ah ah ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin, the president of sri lanka, fleas the country, hours before he is due to step down. the prime minister, who is now the acting president, declares a state of emergency after his office is stormed by protesters, demanding that he resigned to also coming up ukraine's forces strike back in the southern regions occupied by russia. the ukrainian military says it hit

a russian ammunition depot, killing dozens of soldiers, plus u. s. president joe biden heads to the middle east. it's biden's 1st trip in the region since taking office. his 1st stop is israel. the presidents itinerary also includes a controversial visit ah, i'm sarah kelly. welcome to the program. she loc as prime minister has declared a nation wide state of emergency. the move coming just hours after president. gotcha. by about a poxy and his wife fled to the nearby maldives on a military jet. protesters are storming government buildings, demanding that both leaders stepped down immediately. the president had promised to

and today it is believed that he left the country to avoid being arrested. after losing his presidential immunity, protestors blame him and his long ruling family for sri lankan worst economic crisis and decades, with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like food, fuel, and medicine. that's bringing d w correspondent, near chowdhury, who is english re lumpkin capitol colombo following the situation on the ground for us, which is quickly developing manero. tell us we understand the prime minister just declaring a state of emergency. what does this mean? suppose i just have just a few c, h 2. 0 you can see what that would mean. i just right now is the red x. d bad, this is just before 9th of july, so i'm sorry what. d d people have taken over this building and they want to know right. has okay, sure. and i didn't, i didn't know i just knew she mentioned it in,

but i think there's probably be gone to him. but as i said, there are. * out of the declaration on the images, i was the 2nd time as i saw on the ground sided with a weapon. probably not. could you just create like a situation, you know, the situation. i don't know why that was happening, but having somebody so getting ready to see what happens everyday. be emergency before the sheila resignation on board sides done. and we have mentioned to me we're looking a live pictures in here. we're seeing people on the streets also reports of them. story buildings as you have also confirmed minear a tell us among the latest demands is that the prime minister now step down,

how likely is that when again, she was talking to the constitution, the president down the, i mean, when i was the acting president, which obviously much in support for the president, key to like when the party mentioned me to again, that's a good mortgage. very much again john. if you want to send me out box is that didn't happen cause it talk. probably not going by the emergency. ok. manero, i just, i just like to ask you if you can tell us a little bit bigger picture here, perhaps. you know, we've heard that roger pox that has now flagged the country. of course, one of the demands from citizens and protesters was that he and his family faced justice has that hope basically now faded, now that he has left and what is the mood as

a result of beginning to start in the morning for the step down the dial out to opt out at the desk. d d also wanting to be back until we have the kind of money that he's going to get people. * and definitely be wanting to show people lost all the current straight she they want a new more reliable to that if you want to. * do want to put it, it goes okay, i'm in your child a. d. w correspondent in the sri lankan capital colombo and just to reiterate to our viewers, we're looking at a live picture there. the prime minister declaring a state of emergency those protesters demanding that he. 1 step down as the

president, raj, a proctor, we understand the country to the multi hours ago menu. and thank you so much for your reporting on this quickly moving and developing story, we appreciate it. well now we're going to head to ukraine. kiev has been striking back in the southern hare san regent now occupied by russia. ukraine says that its forces destroyed a russian ammunition depot and killed. more than 50 soldiers, rush and save media gave a different account, claiming at least 7 people were killed. ukraine is handling it as a victory, as it tries to drive back. russian forces. me ukrainian government says this is the moment it's rocket hit, a russian military depot in nova cock of ukraine. south russian, back to officials say us supplied weapons, were involved in the strikes. ukraine president says his forces are aiming to reclaim territory local bonds. the occupiers have already felt very well what

modern artillery is, and they will not have a safe rear anywhere on our land which they occupied. russian forces now occupy large sways of ukraine's ease. in the city of sylvester donnette, they patrol the landscape turned to rubble after their assaults. similar scenes across the river in little chance were buildings lie and ruins. ukraine forces retreated in the face of relentless attack. now russian troops handout aid to residents. they claim to have liberated ukraine flag still flies in buck moves. one of the few remaining cities under keith control in the region of donnette sk as the front line moved closer residents are preparing for a future which resembles the past. you're going sort of get, i remember the war of 941. i was little back then. now here it's also har.

officials say a 3rd of the population has already fled and more a following them. but time is running short. dr. is say, they say it's a perilous journey. as bombings intensify across the region. and from war less crossover to do that, he is an economy who has the view from key of nika, as we've been hearing, ukrainian forces heading back harder against the russian back trips in the south. is this the counter offensive? the key of centralink civilians that it's preparing for lead, definitely preparation to the counter offensive. we've seen ukraine using the new american livid weapons rocket artillery systems. hi, mars's the name to attack russian logistics helps russian weapons des, post basis, deprive russia of that huge advantage. it's been having and take a bunch of in recent weeks, months just having $7.00 to $10.00 times more storage systems,

their disposal at least that's those the figures that the ukrainians have been talking of. so basically trying to stop the russian positions in had so region which are already a lot less well equipped than the rest of the east. the country ahead of then trying to make some grounded push forward and really stop making progress and taking more church for the 1st time in, in a couple months. and as that fighting continues, neck of the united nations has released new numbers on the human toll of the war. and i'd just like to, to walk us through some of them. they say that more than 5000000 people have been displaced. at least 5000 civilians killed, saying that that number is actually likely much higher. walk us through how people in ukraine are coping nearly half a year now into this war. it is amazing how this country has continued functioning, how the trains kept running, how mobile fi over phone connections have been restored after infrastructure has been destroyed, time and time again, an issue with electricity for now. basic services available here and key of

certainly, but also this is pretty close. the front lines, obviously don't bass closest to where those artillery battles been going on. some people have been left without power without internet for weeks now. but overall, the country is managing to stand up a lot better than any one had a managed, but it is now we'll see after so many months of fighting, taking it stolen there is the question is how long can individual families, individual or ukrainians carry on? often without jobs, who often living of their savings. how long can the government here carry on paying for pensions and wages as any big question mark over western promises of 8. we've had lots of discussion about western weapons deliveries coming too late and in smaller numbers and promised the same is now the case with financial donations. the finance minister here and key of worried that lots of promises made in the early weeks of the war when there was all that detention few grain have not materialized yet. and there is a real worry that as this drags on and attention gets taken to other conflicts to

other issues that, that the cost living crisis in europe, that ukraine might end up having to really struggle to keep the country afloat and to keep the government machine working and is also a lot of worry around the world are not least because of the more than 20000000 tons of grain stuck in the country because of the fighting. nick, we understand that delegations from ukraine and russia are said to meet in turkey today to discuss a deal to resume exports for more. can you tell us on that front i think is, or a huge deal of actors or he and key of that they'll get some kind of agreement. the basic problem is that key of does not trust any promises from russia. so basically, you know, any kind of potential deal to take mines c minds away to remove them to allow those ukrainian main ukrainian ports for desa micheler to reopen. that is all pretty tentative and not looking very likely. now also the question about whether commercial shipping companies would actually send their private vessels into your disputed waters, as there is the case on a desk. but there is a small piece of hope,

but hopeful news from the south of ukraine. the far south in the danube delta where we've heard that and you channel has been opened that allows a smaller ships to enter ukrainian ports, not the big ports which used to expose most the grain. but that's basically the 1st time. now since being the war, that grain has been exported by sea, from ukraine rather than being shipped across the borders by land. so a small bit of hope, it's still a huge problem and new harvest coming in and no one really at with an answer to where to put all this grain on top of lost is harvest the still there in the silos waiting to be exported, waiting to me a reach people across the world who are really struggling with exploding prices for their bread, nick connelly and the ukranian capital. here for us. thank you so much. and here are some other developments related to the war in ukraine. a russian opposition figure is facing up to 15 years in prison after being charged under a new law in russia that makes it a crime to spread false information about the military. ilya sion has been a critic of russia's war in ukraine. the russian back don't ask people's republic

has opened an embassy in central moscow. according to this separatists, a solemn opening ceremony was cancelled due to intensified shelling in the breakaway region in eastern ukraine. russian foreign minister, sir gala ralph has been expected to take part in the event some ukrainians are joining the war effort in original ways around the capital. key of a group of hair dressers, amputations are offering their skills to people who survive the russian occupation . their aim to bring back a little pride and dignity to those who have lost homes or loved ones, or even survived torture or rape. he w. next by sir med up with the so called beauty volunteers. during their recent stop in boucher the town now synonymous with the horrors of war, they have survived the very worst. now these future residents want to look their very best with 3 haircuts manicures,

facials and massages. because the beauty volunteers have come to tow. the groups found her all her village. this is the help those who suffered because of the russian invasion, agree browse home. their houses are damaged. ah, but the money to deal with it does have, might not have mice was then. so it was the lead me builds their life. yeah. ah, stylist, dennis tech and then go had to flee the world east himself. he says he's just doing what he knows best. right now again, do i don't know what i do, you know and make some people happy. barbara golub at m and then co says the volunteers are kind of battalion fighting and what he calls the beauty front. but their work is often anything but skin deep to speak for them to understand,

understand they are more and he'll and we'll try to understand feelings and it's like art therapy. i think with some of the people here say the treatments. give them more than inner piece. they can spark hope. the sure crashing is will it helps me see butch and better future. this was the one the for city, a beautiful european country. when wasn't, we cannot be slaves with. we want to be free to live in dignity, to earn money, to raise children, to rebuild our town. we will have better times. the beauty volunteers group have been making the trip for around 2 months now. the only go to places that were invaded and occupied by russian troops. and they include some of the very best hair stylist and nutrition in ukrainian camp. mom with founder all how says the volunteers have to be strong. the here many, many painful stories. but we have no maybe

choice to me to cry or to show our feelings. no, no, we're here to help. that's why when he's drunk, we were we must be happy smile. the beauty volunteers are hoping to expand, raise more money, visit more towns and cities, and as the war grinds on, that there's every chance they'll be able to continue work, which they call the way of serving the country. now on wednesday, joe biden takes off his 1st trip to the middle east as us head of state. he is under pressure to balance human rights concerns with america's geopolitical objectives in the region. his trip begins in israel, where he will meet with prime minister. yeah, le pete biden is likely to reiterate. washington's commitment to his rally security talks are also expected to focus on israel strengthening ties with several arab countries. biden will then now go, or rather than go to the occupied west bank,

the u. s. president may announce new economic support for the palestinians, but palestinian leader mahmoud abbas is likely to press bite and over israeli settlements. they're now long stalled peace talks between israel and the palestinians are also on the agenda. dw is tanya kramer has been following the preparations for the visit. interview sla, somewhere singer's limbs treats are fully decked out ahead of president george biden's visit to israel and the occupied territories. many here looking forward to his arrival. i am sure visited by noon can make some kind of difference what kind i can say right now. this is a problematic time. it's not the best opportunity to try any kind of change, but could function that every time an american president comes to jerusalem, it's a great honor. but as a jerusalem, i should also a great hustle because the sushi will be closed and we won't be able to leave home

. no, i think it's very courageous of him to come ashore. days after the prime minister has changed miami, which shows how special the relationship is made north. mm hm. yay. lobbied who was heading, the caretaker, israeli government will greet the u. s. president biden often refers to his long standing friendship with israel, his 1st visit deeds back almost 50 years on the agenda. iran. and the new piet, off a possible defense aligns with other arab states and a step towards possible re rosemont was olivia that going to some kind of turning point with iran? are they american allies that would need necessarily, you know, deal are reserved with this growing threat. they need to know that they have american back, that they have strong america. that is confident of itself and that it will not let to, you know, create some kind of vacuum kia that will be inevitably filled with some other forces. the palestinian down of bedlam in the occupied westbank is liking his last

opp offer a visit to east jerusalem on friday. a graffiti of biden's predecessor trump still adorns the israeli barrier. partially surrounding the town. the u. s. palestinian leaders hoped to reset diplomatic relations, which recently dear, under trump, some palestinians in the holy city hall for change. he sent in a by then the hardest thought and how quickly i message to biden as please show the true picture of what happens with the palestinian people. because distortion happens in the media and how a true image is, convey to the well anna ellis to new people really need this because we are going backwards. the world is not paying attention to us, and no one's looking towards us in a while. i had a one coroner, many palestinians are pushing biden to bring up the reason killing of us. palestinian journalist sharing abo aclu, which many blame on the israeli military after the president and says was it here. he is expected to fly to saudi arabia. this could,

her less frosty ties between the former arch falls that i am joined now from jerusalem by d. w of mid east correspondent tonya kramer. off for more on that visit. tell us, tanya, saudi arabia is likely to be the most controversial part of biden's trip. what does he hoping to achieve their while? absolutely, i'm a, we even have a busy schedule here. let me start here in israel, when he rides this afternoon and going to the occupied westbank on friday and then flying here directly to saudi arabia. and that's kind of sets the tone also for this visit to understand that, you know, one of the focus on this visit is the strengthening of ties between israel and the arab countries. and the integration, as it was said here in israel, of israel in the region, mr. biden, when he comes here, i comes to reason that has changed since he last visited. he has a vice president under barack obama in there,

2016. and now we are having countries that have signed piece agreements with israel since 2020 still under that. then trump administration named me, that's united arab emirates for vain and also morocco. so from an israeli point of view, they are hoping, as we heard, and the report that the visit can push for some kind of defense alliance to combat threats alike. yvonne that's also likely here being a discuss, but even more so there has been a lot of expectations here leading up to the visits in the media. that there would be some kind of, you know, science or some indication that there will be a, an approach him and i, facilitated by a president biden and do approach mend between saudi arabia and israel. he himself said, in an opinion artic, on the washington post at no, by flying that directly. that's a 1st for a u. s. president. that is a small step to show the warming ties. now, saudi arabia has always conditioned normalization process, so to speak,

with israel on progress in the israeli, palestinian talks on the establishment of a sovereign palestinian state that hasn't happened. and us officials have also been very cautious as to whether there will be some kind of steps taken here. but that leads me also to, you know, the controversial side of this trip to this, to saudi arabia. where you will take part in the summit or with regional lead us at the gulf corporation council on saturday. because mr. biden doing his election campaign for the presidency, has called to crown prince there, and saudi arabia pariah, over the murder of saudi journalist. i jamal colacho g and over it's human rights records and the have been a lot of questions asked before this trip and he will have to confront certainly those questions also during his trip. and tanya, i like to turn to though where biden is heading 1st, of course, to israel and the palestinian territories. he's visiting the palestinian

territories. tell us how unusual 1st of all that is for you as president and whether it's being seen as a boost for house. any president mahmoud abbas yeah, i think the other important issue year are the bilateral revelations on the one hand, of course, israel and the u. s relation to know there is hope for no more re engagement offered the united states in of course also, it is not unusual that a u. s. president visit the occupied palestinian territories. i mean, let's not forget the united states have been a major peacemakers over the decades here between palestinians and israelis. but i think this visit he of the focus on a reset of diplomatic relations with the palestinian leadership in ramallah, of course is also an internal division among palestinians and between my, my law and gaza. so he will be a visiting with the palestine and president in bethlehem. and i think, you know,

this comes, of course, after you know, diplomatic ties, vinyati severe under the trump administer patient, donald trump at the time. no, he, i moved to u. s. embassy or from tentative to, to resume. he also put out a very controversial plan. so there is a whole peer among palestinians that this will be said to politic relations. tanya, cramer and jerusalem, thank you. some sports news. the oldest golf tournament in the world gets underway on thursday. buffy open championship is a huge, has a huge cloud hanging over it, irrespective of the scottish weather at the fabled st. andrews course. the 100 and 55th edition is fighting to prove its relevance after a rival. saudi black series was recently set up. the 2 greatest golfers ever are happy to be at the home of golf as is called. and they say they cannot understand the motives of those rebels. it's gulf. but not as we know it.

the live series bankrolled by saudi arabia held its 2nd ever event earlier this month. staggering prize money of $4000000.00 went to winner. brandon grace, he is not at the open, but other big name rebels who have defected to the new tour are still eligible to compete this week. australian greg norman twice when the open. but he is now the face of live and was banned from the champions dinner ahead of the start at st. andrews. one golfing great has been moved, the split reg norman's and i kind of became a gone. it's great player. ah, we've been friends for a long time and regardless of what happens, she's going to remain a friend. and he and i just, but unfortunately he and i just don't see i die. and what's going on. and simply

saudi arabia has been accused of trying to sports watch its image by investing and gulf ally, families of victims of the september 11th, 2001 attacks on the u. s. carried out mainly by saudi nationals of even protested against live tiger woods things the rebels may be banned from future opens. some of these players may may not ever get a chance to play major championships, and that is a possibility. we don't know that for sure yet as up to the all the major temperature bodies to make that determination. but that is a possibility that some players will never get a chance to play a major championship. never get a chance to experience this right here. the sport is at a crossroads. it will be another uncomfortable few days. so golf, hey, the quick reminder of our top story is now sri lanka has declared a state of emergency after protesters stormed the office of the prime minister and

the acting president. you're looking at live pictures there. this unrest to happening after president go just buy a bunch of packs of lead the country just hours before he was due to resign, over the economic crisis. and stay with us here on the w. we will updates on that situation every hour on the hour. we're joining live from our lead. i'm sarah kelly, coming up next. it is close up to stay with us if you can figure ah, ah, with

who she. they fled because they reject hootie and his war russians in ga, more than 40000 russia is found refuge in neighbouring georgia. since the war began . they are trying to build a new life here. even though they are not to welcome you free include to

close up on d, w. eco, india. how can a country's economy grow in harmony with its people and the environment when there are doers to look at the bigger picture? india, a country that faces many challenges and whose people are striving to create a sustainable future clever projects from europa and india eco india. in 60 minutes on d. w. o blue sh teasley listen carefully. don't know how you miss today go.

ah, feel the magic discover the world around you. subscribe to d w documentary on youtube. ah ah, as news of the butch, a massacre comes in, crowds gather for a vigil outside the ukrainian embassy in tbilisi. the event organized by russians living and georgia. russia has a fascist regime in one that has to be overthrown. these russians have fled putin's repressive.