At least one person was killed and eight injured when a car drove into a group of people in central Berlin on Wednesday (June 8), the fire service said. According to a police spokesman Thilo Cablitz, the driver was detained by the passers-by for some time and was later handed to the police.&nbsp;

As quoted by Reuters, police said: "A man is believed to have driven into a group of people. It is not yet known whether it was an accident or a deliberate act." Meanwhile, authorities are probing the incident.&nbsp;

A police spokeswoman said the driver was detained at the scene after the car ploughed into a shop front along busy shopping street Tauentzienstrasse.&nbsp;

Berlin Police has told Sky News that the driver of the car is a 29-year-old German-Armenian man with dual citizenship.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spanish-parliament-votes-in-favour-of-legislation-abolishing-prostitution-486234">Spanish Parliament votes in favour of legislation abolishing prostitution</a>

The incident took place on Rankestrasse near the main shopping district's Breitscheidplatz. It is the scene of the 2016 Christmas market attack in which 11 people were killed.&nbsp;

News agencies reported that a small, silver-coloured Renault car smashed through a plate glass window and lodged inside a shop.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-carries-out-mass-execution-of-12-ethnic-baluch-minorities-in-a-day-report-486145">Iran carries out mass execution of 12 ethnic Baluch minorities in a day: Report</a>

As per AFP, the car with a Berlin licence plate first drove into a crowd at the corner of Tauentzienstrasse and Rankestrasse. It returned to the road and rammed into the shop front on Marburgerstrasse.&nbsp;

Around 130 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene, where several people were seriously injured and some were airlifted by helicopter for treatment.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

At least one person was killed and eight injured when a car drove into a group of people in central Berlin on Wednesday (June 8), the fire service said. According to a police spokesman Thilo Cablitz, the driver was detained by the passers-by for some time and was later handed to the police.

At least one person was killed and eight injured when a car drove into a group of people in central Berlin on Wednesday (June 8), the fire service said. According to a police spokesman Thilo Cablitz, the driver was detained by the passers-by for some time and was later handed to the police. As quoted by Reuters, police said: "A man is believed to have driven into a group of people. It is not yet known whether it was an accident or a deliberate act." Meanwhile, authorities are probing the incident. A police spokeswoman said the driver was detained at the scene after the car ploughed into a shop front along busy shopping street Tauentzienstrasse. Berlin Police has told Sky News that the driver of the car is a 29-year-old German-Armenian man with dual citizenship. ALSO READ | Spanish Parliament votes in favour of legislation abolishing prostitution The incident took place on Rankestrasse near the main shopping district's Breitscheidplatz. It is the scene of the 2016 Christmas market attack in which 11 people were killed. News agencies reported that a small, silver-coloured Renault car smashed through a plate glass window and lodged inside a shop. ALSO READ | Iran carries out mass execution of 12 ethnic Baluch minorities in a day: Report As per AFP, the car with a Berlin licence plate first drove into a crowd at the corner of Tauentzienstrasse and Rankestrasse. It returned to the road and rammed into the shop front on Marburgerstrasse. Around 130 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene, where several people were seriously injured and some were airlifted by helicopter for treatment. 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.

Germany: One dead, eight injured as car drives into a crowd in Berlin

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday (June 8) backed Russia's calls to lift sanctions on the country which were imposed on Moscow by the Western countries in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war. Just like Ukraine, Russia is also a major wheat supplier. However, the exports have been hit by the sanctions, causing an impact on the global supply chain, and threatening a global food crisis. Sanctions have also impeded the export of Russian grain and fertiliser. ALSO READ | China to offer $15,000 to citizens for national security breach tip-offs Russia has demanded the removal of sanctions in return for unblocking Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Responding to that, Cavusoglu called the demands for an end to sanctions to help grain onto the world market "legitimate". "If we need to open up the international market to Ukrainian grain, we see the removal of obstacles standing in the way of Russia's exports as a legitimate demand," he said. WATCH | After Russia-Syria air strike simulation drills, Turkey gears up for offensive × ALSO READ | Iran turns off two surveillance cameras belonging to UN nuclear watchdog: Report While speaking during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Cavusoglu further said: "Various ideas have been put out for the export of Ukrainian grains to the market and most recently is the UN plan (including) a mechanism that can be created between the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. We see it as reasonable," he added. "Of course both Ukraine and Russia must accept it." Lavrov said that Moscow was ready to ensure the safe passage of vessels from Ukraine. "We are ready to ensure the safety of ships that leave Ukrainian ports. We are ready to do this in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues," Lavrov during the presser. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio warns that "millions" of people could die of hunger unless Russia unblocks exports of Ukrainian grain to ease global shortages. "I want to say clearly, we expect clear and concrete signals from Russia, because blocking grain exports means holding hostage and condemning to death millions of children, women and men," he says after a virtual meeting with Turkey and Lebanon among other countries, alongside G7 president Germany and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. 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.

Ukraine war: Turkiye backs Russian demand for grain exports

The Pakistani rupee on Tuesday surpassed all prior records against the US dollar after shedding sheds Rs 2.77, or 1.37 per cent, against the US dollar in the interbank market.

It plummeted to an all-time low of 202.83 against the US dollar in the interbank market as demand increased due to oil-related payments and ambiguity regarding the revival of the multibillion, reported Geo News.

According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency surpassed its previous record low of Rs 202 recorded on May 26.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/right-to-inheritance-and-property-far-cry-for-women-in-pakistan-486100">Right to inheritance and property 'far cry' for women in Pakistan</a>

Moreover, for the first time in its history, the local currency made a historical drop of Rs 4.00 in a single day and surpassed Rs 204 threshold against the greenback in the interbank market during the intraday trade, reported Geo News.

Moreover, during the day the currency faced renewed pressure after foreign currency inflows from overseas Pakistanis through their Roshan Digital Account (RDA) dived to a 15-month low at USD 189 million in May 2022.

The market reversed the free fall and closed the day with a loss of nearly Rs 3.

This was the third consecutive workday free-fall of the rupee.In the open market, the rupee closed at a historic low of 204 against the greenback, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan.

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan: Govt announces cost-cutting measures, launches austerity drive

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-govt-announces-cost-cutting-measures-launches-austerity-drive-486177/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Speaking to Geo News, Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Tahir Abbas said the currency is under pressure due to pending oil payments and rising oil prices in the international market.

"The plunge came on the back of a mammoth import bill and widened the current account deficit," the analyst said.

Abbas added that the market is keeping a close eye on the developments regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which is expected to be revived after the announcement of the budget as the government is taking all possible steps to meet the conditions laid forth by the Fund.

The recent bearish spell began after the government hiked the price of petroleum products by a major Rs 60 per litre as a result of removing subsidies -- one of the main demands of the money lender.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-needs-usd-41-billion-in-next-12-months-says-finance-minister-486098">Pakistan needs USD 41 billion in next 12 months, says finance minister</a>

Traders believe caution can be expected this week ahead of the unveiling of the federal budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 scheduled to be announced on June 10 (Friday), with investors expecting IMF conditions of fiscal consolidation to dominate.

Renewed pressure on the rupee on an increase in fiscal-year-end dollar demand from importers and the corporate sector will keep the local currency under pressure.

Since the beginning of this fiscal year (July 1, 2021) to date, the rupee has collectively dropped by a massive 30.65 per cent (or Rs 48.29) compared to the previous fiscal year`s close at Rs 157.54.

The rupee has maintained a downward trend for the last 13 months. It has lost 33.20 per cent (or Rs 50.56) to date, compared to the record high of Rs 152.27 recorded in May 2021.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

The Pakistani rupee on Tuesday surpassed all prior records against the US dollar after shedding sheds Rs 2.77, or 1.37 per cent, against the US dollar in the interbank market.

The Pakistani rupee on Tuesday surpassed all prior records against the US dollar after shedding sheds Rs 2.77, or 1.37 per cent, against the US dollar in the interbank market. It plummeted to an all-time low of 202.83 against the US dollar in the interbank market as demand increased due to oil-related payments and ambiguity regarding the revival of the multibillion, reported Geo News. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency surpassed its previous record low of Rs 202 recorded on May 26. Also read | Right to inheritance and property 'far cry' for women in Pakistan Moreover, for the first time in its history, the local currency made a historical drop of Rs 4.00 in a single day and surpassed Rs 204 threshold against the greenback in the interbank market during the intraday trade, reported Geo News. Moreover, during the day the currency faced renewed pressure after foreign currency inflows from overseas Pakistanis through their Roshan Digital Account (RDA) dived to a 15-month low at USD 189 million in May 2022. The market reversed the free fall and closed the day with a loss of nearly Rs 3. This was the third consecutive workday free-fall of the rupee.In the open market, the rupee closed at a historic low of 204 against the greenback, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan. Watch | Pakistan: Govt announces cost-cutting measures, launches austerity drive Speaking to Geo News, Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Tahir Abbas said the currency is under pressure due to pending oil payments and rising oil prices in the international market. "The plunge came on the back of a mammoth import bill and widened the current account deficit," the analyst said. Abbas added that the market is keeping a close eye on the developments regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which is expected to be revived after the announcement of the budget as the government is taking all possible steps to meet the conditions laid forth by the Fund. The recent bearish spell began after the government hiked the price of petroleum products by a major Rs 60 per litre as a result of removing subsidies -- one of the main demands of the money lender. Also read | Pakistan needs USD 41 billion in next 12 months, says finance minister Traders believe caution can be expected this week ahead of the unveiling of the federal budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 scheduled to be announced on June 10 (Friday), with investors expecting IMF conditions of fiscal consolidation to dominate. Renewed pressure on the rupee on an increase in fiscal-year-end dollar demand from importers and the corporate sector will keep the local currency under pressure. Since the beginning of this fiscal year (July 1, 2021) to date, the rupee has collectively dropped by a massive 30.65 per cent (or Rs 48.29) compared to the previous fiscal year`s close at Rs 157.54. The rupee has maintained a downward trend for the last 13 months. It has lost 33.20 per cent (or Rs 50.56) to date, compared to the record high of Rs 152.27 recorded in May 2021. 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.

Pakistani rupee nosedives to all-time low of 202.83 against US dollar

It was the moment when two brothers who had dominated&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's politics for nearly 20 years finally went their separate ways.

On May 9, when a crowd of ruling party supporters marched towards activists protesting against a crippling economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered police to stop the pro-government mob, fearing violence.

"He was screaming at the police to disperse the crowd," said former media minister Nalaka Godahewa, who said he was with the president at the time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/as-finland-applies-for-nato-membership-finnish-women-sign-up-for-military-training-485887">Pulling Sri Lanka back from Bankruptcy: Sri Lanka needs $6 billion to keep afloat</a>

Despite the president's order, the demonstrations against inflation, power blackouts and shortages of essentials turned deadly. Nine people were killed, hundreds were injured and the property of Rajapaksa loyalists was attacked.

The violence marked a pivotal point in the crisis. Gotabaya's older brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had addressed the government supporters earlier in the day. He was sitting down for lunch when he was shown a video of the violence by an aide, according to a source with direct knowledge of events at the prime minister's house in the commercial capital Colombo.

"He knew what he would do next," said the source.

The 76-year-old, one of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's most popular politicians in his heyday, finished his meal and had a nap, the source said. At 5.02 pm, he announced his resignation as prime minister, making public a rift in&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's ruling dynasty.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid retribution, said the president had already been pushing the prime minister to resign since early April as a concession to protesters demanding the ouster of both men because of their response to the economic crisis enveloping the island.

"GR told MR to go", said another source close to the family, who also requested anonymity, referring to the president and the prime minister by their initials.

Neither Mahinda Rajapaksa nor the president responded to requests for comment for this story. They have not publicly said anything about their differences.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gotabaya says can't go as a failed president amid the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gotabaya-says-cant-go-as-a-failed-president-amid-the-ongoing-economic-crisis-in-sri-lanka-485805/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After he quit, Mahinda went into hiding at a naval base and stayed under protection of the armed forces for several days because of the wrath of the protesters. Gotabaya, 72, continues as president, deeply unpopular with many&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankans, while political leaders discuss a move to clip the executive powers of his office.

But the Rajapaksas are not done yet.

EVIDENCE OF REFORMS

The new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is heavily dependent in parliament on the ruling&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party to pass an interim budget within weeks that will outline measures to mend public finances. He has also proposed reforms to curb the president's powers and strengthen parliament in response to demands from protesters.

The International Monetary Fund wants evidence of reforms before agreeing to a bailout, for which negotiations are ongoing.&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;also needs an agreement with bondholders and bilateral creditors to restructure its debt, and regain access to global financial markets.

Wickremesinghe belongs to a party that controls just one seat in parliament, while the SLPP and its coalition partners have a comfortable majority in the 225-seat legislature.

Events in&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;are being closely watched in neighbouring India, South Asia's regional heavyweight, and China, which has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in the past decade as part of its Belt and Road Initiative linking it to the rest of the world.

Political scientist Jayadeva Uyangoda said Wickremesinghe faced a balancing act to meet the demands of the protesters and&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's international creditors, while placating the ruling party with an agenda that Basil would accept.

"What Basil Rajapaksa wants will be what parliament approves," Uyangoda said.

Basil, who has not spoken publicly since he resigned in early April along with the rest of the cabinet, did not respond to requests for comment.

BROTHERS UNITED

Among the nine Rajapaksa siblings, Mahinda, Gotabaya and Basil were once a tight-knit political unit.

Mahinda, a lawyer by training, became&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's youngest ever legislator when he entered parliament in 1970. By 2004, using a combination of political charisma and guile, he rose to become prime minister. The next year, he was voted president.

The brother's popularity soared after Mahinda and Gotabaya, a retired infantry officer who was appointed defence secretary, crushed a decades-long Tamil insurgency in the north and east of the country in a brutal government offensive in 2009.

Mahinda won a landslide re-election in 2010, promising to heal the country's deep divisions. He also drew&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;closer to China, inviting heavy investment like the 1.4 billion dollar&nbsp;Hambantota port that irked India, which feared losing influence over its southern neighbour.

Then, in 2015, a shock defeat for Mahinda in presidential elections threw the Rajapaksas into disarray.

Basil, a US-Sri&nbsp;Lankan dual citizen who served as a long-time adviser to Mahinda while he was president, was instrumental in reshaping a minor political party into the SLPP in 2016, making it the dominant player in&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankan politics.

In 2019, coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants that killed more than 250 people presented the Rajapaksas with an opening to return to power.

With Basil unwilling to renounce his US&nbsp;citizenship and Mahinda barred from standing due to term limits, Gotabaya ran for the presidency and won by a landslide.

Mahinda was named prime minister soon after and Basil became finance minister in 2021, but things had started unravelling.

DEBATABLE POLICIES, THEN PANDEMIC

The start of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's slide into economic chaos can be traced to 2019, when the Rajapaksas implemented populist tax cuts shortly after returning to power, shrugging off criticism from some advisers.

Godahewa, the former minister, said he advised Gotabaya that the cuts would be a "disaster" because of the already precarious state of public finances, but was overruled.

Government officials have previously said that the tax cuts were aimed at resuscitating the economy by putting more money in the hands of people.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, decimating tourism and with it a critical source of foreign exchange. Foreign worker's&nbsp;remittances also dropped.

&nbsp;A manifesto pledge to turn to organic farming and phase out the use of chemical fertilizers over the next decade was implemented abruptly in May 2021 by the president, throwing the country's farming sector into turmoil and leading to food shortages as crop yields fell.

By then, relations between Mahinda and Gotabaya had deteriorated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-21st-amendment-to-constitution-to-be-submitted-to-cabinet-for-approval-on-monday-485240">Sri Lanka's 21st Amendment to Constitution to be submitted to cabinet for approval on Monday</a>

The two brothers differed over the president's fertilizer ban, but a move by the prime minister in 2021 to reverse the decision was blocked by Gotabaya's staff, according to the source at the prime minister's residence.

No such differences between the two have previously been reported.

SPENDING BORROWED CASH

Even when the country's massive debt problems became apparent, the Rajapaksas dragged their feet about going to the IMF to seek financial aid. A government official said early this year that Basil, then finance minister, wanted the local economy to shake off the effects of the pandemic before going to the IMF.

Shortly after being appointed energy minister in August 2020, former Rajapaksa coalition partner Udaya Gammanpila began poring over the accounts of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the country's biggest public corporation in terms of turnover, and said he was appalled by what he saw.

CPC was selling petroleum products at a huge discount to consumers, and had run up a bill of some 4 dollars billion with suppliers, despite not having adequate income to repay them.

In October 2020, he said he warned a cabinet meeting the country was heading towards a foreign currency crisis and suggested restricting non-essential imports and an immediate free-float of the rupee to avoid a currency black market.

"We can manage the situation," Gammanpila quoted Mahinda as saying. Gotabaya rarely asserted himself during cabinet meetings, according to Gammanpila and Godahewa.

Last month, the government said its foreign reserves had dwindled to almost zero.

But Gammanpila said his chief opponent was Basil.

The two men clashed frequently, with arguments descending into shouting during at least five cabinet meetings, according to Gammanpila.

His description of arguments over economic policy was corroborated by the source close to the family, who said Basil felt he knew what he was doing and shouted down objections.

"Other countries spent what they earned," Gammanpila said. "We spent what we borrowed. That was the difference."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

It was the moment when two brothers who had dominated Sri Lanka's politics for nearly 20 years finally went their separate ways. On May 9, when a crowd of ruling party supporters marched towards activists protesting against a crippling economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered police to stop the pro-government mob, fearing violence.

It was the moment when two brothers who had dominated Sri Lanka's politics for nearly 20 years finally went their separate ways. On May 9, when a crowd of ruling party supporters marched towards activists protesting against a crippling economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered police to stop the pro-government mob, fearing violence. "He was screaming at the police to disperse the crowd," said former media minister Nalaka Godahewa, who said he was with the president at the time. Also read | Pulling Sri Lanka back from Bankruptcy: Sri Lanka needs $6 billion to keep afloat Despite the president's order, the demonstrations against inflation, power blackouts and shortages of essentials turned deadly. Nine people were killed, hundreds were injured and the property of Rajapaksa loyalists was attacked. The violence marked a pivotal point in the crisis. Gotabaya's older brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had addressed the government supporters earlier in the day. He was sitting down for lunch when he was shown a video of the violence by an aide, according to a source with direct knowledge of events at the prime minister's house in the commercial capital Colombo. "He knew what he would do next," said the source. The 76-year-old, one of Sri Lanka's most popular politicians in his heyday, finished his meal and had a nap, the source said. At 5.02 pm, he announced his resignation as prime minister, making public a rift in Sri Lanka's ruling dynasty. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid retribution, said the president had already been pushing the prime minister to resign since early April as a concession to protesters demanding the ouster of both men because of their response to the economic crisis enveloping the island. "GR told MR to go", said another source close to the family, who also requested anonymity, referring to the president and the prime minister by their initials. Neither Mahinda Rajapaksa nor the president responded to requests for comment for this story. They have not publicly said anything about their differences. Watch | Gotabaya says can't go as a failed president amid the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka After he quit, Mahinda went into hiding at a naval base and stayed under protection of the armed forces for several days because of the wrath of the protesters. Gotabaya, 72, continues as president, deeply unpopular with many Sri Lankans, while political leaders discuss a move to clip the executive powers of his office. But the Rajapaksas are not done yet. EVIDENCE OF REFORMS The new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is heavily dependent in parliament on the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party to pass an interim budget within weeks that will outline measures to mend public finances. He has also proposed reforms to curb the president's powers and strengthen parliament in response to demands from protesters. The International Monetary Fund wants evidence of reforms before agreeing to a bailout, for which negotiations are ongoing. Sri Lanka also needs an agreement with bondholders and bilateral creditors to restructure its debt, and regain access to global financial markets. Wickremesinghe belongs to a party that controls just one seat in parliament, while the SLPP and its coalition partners have a comfortable majority in the 225-seat legislature. Events in Sri Lanka are being closely watched in neighbouring India, South Asia's regional heavyweight, and China, which has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in the past decade as part of its Belt and Road Initiative linking it to the rest of the world. Political scientist Jayadeva Uyangoda said Wickremesinghe faced a balancing act to meet the demands of the protesters and Sri Lanka's international creditors, while placating the ruling party with an agenda that Basil would accept. "What Basil Rajapaksa wants will be what parliament approves," Uyangoda said. Basil, who has not spoken publicly since he resigned in early April along with the rest of the cabinet, did not respond to requests for comment. BROTHERS UNITED Among the nine Rajapaksa siblings, Mahinda, Gotabaya and Basil were once a tight-knit political unit. Mahinda, a lawyer by training, became Sri Lanka's youngest ever legislator when he entered parliament in 1970. By 2004, using a combination of political charisma and guile, he rose to become prime minister. The next year, he was voted president. The brother's popularity soared after Mahinda and Gotabaya, a retired infantry officer who was appointed defence secretary, crushed a decades-long Tamil insurgency in the north and east of the country in a brutal government offensive in 2009. Mahinda won a landslide re-election in 2010, promising to heal the country's deep divisions. He also drew Sri Lanka closer to China, inviting heavy investment like the 1.4 billion dollar Hambantota port that irked India, which feared losing influence over its southern neighbour. Then, in 2015, a shock defeat for Mahinda in presidential elections threw the Rajapaksas into disarray. Basil, a US-Sri Lankan dual citizen who served as a long-time adviser to Mahinda while he was president, was instrumental in reshaping a minor political party into the SLPP in 2016, making it the dominant player in Sri Lankan politics. In 2019, coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants that killed more than 250 people presented the Rajapaksas with an opening to return to power. With Basil unwilling to renounce his US citizenship and Mahinda barred from standing due to term limits, Gotabaya ran for the presidency and won by a landslide. Mahinda was named prime minister soon after and Basil became finance minister in 2021, but things had started unravelling. DEBATABLE POLICIES, THEN PANDEMIC The start of Sri Lanka's slide into economic chaos can be traced to 2019, when the Rajapaksas implemented populist tax cuts shortly after returning to power, shrugging off criticism from some advisers. Godahewa, the former minister, said he advised Gotabaya that the cuts would be a "disaster" because of the already precarious state of public finances, but was overruled. Government officials have previously said that the tax cuts were aimed at resuscitating the economy by putting more money in the hands of people. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, decimating tourism and with it a critical source of foreign exchange. Foreign worker's remittances also dropped. A manifesto pledge to turn to organic farming and phase out the use of chemical fertilizers over the next decade was implemented abruptly in May 2021 by the president, throwing the country's farming sector into turmoil and leading to food shortages as crop yields fell. By then, relations between Mahinda and Gotabaya had deteriorated. Also read | Sri Lanka's 21st Amendment to Constitution to be submitted to cabinet for approval on Monday The two brothers differed over the president's fertilizer ban, but a move by the prime minister in 2021 to reverse the decision was blocked by Gotabaya's staff, according to the source at the prime minister's residence. No such differences between the two have previously been reported. SPENDING BORROWED CASH Even when the country's massive debt problems became apparent, the Rajapaksas dragged their feet about going to the IMF to seek financial aid. A government official said early this year that Basil, then finance minister, wanted the local economy to shake off the effects of the pandemic before going to the IMF. Shortly after being appointed energy minister in August 2020, former Rajapaksa coalition partner Udaya Gammanpila began poring over the accounts of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the country's biggest public corporation in terms of turnover, and said he was appalled by what he saw. CPC was selling petroleum products at a huge discount to consumers, and had run up a bill of some 4 dollars billion with suppliers, despite not having adequate income to repay them. In October 2020, he said he warned a cabinet meeting the country was heading towards a foreign currency crisis and suggested restricting non-essential imports and an immediate free-float of the rupee to avoid a currency black market. "We can manage the situation," Gammanpila quoted Mahinda as saying. Gotabaya rarely asserted himself during cabinet meetings, according to Gammanpila and Godahewa. Last month, the government said its foreign reserves had dwindled to almost zero. But Gammanpila said his chief opponent was Basil. The two men clashed frequently, with arguments descending into shouting during at least five cabinet meetings, according to Gammanpila. His description of arguments over economic policy was corroborated by the source close to the family, who said Basil felt he knew what he was doing and shouted down objections. "Other countries spent what they earned," Gammanpila said. "We spent what we borrowed. That was the difference." 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.

Brothers at odds, but ruling family still holds key to Sri Lanka's future

Former German chancellor Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;on Tuesday defended her years-long policy of detente towards Moscow, saying she had "nothing to apologise for" even as the Ukraine war casts a pall on her legacy.

In her first major interview since stepping down six months ago,&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;insisted she had not been naive in her dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Diplomacy isn't wrong just because it hasn't worked," the 67-year-old said on stage in a Berlin theatre, in an interview broadcast on the Phoenix news channel.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-party-on-track-to-win-regional-elections-in-north-germany-477351">Merkel's party on track to win regional elections in North Germany</a>

She recalled her support for economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, and the German-French efforts to keep the Minsk peace process for Ukraine alive.&nbsp;

"I don't have to blame myself for not trying hard enough," the conservative ex-chancellor said.

"I don't see that I&nbsp;have to say 'that was wrong' and that's why I have nothing to apologise for."

The veteran leader, who frequently met with Putin during her 16 years in power and championed a commerce-driven, pragmatic approach towards Moscow, said the February 24 invasion of Ukraine had marked a "turning point".

'Wants to destroy Europe'

There was "no justification whatsoever" for the "brutal" and illegal war of aggression, she said, adding that Putin had made "a big mistake".

"He wants to destroy Europe," she warned. "It's very important for the European Union to stick together now."

But she batted away criticism that she had been wrong to block Ukraine from joining NATO in 2008, saying it was not ready then and she wanted to avoid "further escalation" with Putin, who was already seething about the military alliance's perceived eastward expansion.

She also insisted that the 2014-2015 Minsk peace pacts, which now lie in tatters, were at the time seen as the best bet to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers.

The peace process "brought some calm" that gave Ukraine an extra seven years to develop as a democracy and strengthen its military, she said, in a nod to Kyiv's much praised resistance against the invading Russian troops.

"The courage and passion with which they are fighting for their country is very impressive," Merkel said, adding she had "the highest respect" for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

But Merkel insisted there was no way to avoid dealing with Putin because Russia, like China, was too big to ignore.

"We have to find a way to co-exist despite all our differences," she said.

'Language of strength'&nbsp;

Confronted with criticism of the "change through trade" policy pushed by successive German governments, Merkel said she was never under the illusion that closer trade links would spur democratic reforms in Russia.

"I never thought Putin would change through trade," she said. But in the absence of a political rapprochement, "having some economic ties makes sense".

Germany became hugely reliant on Russian energy imports on Merkel's watch, and she long irked Western allies with her backing for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to double Russian gas deliveries to Germany.

The project was shelved by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February over Russia's aggression, and Europe's top economy is now joining EU partners in a race to wean itself off Russian oil, gas and coal.

In another major reversal, Scholz has pledged to invest 100 billion euros ($107 billion) in modernising Germany's military, seen as chronically underfunded during the Merkel era.

Scholz, a Social Democrat who served as finance minister in Merkel's last coalition government, has also vowed to spend more than two percent of annual gross domestic product on defence, surpassing NATO's target.

Merkel voiced support for her successor's decisions, saying strength was "the only language Putin understands".

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/angela-merkel-rejects-zelenskys-criticism-stands-by-her-decision-to-block-ukraine-from-nato-468690">&nbsp;Angela Merkel rejects Zelensky's criticism, stands by her decision to block Ukraine from NATO</a>

During the interview, Merkel -- who remains hugely popular in Germany -- also offered a rare glimpse into her private life since retiring, spending time on her own on the Baltic Sea coast, taking walks and catching up on her reading.

After 30 years in politics, Merkel said she was enjoying not having to rush from appointment to appointment.

"Personally, I'm doing well," she told the audience, even if she felt sombre about the war in Ukraine, "like so many people".&nbsp;

"I had imagined my time after leaving office a bit differently," Merkel said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday defended her years-long policy of detente towards Moscow, saying she had "nothing to apologise for" even as the Ukraine war casts a pall on her legacy.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday defended her years-long policy of detente towards Moscow, saying she had "nothing to apologise for" even as the Ukraine war casts a pall on her legacy. In her first major interview since stepping down six months ago, Merkel insisted she had not been naive in her dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Diplomacy isn't wrong just because it hasn't worked," the 67-year-old said on stage in a Berlin theatre, in an interview broadcast on the Phoenix news channel. Also read | Merkel's party on track to win regional elections in North Germany She recalled her support for economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, and the German-French efforts to keep the Minsk peace process for Ukraine alive. "I don't have to blame myself for not trying hard enough," the conservative ex-chancellor said. "I don't see that I have to say 'that was wrong' and that's why I have nothing to apologise for." The veteran leader, who frequently met with Putin during her 16 years in power and championed a commerce-driven, pragmatic approach towards Moscow, said the February 24 invasion of Ukraine had marked a "turning point". 'Wants to destroy Europe' There was "no justification whatsoever" for the "brutal" and illegal war of aggression, she said, adding that Putin had made "a big mistake". "He wants to destroy Europe," she warned. "It's very important for the European Union to stick together now." But she batted away criticism that she had been wrong to block Ukraine from joining NATO in 2008, saying it was not ready then and she wanted to avoid "further escalation" with Putin, who was already seething about the military alliance's perceived eastward expansion. She also insisted that the 2014-2015 Minsk peace pacts, which now lie in tatters, were at the time seen as the best bet to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers. The peace process "brought some calm" that gave Ukraine an extra seven years to develop as a democracy and strengthen its military, she said, in a nod to Kyiv's much praised resistance against the invading Russian troops. "The courage and passion with which they are fighting for their country is very impressive," Merkel said, adding she had "the highest respect" for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But Merkel insisted there was no way to avoid dealing with Putin because Russia, like China, was too big to ignore. "We have to find a way to co-exist despite all our differences," she said. 'Language of strength' Confronted with criticism of the "change through trade" policy pushed by successive German governments, Merkel said she was never under the illusion that closer trade links would spur democratic reforms in Russia. "I never thought Putin would change through trade," she said. But in the absence of a political rapprochement, "having some economic ties makes sense". Germany became hugely reliant on Russian energy imports on Merkel's watch, and she long irked Western allies with her backing for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to double Russian gas deliveries to Germany. The project was shelved by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February over Russia's aggression, and Europe's top economy is now joining EU partners in a race to wean itself off Russian oil, gas and coal. In another major reversal, Scholz has pledged to invest 100 billion euros ($107 billion) in modernising Germany's military, seen as chronically underfunded during the Merkel era. Scholz, a Social Democrat who served as finance minister in Merkel's last coalition government, has also vowed to spend more than two percent of annual gross domestic product on defence, surpassing NATO's target. Merkel voiced support for her successor's decisions, saying strength was "the only language Putin understands". Also read | Angela Merkel rejects Zelensky's criticism, stands by her decision to block Ukraine from NATO During the interview, Merkel -- who remains hugely popular in Germany -- also offered a rare glimpse into her private life since retiring, spending time on her own on the Baltic Sea coast, taking walks and catching up on her reading. After 30 years in politics, Merkel said she was enjoying not having to rush from appointment to appointment. "Personally, I'm doing well," she told the audience, even if she felt sombre about the war in Ukraine, "like so many people". "I had imagined my time after leaving office a bit differently," Merkel said. 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.

Merkel defends Russia legacy, says 'nothing to apologise for'

Microsoft&nbsp;Corp is substantially cutting its business in Russia in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier in March,&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;said it was suspending new sales of its products and services in Russia.

"More than 400 employees will be affected", said a company spokesperson.

Several major companies, including Apple Inc, Nike and Dell Technologies, have severed connections with Russia.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-google-and-microsoft-working-on-passwordless-future-477217">Apple, Google and Microsoft working on 'passwordless future'</a>

Watch |&nbsp;Microsoft warns of Forex hit, cuts 4th quarter forecast

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/microsoft-warns-of-forex-hit-cuts-4th-quarter-forecast-484807/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google have also taken measures to restrict Russian state media from making money off ads on their platforms.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

Microsoft Corp is substantially cutting its business in Russia in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier in March, Microsoft said it was suspending new sales of its products and services in Russia.

Microsoft Corp is substantially cutting its business in Russia in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier in March, Microsoft said it was suspending new sales of its products and services in Russia. "More than 400 employees will be affected", said a company spokesperson. Several major companies, including Apple Inc, Nike and Dell Technologies, have severed connections with Russia. Also read | Apple, Google and Microsoft working on 'passwordless future' Watch | Microsoft warns of Forex hit, cuts 4th quarter forecast Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google have also taken measures to restrict Russian state media from making money off ads on their platforms. 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.

Microsoft cuts Russia operations due to Ukraine invasion

The OECD warned Wednesday that the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as it slashed its 2022 growth forecast and projected higher inflation.

The Paris-based organisation, which represents 38 mostly developed countries, is the latest institution to predict lower GDP growth due to the conflict, which has sent food and energy prices soaring.

In its latest economic outlook, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said global gross domestic product would grow by three percent in 2022, down sharply from the 4.5 percent estimated in December.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-bank-lowers-2022-global-growth-forecast-to-29-from-41-in-january-486030">World Bank lowers 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9% from 4.1% in January</a>

The OECD also doubled its forecast for inflation among its members -- which range from the United States to Australia, Japan, and Latin American and European nations -- to 8.5 percent, its highest level since 1988.&nbsp;

"The world is set to pay a hefty price for Russia's war against Ukraine," wrote the OECD's chief economist and deputy secretary-general, Laurence Boone, adding that a "humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes".

"The extent to which growth will be lower and inflation higher will depend on how the war evolves, but it is clear the poorest will be hit hardest," Boone said.

"The price of this war is high and will need to be shared."

Before the war broke out, the outlook had appeared "broadly favourable" for 2022-23, with growth and inflation expected to return to normal after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, said the OECD.

However, "the invasion of Ukraine, along with shutdowns in major cities and ports in China due to the zero-Covid policy, has generated a new set of adverse shocks," it said.

Food shortage risk

The OECD was supposed to publish its outlook in March, but it delayed its detailed assessment until now due to uncertainty over the war. At the time, it said the conflict could cut global GDP growth by "over one percentage point".

The World Bank revised its own figures on Tuesday, lowering its global growth forecast from 4.1 percent to 2.9 percent. The IMF cut its forecast by nearly one point to 3.6 percent in April.

The OECD cut its growth forecast for the United States from 3.7 percent to 2.5 percent and that of China, the world's second biggest economy, from 5.1 percent to 4.4 percent. The eurozone's GPD is now seen growing by 2.6 percent instead of 4.3 percent while Britain's outlook was lowered to 3.6 percent from 4.7 percent.

The OECD noted that commodity prices had risen, hitting real income and spending, "particularly for the most vulnerable households".

"In many emerging-market economies the risks of food shortages are high given the reliance on agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine," it said.

The report warned that the "effects of the war in Ukraine may be even greater than assumed", raising as an example a scenario of Russia cutting gas supplies to Europe.

As central banks tighten their monetary policies to counter inflation, the report said sharp increases of interest rates could also hit growth more than anticipated.

Covid risk

The Covid pandemic, meanwhile, could take another turn for the worse.

"New more aggressive or contagious variants may emerge, while the application of zero-Covid policies in large economies like China has the potential to sap global demand and disrupt supply for some time to come," the OECD said.

Faced with these challenges, governments needed to protect the most vulnerable from the economic shockwaves, it added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kyrgyzstan-endures-soaring-inflation-and-poverty-residents-struggle-to-find-work-486128">Kyrgyzstan endures soaring inflation and poverty, residents struggle to find work</a>

In the short term, "temporary, timely and well-targeted" fiscal measures would help the poorest households, the OECD said.

Over the medium- and long-term, governments would have to invest more in clean energy and defence spending.

"The world is already paying the price for Russia's aggression," wrote Boone.

"The choices made by policymakers and citizens will be crucial to determining how that price will be distributed across people and countries."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The OECD warned Wednesday that the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as it slashed its 2022 growth forecast and projected higher inflation.

The OECD warned Wednesday that the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as it slashed its 2022 growth forecast and projected higher inflation. The Paris-based organisation, which represents 38 mostly developed countries, is the latest institution to predict lower GDP growth due to the conflict, which has sent food and energy prices soaring. In its latest economic outlook, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said global gross domestic product would grow by three percent in 2022, down sharply from the 4.5 percent estimated in December. Also read | World Bank lowers 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9% from 4.1% in January The OECD also doubled its forecast for inflation among its members -- which range from the United States to Australia, Japan, and Latin American and European nations -- to 8.5 percent, its highest level since 1988. "The world is set to pay a hefty price for Russia's war against Ukraine," wrote the OECD's chief economist and deputy secretary-general, Laurence Boone, adding that a "humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes". "The extent to which growth will be lower and inflation higher will depend on how the war evolves, but it is clear the poorest will be hit hardest," Boone said. "The price of this war is high and will need to be shared." Before the war broke out, the outlook had appeared "broadly favourable" for 2022-23, with growth and inflation expected to return to normal after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, said the OECD. However, "the invasion of Ukraine, along with shutdowns in major cities and ports in China due to the zero-Covid policy, has generated a new set of adverse shocks," it said. Food shortage risk The OECD was supposed to publish its outlook in March, but it delayed its detailed assessment until now due to uncertainty over the war. At the time, it said the conflict could cut global GDP growth by "over one percentage point". The World Bank revised its own figures on Tuesday, lowering its global growth forecast from 4.1 percent to 2.9 percent. The IMF cut its forecast by nearly one point to 3.6 percent in April. The OECD cut its growth forecast for the United States from 3.7 percent to 2.5 percent and that of China, the world's second biggest economy, from 5.1 percent to 4.4 percent. The eurozone's GPD is now seen growing by 2.6 percent instead of 4.3 percent while Britain's outlook was lowered to 3.6 percent from 4.7 percent. The OECD noted that commodity prices had risen, hitting real income and spending, "particularly for the most vulnerable households". "In many emerging-market economies the risks of food shortages are high given the reliance on agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine," it said. The report warned that the "effects of the war in Ukraine may be even greater than assumed", raising as an example a scenario of Russia cutting gas supplies to Europe. As central banks tighten their monetary policies to counter inflation, the report said sharp increases of interest rates could also hit growth more than anticipated. Covid risk The Covid pandemic, meanwhile, could take another turn for the worse. "New more aggressive or contagious variants may emerge, while the application of zero-Covid policies in large economies like China has the potential to sap global demand and disrupt supply for some time to come," the OECD said. Faced with these challenges, governments needed to protect the most vulnerable from the economic shockwaves, it added. Also read | Kyrgyzstan endures soaring inflation and poverty, residents struggle to find work In the short term, "temporary, timely and well-targeted" fiscal measures would help the poorest households, the OECD said. Over the medium- and long-term, governments would have to invest more in clean energy and defence spending. "The world is already paying the price for Russia's aggression," wrote Boone. "The choices made by policymakers and citizens will be crucial to determining how that price will be distributed across people and countries." 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.

OECD doubles 2022 inflation forecast in 38-nation group to 8.5%

Is Elon Musk planning to buy YouTube? Social media users went berserk after Musk's latest post on Twitter was related to the online video sharing site. Before the Twitter deal (which is not closed yet), he had posted a similar tweet.

Is Elon Musk planning to buy YouTube? Social media users went berserk after Musk's latest post on Twitter was related to the online video sharing site. Before the Twitter deal (which is not closed yet), he had posted a similar tweet. Now, taking a cue, Twitterati has come up with bizarre speculations. In his latest post, Tesla and SpaceX CEO tweeted about the advertisements on the video streaming platform. He shared a meme targetting the YouTube policy of flagging swear words versus the policy against scam ads. Musk also tweeted: "YouTube seems to be nonstop scam ads". See the post here: pic.twitter.com/2ELe1W5ZXC — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 7, 2022 × YouTube seems to be nonstop scam ads — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 7, 2022 × ALSO READ | Can there be alien life in Milky Way? New study provides a fascinating answer In the comment section, social media users suggested Musk should buy YouTube. One of the users wrote, "Why do I have a feeling that Elon is going to cancel his Twitter bid only to offer YouTube the $46 Billion, then push them to disclose their spam & bots, and eventually bail out & report them to the SEC for misleading information . Classic Elon" Another user wrote: "Buy YouTube please Elon". One user said, "buy it and fix it." ALSO READ | Time to study universe's rarest galaxies? Hubble Space Telescope captures its largest image ever What happened to the Twitter deal? Recently, Musk warned Twitter Inc that he might walk away from his $44 billion deal to acquire the social media company if it fails to provide the data on spam and fake accounts that he seeks. In a letter, Musk's lawyers warned Twitter's chief legal officer, Vijaya Gadde. The letter accused Twitter of being in "material breach" of its deal obligations. 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.

'Buy YouTube too': Elon Musk's salvo at video platform sets off bizarre speculations

After cases started declining, the Chinese capital city Beijing is easing coronavirus (COVID-19) measures which were imposed under its zero Covid policy. Due to the rise in Covid cases, China forced a zero-Covid strategy of hard lockdowns, mass testing and long quarantine periods. Such strict actions were taken to remove Covid clusters and outbreaks.&nbsp;

Local authorities said in a statement on Sunday (June 5) that the public transport will resume in most districts, except for Fengtai and some parts of Changping. People are allowed to return to the office and restaurants to start dine-in services.&nbsp;

During the 15 hours to 3pm local time (0700 GMT) on Monday (June 6), Beijing reported no new domestically transmitted Covid cases, a disease control official revealed as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Pang Xinghuo, who is the deputy director at Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, told a news briefing that the Chinese capital Beijing has had 1,822 Covid infections as of 3 pm local time Monday since April 22.&nbsp;

News reports revealed scenes from ground zero where morning rush hour traffic resumed in Beijing. Residents cycled on the roads alongside heavy traffic.&nbsp;

Restaurants, which have been restricted to takeaway since early May, opened for business as dine-in service in most parts of Beijing also resumed.&nbsp;

In Shanghai, most of the city's 25 million inhabitants have been able to move freely since Wednesday. But hundreds of thousands still face restrictions after being designated close contacts of infected people.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

After cases started declining, the Chinese capital city Beijing is easing coronavirus (COVID-19) measures which were imposed under its zero Covid policy. Due to the rise in Covid cases, China forced a zero-Covid strategy of hard lockdowns, mass testing and long quarantine periods.

After cases started declining, the Chinese capital city Beijing is easing coronavirus (COVID-19) measures which were imposed under its zero Covid policy. Due to the rise in Covid cases, China forced a zero-Covid strategy of hard lockdowns, mass testing and long quarantine periods. Such strict actions were taken to remove Covid clusters and outbreaks. Local authorities said in a statement on Sunday (June 5) that the public transport will resume in most districts, except for Fengtai and some parts of Changping. People are allowed to return to the office and restaurants to start dine-in services. During the 15 hours to 3pm local time (0700 GMT) on Monday (June 6), Beijing reported no new domestically transmitted Covid cases, a disease control official revealed as quoted by news agency Reuters. Pang Xinghuo, who is the deputy director at Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, told a news briefing that the Chinese capital Beijing has had 1,822 Covid infections as of 3 pm local time Monday since April 22. News reports revealed scenes from ground zero where morning rush hour traffic resumed in Beijing. Residents cycled on the roads alongside heavy traffic. Restaurants, which have been restricted to takeaway since early May, opened for business as dine-in service in most parts of Beijing also resumed. In Shanghai, most of the city's 25 million inhabitants have been able to move freely since Wednesday. But hundreds of thousands still face restrictions after being designated close contacts of infected people. (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.

COVID-19: Morning rush resumes after Beijing reopens schools and workplaces as curbs ease

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Mariupol, the second busiest in Ukraine before the Russia-Ukraine war, is now a place of deteriorating sanitary conditions. A report by CNN stated that sewage seeps into drinking water and there are fears of a cholera outbreak in the region. Exiled local officials of Mariupol on Monday said that Russian officials are apparently planning to impose a quarantine in the city. The report mentioned that decomposing corpses and garbage were contaminating drinking water. This poses a higher risk of cholera and other diseases to those who are there. The media outlet quoted mayoral adviser Petro Andriushchenko as saying: "There are talks about quarantine. The city is being quietly closed." CNN referred to the comments as a reliable source of information from residents who are still remaining in the city. Andriushchenko said on national television: "The city has really turned into one with corpses everywhere. They are piled. The occupiers cannot cope with burying them even in mass graves. There is not enough capacity even for this." WATCH | Sanctions war between Russia and US: Russia imposes personal sanctions on 61 top US officials × Meanwhile, the bodies of some Ukrainian fighters killed defending the city of Mariupol from Russian forces at a vast steel works have been handed over to Kyiv, the families of Ukraine's Azov unit of the national guard said. "It's important to note that a third of the bodies (handed over) were Azov fighters, the affiliation of the other fighters to different units is being clarified," the families said in a statement released late on Monday. (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.

'One with corpses everywhere': Unburied bodies pose risk of cholera outbreak in Mariupol - Report

THE SURVIVING PEOPLE IN WAR PHOTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN, MUST SOMEHOW GO ON. WE ARE NOT SYMBOLS. WE ARE HUMAN.

I grew up in the small village of Trang Bang in South Vietnam. My mother said I laughed a lot as a young girl. We led a simple life with an abundance of food, since my family had a farm and my mom ran the best restaurant in town. I remember loving school and playing with my cousins and the other children in our village, jumping rope, running and chasing one another joyfully.

All of that changed on June 8, 1972. I have only flashes of memories of that horrific day. I was playing with my cousins in the temple courtyard. The next moment, there was a plane swooping down close and a deafening noise. Then explosions and smoke and excruciating pain. I was 9 years old.

Napalm sticks to you, no matter how fast you run, causing horrific burns and pain that last a lifetime. I don’t remember running and screaming, “Nóng quá, nóng quá!” (“Too hot, too hot!”) But film footage and others’ memories show that I did.

You’ve probably seen the photograph of me taken that day, running away from the explosions with the others — a naked child with outstretched arms, screaming in pain. Taken by the South Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut, who was working for The Associated Press, it ran on the front pages of newspapers all over the world and won a Pulitzer Prize. In time, it became one of the most famous images from the Vietnam War.

Nick changed my life forever with that remarkable photograph. But he also saved my life. After he took the photo, he put his camera down, wrapped me in a blanket and whisked me off to get medical attention. I am forever thankful.

Yet I also remember hating him at times. I grew up detesting that photo. I thought to myself, “I am a little girl. I am naked. Why did he take that picture? Why didn’t my parents protect me? Why did he print that photo? Why was I the only kid naked while my brothers and cousins in the photo had their clothes on?” I felt ugly and ashamed.

Growing up, I sometimes wished to disappear not only because of my injuries — the burns scarred a third of my body and caused intense, chronic pain — but also because of the shame and embarrassment of my disfigurement. I tried to hide my scars under my clothes. I had horrific anxiety and depression. Children in school recoiled from me. I was a figure of pity to neighbors and, to some extent, my parents. As I got older, I feared that no one would ever love me.

Meanwhile, the photograph became even more famous, making it more difficult to navigate my private and emotional life. Beginning in the 1980s, I sat through endless interviews with the press and meetings with royalty, prime ministers and other leaders, all of whom expected to find some meaning in that image and my experience. The child running down the street became a symbol of the horrors of war. The real person looked on from the shadows, fearful that I would somehow be exposed as a damaged person.

Photographs, by definition, capture a moment in time. But the surviving people in these photographs, especially the children, must somehow go on. We are not symbols. We are human. We must find work, people to love, communities to embrace, places to learn and to be nurtured.

It was only in adulthood, after defecting to Canada that I began to find peace and realize my mission in life, with the help of my faith, husband and friends. I helped establish a foundation and began traveling to war-torn countries to provide medical and psychological assistance to children victimized by war, offering, I hope, a sense of possibilities.

I know what it is like to have your village bombed, your home devastated, to see family members die and bodies of innocent civilians lying in the street. These are the horrors of war from Vietnam memorialized in countless photographs and newsreels. Sadly, they are also the images of wars everywhere, of precious human lives being damaged and destroyed today in Ukraine.

They are, in a different way, also the horrific images coming from school shootings. We may not see the bodies, as we do with foreign wars, but these attacks are the domestic equivalent of war. The thought of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/opinion/uvalde-shooting-photos.html" rel="nofollow">sharing the images of the carnage</a>, especially of children, may seem unbearable — but we should confront them. It is easier to hide from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/16/opinion/international-world/ukraine-war-bucha-photographs.html" rel="nofollow">the realities of war</a>&nbsp;if we don’t see the consequences.

I cannot speak for the families in Uvalde, Texas, but I think that showing the world what the aftermath of a gun rampage truly looks like can deliver the awful reality. We must face this violence head-on, and the first step is to look at it.

I have carried the results of war on my body. You don’t grow out of the scars, physically or mentally. I am grateful now for the power of that photograph of me as a 9-year-old, as I am of the journey I have taken as a person. My horror — which I barely remember — became universal. I’m proud that, in time, I have become a symbol of peace. It took me a long time to embrace that as a person. I can say, 50 years later, that I’m glad Nick captured that moment, even with all the difficulties that image created for me.

That picture will always serve as a reminder of the unspeakable evil of which humanity is capable. Still, I believe that peace, love, hope and forgiveness will always be more powerful than any kind of weapon.

THE SURVIVING PEOPLE IN WAR PHOTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN, MUST SOMEHOW GO ON. WE ARE NOT SYMBOLS. WE ARE HUMAN. I grew up in the small village of Trang Bang in South Vietnam.

THE SURVIVING PEOPLE IN WAR PHOTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN, MUST SOMEHOW GO ON. WE ARE NOT SYMBOLS. WE ARE HUMAN. I grew up in the small village of Trang Bang in South Vietnam. My mother said I laughed a lot as a young girl. We led a simple life with an abundance of food, since my family had a farm and my mom ran the best restaurant in town. I remember loving school and playing with my cousins and the other children in our village, jumping rope, running and chasing one another joyfully. All of that changed on June 8, 1972. I have only flashes of memories of that horrific day. I was playing with my cousins in the temple courtyard. The next moment, there was a plane swooping down close and a deafening noise. Then explosions and smoke and excruciating pain. I was 9 years old. Napalm sticks to you, no matter how fast you run, causing horrific burns and pain that last a lifetime. I don’t remember running and screaming, “Nóng quá, nóng quá!” (“Too hot, too hot!”) But film footage and others’ memories show that I did. You’ve probably seen the photograph of me taken that day, running away from the explosions with the others — a naked child with outstretched arms, screaming in pain. Taken by the South Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut, who was working for The Associated Press, it ran on the front pages of newspapers all over the world and won a Pulitzer Prize. In time, it became one of the most famous images from the Vietnam War. Nick changed my life forever with that remarkable photograph. But he also saved my life. After he took the photo, he put his camera down, wrapped me in a blanket and whisked me off to get medical attention. I am forever thankful. Yet I also remember hating him at times. I grew up detesting that photo. I thought to myself, “I am a little girl. I am naked. Why did he take that picture? Why didn’t my parents protect me? Why did he print that photo? Why was I the only kid naked while my brothers and cousins in the photo had their clothes on?” I felt ugly and ashamed. Growing up, I sometimes wished to disappear not only because of my injuries — the burns scarred a third of my body and caused intense, chronic pain — but also because of the shame and embarrassment of my disfigurement. I tried to hide my scars under my clothes. I had horrific anxiety and depression. Children in school recoiled from me. I was a figure of pity to neighbors and, to some extent, my parents. As I got older, I feared that no one would ever love me. Meanwhile, the photograph became even more famous, making it more difficult to navigate my private and emotional life. Beginning in the 1980s, I sat through endless interviews with the press and meetings with royalty, prime ministers and other leaders, all of whom expected to find some meaning in that image and my experience. The child running down the street became a symbol of the horrors of war. The real person looked on from the shadows, fearful that I would somehow be exposed as a damaged person. Photographs, by definition, capture a moment in time. But the surviving people in these photographs, especially the children, must somehow go on. We are not symbols. We are human. We must find work, people to love, communities to embrace, places to learn and to be nurtured. It was only in adulthood, after defecting to Canada that I began to find peace and realize my mission in life, with the help of my faith, husband and friends. I helped establish a foundation and began traveling to war-torn countries to provide medical and psychological assistance to children victimized by war, offering, I hope, a sense of possibilities. I know what it is like to have your village bombed, your home devastated, to see family members die and bodies of innocent civilians lying in the street. These are the horrors of war from Vietnam memorialized in countless photographs and newsreels. Sadly, they are also the images of wars everywhere, of precious human lives being damaged and destroyed today in Ukraine. They are, in a different way, also the horrific images coming from school shootings. We may not see the bodies, as we do with foreign wars, but these attacks are the domestic equivalent of war. The thought of sharing the images of the carnage, especially of children, may seem unbearable — but we should confront them. It is easier to hide from the realities of war if we don’t see the consequences. I cannot speak for the families in Uvalde, Texas, but I think that showing the world what the aftermath of a gun rampage truly looks like can deliver the awful reality. We must face this violence head-on, and the first step is to look at it. I have carried the results of war on my body. You don’t grow out of the scars, physically or mentally. I am grateful now for the power of that photograph of me as a 9-year-old, as I am of the journey I have taken as a person. My horror — which I barely remember — became universal. I’m proud that, in time, I have become a symbol of peace. It took me a long time to embrace that as a person. I can say, 50 years later, that I’m glad Nick captured that moment, even with all the difficulties that image created for me. That picture will always serve as a reminder of the unspeakable evil of which humanity is capable. Still, I believe that peace, love, hope and forgiveness will always be more powerful than any kind of weapon.

It’s been 50 years. I am not ‘Napalm Girl’ anymore.

Residents in Sudan claimed heavy fighting in west and south territories has reportedly killed 27 people and injured dozens. The country is still dealing with consequences from a coup orchestrated by army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in October of last year, reported by AFP.

Despite the fact that main rebel groups signed a peace agreement for the year 2020, still deadly conflicts continue over land, water access and livestock.&nbsp;

Similar instances occurred in the restive Darfur region, where 16 people were killed in a heated land dispute and 11 killed in South Kordofan state after an argument between two individuals apparently developed into gun battles.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudanese-man-killed-in-crackdown-on-anti-coup-protests-as-un-expert-arrives-454954">Sudanese man killed in crackdown on anti-coup protests as UN expert arrives</a>

UN special representative Volker Perthes on Tuesday (June 7) said, "I am deeply concerned about inter-communal clashes.” He further added, “I call on security forces to secure the area and ensure the protection of civilians, and urge local leaders to undertake mediation efforts".

Another fighting instance broke out at Kolbus where villages were set on fire by the attackers and were completely destroyed.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Emergency lifted in Sudan: Decision after meeting with senior military officials

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/emergency-lifted-in-sudan-decision-after-meeting-with-senior-military-officials-483463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A leader of the non-Arab Gimir group said, “Fighting erupted over a land dispute between member of an Arab tribe and a farmer from a non-Arab one.” He further added that the clashes killed eight people and burned three villages.&nbsp;

According to a leader of the Arab Rizeigat village said the fighting began over land dispute and that the clashes are still going on.&nbsp;

Another clash erupted between the Hawazma and Kenana groups, the Arab rivals in South Kordofan after a disagreement between two persons escalated into conflicts between the groups.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/failing-to-build-consensus-sudans-prime-minister-abdalla-hamdok-announces-resignation-441863">Failing to build consensus, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announces resignation</a>

A resident said, “At least 11 people were killed and 35 wounded in fighting.”

With this going on, the country&nbsp;still struggle with resurgence of deadly conflicts, severe droughts and encroaching desertification.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

(With inputs from agencies)

Residents in Sudan claimed heavy fighting in west and south territories has reportedly killed 27 people and injured dozens. The country is still dealing with consequences from a coup orchestrated by army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in October of last year, reported by AFP.

Residents in Sudan claimed heavy fighting in west and south territories has reportedly killed 27 people and injured dozens. The country is still dealing with consequences from a coup orchestrated by army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in October of last year, reported by AFP. Despite the fact that main rebel groups signed a peace agreement for the year 2020, still deadly conflicts continue over land, water access and livestock. Similar instances occurred in the restive Darfur region, where 16 people were killed in a heated land dispute and 11 killed in South Kordofan state after an argument between two individuals apparently developed into gun battles. Also read | Sudanese man killed in crackdown on anti-coup protests as UN expert arrives UN special representative Volker Perthes on Tuesday (June 7) said, "I am deeply concerned about inter-communal clashes.” He further added, “I call on security forces to secure the area and ensure the protection of civilians, and urge local leaders to undertake mediation efforts". Another fighting instance broke out at Kolbus where villages were set on fire by the attackers and were completely destroyed. Watch | Emergency lifted in Sudan: Decision after meeting with senior military officials A leader of the non-Arab Gimir group said, “Fighting erupted over a land dispute between member of an Arab tribe and a farmer from a non-Arab one.” He further added that the clashes killed eight people and burned three villages. According to a leader of the Arab Rizeigat village said the fighting began over land dispute and that the clashes are still going on. Another clash erupted between the Hawazma and Kenana groups, the Arab rivals in South Kordofan after a disagreement between two persons escalated into conflicts between the groups. Also read | Failing to build consensus, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announces resignation A resident said, “At least 11 people were killed and 35 wounded in fighting.” With this going on, the country still struggle with resurgence of deadly conflicts, severe droughts and encroaching desertification. 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. (With inputs from agencies)

Sudan clashes killed nearly 27 people, despite peace agreement signed in 2020

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Srishti Sisodia

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.