内容摘要：Chronic shortages of foreign currency, which is needed for imports such as medicine and fuel, have led to a decline in Burundi's economic activity.

Chronic shortages of foreign currency, which is needed for imports such as medicine and fuel, have led to a decline in Burundi's economic activity.

The auction house Bonhams says the painting, made by British artist Clare Leighton, is "thought to be the only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for".The portrait was made when Gandhi went to London in 1931 for the second Round Table conference, held to discuss constitutional reforms for India and address its demands for self-governance.

It will be auctioned in the second week of July at Bonhams."This is a painting of unique historic and cultural significance. It would be great if it could be seen and appreciated more widely, whether in India or elsewhere," Caspar Leighton, a great nephew of the artist, told the BBC.According to Bonhams, Clare Leighton "was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was given the opportunity to sit with on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness".

The works remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989 in the US, after which it was passed down through her family.She was introduced to Gandhi through her partner and British political journalist, Henry Noel Brailsford, who was a strong supporter of India's independence movement.

In November 1931, Leighton showcased her portraits of Gandhi at an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London.

Though Gandhi did not attend the opening event, several representatives from the Indian delegation of the second Round Table were present.Merz, a 69-year-old reputed millionaire with a corporate background, may feel confident about going toe-to-toe with Trump, who often hails himself as the consummate "dealmaker".

Whether the Chancellor will be able to smooth the path for EU negotiators, however, remains to be seen.Constanze Stelzenmüller, an expert on German-US relations at the Brookings Institute, believes Merz's ability to push the negotiations along is limited, given that the EU as an institution has taken the lead on those talks.

"Whatever Merz says is mood music, rather than being able to say that XYZ will happen, even if major nation states aren't without influence on the European Commission," she explained. "He has to tread a delicate line."When it comes to Ukraine, Merz is vocal in his support of Kyiv and in his criticism of Moscow - recently warning that the fighting could drag on, despite repeated talk of a ceasefire from the White House.