<p>An Indian student in Sydney was allegedly beaten up by supporters of Khalistan movement, a discredited separatist movement that calls for the break-up of the Indian state of Punjab.</p>

<p>The 23-year-old was reportedly on his way to work at six in the morning in Sydney's western suburbs of Merrylands, Australia Today reported.</p>

<h2><strong>Indian student opposing Khalistanis beaten up: What exactly happened?</strong></h2>

<p>The victim told Australia Today that while going to work some 4-5 Khalistan supporters attacked him. The victim reportedly works as a driver.</p>

<p>"As soon as I sat in my driving seat, these Khalistan supporters came out of nowhere. One of them opened the left side door of my vehicle and hit me with an iron rod on my cheekbone under my left eye. After which they opened the driver-side door and dragged me out of the vehicle and started beating me with iron rods. Two of them were doing video recording on their phones while 4-5 were hitting me from all sides," the victim was quoted as saying by Australia Today.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-cancels-khalistan-propaganda-referendum-organised-by-sikhs-for-justice-591555">Sydney cancels Khalistan propaganda referendum organised by Sikhs For Justice</a></strong></p>

<p>"Everything happened within 5 minutes and they left saying this should be enough lesson for me for opposing the Khalistan issue, if not they are ready to give me more lessons like this," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Has the local police acted?</strong></h2>

<p>The Police of New South Wales in an official statement confirmed the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Police have been told a 23-year-old man was walking along Rupert Street before he was assaulted by four men armed with a metal pole," New South Wales police said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning</strong></p>

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<p>"The 23-year-old was allegedly kicked, punched, and hit with the metal pole repeatedly before the four men left the scene in a grey sedan."</p>

<p>The representatives of the larger Indian diaspora in Australia have pointed out this incident as a "deliberate strategy to create fear".</p>

<p>"It looks like a deliberate strategy to create fear among us. We all know that a campaign based on creating fear may bring some short-term benefits to few, but will not work in the long run," Yogesh Khattar, President of Indo Australia Sanatan Society told <em>Australia Today.</em></p>

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An Indian student in Sydney was allegedly beaten up by supporters of Khalistan movement, a discredited separatist movement that calls for the break-up of the Indian state of Punjab.

An Indian student in Sydney was allegedly beaten up by supporters of Khalistan movement, a discredited separatist movement that calls for the break-up of the Indian state of Punjab. The 23-year-old was reportedly on his way to work at six in the morning in Sydney's western suburbs of Merrylands, Australia Today reported. Indian student opposing Khalistanis beaten up: What exactly happened? The victim told Australia Today that while going to work some 4-5 Khalistan supporters attacked him. The victim reportedly works as a driver. "As soon as I sat in my driving seat, these Khalistan supporters came out of nowhere. One of them opened the left side door of my vehicle and hit me with an iron rod on my cheekbone under my left eye. After which they opened the driver-side door and dragged me out of the vehicle and started beating me with iron rods. Two of them were doing video recording on their phones while 4-5 were hitting me from all sides," the victim was quoted as saying by Australia Today. Also read | Sydney cancels Khalistan propaganda referendum organised by Sikhs For Justice "Everything happened within 5 minutes and they left saying this should be enough lesson for me for opposing the Khalistan issue, if not they are ready to give me more lessons like this," he added. Has the local police acted? The Police of New South Wales in an official statement confirmed the incident. "Police have been told a 23-year-old man was walking along Rupert Street before he was assaulted by four men armed with a metal pole," New South Wales police said in a statement. Watch | Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route, authorities issue health warning × "The 23-year-old was allegedly kicked, punched, and hit with the metal pole repeatedly before the four men left the scene in a grey sedan." The representatives of the larger Indian diaspora in Australia have pointed out this incident as a "deliberate strategy to create fear". "It looks like a deliberate strategy to create fear among us. We all know that a campaign based on creating fear may bring some short-term benefits to few, but will not work in the long run," Yogesh Khattar, President of Indo Australia Sanatan Society told Australia Today. 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.

Indian student beaten up with iron rods by Khalistan supporters in Sydney: Report

<p>In a significant display of bilateral bonhomie, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed India as "a giant in world history" and acknowledged the 'decisive role' India is set to play in the future. Addressing India as a 'strategic partner' and 'a friend', Macron said that it gave the French a 'great pleasure to welcome India as the Guest of Honour for this year's 14th July parade', referring to the French National Day celebrated annually on 14th of July.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also conferred the highest French civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi said it was an "honour for the 140 crore people of India".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;India PM Modi's second day in France, conferred with Legion of Honour | World DNA</strong></p>

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<p>Taking to Twitter, Modi said, "1.4 billion Indians will always be grateful to France for being a strong and trusted partner. May the bond deepen even further!"</p>

<p>PM Modi joined Macron for French National Day, formally known as Bastille Day, in Paris early on Friday where an Indian tri-services contingent was part of the parade. French-made Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets performed a fly-past. Both Indian and French troops marched with trumpets and drums.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pm-narendra-modi-lauds-superhit-french-striker-kylian-mbappe-says-hes-more-popular-in-india-than-in-france-615369">PM Narendra Modi lauds 'Superhit' French striker Kylian Mbappe, says he's more popular in India than in France</a></strong></p>

<p>The parade&nbsp;at Champs-Élysées in Paris&nbsp;had members of Indian Army's Punjab Regiment whose troops have participated in both the World Wars. Punjab Regiment has been bestowed with 18 Battle and Theatre Honours in the first world war.</p>

<p>It participated in an offensive near Neuve Chapelle in France in September 1915 during the first world war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The national day of France is celebrated on July 14, also known as Bastille Day or Fête Nationale Française.</p>

<h2><strong>The significance of Bastille Day</strong></h2>

<p>The Bastille Day Parade marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison — a prison associated with repression and torture — in 1789 during the French Revolution, a pivotal moment in French history.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the significance of Bastille day lies in the fact that it ended the rule of the monarchs.</p>

<p>Eventually, Napoleon retook the power but that entailed introduction of some progressive laws that set down the foundation of democracy in France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bastille Day, thus, emerged as that point in French history towards the success of the French Revolution for the ascent of democracy in France and the larger European region.</p>

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In a significant display of bilateral bonhomie, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed India as "a giant in world history" and acknowledged the 'decisive role' India is set to play in the future.

In a significant display of bilateral bonhomie, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed India as "a giant in world history" and acknowledged the 'decisive role' India is set to play in the future. Addressing India as a 'strategic partner' and 'a friend', Macron said that it gave the French a 'great pleasure to welcome India as the Guest of Honour for this year's 14th July parade', referring to the French National Day celebrated annually on 14th of July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also conferred the highest French civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. Prime Minister Modi said it was an "honour for the 140 crore people of India". Watch | India PM Modi's second day in France, conferred with Legion of Honour | World DNA × Taking to Twitter, Modi said, "1.4 billion Indians will always be grateful to France for being a strong and trusted partner. May the bond deepen even further!" PM Modi joined Macron for French National Day, formally known as Bastille Day, in Paris early on Friday where an Indian tri-services contingent was part of the parade. French-made Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets performed a fly-past. Both Indian and French troops marched with trumpets and drums. Also read | PM Narendra Modi lauds 'Superhit' French striker Kylian Mbappe, says he's more popular in India than in France The parade at Champs-Élysées in Paris had members of Indian Army's Punjab Regiment whose troops have participated in both the World Wars. Punjab Regiment has been bestowed with 18 Battle and Theatre Honours in the first world war. It participated in an offensive near Neuve Chapelle in France in September 1915 during the first world war. The national day of France is celebrated on July 14, also known as Bastille Day or Fête Nationale Française. The significance of Bastille Day The Bastille Day Parade marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison — a prison associated with repression and torture — in 1789 during the French Revolution, a pivotal moment in French history. But the significance of Bastille day lies in the fact that it ended the rule of the monarchs. Eventually, Napoleon retook the power but that entailed introduction of some progressive laws that set down the foundation of democracy in France. Bastille Day, thus, emerged as that point in French history towards the success of the French Revolution for the ascent of democracy in France and the larger European region. 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.

'India a giant in global history': Macron, Modi pen new chapter in Delhi-Paris ties

<p>Five years after 11 worshippers at a Synagogue in Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh were shot down in a rampaging shooting incident, a federal jury on Thursday (July 13) decided that the shooter Robert Bowers was eligible for the death penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jury's decision has paved the path of a grueling sentencing phase to a months-long trial over the deadliest attack on Jewish people in the history of the United States at a synagogue in 2018.</p>

<h2><strong>Pittsburgh synagogue attack: What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>On October 27, 2018, Robert Bowers, 46, began shooting down at the Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pittsburgh-synagogue-assailant-convicted-in-deadliest-antisemitic-attack-in-us-history-605328">Pittsburgh synagogue assailant convicted in deadliest antisemitic attack in US history</a></strong><br />
<br />
He killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors.</p>

<h2><strong>Why has Robert Bowers been deemed eligible for the death penalty?</strong></h2>

<p>The jury came to the conclusion that Bowers executed the shooting act intentionally and was in a clear mental state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bowers, 50, had already been found guilty of the fatal shooting last month, and faces the death penalty or life in prison.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: Gunman kills 11 people; identified as 46 year old</strong></p>

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<p>Bowers was found guilty on 63 felony charges, 22 of which carry the death penalty, including obstruction to the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death.</p>

<p>He and his lawyers never argued for his innocence, <em>Jerusalem Post</em> reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They, however, pleaded with the jury to spare his life because his actions were not intended to prevent worship, since they said he suffered from multiple mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and epilepsy.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bowers went ‘to hunt down and kill every Jew he could find’: Prosecutor</strong></h2>

<p>Prosecutor Soo Song, an active seekers of death penalty for&nbsp;Bowers, claimed in her closing arguments on Wednesday that Bowers "intended to hunt down and kill every Jew he could find," claiming Bowers was level-headed and not influenced by any delusions when he carried out the shooting.</p>

<p>Song also called the attack "pre-planned and premeditated," saying Bowers boasted of his committing "the worst antisemitic attack in US history."</p>

<h2><strong>Pittsburgh synagogue shooting incident: What next?</strong></h2>

<p>In the United States, a unanimous vote by jurors in a separate penalty phase of the trial is required in order to sentence a defendant to death, and the judge cannot reject the jury's vote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In case the jurors are unable to reach a unanimous decision, the guilty is instead sentenced to life in prison. Bowers will be sentenced to death only if the jury unanimously agrees for it in the separate penalty phase of the trial.</p>

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Five years after 11 worshippers at a Synagogue in Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh were shot down in a rampaging shooting incident, a federal jury on Thursday (July 13) decided that the shooter Robert Bowers was eligible for the death penalty.

Five years after 11 worshippers at a Synagogue in Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh were shot down in a rampaging shooting incident, a federal jury on Thursday (July 13) decided that the shooter Robert Bowers was eligible for the death penalty. The jury's decision has paved the path of a grueling sentencing phase to a months-long trial over the deadliest attack on Jewish people in the history of the United States at a synagogue in 2018. Pittsburgh synagogue attack: What happened? On October 27, 2018, Robert Bowers, 46, began shooting down at the Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also read | Pittsburgh synagogue assailant convicted in deadliest antisemitic attack in US history He killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors. Why has Robert Bowers been deemed eligible for the death penalty? The jury came to the conclusion that Bowers executed the shooting act intentionally and was in a clear mental state. Bowers, 50, had already been found guilty of the fatal shooting last month, and faces the death penalty or life in prison. Also watch | Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: Gunman kills 11 people; identified as 46 year old × Bowers was found guilty on 63 felony charges, 22 of which carry the death penalty, including obstruction to the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. He and his lawyers never argued for his innocence, Jerusalem Post reported. They, however, pleaded with the jury to spare his life because his actions were not intended to prevent worship, since they said he suffered from multiple mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and epilepsy. Bowers went ‘to hunt down and kill every Jew he could find’: Prosecutor Prosecutor Soo Song, an active seekers of death penalty for Bowers, claimed in her closing arguments on Wednesday that Bowers "intended to hunt down and kill every Jew he could find," claiming Bowers was level-headed and not influenced by any delusions when he carried out the shooting. Song also called the attack "pre-planned and premeditated," saying Bowers boasted of his committing "the worst antisemitic attack in US history." Pittsburgh synagogue shooting incident: What next? In the United States, a unanimous vote by jurors in a separate penalty phase of the trial is required in order to sentence a defendant to death, and the judge cannot reject the jury's vote. In case the jurors are unable to reach a unanimous decision, the guilty is instead sentenced to life in prison. Bowers will be sentenced to death only if the jury unanimously agrees for it in the separate penalty phase of the trial. 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.

Pittsburgh shooter, who wanted to 'kill every Jew he could find', eligible for death penalty

Yara’s fierce assertion for Iron Islands remains one of the least highlighted GoT stories of feminist renaissance. 



Lady Catlyn’s motherhood breached the forts of male dominance at each crucial moment of reckoning in the show. 

She walks. She speaks. She doesn’t lift a finger but she rules. From confessing to Jamie Lannister that ‘it was me’ to showing Sansa a way to the North, Olenna ruled as the matriarch. 


Sansa’s transition from a love-struck teenager to a purpose-finder woman who navigates a male-dominated North is one-of-its kind story of feminist assertions. 

‘Khaleesi’ became shorthand for a strong, empowered woman but despite being the final villain of Game of Thrones, the fiercely assertive feminist elements of her journey are as remarkable. 



Sir Brienne of Tarth, a knight of the seven kingdom, symbolised the last two words of the Tully’s — duty and honour. Brienne’s mark in the men’s world of westeros remains remarkable. 


She didn’t care if Jon Snow was a bastard. She didn’t plan on knitting by fire when men planned for their fighting embankments during the Long Knight. She fought. She fought them all. 

Arya tops the feminist chart for her unafraid consistency to be the best sword-wielder of Westeros. 

Game of Thrones ruled pop culture with its fiercely feminist characters. Here are the ones who top the list.

Top Feminist Icons of Game of Thrones 


Top Lessons From Arya Stark For Hustlers Chasing Success 

Arya Stark of Winterfell was hustler-in-chief among the Westeros top-shots playing the Game of Thrones. If you are hustling for a purpose or making your dreams come true, don’t miss Arya Stark’s wisdom in the slides ahead. 


Consistently working on your skills is a key to be the best fighter known to humankind. 



From Ned Stark to Syrio Forel to the Faceless Man of Bravos, once Arya found men of deep passion, she chose to have deep faith in them as her mentor. 



You should know a ‘killer’ when you see one 


You should be able to spot the people of ‘killer’ instinct, if you are to make your hustle a success. Just like Arya told Jon at seeing Daenerys in the King’s Landing: “I know a killer when I see one.” 



Your purpose should top the list of your priorities 


Arya didn’t choose to go with Brienne nor she chose to be with Gendry. Winterfell topped her priorities, always. 



Setbacks make you stronger, if you’re focused on your purpose 


Arya’s time in Bravos had its share of setbacks but her will to put the fight for Stark’s Westerosi revival kept her focused. 

You emerge as toast of the town at great personal cost 


Arya became ‘the hero of Winterfell’ after losing the life she knew and almost everyone she held dear. 

If you are hustling for a purpose or making your dreams come true, don’t miss Arya Stark’s wisdom in the slides ahead.

<p>The curtains are off the BBC presenter Huw Edwards&nbsp;who was suspended for allegedly paying&nbsp;£35,000 (over ₹37.5 lakh)&nbsp;to an underage&nbsp;teenager in exchange for sexually explicit images. Now, his colleagues at the BBC are responding with claims that add more to the story.</p>

<p>According to a Newsnight report, a current staff member at the BBC has claimed that Edwards contacted them on social media, leaving them uncomfortable and uneasy.</p>

<p>The messages were said to have a suggestive and flirtatious tone, and they made references to the colleague's appearance.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bbc-presenter-huw-edwards-named-by-wife-amidst-row-over-sexual-messages-614855">BBC presenter Huw Edwards named by wife amidst row over sexual messages</a></strong></p>

<p>The staff member stated, "Given the power dynamics involved, this behaviour is inappropriate."</p>

<p>Additionally, another BBC employee alleged that Edwards had privately messaged them on social media, commenting on their appearance and causing them to feel a chilling sensation.</p>

<p>According to a Sky News report, an individual who used to work at the BBC, despite never having met Edwards, asserted that they received late-night messages from him that concluded with kisses.</p>

<p>In an interview with&nbsp;BBC Newsnight, the former employee expressed their belief that this constituted an abuse of power.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: BBC explicit pictures scandal</strong></p>

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<p>Out of the three individuals who raised complaints, two stated that they felt unable to report the incidents of misconduct to BBC managers.</p>

<p>In response, a spokesperson from the BBC told Sky News: "We are actively communicating with our staff and will continue to do so. We always handle staff concerns with utmost care and encourage any staff members to approach us if they have any issues."</p>

<h2><strong>Huw Edwards sexually explicit images row: How it unfolded?</strong></h2>

<p>On July 8, 2023, 'The Sun' tabloid published a cover story with the headline: <em>'TOP BBC STAR IN SEX PICS PROBE: Presenter now off air'</em></p>

<p><img alt="The Sun front page | July 8, 2023" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="71a59ecb-8b9e-4d49-8faf-4e83459e0ded" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-13T183113.824.png" /></p>

<p><em>The Sun front page | July 8, 2023 | The Sun</em></p>

<p>The 'presenter' remained unnamed for five days before being named by his wife Vicky Flind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said her husband was suffering from serious mental health issues and is now receiving inpatient hospital care "where he will stay for the foreseeable future".</p>

<p>Her statement came shortly after the Metropolitan Police revealed there was "no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed".</p>

<p>Edwards was active on social media nearly until he was named in the scandal. His statement came&nbsp;Her statement came shortly after London Metropolitan Police revealed there was "no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed".</p>

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The curtains are off the BBC presenter Huw Edwards who was suspended for allegedly paying £35,000 (over ₹37.5 lakh) to an underage teenager in exchange for sexually explicit images.

The curtains are off the BBC presenter Huw Edwards who was suspended for allegedly paying £35,000 (over ₹37.5 lakh) to an underage teenager in exchange for sexually explicit images. Now, his colleagues at the BBC are responding with claims that add more to the story. According to a Newsnight report, a current staff member at the BBC has claimed that Edwards contacted them on social media, leaving them uncomfortable and uneasy. The messages were said to have a suggestive and flirtatious tone, and they made references to the colleague's appearance. Also read | BBC presenter Huw Edwards named by wife amidst row over sexual messages The staff member stated, "Given the power dynamics involved, this behaviour is inappropriate." Additionally, another BBC employee alleged that Edwards had privately messaged them on social media, commenting on their appearance and causing them to feel a chilling sensation. According to a Sky News report, an individual who used to work at the BBC, despite never having met Edwards, asserted that they received late-night messages from him that concluded with kisses. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, the former employee expressed their belief that this constituted an abuse of power. Also watch | Gravitas: BBC explicit pictures scandal × Out of the three individuals who raised complaints, two stated that they felt unable to report the incidents of misconduct to BBC managers. In response, a spokesperson from the BBC told Sky News: "We are actively communicating with our staff and will continue to do so. We always handle staff concerns with utmost care and encourage any staff members to approach us if they have any issues." Huw Edwards sexually explicit images row: How it unfolded? On July 8, 2023, 'The Sun' tabloid published a cover story with the headline: 'TOP BBC STAR IN SEX PICS PROBE: Presenter now off air' The Sun front page | July 8, 2023 | The Sun The 'presenter' remained unnamed for five days before being named by his wife Vicky Flind. She said her husband was suffering from serious mental health issues and is now receiving inpatient hospital care "where he will stay for the foreseeable future". Her statement came shortly after the Metropolitan Police revealed there was "no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed". Edwards was active on social media nearly until he was named in the scandal. His statement came Her statement came shortly after London Metropolitan Police revealed there was "no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed". 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.

Disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards accused of sending 'flirtatious' messages to colleagues

<p>Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.1 billion) were withdrawn from the banks during the three-day period between June 23-June 25 when Wagner forces were moving towards Moscow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's Central Bank's monthly monetary policy report released earlier this week said that 100 billion rubles were taken out in the June 23-25 period, The Moscow Times reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-rebellion-when-putins-former-chef-served-a-dish-of-treason-ten-points-608452">Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points</a></strong></p>

<p>On June 25, 2023, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered peace deal simmered down the clash between the mercenary group and the Russian state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the Russian business news outlet RBC, the cash withdrawal during the Wagner's mutiny hours "was the most noticeable surge in demand for cash" since September 2021, when Moscow began mobilising its forces around Ukraine before its imminent offensive in February 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner mutiny and war in Ukraine: How much money was withdrawn in June?</strong></h2>

<p>Russia's Central Bank's figures cited by the Newsweek reported that 500 billion rubles (about $5.5 billion) were withdrawn from the Russian banks during the entire month of June. A fifth of these withdrawals reportedly took place during the June 23-25 weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner's support with Putin: Kremlin</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, shortly after the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen leaving the city of Rostov-on-Don, he reportedly met Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>Prigozhin was among 35 Wagner commanders invited to the meeting in Moscow, the Kremlin said. According to the spokesman, Prigozhin told Putin that Wagner unconditionally supported him.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Top Russian general knew about Wagner rebellion plan: Report</strong></p>

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<p>Despite a dramatic resolution to the Wagner-Russian state clash, the events of June 24-June 26 weekend have been described as the most serious challenge yet to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power.</p>

<p>It remains unclear if Prigozhin is still in Russia or not.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of the peace deal announced on June 26, Prigozhin was supposed to go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him were granted amnesty for their "service at the front."&nbsp;</p>

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Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.

Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.1 billion) were withdrawn from the banks during the three-day period between June 23-June 25 when Wagner forces were moving towards Moscow. Russia's Central Bank's monthly monetary policy report released earlier this week said that 100 billion rubles were taken out in the June 23-25 period, The Moscow Times reported. Also read | Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points On June 25, 2023, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered peace deal simmered down the clash between the mercenary group and the Russian state. According to the Russian business news outlet RBC, the cash withdrawal during the Wagner's mutiny hours "was the most noticeable surge in demand for cash" since September 2021, when Moscow began mobilising its forces around Ukraine before its imminent offensive in February 2023. Wagner mutiny and war in Ukraine: How much money was withdrawn in June? Russia's Central Bank's figures cited by the Newsweek reported that 500 billion rubles (about $5.5 billion) were withdrawn from the Russian banks during the entire month of June. A fifth of these withdrawals reportedly took place during the June 23-25 weekend. Wagner's support with Putin: Kremlin Last month, shortly after the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen leaving the city of Rostov-on-Don, he reportedly met Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin was among 35 Wagner commanders invited to the meeting in Moscow, the Kremlin said. According to the spokesman, Prigozhin told Putin that Wagner unconditionally supported him. Also watch | Top Russian general knew about Wagner rebellion plan: Report × Despite a dramatic resolution to the Wagner-Russian state clash, the events of June 24-June 26 weekend have been described as the most serious challenge yet to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power. It remains unclear if Prigozhin is still in Russia or not. As part of the peace deal announced on June 26, Prigozhin was supposed to go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him were granted amnesty for their "service at the front." 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.

Russians scrambled to withdraw hundred billion rubles during Wagner's mutiny

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Top 6 Alternatives To White Rice

<p>A fishing vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants from Senegal, which had been missing for almost two weeks now, is not yet found and the initial belief by the rescue service that the lost boat has been located turned out to be incorrect, reported Reuters. This comes after a reconnaissance plane deployed during the search efforts identified a boat located 71 miles (114 km) south of Gran Canaria. It lead the rescue service to believe it could be the missing vessel. However, reports stated that it appears to be a separate one.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After further investigation, the rescue team discovered 86 individuals on board. The officials said that they need to make additional inquiry to determine the origin of the newly-found boat.</p>

<p>The boat is currently being towed towards Gran Canaria, the report said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Missing fishing vessel&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>According to Migrant Aid Group Walking Borders, the fishing vessel carrying around 200 people, along with two other boats, one transporting approximately 65 individuals and the other with an estimated 50 to 60 individuals, had been missing for roughly two weeks since their departure from Senegal in an attempt to reach Spain.</p>

<p>The families of the estimated 300 migrants on these three boats have not received any recent updates regarding their location.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the Spanish officials say?</strong></h2>

<p>The Spanish officials earlier said that they have found what might be a fishing vessel from Senegal with about 200 migrants on board which was reported to be missing nearly two weeks earlier. The Salvamento Maritimo, earlier on Monday, said that they were looking for a boat “that left Senegal with around 200 people on board”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The plane has found a boat and it is possibly the one we were looking for because from the air, it could have around 200 people on board,” a spokeswoman for the Spanish coastguard told AFP.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the official also told Reuters that&nbsp;it was “possible” that it was the missing vessel. She added that a rescue ship is on the way and it would take about two-and-a-half hours to reach the location.</p>

<p>This comes after the Spanish officials had said that there was one official alert in place for the boat with 200 passengers while its plane was also lookout for any other vessels in distress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“With the plane, we have been searching a very wide area south of Gran Canaria and Tenerife but we haven’t found it,” the Spanish coastguard spokeswoman had told AFP, earlier.&nbsp;Three boats carrying hundreds of African migrants have been reported to be missing&nbsp;in the waters off the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the humanitarian organisation Walking Borders, the fishing boat embarked from Kafountine, a coastal town in southern Senegal, which is approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,057 miles) away from Tenerife.</p>

<p><img alt="Google Map " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9aae6673-0ae5-4969-a5fe-2225c5bfcf4a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2811%29_10.png" /></p>

<p><em>Approximate location from where the migrant boat reportedly went missing | Map not to scale | Google Maps</em></p>

<h2><strong>Canary Islands missing boats: Who all are missing?</strong></h2>

<p>Spain's Efe news agency reported&nbsp;that the group has mentioned the presence of numerous children on board the biggest of three boats. In total,&nbsp;the said boat is reported to have been boarded by nearly 200 individuals from Kafountine with the intention of reaching the Canary Islands.</p>

<p>The two other similar boats, each carrying dozens of individuals, were said to be&nbsp;missing.</p>

<p>Efe was informed by Spain's maritime rescue service that an aircraft has joined the search efforts.&nbsp;Details related to the other two boats are limited.</p>

<p>Helena Maleno from Walking Borders, quoted by Reuters news agency, stated that one of the boats has around 65 people on board, while the other is carrying up to 60 individuals. This brings the total number of missing people across the three boats to more than 300.</p>

<h2><strong>Boat tragedies near Spain</strong></h2>

<p>The latest case of boats going missing in the Atlantic comes after one of the most tragic migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, where an overcrowded trawler sank off the coast of Greece.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/titanic-sub-and-greek-migrant-ship-an-orwellian-reminder-that-some-deaths-are-more-equal-than-others-608439">Titanic sub and Greek migrant ship: An Orwellian reminder that some deaths are more equal than others</a></strong></p>

<p>At least 78 casualties have been confirmed, but the UN has reported that up to 500 individuals are still unaccounted for.</p>

<p>The route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the most perilous for migrants due to the powerful Atlantic currents and the use of rudimentary dugout fishing boats that are vulnerable to capsizing.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Greece boat tragedy: WION speaks to families of Pakistani victims caught in shipwreck</strong></p>

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<p>According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in 2022, a minimum of 559 people lost their lives at sea while attempting to reach the Spanish islands. The death toll for 2021 reached 1,126.</p>

<p>The IOM cited Spain's Interior Ministry, stating that irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands totalled 15,682 individuals in 2022, representing a 30 per cent decrease compared to 2021.</p>

<p>"Despite the year-to-year decrease, the number of people undertaking this perilous route since 2020 remains high compared to previous years," the IOM said.</p>

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A fishing vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants from Senegal, which had been missing for almost two weeks now, is not yet found and the initial belief by the rescue service that the lost boat has been located turned out to be incorrect, reported Reuters.

A fishing vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants from Senegal, which had been missing for almost two weeks now, is not yet found and the initial belief by the rescue service that the lost boat has been located turned out to be incorrect, reported Reuters. This comes after a reconnaissance plane deployed during the search efforts identified a boat located 71 miles (114 km) south of Gran Canaria. It lead the rescue service to believe it could be the missing vessel. However, reports stated that it appears to be a separate one. After further investigation, the rescue team discovered 86 individuals on board. The officials said that they need to make additional inquiry to determine the origin of the newly-found boat. The boat is currently being towed towards Gran Canaria, the report said. Missing fishing vessel According to Migrant Aid Group Walking Borders, the fishing vessel carrying around 200 people, along with two other boats, one transporting approximately 65 individuals and the other with an estimated 50 to 60 individuals, had been missing for roughly two weeks since their departure from Senegal in an attempt to reach Spain. The families of the estimated 300 migrants on these three boats have not received any recent updates regarding their location. What did the Spanish officials say? The Spanish officials earlier said that they have found what might be a fishing vessel from Senegal with about 200 migrants on board which was reported to be missing nearly two weeks earlier. The Salvamento Maritimo, earlier on Monday, said that they were looking for a boat “that left Senegal with around 200 people on board”. “The plane has found a boat and it is possibly the one we were looking for because from the air, it could have around 200 people on board,” a spokeswoman for the Spanish coastguard told AFP. Meanwhile, the official also told Reuters that it was “possible” that it was the missing vessel. She added that a rescue ship is on the way and it would take about two-and-a-half hours to reach the location. This comes after the Spanish officials had said that there was one official alert in place for the boat with 200 passengers while its plane was also lookout for any other vessels in distress. “With the plane, we have been searching a very wide area south of Gran Canaria and Tenerife but we haven’t found it,” the Spanish coastguard spokeswoman had told AFP, earlier. Three boats carrying hundreds of African migrants have been reported to be missing in the waters off the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. According to the humanitarian organisation Walking Borders, the fishing boat embarked from Kafountine, a coastal town in southern Senegal, which is approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,057 miles) away from Tenerife. Approximate location from where the migrant boat reportedly went missing | Map not to scale | Google Maps Canary Islands missing boats: Who all are missing? Spain's Efe news agency reported that the group has mentioned the presence of numerous children on board the biggest of three boats. In total, the said boat is reported to have been boarded by nearly 200 individuals from Kafountine with the intention of reaching the Canary Islands. The two other similar boats, each carrying dozens of individuals, were said to be missing. Efe was informed by Spain's maritime rescue service that an aircraft has joined the search efforts. Details related to the other two boats are limited. Helena Maleno from Walking Borders, quoted by Reuters news agency, stated that one of the boats has around 65 people on board, while the other is carrying up to 60 individuals. This brings the total number of missing people across the three boats to more than 300. Boat tragedies near Spain The latest case of boats going missing in the Atlantic comes after one of the most tragic migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, where an overcrowded trawler sank off the coast of Greece. Also read | Titanic sub and Greek migrant ship: An Orwellian reminder that some deaths are more equal than others At least 78 casualties have been confirmed, but the UN has reported that up to 500 individuals are still unaccounted for. The route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the most perilous for migrants due to the powerful Atlantic currents and the use of rudimentary dugout fishing boats that are vulnerable to capsizing. Also watch | Greece boat tragedy: WION speaks to families of Pakistani victims caught in shipwreck × According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in 2022, a minimum of 559 people lost their lives at sea while attempting to reach the Spanish islands. The death toll for 2021 reached 1,126. The IOM cited Spain's Interior Ministry, stating that irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands totalled 15,682 individuals in 2022, representing a 30 per cent decrease compared to 2021. "Despite the year-to-year decrease, the number of people undertaking this perilous route since 2020 remains high compared to previous years," the IOM 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.

Search continues for missing fishing vessel carrying 200 migrants, suspected boat turns out to be different

<p>Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.</p>

<p>In New Delhi, Tehran entered into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-dominated and Moscow-fostered&nbsp;club of Central Asian 'stan' nations&nbsp;— at a summit that turned virtual for no specified reason. This came a little more than a week before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to France and less than four weeks after Modi received Washington's diplomatic niceties during a state visit described with 'unprecedented' adjectives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This week, New Delhi hosted the much-awaited Council of Heads meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or the SCO Summit, for the first time as the chair of the grouping.&nbsp;A Eurasian security and political group formed in 2001 by Beijing and Moscow, SCO includes India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. And now, Iran joined the grouping and became its ninth member.</p>

<p>Belarus will join it by 2024, it was announced.</p>

<p>But New Delhi turned it&nbsp;into a virtual format for some unknown reason.</p>

<p>&nbsp;<img alt="SCO virtual summit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bed5d746-6182-441a-9ce1-27e1a6c6085b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_15.png" /></p>

<p><em>Leaders of states and officials of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are seen on a screen during a summit via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 4, 2023 | Reuters</em></p>

<p>The leaders were critical of what they said was the negative impact of "unilateral and unlimited expansion of global missile defence systems by certain countries or groups of countries", without directly referring to NATO's expansion and Western military assistance to Ukraine.</p>

<p>All members bar India also supported China's vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) scheme which envisions rebuilding the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure spending.</p>

<p>Thereby, soon after the summit's conclusion, debate on Chinese social media took a marked anti-India fervour. Chinese foreign policy analysts welcomed Iran but said that they need to 'save' the grouping from India.</p>

<p>For New Delhi, despite its conscious diversification of its defence needs away from Russia, the SCO continued to act as a multilateral launchpad towards universal standards for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-money-for-terror-meet-global-effort-for-anti-terrorism-standards-has-long-way-to-go-535789">counter-terrorism</a> and regional connectivity that doesn't violate territorial integrity of the member states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Read more in The Capitals this week.</p>

<h2><strong>Damascus, Syria</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Damascus, Syria" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16c75f50-957a-49a7-b306-1ea8f72ca4dd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_9.png" /></p>

<p>When the simmering tensions in Syria began erupting in early 2010s, Damascus deployed paramilitary groups shabbiha — literally meaning ghosts in Arabic — &nbsp;formalised as Popular Committees who were trained, instructed and armed to defend President Bashar al-Assad's rule in the West Asian nation, a report by Belgium-based Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CIJA’s Syria team of 45 people studied the documents to detail the growth of the shabbiha groups from neigbourhood-level loyalist groups to a well-organised militia and later a parallel wing of the army called the National Defence Force (NDF).</p>

<h2><strong>Taipei, Taiwan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Reuters illustration Taiwan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86e749a2-993f-472c-bf2a-2d60ad9c9ee9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_16.png" /></p>

<p><em>Chess pieces are seen in front of displayed China and Taiwan's flags in this illustration taken January 25, 2022 | Reuters</em></p>

<p>Taiwan is gearing up to strengthen its diplomatic presence in India by opening the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Mumbai during the fourth quarter of this year, WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/taiwan-to-expand-diplomatic-presence-in-india-with-opening-of-mumbai-office-612394">reported</a> earlier this week.</p>

<p>The centre will offer visa services, document authentication, and emergency assistance, and will cater to business- people, tourists, and Taiwanese nationals in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh; and Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman.</p>

<p>The existing Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Delhi, which has been operating as the de facto embassy of Taiwan in India, was established in 1995.</p>

<h2><strong>Guatemala City, Guatemala</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Guatemala elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7da2d4c1-895f-4ac5-8607-dcbb6f22ffcb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_16.png" /></p>

<p><em>Sandra Torres of Social Democratic Party, a former first lady, alongside Bernardo Arevalo of Semilla, a young progressive party | Reuters</em>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chief Justice of Central American republic's Supreme Court blocked the certification of the results of country's first-round of presidential election held on June 25.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chief Justice Silvia Valds Quezada's ordered that the process could not go forward until the electoral authorities tally the voting sheets and report on inconsistencies, if any.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chief Justice's decision has been deemed strange since she has been the sole judge to sign it. Instead, it should have been signed by all 13 justices of Supreme Court.</p>

<p>In the elections held last month, three popular presidential candidates were banned from contesting for arbitrary reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two leading candidates, Sandra Torres of Social Democratic Party and Bernardo Arevalo of Semilla (Seed), a young progressive party have demanded that results be officialised at the earliest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the general elections held on June 25, Torres (15.86 per cent) and Bernardo Arevalo (11.77 per cent) received the highest number of votes among 22 candidates. These results, while have been counted and reported upon, are yet to be certified.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The presidential runoff is scheduled to take place on August 20, 2023.</p>

<p>That's all for The Capitals this weekend. See you next week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In New Delhi, Tehran entered into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-dominated and Moscow-fostered club of Central Asian 'stan' nations — at a summit that turned virtual for no specified reason.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In New Delhi, Tehran entered into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-dominated and Moscow-fostered club of Central Asian 'stan' nations — at a summit that turned virtual for no specified reason. This came a little more than a week before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to France and less than four weeks after Modi received Washington's diplomatic niceties during a state visit described with 'unprecedented' adjectives. This week, New Delhi hosted the much-awaited Council of Heads meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or the SCO Summit, for the first time as the chair of the grouping. A Eurasian security and political group formed in 2001 by Beijing and Moscow, SCO includes India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. And now, Iran joined the grouping and became its ninth member. Belarus will join it by 2024, it was announced. But New Delhi turned it into a virtual format for some unknown reason. Leaders of states and officials of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are seen on a screen during a summit via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 4, 2023 | Reuters The leaders were critical of what they said was the negative impact of "unilateral and unlimited expansion of global missile defence systems by certain countries or groups of countries", without directly referring to NATO's expansion and Western military assistance to Ukraine. All members bar India also supported China's vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) scheme which envisions rebuilding the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure spending. Thereby, soon after the summit's conclusion, debate on Chinese social media took a marked anti-India fervour. Chinese foreign policy analysts welcomed Iran but said that they need to 'save' the grouping from India. For New Delhi, despite its conscious diversification of its defence needs away from Russia, the SCO continued to act as a multilateral launchpad towards universal standards for counter-terrorism and regional connectivity that doesn't violate territorial integrity of the member states. Read more in The Capitals this week. Damascus, Syria When the simmering tensions in Syria began erupting in early 2010s, Damascus deployed paramilitary groups shabbiha — literally meaning ghosts in Arabic — formalised as Popular Committees who were trained, instructed and armed to defend President Bashar al-Assad's rule in the West Asian nation, a report by Belgium-based Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) said. CIJA’s Syria team of 45 people studied the documents to detail the growth of the shabbiha groups from neigbourhood-level loyalist groups to a well-organised militia and later a parallel wing of the army called the National Defence Force (NDF). Taipei, Taiwan Chess pieces are seen in front of displayed China and Taiwan's flags in this illustration taken January 25, 2022 | Reuters Taiwan is gearing up to strengthen its diplomatic presence in India by opening the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Mumbai during the fourth quarter of this year, WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal reported earlier this week. The centre will offer visa services, document authentication, and emergency assistance, and will cater to business- people, tourists, and Taiwanese nationals in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh; and Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman. The existing Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Delhi, which has been operating as the de facto embassy of Taiwan in India, was established in 1995. Guatemala City, Guatemala Sandra Torres of Social Democratic Party, a former first lady, alongside Bernardo Arevalo of Semilla, a young progressive party | Reuters The Chief Justice of Central American republic's Supreme Court blocked the certification of the results of country's first-round of presidential election held on June 25. Chief Justice Silvia Valds Quezada's ordered that the process could not go forward until the electoral authorities tally the voting sheets and report on inconsistencies, if any. Chief Justice's decision has been deemed strange since she has been the sole judge to sign it. Instead, it should have been signed by all 13 justices of Supreme Court. In the elections held last month, three popular presidential candidates were banned from contesting for arbitrary reasons. The two leading candidates, Sandra Torres of Social Democratic Party and Bernardo Arevalo of Semilla (Seed), a young progressive party have demanded that results be officialised at the earliest. In the general elections held on June 25, Torres (15.86 per cent) and Bernardo Arevalo (11.77 per cent) received the highest number of votes among 22 candidates. These results, while have been counted and reported upon, are yet to be certified. The presidential runoff is scheduled to take place on August 20, 2023. That's all for The Capitals this weekend. See you next week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Capitals: New Delhi turns real SCO virtual, 'ghost' militia of Damascus, and more

<p>Floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains have left several dead will tens of millions affected in northern India. While the capital New Delhi received the most rainfall in decades over the weekend, the hill state of Himachal Pradesh remains worst-affected where landslides have swept away homes and blocked hundreds of roads.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to official data released by the Indian Meteorological Department, the monsoon rains across India this year have been nearly two per cent more than normal for this period.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Himachal Pradesh rains: Heavy destruction due to landslides</strong></h2>

<p>The torrential rainfall has resulted in massive loss of public and private property. Visuals on social media showed houses being swept away due to dangerously high levels of water bodies.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Gandhi Nagar Kullu Himachal Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/FNiBfml9IJ">pic.twitter.com/FNiBfml9IJ</a></p>
— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoHimachal_/status/1678092396779929600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The crucial Kullu-Manali road, typically a spot of solitude to the seekers and wanderers from urban dwellings of the world's fifth largest economy, was blocked due to heavy rainfall and landslide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Thunag area of Mandi district, soul-shaking visuals from a location showed a barrage of mud and wood pouring through a rural residential area, dangerously sweeping away a house.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A flash flood triggered bu a cloudburst hit Thunag in Mandi today.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/himachal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#himachal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HimachalPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HimachalPradesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Monsoon2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Monsoon2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flashflood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flashflood</a> <a href="https://t.co/MQaDPYTPyh">pic.twitter.com/MQaDPYTPyh</a></p>
— WildCone (@thewildcone) <a href="https://twitter.com/thewildcone/status/1678073865426333696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>It couldn't be confirmed if there were any residents inside the house that was seen being swept away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A section of National Highway 3 was washed away by the overflowing Beas river in Kullu.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Portion of National Highway 3 washed away by overflowing Beas river in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/c8gRsvSkt5">pic.twitter.com/c8gRsvSkt5</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1677903634175016960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>For the immediate future, moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms is "very likely" to continue in the districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu at most places and very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places. "Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the rest of the districts," an IMD forecast said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/heavy-rains-triggers-flash-floods-landslides-in-himachal-pradesh-608866">Heavy rains trigger flash floods, landslides in Himachal Pradesh</a></strong></p>

<p>So far, 54 deaths have been recorded across Himachal Pradesh due to rain-related incidents, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Solan district received 135 mm of rain on Sunday, breaking a 50-year-old record of 105 mm of rain in a day in 1971, while Una received the highest rainfall after 1993.</p>

<h2><strong>North India rains: Schools closed in Delhi, alert issued in Western UP, Punjab and Haryana</strong></h2>

<p>In Delhi,&nbsp;schools will remain closed on Monday&nbsp;due to incessant rains in Delhi. Meanwhile, in the Ghaziabad suburb of the National Capital Region, July 10 and July 11 have been declared as holidays in the schools. A heavy rain alert has been issued for&nbsp;&nbsp;12 districts in Western Uttar Pradesh, namely, Sambhal, Saharanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Barelli, Muzaffarnagar, Kasganj, Aligarh, Badaun and Rampur.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain in most places and "heavy to very heavy" rainfall at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till July 10.</p>

<p>The monsoon constitutes nearly two-thirds of the annual rainfall in the Indian subcontinent.</p>

<p>The rainfall varies considerably. However, scientists say that climate change is making the monsoon stronger, and destruction due to heavy rainfall more frequent.</p>

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Floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains have left several dead will tens of millions affected in northern India. While the capital New Delhi received the most rainfall in decades over the weekend, the hill state of Himachal Pradesh remains worst-affected where landslides have swept away homes and blocked hundreds of roads.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains have left several dead will tens of millions affected in northern India. While the capital New Delhi received the most rainfall in decades over the weekend, the hill state of Himachal Pradesh remains worst-affected where landslides have swept away homes and blocked hundreds of roads. According to official data released by the Indian Meteorological Department, the monsoon rains across India this year have been nearly two per cent more than normal for this period. Himachal Pradesh rains: Heavy destruction due to landslides The torrential rainfall has resulted in massive loss of public and private property. Visuals on social media showed houses being swept away due to dangerously high levels of water bodies. Gandhi Nagar Kullu Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/FNiBfml9IJ — Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) July 9, 2023 × The crucial Kullu-Manali road, typically a spot of solitude to the seekers and wanderers from urban dwellings of the world's fifth largest economy, was blocked due to heavy rainfall and landslide. In Thunag area of Mandi district, soul-shaking visuals from a location showed a barrage of mud and wood pouring through a rural residential area, dangerously sweeping away a house. A flash flood triggered bu a cloudburst hit Thunag in Mandi today.#himachal #HimachalPradesh #Monsoon2023 #flood #flashflood pic.twitter.com/MQaDPYTPyh — WildCone (@thewildcone) July 9, 2023 × It couldn't be confirmed if there were any residents inside the house that was seen being swept away. A section of National Highway 3 was washed away by the overflowing Beas river in Kullu. #WATCH | Portion of National Highway 3 washed away by overflowing Beas river in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/c8gRsvSkt5 — ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2023 × For the immediate future, moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms is "very likely" to continue in the districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu at most places and very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places. "Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the rest of the districts," an IMD forecast said. Also read | Heavy rains trigger flash floods, landslides in Himachal Pradesh So far, 54 deaths have been recorded across Himachal Pradesh due to rain-related incidents, reports said. Solan district received 135 mm of rain on Sunday, breaking a 50-year-old record of 105 mm of rain in a day in 1971, while Una received the highest rainfall after 1993. North India rains: Schools closed in Delhi, alert issued in Western UP, Punjab and Haryana In Delhi, schools will remain closed on Monday due to incessant rains in Delhi. Meanwhile, in the Ghaziabad suburb of the National Capital Region, July 10 and July 11 have been declared as holidays in the schools. A heavy rain alert has been issued for 12 districts in Western Uttar Pradesh, namely, Sambhal, Saharanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Barelli, Muzaffarnagar, Kasganj, Aligarh, Badaun and Rampur. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain in most places and "heavy to very heavy" rainfall at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till July 10. The monsoon constitutes nearly two-thirds of the annual rainfall in the Indian subcontinent. The rainfall varies considerably. However, scientists say that climate change is making the monsoon stronger, and destruction due to heavy rainfall more frequent. 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.

Monsoon rains wreak havoc in northern India: Several dead, tens of millions affected

<p>The upcoming BRICS summit will be an in-person summit despite an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin from the International Criminal Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South African President Cyril Ramaphosa clarified on Sunday that next month's BRICS summit, which Vladimir Putin has been invited to, will not be a virtual summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The BRICS summit is going ahead and we are finalising our discussions on the format," Ramaphosa told journalists, adding that it will be&nbsp;a "physical" meeting.</p>

<p>Ramaphosa, however,&nbsp;did not say if Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children, would attend the BRICS summit or not.</p>

<p>"We are going to have a physical BRICS summit, all of us are committed to having a summit where we will be able to eyeball each other," he said in response to a question.</p>

<p>"We have not held a physical summit for...almost three years. It's not going to be virtual," he stressed.</p>

<p>As a member of the ICC, South Africa would be expected to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country.</p>

<h2><strong>BRICS South Africa summit: Accusations against Putin</strong></h2>

<p>According to accusations put forth by Ukraine, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Ukraine has alleged that many of these children have been placed in institutions and foster homes.</p>

<p>Russia has denied these accusations. Since Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country deems the warrant "void".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-will-putin-be-arrested-heres-what-happened-to-earlier-icc-arrest-warrant-599686">Explained: Will Putin be arrested? Here's what happens to the ICC arrest warrant</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, the South African foreign ministry had&nbsp;announced that as per its "standard" practice, it will grant immunity to the participants of the BRICS summit.</p>

<p>"These immunities do not override any warrant&nbsp;that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference,"&nbsp;Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of South Africa's international relations department said.</p>

<p>South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor had stated earlier that the country was mulling options.</p>

<p>"Our government is currently looking at what the legal options are with respect to this matter and I've indicated ... that it is something the president will be the best person to speak about (this) once it has reached a conclusion," said Pandor while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town in June 2023.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Putin: Thousands continue to join army; Russia mobilises 318,000 recruits</strong></p>

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<p>The Kremlin has not yet confirmed if the Russian president, who has largely avoided international travel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, will attend the summit in person.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has, however, clarified&nbsp;that the country would "take part in this summit at the proper level".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The upcoming BRICS summit will be an in-person summit despite an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin from the International Criminal Court. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa clarified on Sunday that next month's BRICS summit, which Vladimir Putin has been invited to, will not be a virtual summit.

The upcoming BRICS summit will be an in-person summit despite an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin from the International Criminal Court. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa clarified on Sunday that next month's BRICS summit, which Vladimir Putin has been invited to, will not be a virtual summit. "The BRICS summit is going ahead and we are finalising our discussions on the format," Ramaphosa told journalists, adding that it will be a "physical" meeting. Ramaphosa, however, did not say if Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children, would attend the BRICS summit or not. "We are going to have a physical BRICS summit, all of us are committed to having a summit where we will be able to eyeball each other," he said in response to a question. "We have not held a physical summit for...almost three years. It's not going to be virtual," he stressed. As a member of the ICC, South Africa would be expected to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country. BRICS South Africa summit: Accusations against Putin According to accusations put forth by Ukraine, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Ukraine has alleged that many of these children have been placed in institutions and foster homes. Russia has denied these accusations. Since Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country deems the warrant "void". Also read | Explained: Will Putin be arrested? Here's what happens to the ICC arrest warrant Earlier, the South African foreign ministry had announced that as per its "standard" practice, it will grant immunity to the participants of the BRICS summit. "These immunities do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference," Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of South Africa's international relations department said. South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor had stated earlier that the country was mulling options. "Our government is currently looking at what the legal options are with respect to this matter and I've indicated ... that it is something the president will be the best person to speak about (this) once it has reached a conclusion," said Pandor while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town in June 2023. Also watch | Putin: Thousands continue to join army; Russia mobilises 318,000 recruits × The Kremlin has not yet confirmed if the Russian president, who has largely avoided international travel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, will attend the summit in person. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has, however, clarified that the country would "take part in this summit at the proper level". (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.

Putin potential arrest row: South Africa to go ahead with 'in-person' BRICS summit

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