rise up and down, imitating the human stride. Attached sensors help control how the building moves forward, Lan Wuji, chief technical supervisor of the project had told CNN. "It's like giving the building crutches so it can stand up and then walk," he said. Structural moving is the process of lifting an entire building from the foundation and moving it elsewhere. It is an increasingly common way to preserve historic buildings that might otherwise be razed to make way for development. It's also a way to place a building in a safer location if it's threatened by flooding. While almost anything can be moved structurally, from old churches to nuclear reactors, the buildings that are moved are set apart by their weight and sometimes by the difficulty of movement. From telephone company headquarters to airport terminals, engineers have carried out unprecedented feats to preserve these structures. (with inputs from agencies)

How did this century-old, 3,800-tonne building in Shanghai start 'walking'?

Boris Johnson's expected departure on Thursday, after a tidal wave of resignations from his top team came just three years after he took over from Theresa May in an internal Conservative leadership contest. Since then, he has been trending globally and become the butt of jokes and fodder for memes online, with even brands from across the globe poking fun at him. In India, Fevicol too joined the fun by bringing back an old meme.

Fevicol, an adhesive brand, known for its savage takes on contemporary issues, retweeted a creative from 2020 as a commentary on the political drama unfolding in the United Kingdom. The post showed the royal crown of the British monarchy with a message, “Dear Royal Family, Kohinoor nahi, Fevicol le jaana chahiye tha (you should have taken Fevicol and not Kohinoor)”.

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(Bor)iss baar hum phirse kahenge... <a href="https://t.co/37EvFG15me">https://t.co/37EvFG15me</a>
— Fevicol (@StuckByFevicol) <a href="https://twitter.com/StuckByFevicol/status/1545322124708982784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Playing on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's separation from the royal family, the tweet said, “Fevicol hota toh suss-ex na hota aur parivaar atoot rehta“

The brand, known for its wordplay, said, “(Bor)iss baar hum phirse kahenge… (we will say this again)”, indicating Boris Johnson's resignation and successive separation from the British Government.

Boris Johnson rode his luck throughout his career, bouncing back from a succession of setbacks and scandals that would have sunk other less popular politicians.

But the luck of a man once likened to a "greased piglet" for his ability to escape controversies finally ran out, after a slew of high-profile resignations from his scandal-hit government.

The departure of cabinet big hitters Rishi Sunak as finance minister and Sajid Javid as health secretary on Tuesday weakened the under-pressure prime minister just as he needed allies the most.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Boris Johnson's expected departure on Thursday, after a tidal wave of resignations from his top team came just three years after he took over from Theresa May in an internal Conservative leadership contest.

Boris Johnson's expected departure on Thursday, after a tidal wave of resignations from his top team came just three years after he took over from Theresa May in an internal Conservative leadership contest. Since then, he has been trending globally and become the butt of jokes and fodder for memes online, with even brands from across the globe poking fun at him. In India, Fevicol too joined the fun by bringing back an old meme. Fevicol, an adhesive brand, known for its savage takes on contemporary issues, retweeted a creative from 2020 as a commentary on the political drama unfolding in the United Kingdom. The post showed the royal crown of the British monarchy with a message, “Dear Royal Family, Kohinoor nahi, Fevicol le jaana chahiye tha (you should have taken Fevicol and not Kohinoor)”. (Bor)iss baar hum phirse kahenge... https://t.co/37EvFG15me — Fevicol (@StuckByFevicol) July 8, 2022 × Playing on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's separation from the royal family, the tweet said, “Fevicol hota toh suss-ex na hota aur parivaar atoot rehta“ The brand, known for its wordplay, said, “(Bor)iss baar hum phirse kahenge… (we will say this again)”, indicating Boris Johnson's resignation and successive separation from the British Government. Boris Johnson rode his luck throughout his career, bouncing back from a succession of setbacks and scandals that would have sunk other less popular politicians. But the luck of a man once likened to a "greased piglet" for his ability to escape controversies finally ran out, after a slew of high-profile resignations from his scandal-hit government. The departure of cabinet big hitters Rishi Sunak as finance minister and Sajid Javid as health secretary on Tuesday weakened the under-pressure prime minister just as he needed allies the most. (with inputs from agencies)

On UK PM's resignation, Fevicol tweets about Kohinoor, here's what it said

The top diplomats from the United States and China voiced guarded hope Saturday of preventing tensions from spiralling out of control as they held rare talks on the Indonesian island of Bali, after attending a G20 summit where the top U.S. diplomat led efforts to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine. Blinken told reporters at the beginning of the meeting, "There is no substitute for face-to-face... diplomacy, and in a relationship as complex and consequential as the one between the United States and China there is a lot to talk about. We very much look forward to a productive and constructive conversation."

Blinken is expected to repeat warnings to China not to support Russia's war in Ukraine and the two sides will address contentious issues that include Taiwan, China's extensive South China Sea claims, its expansion of influence in the Pacific, human rights, and trade tariffs. However, both sides share an interest in keeping the relationship stable and Blinken and U.S. officials say President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak again in the coming weeks, something Saturday's meeting is likely to address.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-volatile-courtship-to-messy-divorce-elon-musks-love-hate-affair-with-twitter-495725">From volatile courtship to messy divorce: Elon Musk's love-hate affair with Twitter</a>

As reported by Reuters, Wang said, "China and the United States are two major countries, so it is necessary for the two countries to maintain normal exchanges. At the same time, we do need to talk together to ensure that this relationship will continue to move forward along the right track." After a long chill during the pandemic between the two countries, since last month their defence, finance and national security chiefs as well as their top military commanders have all spoken. China's state-run Global Times, known for its criticism of the United States, wrote that the growing diplomacy "underscored the two sides' consensus on avoiding escalating confrontation".

US views of China have hardened in recent years and Biden has largely maintained the substance of his predecessor Donald Trump's hardline approach of treating Beijing as the pre-eminent global competitor of the United States. But Blinken in a recent speech made clear that the United States was not seeking a new "Cold War," even as he held firm on criticism -- including accusing Beijing of genocide against the mostly Muslim Uyghur people. The Biden administration is widely expected soon to ease some of Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, a move that could ease soaring inflation, which has become a major political liability in the United States.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The top diplomats from the United States and China voiced guarded hope Saturday of preventing tensions from spiralling out of control as they held rare talks on the Indonesian island of Bali, after attending a G20 summit where the top U.

The top diplomats from the United States and China voiced guarded hope Saturday of preventing tensions from spiralling out of control as they held rare talks on the Indonesian island of Bali, after attending a G20 summit where the top U.S. diplomat led efforts to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine. Blinken told reporters at the beginning of the meeting, "There is no substitute for face-to-face... diplomacy, and in a relationship as complex and consequential as the one between the United States and China there is a lot to talk about. We very much look forward to a productive and constructive conversation." Blinken is expected to repeat warnings to China not to support Russia's war in Ukraine and the two sides will address contentious issues that include Taiwan, China's extensive South China Sea claims, its expansion of influence in the Pacific, human rights, and trade tariffs. However, both sides share an interest in keeping the relationship stable and Blinken and U.S. officials say President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak again in the coming weeks, something Saturday's meeting is likely to address. Also Read: From volatile courtship to messy divorce: Elon Musk's love-hate affair with Twitter As reported by Reuters, Wang said, "China and the United States are two major countries, so it is necessary for the two countries to maintain normal exchanges. At the same time, we do need to talk together to ensure that this relationship will continue to move forward along the right track." After a long chill during the pandemic between the two countries, since last month their defence, finance and national security chiefs as well as their top military commanders have all spoken. China's state-run Global Times, known for its criticism of the United States, wrote that the growing diplomacy "underscored the two sides' consensus on avoiding escalating confrontation". US views of China have hardened in recent years and Biden has largely maintained the substance of his predecessor Donald Trump's hardline approach of treating Beijing as the pre-eminent global competitor of the United States. But Blinken in a recent speech made clear that the United States was not seeking a new "Cold War," even as he held firm on criticism -- including accusing Beijing of genocide against the mostly Muslim Uyghur people. The Biden administration is widely expected soon to ease some of Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, a move that could ease soaring inflation, which has become a major political liability in the United States. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US-China top diplomats reach consensus on not seeking new 'Cold War' on sidelines of G20 summit

Elon Musk's pursuit of Twitter was a melodrama from beginning to end, a volatile courtship between a mercurial billionaire and the massively influential social media platform. That relationship, an apparent love-hate affair from Musk's side, now seems set to end in an acrimonious divorce, as reported by AFP.

The courtship began with an expensive first date: Musk -- a longtime Twitter user known for inflammatory tweets -- snapped up 73.5 million shares at the cost of nearly $2.9 billion. The purchase, which was revealed in an April 4 regulatory filing and gave him a 9.2 per cent stake in the company, sent Twitter shares soaring and sparked speculation that Musk was seeking an active role in the social media company's operations. It also earned him a seat on the board. CEO Parag Agrawal announced the offer -- in a tweet, of course -- and called Musk "a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need."

But the honeymoon didn't last long, Agrawal said on April 10 that Musk had decided against joining the board, a move the Twitter CEO believed was "for the best." Rather than amicably parting ways, Musk launched a hostile takeover bid for the company, offering $54.20 a share, an April 13 filing showed. After saying it would "carefully review" the offer, Twitter adopted a "poison pill" defence, announcing a plan that would allow shareholders to purchase additional stock.

Then came the plans for a walk down the corporate aisle, the big day of 'engagement', Twitter reversed course and said on April 25 that it was selling to Musk in a deal valued at $44 billion. But weddings can be expensive, so Musk took action to cover the cost, parting with $8.4 billion in shares in electric carmaker Tesla. He pledged up to $21 billion from his personal fortune, with the rest financed by debt. Musk was already planning his new life with Twitter, saying a few days later that he would lift the ban on Donald Trump, which was handed down after the January 2021 riot at the US Capitol by the then President's supporters.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-withdraws-44-billion-bid-to-buy-twitter-over-misleading-representations-495715">Elon Musk withdraws $44 billion bid to buy Twitter over ‘misleading representations’</a>

But Musk soon began showing signs of cold feet, saying on May 13 that the deal to buy Twitter was "temporarily on hold" pending details on spam and fake accounts on the platform. In early June, advocacy groups decided to speak now instead of forever holding their peace, launching a campaign to stop Musk from going through with the purchase, which they said would allow him to "hand a megaphone to demagogues and extremists." Musk meanwhile accused Twitter of failing to provide data on fake accounts, and threatened to 'breakup'.

On June 16, however, he offered signs that the match was still a go, pitching a vision to the Twitter staff of a one-billion-user platform. But he was hazy on issues such as potential layoffs and free speech limits. It all came crashing down on July 8, when Musk called off the 'wedding' and accused Twitter of making "misleading" statements about the number of fake accounts. The breakup between the billionaire and the social media platform is set to be far from friendly. Twitter's chairman tweeted that the company will pursue legal action to enforce the deal, setting up a pricey showdown as the divorce heads to court, as reported by AFP.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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Elon Musk's pursuit of Twitter was a melodrama from beginning to end, a volatile courtship between a mercurial billionaire and the massively influential social media platform.

Elon Musk's pursuit of Twitter was a melodrama from beginning to end, a volatile courtship between a mercurial billionaire and the massively influential social media platform. That relationship, an apparent love-hate affair from Musk's side, now seems set to end in an acrimonious divorce, as reported by AFP. The courtship began with an expensive first date: Musk -- a longtime Twitter user known for inflammatory tweets -- snapped up 73.5 million shares at the cost of nearly $2.9 billion. The purchase, which was revealed in an April 4 regulatory filing and gave him a 9.2 per cent stake in the company, sent Twitter shares soaring and sparked speculation that Musk was seeking an active role in the social media company's operations. It also earned him a seat on the board. CEO Parag Agrawal announced the offer -- in a tweet, of course -- and called Musk "a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need." But the honeymoon didn't last long, Agrawal said on April 10 that Musk had decided against joining the board, a move the Twitter CEO believed was "for the best." Rather than amicably parting ways, Musk launched a hostile takeover bid for the company, offering $54.20 a share, an April 13 filing showed. After saying it would "carefully review" the offer, Twitter adopted a "poison pill" defence, announcing a plan that would allow shareholders to purchase additional stock. Then came the plans for a walk down the corporate aisle, the big day of 'engagement', Twitter reversed course and said on April 25 that it was selling to Musk in a deal valued at $44 billion. But weddings can be expensive, so Musk took action to cover the cost, parting with $8.4 billion in shares in electric carmaker Tesla. He pledged up to $21 billion from his personal fortune, with the rest financed by debt. Musk was already planning his new life with Twitter, saying a few days later that he would lift the ban on Donald Trump, which was handed down after the January 2021 riot at the US Capitol by the then President's supporters. Also Read: Elon Musk withdraws $44 billion bid to buy Twitter over ‘misleading representations’ But Musk soon began showing signs of cold feet, saying on May 13 that the deal to buy Twitter was "temporarily on hold" pending details on spam and fake accounts on the platform. In early June, advocacy groups decided to speak now instead of forever holding their peace, launching a campaign to stop Musk from going through with the purchase, which they said would allow him to "hand a megaphone to demagogues and extremists." Musk meanwhile accused Twitter of failing to provide data on fake accounts, and threatened to 'breakup'. On June 16, however, he offered signs that the match was still a go, pitching a vision to the Twitter staff of a one-billion-user platform. But he was hazy on issues such as potential layoffs and free speech limits. It all came crashing down on July 8, when Musk called off the 'wedding' and accused Twitter of making "misleading" statements about the number of fake accounts. The breakup between the billionaire and the social media platform is set to be far from friendly. Twitter's chairman tweeted that the company will pursue legal action to enforce the deal, setting up a pricey showdown as the divorce heads to court, as reported by AFP. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

From volatile courtship to messy divorce: Elon Musk's love-hate affair with Twitter

The pictures of Akshata Murty serving tea to journalists and photographers waiting outside her residence have been picked up by Twitter users and it has gone viral as the pictures came soon after Rishi Sunak launched his bid to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following Boris Johnson's resignation. The viral photos of Murty serving tea and biscuit to the journalists and photographers outside their family home in London are from a few days ago. Reportedly, Sunak did not come out of the residence.

Josh Gafson from Sky News shared the photos of Murty bringing them tea. “Big thanks to @RishiSunak’s wife who very kindly brought us tea and biscuits outside his house! P.S. It was very good tea," he wrote on Twitter. Some others also tweeted out photos and videos. However, not everyone saw the gesture kindly. Some Twitter users claimed that the teacups were from a brand called Emma Lacy and cost 38 pounds each.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-uk-pms-resignation-fevicol-tweets-about-kohinoor-heres-what-it-said-495752">On UK PM's resignation, Fevicol tweets about Kohinoor, here's what it said</a>

"Tone deaf!! The price of that mug could feed a family for 2 days!!" a social media user commented in criticism of Rishi Sunak's move to raise taxes during the pandemic.

Akshata Murty too had her own share of controversies after it was revealed that Akshata, who is believed to be richer than the Queen, had a non-domicile status and did not pay taxes to the UK government on her income outside Britain. After the controversy, Akshata, daughter of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy and author Sudha Murthy, issued a statement clarifying that she would not avail of the non-domicile status and would start paying taxes.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The pictures of Akshata Murty serving tea to journalists and photographers waiting outside her residence have been picked up by Twitter users and it has gone viral as the pictures came soon after Rishi Sunak launched his bid to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following Boris Johnson's resignation.

The pictures of Akshata Murty serving tea to journalists and photographers waiting outside her residence have been picked up by Twitter users and it has gone viral as the pictures came soon after Rishi Sunak launched his bid to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following Boris Johnson's resignation. The viral photos of Murty serving tea and biscuit to the journalists and photographers outside their family home in London are from a few days ago. Reportedly, Sunak did not come out of the residence. Josh Gafson from Sky News shared the photos of Murty bringing them tea. “Big thanks to @RishiSunak’s wife who very kindly brought us tea and biscuits outside his house! P.S. It was very good tea," he wrote on Twitter. Some others also tweeted out photos and videos. However, not everyone saw the gesture kindly. Some Twitter users claimed that the teacups were from a brand called Emma Lacy and cost 38 pounds each. Also Read: On UK PM's resignation, Fevicol tweets about Kohinoor, here's what it said "Tone deaf!! The price of that mug could feed a family for 2 days!!" a social media user commented in criticism of Rishi Sunak's move to raise taxes during the pandemic. Akshata Murty too had her own share of controversies after it was revealed that Akshata, who is believed to be richer than the Queen, had a non-domicile status and did not pay taxes to the UK government on her income outside Britain. After the controversy, Akshata, daughter of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy and author Sudha Murthy, issued a statement clarifying that she would not avail of the non-domicile status and would start paying taxes. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why is Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy being criticised for serving tea to journalists?

A billboard saying "Alaska is Ours" has been spotted in Russia's Krasnoyarsk, a day after a key ally of President Putin said that the country could reclaim Alaska sold to the United States in 1867.&nbsp;

According to a report in Newsweek, the residents of Krasnoyarsk were surprised after spotting the billboards across the city on Thursday. But they do not appear to have been placed by the Russian government.

Dr Ian Garner, a Russian media watcher, tweets, “Alaska is Ours! As spotted in Krasnoyarsk. They’ve gone totally mad."

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“Alaska is Ours!” As spotted in Krasnoyarsk. They’ve gone totally mad. <a href="https://t.co/JoHCs5qZOO">pic.twitter.com/JoHCs5qZOO</a>
— Dr. Ian Garner (@irgarner) <a href="https://twitter.com/irgarner/status/1545035997473300480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Alaska was once part of Russia. On March 30, 1867, the United States reached an agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million, according to the US Library of Congress.

The threatening billboards appear just a day after Mr Putin's ally and speaker of Russia's lower house of Parliament Duma Vyacheslav Volodin suggested that Moscow could "take back" Alaska in retaliation for economic sanctions imposed by the West following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Volodin and another top Russian official reportedly warned that sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. and other Western countries over the Ukraine war could lead to direct military conflicts including a potential invasion of Alaska.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken would not meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of G20. Blinken last saw Lavrov in January in Geneva, where the top US diplomat warned Russia of massive consequences if it went ahead and invaded Ukraine.

Walking a tight rope as G20 host, Indonesia has not rescinded invitations to Russia, with President Vladimir Putin saying he will attend the summit in November -- but it has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

(with inputs from agencies)

A billboard saying "Alaska is Ours" has been spotted in Russia's Krasnoyarsk, a day after a key ally of President Putin said that the country could reclaim Alaska sold to the United States in 1867.

A billboard saying "Alaska is Ours" has been spotted in Russia's Krasnoyarsk, a day after a key ally of President Putin said that the country could reclaim Alaska sold to the United States in 1867. According to a report in Newsweek, the residents of Krasnoyarsk were surprised after spotting the billboards across the city on Thursday. But they do not appear to have been placed by the Russian government. Dr Ian Garner, a Russian media watcher, tweets, “Alaska is Ours! As spotted in Krasnoyarsk. They’ve gone totally mad." “Alaska is Ours!” As spotted in Krasnoyarsk. They’ve gone totally mad. pic.twitter.com/JoHCs5qZOO — Dr. Ian Garner (@irgarner) July 7, 2022 × Alaska was once part of Russia. On March 30, 1867, the United States reached an agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million, according to the US Library of Congress. The threatening billboards appear just a day after Mr Putin's ally and speaker of Russia's lower house of Parliament Duma Vyacheslav Volodin suggested that Moscow could "take back" Alaska in retaliation for economic sanctions imposed by the West following the country's invasion of Ukraine. On Wednesday, Volodin and another top Russian official reportedly warned that sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. and other Western countries over the Ukraine war could lead to direct military conflicts including a potential invasion of Alaska. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken would not meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of G20. Blinken last saw Lavrov in January in Geneva, where the top US diplomat warned Russia of massive consequences if it went ahead and invaded Ukraine. Walking a tight rope as G20 host, Indonesia has not rescinded invitations to Russia, with President Vladimir Putin saying he will attend the summit in November -- but it has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (with inputs from agencies)

'Alaska is Ours' billboard spotted in Russia, here's what netizens had to say

Cooper Roberts, an 8-year-old boy suffered a severed spinal cord from a gunshot wound to his chest in the July Fourth attack on a Chicago-area parade that left seven dead, a family spokesman said on Thursday, with his twin brother and mother also wounded. He was one of the most gravely wounded among dozens of people who survived gunshots and other injuries in the Highland Park Independence Day assault, underscoring the physical and emotional devastation that goes beyond the lives lost in such violence, as reported by Reuters.

He was listed on Thursday in critical but stable condition while still breathing on a ventilator, a family spokesman said. It wasn't immediately clear how many of at least 46 people sent to hospitals after the attack have since been released. Cooper's twin brother, Luke, was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds in his lower body but discharged after doctors removed some of the debris. The boys' mother, Keely Roberts, suffered gunshot wounds to her legs and feet, the spokesman, Anthony Loizzi, told reporters on a Zoom call.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-why-does-this-chinese-ice-cream-not-melt-even-when-kept-on-fire-495802">Watch: Chinese company under fire for ice cream that doesn't melt</a>

The twins attended the parade with both parents, with the father, Jason Roberts, unhurt. Due to the severity of his spinal cord injury, doctors are unsure whether Cooper will ever walk again, according to Loizzi, a colleague of the mother, who is superintendent of a Lake County elementary school district. Cooper, a normally "very active" child with a passion for baseball and other sports, has remained unconscious and under sedation, since he was airlifted to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Loizzi said.

The mother, who underwent at least two surgeries herself, was so distraught at Cooper's condition that she insisted on being released on Wednesday, sooner than doctors felt was best until her bleeding was under greater control, in order to be with her son at the children's hospital, Loizzi said. The boy has undergone several operations, including one on Wednesday night in which surgeons "finally closed his belly," the spokesman said.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Cooper Roberts, an 8-year-old boy suffered a severed spinal cord from a gunshot wound to his chest in the July Fourth attack on a Chicago-area parade that left seven dead, a family spokesman said on Thursday, with his twin brother and mother also wounded.

Cooper Roberts, an 8-year-old boy suffered a severed spinal cord from a gunshot wound to his chest in the July Fourth attack on a Chicago-area parade that left seven dead, a family spokesman said on Thursday, with his twin brother and mother also wounded. He was one of the most gravely wounded among dozens of people who survived gunshots and other injuries in the Highland Park Independence Day assault, underscoring the physical and emotional devastation that goes beyond the lives lost in such violence, as reported by Reuters. He was listed on Thursday in critical but stable condition while still breathing on a ventilator, a family spokesman said. It wasn't immediately clear how many of at least 46 people sent to hospitals after the attack have since been released. Cooper's twin brother, Luke, was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds in his lower body but discharged after doctors removed some of the debris. The boys' mother, Keely Roberts, suffered gunshot wounds to her legs and feet, the spokesman, Anthony Loizzi, told reporters on a Zoom call. Also Read: Watch: Chinese company under fire for ice cream that doesn't melt The twins attended the parade with both parents, with the father, Jason Roberts, unhurt. Due to the severity of his spinal cord injury, doctors are unsure whether Cooper will ever walk again, according to Loizzi, a colleague of the mother, who is superintendent of a Lake County elementary school district. Cooper, a normally "very active" child with a passion for baseball and other sports, has remained unconscious and under sedation, since he was airlifted to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Loizzi said. The mother, who underwent at least two surgeries herself, was so distraught at Cooper's condition that she insisted on being released on Wednesday, sooner than doctors felt was best until her bleeding was under greater control, in order to be with her son at the children's hospital, Loizzi said. The boy has undergone several operations, including one on Wednesday night in which surgeons "finally closed his belly," the spokesman said. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

8-year-old boy left with severed spinal cord in Highland Park parade shooting is stable now

Archaeologists in Spain said on Friday they had found an ancient jawbone which could help them look into the face of some of the earliest human ancestors in Europe. The surprise find, which could be about 1.4 million years old, could also give vital clues to the evolution of the human face over the millennia, the team from the Atapuerca Foundation said, as reported by Reuters.

"The first week of July 2022 will enter the history of human evolution," the team added in a statement.

The fossilised fragment of an upper jaw and cheekbone was found near caves in the Atapuerca Mountains in northern Spain's Burgos province, the site of other ancient remains. The scientists said they were still working on identifying the specific kind of human ancestor and determining the bone's age.

José María Bermúdez de Castro, one of the team's coordinators, said, "What we can say is that we have found a fossil that's very important and interesting that belongs to one of the first populations that arrived in Europe, maybe later we will find older ones, but at this moment it is a sample of a representative of one of the oldest populations that colonised the European continent."

"We have to continue our research for about at least a year, it's a long time, and this is logical because this takes lots of time, and we will be able to tell whether we are before a representative of homo antecessor, or homo erectus, or something else that we do not know," Maria added.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Archaeologists in Spain said on Friday they had found an ancient jawbone which could help them look into the face of some of the earliest human ancestors in Europe.

Archaeologists in Spain said on Friday they had found an ancient jawbone which could help them look into the face of some of the earliest human ancestors in Europe. The surprise find, which could be about 1.4 million years old, could also give vital clues to the evolution of the human face over the millennia, the team from the Atapuerca Foundation said, as reported by Reuters. "The first week of July 2022 will enter the history of human evolution," the team added in a statement. The fossilised fragment of an upper jaw and cheekbone was found near caves in the Atapuerca Mountains in northern Spain's Burgos province, the site of other ancient remains. The scientists said they were still working on identifying the specific kind of human ancestor and determining the bone's age. José María Bermúdez de Castro, one of the team's coordinators, said, "What we can say is that we have found a fossil that's very important and interesting that belongs to one of the first populations that arrived in Europe, maybe later we will find older ones, but at this moment it is a sample of a representative of one of the oldest populations that colonised the European continent." "We have to continue our research for about at least a year, it's a long time, and this is logical because this takes lots of time, and we will be able to tell whether we are before a representative of homo antecessor, or homo erectus, or something else that we do not know," Maria added. (with inputs from agencies)

Oldest human fossil found, could hold clues about Europe's earliest human ancestors

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