The contested peace between Israel and Palestine came to a fierce end over the weekend as Islamic Jihad and HAMAS — the latter is the most dominant Islamist militant group in control of Palestine since 2007 — launched the most ferocious attack on the Jewish state in over 50 years.&nbsp;

The phrase 50 years&nbsp;has become the defining expression of the Israeli sentiment as the country's defence forces battle to clear the Israeli territories from the Palestinian militants. It's the worst attack on Israel in the last fifty years. And, Israel's Defence Minister&nbsp;Yoav Gallant deployed it as a phrase of retaliation in his address to the nation on Saturday (October 7).

"We will change reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force," Gallant said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
היום, ראינו את פני הרוע. 
 
החמאס פתח בהתקפה נפשעת, ללא הבחנה בין נשים, ילדים וקשישים. הוא יבין מהר מאוד שעשה טעות חמורה. 
 
אנחנו נשנה את פני המציאות ברצועת עזה עשרות שנים קדימה. 
 
אזרחי ישראל, במיוחד בשעות קשות אלו, התאזרו בסבלנות וגבו את כוחות הביטחון. <a href="https://t.co/psu4BOJg3w">pic.twitter.com/psu4BOJg3w</a>
— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavgallant/status/1710732246137676281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Saturday that the country was "embarking on a long and difficult war" and that all the places where Hamas is based in Gaza or operates from will be turned "into rubble".

The conflict has raised fears of spillover in the other capitals that surround Israel.

After Iran-backed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-hezbollah-and-why-is-it-raining-down-rockets-on-israel-supporting-hamas-644131">Hezbollah expressed "solidarity" with Hamas</a> and targeted Israeli military positions in the Shebaa Farms area, Israeli tanks were seen moving north where&nbsp;the country shares its border with Lebanon, prompting fear of spillover of conflict in the wider West Asian region.&nbsp;

In Jordan's capital <a href="https://x.com/AlanRMacLeod/status/1710784848430797129?s=20">Amman</a>, located a little over 100 km east of Jerusalem,&nbsp;hundreds came out in support of the Palestinian offensive as they hailed the militant group's violent uprising against the Jewish state.&nbsp;

In Iraq's capital <a href="https://x.com/AlanRMacLeod/status/1710765456758337644?s=20">Baghdad</a>, located 1,000 km east of Jerusalem, a motorcade of cars flying Palestinian flags marched through the capital.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pro-Palestine demonstrations were witnessed in Kuwait City, Lebanon's capital Beirut and the Yemeni capital Sana'a as well.

But the most prominent show of support came from Tehran where&nbsp;thousands of Iranians gathered at Palestine Square in Tehran and set off fireworks in support of Palestine.

The choice before Israel is simply to ensure its self-preservation in a hostile neighbourhood where support for militancy to achieve territorial goals has dominated the geopolitical discourse since the modern Jewish-dominated&nbsp;state's&nbsp;inception.&nbsp;

At the same time, up to 100 Israeli hostages, and an unspecified number of various foreign nationals, including women and children, have been taken into Hamas-administered Gaza by the Islamist militants,&nbsp;complicating any Israeli military operation to free them.

Videos on HAMAS-affiliated Telegram channels seen by WION showed militants in small boats attempting to enter Israel by sea.

Militants also infiltrated Jewish communities near the border with Gaza, killing and seizing civilians and soldiers.

Israeli officials confirmed that nearly 1,000&nbsp;Israeli civilians and members of the military were killed while another 1,800 were wounded. Dozens of foreign nationals, among them, individuals from France, the United States and Nepal were taken hostages.&nbsp;Seven&nbsp;French citizens are missing after the Hamas attack, with one&nbsp;confirmed dead.&nbsp;

Several Germans, who are also Israeli nationals, were among those kidnapped by Hamas militants, German ministerial sources told AFP.&nbsp;

WION can confirm that at least 10 Nepalese students have died during the ongoing conflict in Israel.

The latest&nbsp;Hamas attack has abruptly altered the picture of&nbsp;diplomacy as a means to achieve lasting peace among the West Asian capitals where the dawn of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaAsrvQ70s">Abraham Accords</a> had raised the hopes for an era of stability in the region.

That's all for the capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The contested peace between Israel and Palestine came to a fierce end over the weekend as Islamic Jihad and HAMAS — the latter is the most dominant Islamist militant group in control of Palestine since 2007 — launched the most ferocious attack on the Jewish state in over 50 years.

The contested peace between Israel and Palestine came to a fierce end over the weekend as Islamic Jihad and HAMAS — the latter is the most dominant Islamist militant group in control of Palestine since 2007 — launched the most ferocious attack on the Jewish state in over 50 years. The phrase 50 years has become the defining expression of the Israeli sentiment as the country's defence forces battle to clear the Israeli territories from the Palestinian militants. It's the worst attack on Israel in the last fifty years. And, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant deployed it as a phrase of retaliation in his address to the nation on Saturday (October 7). "We will change reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force," Gallant said. היום, ראינו את פני הרוע. החמאס פתח בהתקפה נפשעת, ללא הבחנה בין נשים, ילדים וקשישים. הוא יבין מהר מאוד שעשה טעות חמורה. אנחנו נשנה את פני המציאות ברצועת עזה עשרות שנים קדימה. אזרחי ישראל, במיוחד בשעות קשות אלו, התאזרו בסבלנות וגבו את כוחות הביטחון. pic.twitter.com/psu4BOJg3w — יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) October 7, 2023 × Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Saturday that the country was "embarking on a long and difficult war" and that all the places where Hamas is based in Gaza or operates from will be turned "into rubble". The conflict has raised fears of spillover in the other capitals that surround Israel. After Iran-backed Hezbollah expressed "solidarity" with Hamas and targeted Israeli military positions in the Shebaa Farms area, Israeli tanks were seen moving north where the country shares its border with Lebanon, prompting fear of spillover of conflict in the wider West Asian region. In Jordan's capital Amman, located a little over 100 km east of Jerusalem, hundreds came out in support of the Palestinian offensive as they hailed the militant group's violent uprising against the Jewish state. In Iraq's capital Baghdad, located 1,000 km east of Jerusalem, a motorcade of cars flying Palestinian flags marched through the capital. Pro-Palestine demonstrations were witnessed in Kuwait City, Lebanon's capital Beirut and the Yemeni capital Sana'a as well. But the most prominent show of support came from Tehran where thousands of Iranians gathered at Palestine Square in Tehran and set off fireworks in support of Palestine. The choice before Israel is simply to ensure its self-preservation in a hostile neighbourhood where support for militancy to achieve territorial goals has dominated the geopolitical discourse since the modern Jewish-dominated state's inception. At the same time, up to 100 Israeli hostages, and an unspecified number of various foreign nationals, including women and children, have been taken into Hamas-administered Gaza by the Islamist militants, complicating any Israeli military operation to free them. Videos on HAMAS-affiliated Telegram channels seen by WION showed militants in small boats attempting to enter Israel by sea. Militants also infiltrated Jewish communities near the border with Gaza, killing and seizing civilians and soldiers. Israeli officials confirmed that nearly 1,000 Israeli civilians and members of the military were killed while another 1,800 were wounded. Dozens of foreign nationals, among them, individuals from France, the United States and Nepal were taken hostages. Seven French citizens are missing after the Hamas attack, with one confirmed dead. Several Germans, who are also Israeli nationals, were among those kidnapped by Hamas militants, German ministerial sources told AFP. WION can confirm that at least 10 Nepalese students have died during the ongoing conflict in Israel. The latest Hamas attack has abruptly altered the picture of diplomacy as a means to achieve lasting peace among the West Asian capitals where the dawn of Abraham Accords had raised the hopes for an era of stability in the region. That's all for the capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: Jerusalem vows to change ground reality in Palestine 'for next 50 years'

In 1958, when the coastal city of Karachi was still Pakistan's capital, General Ayub Khan made the move to push the boundaries of country's administration inside military barracks as he staged Pakistan's first successful coup d'état. In the decades between General Ayub Khan and General Asim Munir, the capital of Pakistan shifted from Karachi to Islamabad, military-supported regimes replaced conventionally direct coup&nbsp;d'états but the dominance of Rawalpindi&nbsp;— Islamabad's satellite town that houses Pakistan Army's headquarters — remained a constant.<img alt="File photos of General Ayub Khan and General Asim Munir of Pakistan Army" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee19bbc5-147c-439c-ab08-4cba16b5a58e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-10-01T210032.975.png" />

File photos of General Ayub Khan and General Asim Munir of Pakistan Army

This week, the lawyer of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged that the country's only World Cup-winning cricket captain is being&nbsp;"mentally tortured" in the Adiala Jail, where he is jailed since August&nbsp;after he was handed a three-year prison sentence in a corruption case.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/to-coup-or-not-coup-pakistan-armys-options-after-imran-khans-mini-intifada-592986">To coup or not coup: Pakistan Army’s options after Imran Khan’s 'mini-intifada'</a>

Country's election&nbsp;authorities have also banned Khan from running for office for five years.

With Imran Khan out of the picture, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been dodging a corruption case against him since 2018 with a self-imposed exile,&nbsp;is set to return to the country, his brother and another former Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed this week.

Yes, India's neighbour has had too many prime ministers since its inception&nbsp;— twenty to be precise, none of whom could ever complete a five-year tenure amid military's dominance.&nbsp;

But there is another cache in the evolving semblance of democracy in Pakistan.

By law, the next national elections should have been scheduled till or before November 12, 2023&nbsp;— exactly ninety days after Pakistan's National Assembly was dissolved and Shehbaz Sharif was replaced as prime minister by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explained-anwaar-ul-haq-kakar-established-as-pakistans-caretaker-pm-why-it-matters-625011">Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar</a>, an undistinguished politician from the restive Balochistan province.&nbsp;

But the elections have been formally delayed till the end of January on account of redrawing of the national assembly constituencies.

However, the January may not bring the climax for the current phase of Pakistan's dance of democracy in the theatre of military-intelligence nexus.

This week, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another former Pakistani prime minister, stated that elections in Pakistan could be further delayed beyond January.&nbsp;

Abbasi said that elections may not be possible in January in several constituencies of the country due to heavy snowfall in the winter. The idea has been sown in Pakistani public sphere to the next potential trajectory of the most asked question of Pakistan:&nbsp;Mulk mein intekhab kab honge?&nbsp;(When will there be elections in the country?)

The small-talk of state of weather may very well determine the direction of larger conversation of national elections in Pakistan in the coming weeks.

Amid this small talk, here's how the concealed discourse of Pakistani politics&nbsp;looks for Imran Khan, country's most popular leader by most credible accounts.

There is a three-year prison sentence, five years ban on contesting elections, an ever-delaying election and the return of his foe Nawaz Sharif from an exile.<img alt="File photo of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Imran Khan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b3e6530-6e0b-4338-8182-184975ef732c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-10-01T210307.169.png" />

File photo of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Imran Khan 
 
In Pakistan's Game of Thrones where the military wears the crown, Imran Khan remains stacked against the wall.&nbsp;

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

In 1958, when the coastal city of Karachi was still Pakistan's capital, General Ayub Khan made the move to push the boundaries of country's administration inside military barracks as he staged Pakistan's first successful coup d'état.

In 1958, when the coastal city of Karachi was still Pakistan's capital, General Ayub Khan made the move to push the boundaries of country's administration inside military barracks as he staged Pakistan's first successful coup d'état. In the decades between General Ayub Khan and General Asim Munir, the capital of Pakistan shifted from Karachi to Islamabad, military-supported regimes replaced conventionally direct coup d'états but the dominance of Rawalpindi — Islamabad's satellite town that houses Pakistan Army's headquarters — remained a constant. File photos of General Ayub Khan and General Asim Munir of Pakistan Army This week, the lawyer of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged that the country's only World Cup-winning cricket captain is being "mentally tortured" in the Adiala Jail, where he is jailed since August after he was handed a three-year prison sentence in a corruption case. Also read | To coup or not coup: Pakistan Army’s options after Imran Khan’s 'mini-intifada' Country's election authorities have also banned Khan from running for office for five years. With Imran Khan out of the picture, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been dodging a corruption case against him since 2018 with a self-imposed exile, is set to return to the country, his brother and another former Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed this week. Yes, India's neighbour has had too many prime ministers since its inception — twenty to be precise, none of whom could ever complete a five-year tenure amid military's dominance. But there is another cache in the evolving semblance of democracy in Pakistan. By law, the next national elections should have been scheduled till or before November 12, 2023 — exactly ninety days after Pakistan's National Assembly was dissolved and Shehbaz Sharif was replaced as prime minister by Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar, an undistinguished politician from the restive Balochistan province. But the elections have been formally delayed till the end of January on account of redrawing of the national assembly constituencies. However, the January may not bring the climax for the current phase of Pakistan's dance of democracy in the theatre of military-intelligence nexus. This week, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another former Pakistani prime minister, stated that elections in Pakistan could be further delayed beyond January. Abbasi said that elections may not be possible in January in several constituencies of the country due to heavy snowfall in the winter. The idea has been sown in Pakistani public sphere to the next potential trajectory of the most asked question of Pakistan: Mulk mein intekhab kab honge? (When will there be elections in the country?) The small-talk of state of weather may very well determine the direction of larger conversation of national elections in Pakistan in the coming weeks. Amid this small talk, here's how the concealed discourse of Pakistani politics looks for Imran Khan, country's most popular leader by most credible accounts. There is a three-year prison sentence, five years ban on contesting elections, an ever-delaying election and the return of his foe Nawaz Sharif from an exile. File photo of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Imran Khan In Pakistan's Game of Thrones where the military wears the crown, Imran Khan remains stacked against the wall. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: Islamabad's game of thrones stacked against Imran Khan

New Delhi's longstanding foreign policy&nbsp;principle of strategic autonomy -- the pursuance of self-sufficient and independent strategic goals without an allegiance to a conventional "alliance" -- was vindicated by the state of affairs stoked by a geopolitical slapdash by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.&nbsp;

Trudeau made an explosive statement in the Canadian&nbsp;Parliament in Ottawa that the country's security officials were pursuing "credible allegations" of a "potential link" to India in the killing of&nbsp;Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a&nbsp;Khalistani terrorist, in June.&nbsp;

The statement&nbsp;led to expulsion of diplomats from the two capitals, with New Delhi upping the ante by enforcing the ceasing of visa services to all Canadian citizens.&nbsp;

Later this week, the Canadian state broadcaster reported, and the US later gave official confirmation that the coveted&nbsp;'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-five-eyes-intelligence-alliance-and-how-does-it-support-canadas-claim-in-nijjar-killing-639080">Five Eyes' intelligence alliance</a> — constituted by the intelligence establishments of the&nbsp;&nbsp;United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada — "shared intelligence" Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the Indian government's possible involvement in the killing.&nbsp;

India has denied Trudeau's oxymoronic "credible allegations" charge, terming them 'absurd and motivated".

But the row has thrown open a geopolitical reality in front of New Delhi.&nbsp;

For months, the Indian analysts have cited Russia's support to India in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War as reason behind geopolitical vagueness that is perceived as New Delhi implicitly standing by Moscow during its hours of war, however unjustified, with Ukraine.

Many are now coming to terms with the fact that the US puts allies such as Canada, who have fought alongside it, in a separate, more trusted category.&nbsp;

"The role of the US intelligence in emboldening Trudeau to pick a geopolitical fight with India could have a bearing on the direction of the US-India ties, not least by reinforcing India's imperative for strategic autonomy. The task of building mutual trust now becomes harder," ace Indian strategic thinker Brahma Chellaney <a href="https://twitter.com/Chellaney">wrote</a> on X, formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;

"Less clear is what Ottawa and Washington have sought to achieve against India through allegations arising from the murky world of espionage, where the line between information and disinformation is easily blurred. With neither Ottawa nor Washington willing to present any video, audio or forensic evidence in support, can vague, unsubstantiated allegations about a "potential" India link to a terrorist's killing serve any purpose, other than to make New Delhi rethink its nascent foreign-policy tilt toward the West?", asked Chellaney.

 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

New Delhi's longstanding foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy -- the pursuance of self-sufficient and independent strategic goals without an allegiance to a conventional "alliance" -- was vindicated by the state of affairs stoked by a geopolitical slapdash by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

New Delhi's longstanding foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy -- the pursuance of self-sufficient and independent strategic goals without an allegiance to a conventional "alliance" -- was vindicated by the state of affairs stoked by a geopolitical slapdash by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau made an explosive statement in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa that the country's security officials were pursuing "credible allegations" of a "potential link" to India in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in June. The statement led to expulsion of diplomats from the two capitals, with New Delhi upping the ante by enforcing the ceasing of visa services to all Canadian citizens. Later this week, the Canadian state broadcaster reported, and the US later gave official confirmation that the coveted 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance — constituted by the intelligence establishments of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada — "shared intelligence" Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the Indian government's possible involvement in the killing. India has denied Trudeau's oxymoronic "credible allegations" charge, terming them 'absurd and motivated". But the row has thrown open a geopolitical reality in front of New Delhi. For months, the Indian analysts have cited Russia's support to India in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War as reason behind geopolitical vagueness that is perceived as New Delhi implicitly standing by Moscow during its hours of war, however unjustified, with Ukraine. Many are now coming to terms with the fact that the US puts allies such as Canada, who have fought alongside it, in a separate, more trusted category. "The role of the US intelligence in emboldening Trudeau to pick a geopolitical fight with India could have a bearing on the direction of the US-India ties, not least by reinforcing India's imperative for strategic autonomy. The task of building mutual trust now becomes harder," ace Indian strategic thinker Brahma Chellaney wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Less clear is what Ottawa and Washington have sought to achieve against India through allegations arising from the murky world of espionage, where the line between information and disinformation is easily blurred. With neither Ottawa nor Washington willing to present any video, audio or forensic evidence in support, can vague, unsubstantiated allegations about a "potential" India link to a terrorist's killing serve any purpose, other than to make New Delhi rethink its nascent foreign-policy tilt toward the West?", asked Chellaney. 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.

The Capitals: For New Delhi, a silver-lining in Ottawa's assassination accusation

Diversity of viewpoints spurs innovation, a <a href="https://hbr.org/2013/12/how-diversity-can-drive-innovation">groundbreaking</a> Harvard research in 2013 had concluded. Since then, reports as well as anecdotal insights have pointed out to a pattern of international investors rejecting the composition of proposed directors at shareholders' meetings that do not include women.

But that's just one small part of the world where equal opportunities for all have emerged as one defining circle in a range of concentric circles of a&nbsp;social sphere.

In many parts of the world, women continue to struggle for equal opportunities.

This week two vastly different stories from two different capitals of the world underscored the growing gap between striving towards ideal and running&nbsp;away from the same on the front of women's rights.&nbsp;

<h2>Tokyo, Japan</h2>

<img alt="Tokyo | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5e2d2da7-ceb0-47e9-b986-b18710833c4d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T192220.229.png" />

This photo taken on December 17, 2022 shows people walking past autumn leaves along a tree-lined street at the centre of the Hongo campus at the University of Tokyo, also known as Todai, in Tokyo | AFP 
 
The education board of Japanese capital&nbsp;announced&nbsp;scrapping of its gender quota for all admissions of full-time public high school students.

The new rules will come in effect starting from the spring of 2024.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education had been&nbsp;the last board in Japan with a quota for ensuring an equal gender ratio for men and women.

Tokyo, like the rest of prefectures in Japan, will begin passing the individuals based on grades-based ranking. Earlier, the qualification criteria for men and women was being criticised due to significant gap of marks required for people of two genders.

The move is deemed as a reflection of a growing awareness of sexual diversity in Japan. This is because, to avail the benefits of gender quota, one had to specify their gender.&nbsp;

Transgender or nonbinary people in Japan long complained of psychological distress when forced to specify a gender they did not identify with.

<h2>Tehran, Iran</h2>

<img alt="A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in her support in front of the Iranian embassy in Brussels | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a52a350-726a-403e-b07c-c871505d77d7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T191724.442.png" />

A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in her support in front of the Iranian embassy in Brussels | AFP

A 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, originally from Iran's Kurdistan province,&nbsp;was coming out of a metro station in Tehran in September 2023 when she was detained by country's morality police, who accused her of violating country's mandatory hijab rules.

Amini was put in a van and taken to a so-called re-education centre where women are "trained" to dress properly.&nbsp;

Amini was seen collapsing in that government facility, following which she died at a hospital days later.

Her parents countered the account of authorities who claimed that she died of a pre-existing condition and cited their daughter's previously non-existent head injury as sign of torture they said Amini faced in detention.

From a small protest right in front of the Tehran hospital where she breathed last, the public outrage on Mahsa Amini's custodial death snowballed into the biggest-ever challenge for country's rulers since the Islamic revolution of 1979. Protests spread across towns and cities of the nation, where people demanded scrapping of country's mandatory hijab rules and called for the ouster of the Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei

The street protests gradually died down earlier this year after ruthless repression on protesters.&nbsp;Rights organisations say more than 500 people were killed, including at least 70 minors while tens of thousands were detained in prisons across Iran.

A number of journalists remain imprisoned till date.

This week, as the world marked one year of Mahsa Amini's custodial death, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network&nbsp;said&nbsp;that female inmates on held protests at the Qarchak prison, about 62 km from Tehran.

The Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps&nbsp;meanwhile announced that a dual national was arrested over "attempts to organise riots and vandalism" in Karaj city west of the capital Tehran.

The authorities also&nbsp;Amini's family from holding a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of her death, confining her father under "house arrest", rights groups said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Diversity of viewpoints spurs innovation, a groundbreaking Harvard research in 2013 had concluded. Since then, reports as well as anecdotal insights have pointed out to a pattern of international investors rejecting the composition of proposed directors at shareholders' meetings that do not include women.

Diversity of viewpoints spurs innovation, a groundbreaking Harvard research in 2013 had concluded. Since then, reports as well as anecdotal insights have pointed out to a pattern of international investors rejecting the composition of proposed directors at shareholders' meetings that do not include women. But that's just one small part of the world where equal opportunities for all have emerged as one defining circle in a range of concentric circles of a social sphere. In many parts of the world, women continue to struggle for equal opportunities. This week two vastly different stories from two different capitals of the world underscored the growing gap between striving towards ideal and running away from the same on the front of women's rights. Tokyo, Japan This photo taken on December 17, 2022 shows people walking past autumn leaves along a tree-lined street at the centre of the Hongo campus at the University of Tokyo, also known as Todai, in Tokyo | AFP The education board of Japanese capital announced scrapping of its gender quota for all admissions of full-time public high school students. The new rules will come in effect starting from the spring of 2024. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education had been the last board in Japan with a quota for ensuring an equal gender ratio for men and women. Tokyo, like the rest of prefectures in Japan, will begin passing the individuals based on grades-based ranking. Earlier, the qualification criteria for men and women was being criticised due to significant gap of marks required for people of two genders. The move is deemed as a reflection of a growing awareness of sexual diversity in Japan. This is because, to avail the benefits of gender quota, one had to specify their gender. Transgender or nonbinary people in Japan long complained of psychological distress when forced to specify a gender they did not identify with. Tehran, Iran A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in her support in front of the Iranian embassy in Brussels | AFP A 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, originally from Iran's Kurdistan province, was coming out of a metro station in Tehran in September 2023 when she was detained by country's morality police, who accused her of violating country's mandatory hijab rules. Amini was put in a van and taken to a so-called re-education centre where women are "trained" to dress properly. Amini was seen collapsing in that government facility, following which she died at a hospital days later. Her parents countered the account of authorities who claimed that she died of a pre-existing condition and cited their daughter's previously non-existent head injury as sign of torture they said Amini faced in detention. From a small protest right in front of the Tehran hospital where she breathed last, the public outrage on Mahsa Amini's custodial death snowballed into the biggest-ever challenge for country's rulers since the Islamic revolution of 1979. Protests spread across towns and cities of the nation, where people demanded scrapping of country's mandatory hijab rules and called for the ouster of the Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei The street protests gradually died down earlier this year after ruthless repression on protesters. Rights organisations say more than 500 people were killed, including at least 70 minors while tens of thousands were detained in prisons across Iran. A number of journalists remain imprisoned till date. This week, as the world marked one year of Mahsa Amini's custodial death, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network said that female inmates on held protests at the Qarchak prison, about 62 km from Tehran. The Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps meanwhile announced that a dual national was arrested over "attempts to organise riots and vandalism" in Karaj city west of the capital Tehran. The authorities also Amini's family from holding a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of her death, confining her father under "house arrest", rights groups 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.

The Capitals: Tokyo and Tehran take women's rights in contrasting directions

The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-message-through-its-downgraded-role-at-g20-summit-in-delhi-633842">Chinese leader Xi Jinping</a> from New Delhi's G20 summit was widely described as a sign of impending floundering of India's stewardship of one of the world's most important geo-economic forums.&nbsp;

But New Delhi began the summit with a bang, quite literally.

Right at the start of the inaugural session of the summit, host India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hammered the gavel and embraced African Union's chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat into the fold of G20, revamping the forum of the world's wealthiest economies with the idea of reformed and inclusive multilateralism that successive governments in New Delhi and their representatives at UN headquarters in New York have long advocated.&nbsp;

African Union's inclusion in G20 was hailed by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as a mark of India's consistent efforts to be a voice of the reason for Global South, adding that the group of developing economies led by New Delhi helped avoid war in Ukraine overshadowing G20 agenda.

Following the inclusion of the 55-member bloc into the G20, the proceeding hours bore witness to a global consensus that was achieved as the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, a landmark conclusion of an exhaustive G20 presidency led by India, particularly amid divergent views on Ukraine conflict.

Furthermore, the first day of the summit also saw the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor — which the US President Joe Biden hailed as 'a real big deal' — &nbsp;a move <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delhi-g20-modi-biden-mbs-launch-inter-continent-economic-corridor-to-outfox-chinas-bri-634176">experts told WION</a> was aimed at giving countries involved more agency in terms of drifts aligning with their own interests in the wake of Chinese efforts to establish an ambitious the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the efforts towards combating Climate Change, the unanimously adopted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-five-key-takeaways-encompassing-roaring-success-of-new-delhi-g20-summit-634512">New Delhi declaration</a> called for the phasing out and rationalisation of fossil fuel subsidies and commits to reducing "unabated coal power" while boosting clean energy generation.

Besides, the Global Biofuels Alliance was launched with India, Brazil and the United States as its founding members, with sixteen other countries and twelve international organisations agreeing to join the group in New Delhi.

The alliance aims to expedite the global uptake of biofuels by facilitating technology advancements, intensifying the utilisation of sustainable biofuels, and shaping robust standard setting and certification through the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders.

By the end of the summit, Modi concluded with a proposal to hold a virtual G20 session to take stock of the progress on matters agreed upon in the Delhi declaration.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping from New Delhi's G20 summit was widely described as a sign of impending floundering of India's stewardship of one of the world's most important geo-economic forums.

The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping from New Delhi's G20 summit was widely described as a sign of impending floundering of India's stewardship of one of the world's most important geo-economic forums. But New Delhi began the summit with a bang, quite literally. Right at the start of the inaugural session of the summit, host India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hammered the gavel and embraced African Union's chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat into the fold of G20, revamping the forum of the world's wealthiest economies with the idea of reformed and inclusive multilateralism that successive governments in New Delhi and their representatives at UN headquarters in New York have long advocated. African Union's inclusion in G20 was hailed by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as a mark of India's consistent efforts to be a voice of the reason for Global South, adding that the group of developing economies led by New Delhi helped avoid war in Ukraine overshadowing G20 agenda. Following the inclusion of the 55-member bloc into the G20, the proceeding hours bore witness to a global consensus that was achieved as the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, a landmark conclusion of an exhaustive G20 presidency led by India, particularly amid divergent views on Ukraine conflict. Furthermore, the first day of the summit also saw the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor — which the US President Joe Biden hailed as 'a real big deal' — a move experts told WION was aimed at giving countries involved more agency in terms of drifts aligning with their own interests in the wake of Chinese efforts to establish an ambitious the Belt and Road Initiative. In the efforts towards combating Climate Change, the unanimously adopted New Delhi declaration called for the phasing out and rationalisation of fossil fuel subsidies and commits to reducing "unabated coal power" while boosting clean energy generation. Besides, the Global Biofuels Alliance was launched with India, Brazil and the United States as its founding members, with sixteen other countries and twelve international organisations agreeing to join the group in New Delhi. The alliance aims to expedite the global uptake of biofuels by facilitating technology advancements, intensifying the utilisation of sustainable biofuels, and shaping robust standard setting and certification through the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders. By the end of the summit, Modi concluded with a proposal to hold a virtual G20 session to take stock of the progress on matters agreed upon in the Delhi declaration. 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.

The Capitals: Delhi delivers as the voice of Global South

The capital of the world's largest democracy will host the G20 summit this week. In the months before, New Delhi has worked hard to assert its presidency of the grouping as one of a geo-economic forum.

The country's foreign minister, Dr S&nbsp;Jaishankar, a former career diplomat, has made it clear since the start that&nbsp;Delhi will focus on reverting G20 to its&nbsp;real business. While Delhi has walked a geopolitical tightrope over the Ukraine conflict whose discourse has loomed large on global realpolitik, its ability to deliver on G-20's&nbsp;geo-economic agenda will be tested as a trial of its stabilising rise in global affairs.&nbsp;

"The G20 is not the UN Security Council. It is not the primary forum to debate international peace and security," Jaishankar had said in March while referring to the crisis in Ukraine that began after Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched an offensive in February last year.&nbsp;

Throughout its period of presidency, New Delhi has walked a geopolitical tightrope: showing willingness to assist Ukraine via humanitarian means and demanding dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow, and at the same time, pointing out that its presidency will remain "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-eam-confirms-ukraine-has-not-been-invited-to-g20-meeting-602040">non-committal</a>" to give Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky a platform to air his concerns.&nbsp;

As the week closed on, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview with Press Trust of India, separately pointed out the urgent need&nbsp;for reform of the United Nations to match the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-sets-the-tone-for-un-security-council-reforms-before-hosting-g20-leaders-631947">changing geo-economic realities of the world and ensure representation of voices that matter</a>.

"A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century. So, our international institutions need to recognise changing realities, expand their decision-making forums, relook at their priorities and ensure representation of voices that matter," Modi said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The capital of the world's largest democracy will host the G20 summit this week. In the months before, New Delhi has worked hard to assert its presidency of the grouping as one of a geo-economic forum.

The capital of the world's largest democracy will host the G20 summit this week. In the months before, New Delhi has worked hard to assert its presidency of the grouping as one of a geo-economic forum. The country's foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar, a former career diplomat, has made it clear since the start that Delhi will focus on reverting G20 to its real business. While Delhi has walked a geopolitical tightrope over the Ukraine conflict whose discourse has loomed large on global realpolitik, its ability to deliver on G-20's geo-economic agenda will be tested as a trial of its stabilising rise in global affairs. "The G20 is not the UN Security Council. It is not the primary forum to debate international peace and security," Jaishankar had said in March while referring to the crisis in Ukraine that began after Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched an offensive in February last year. Throughout its period of presidency, New Delhi has walked a geopolitical tightrope: showing willingness to assist Ukraine via humanitarian means and demanding dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow, and at the same time, pointing out that its presidency will remain "non-committal" to give Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky a platform to air his concerns. As the week closed on, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview with Press Trust of India, separately pointed out the urgent need for reform of the United Nations to match the changing geo-economic realities of the world and ensure representation of voices that matter. "A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century. So, our international institutions need to recognise changing realities, expand their decision-making forums, relook at their priorities and ensure representation of voices that matter," Modi 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.

The Capitals: New Delhi's test to ace the G-20 exam

Last week, The Capitals told you that all eyes were on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-capitals-all-eyes-on-new-delhi-after-moscow-fails-to-repeat-soviet-era-triumph-of-its-lunar-mission-627344">New Delhi after Moscow's failed attempt at repeating Soviet era triumph of its lunar mission</a>. This week, with a big smile, a minimalistic grin, and a Faux pas, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended up at the center of India's lunar leap that closely mirrored New Delhi's diplomatic push to establish India as an ambitious power on the rise.&nbsp;

The big smile&nbsp;moment came at around 6:04 PM (Indian Standard Time) on August 23&nbsp;— a day India will now celebrate as National Space Day to honour the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission&nbsp;— when Prime Minister Modi appeared during the livestreaming of successful&nbsp;lunar landing and fluttered a small tricolour amid a joyous screen showing scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation bursting in celebrations.

The minimalistic grin moment came next morning in the South African capital Johannesburg at the site of annual summit of BRICS&nbsp;— Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa&nbsp;— when Modi showed President Lula da Silva of Brazil a newspaper frontpage that said 'India's Modi out of this world'.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Faux pas&nbsp;when Modi, while triumphantly informing host South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa of Chandrayaan-3's success, ended up saying that the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3 mission landed in South China, before correcting himself to add it landed on South Pole. For Indian social media users, this underlined how China was on top of Modi's mind during BRICS summit.

Read more in The Capitals this week:&nbsp;

<h2>Johannesburg, South Africa</h2>

One of South Africa's capitals (mind you, the country has three national&nbsp;capitals for three different purposes; Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg) hosted the showpiece summit of the nations that was seen to be riling the West. This was not for the contradictions it presented due to presence of both India and China but for its geo-economic weight that&nbsp;elevated even more by the time the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China stood together for a family photo on August 24.<img alt="BRICS family photo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16284f2d-3690-403c-9a22-1f4cad71a636" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Capitals%20When%20New%20Delhi%27s%20Chandrayaan%20triumph%20took%20over%20BRICS%20leaders%20in%20Johannesburg%20%282%29.jpg" />

Brazil's President&nbsp;Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, China's leader Xi Jinping, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov | Commons

Starting January 2024, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will all be able to add BRICS membership to their resumes.

The bloc also called for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council&nbsp;— a longstanding demand of New Delhi and Brasilia — "with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries".

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Last week, The Capitals told you that all eyes were on New Delhi after Moscow's failed attempt at repeating Soviet era triumph of its lunar mission. This week, with a big smile, a minimalistic grin, and a Faux pas, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended up at the center of India's lunar leap that closely mirrored New Delhi's diplomatic push to establish India as an ambitious power on the rise.

Last week, The Capitals told you that all eyes were on New Delhi after Moscow's failed attempt at repeating Soviet era triumph of its lunar mission. This week, with a big smile, a minimalistic grin, and a Faux pas, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended up at the center of India's lunar leap that closely mirrored New Delhi's diplomatic push to establish India as an ambitious power on the rise. The big smile moment came at around 6:04 PM (Indian Standard Time) on August 23 — a day India will now celebrate as National Space Day to honour the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission — when Prime Minister Modi appeared during the livestreaming of successful lunar landing and fluttered a small tricolour amid a joyous screen showing scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation bursting in celebrations. The minimalistic grin moment came next morning in the South African capital Johannesburg at the site of annual summit of BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — when Modi showed President Lula da Silva of Brazil a newspaper frontpage that said 'India's Modi out of this world'. The Faux pas when Modi, while triumphantly informing host South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa of Chandrayaan-3's success, ended up saying that the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3 mission landed in South China, before correcting himself to add it landed on South Pole. For Indian social media users, this underlined how China was on top of Modi's mind during BRICS summit. Read more in The Capitals this week: Johannesburg, South Africa One of South Africa's capitals (mind you, the country has three national capitals for three different purposes; Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg) hosted the showpiece summit of the nations that was seen to be riling the West. This was not for the contradictions it presented due to presence of both India and China but for its geo-economic weight that elevated even more by the time the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China stood together for a family photo on August 24. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, China's leader Xi Jinping, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov | Commons Starting January 2024, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will all be able to add BRICS membership to their resumes. The bloc also called for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council — a longstanding demand of New Delhi and Brasilia — "with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The Capitals: When New Delhi's Chandrayaan triumph took over BRICS leaders in Johannesburg

About 62 miles northwest of the US capital Washington DC, in Camp David, the presidential holiday retreat, Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol. Just right before the crucial trilateral summit, the US agreed to give up <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-courts-japan-by-giving-up-anti-whaling-language-in-indo-pacific-economic-framework-627006">anti-whaling language</a> in its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework which many described as an effort to court Tokyo and avoid any dilution of grand optics at Camp David.&nbsp;

Tokyo says hunting and eating whales are part of its culture, a practice opposed by nature conservationists worldwide.&nbsp;

Standing alongside Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Japanese Prime Minister described the meeting as "exactly what is needed at this time."

He added: "I’m convinced the trilateral security cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea has further strengthened regional peace and stability."

The leaders issued a sharply worded joint statement about Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, (or what the Philippines says is the West Philippines Sea) where China has claimed territory that according to international law, belongs to other countries, and said recently it plans military drills.

"Regarding the dangerous and aggressive actions we recently witnessed by the People's Republic of China in support of its illegal maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea, we ... strongly oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters," the statement said.

<h2>Moscow, Russia</h2>

The week ended on a low note for Moscow. Its Lune-25 probe, the country's first in nearly 50 years,&nbsp;crash-landed on Moon.&nbsp;

The last lunar lander, Luna-24, landed on the surface of the Moon on August 18, 1976.

The Luna-25 spacecraft launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur Oblast on August 10, setting the vehicle on a swift trip to the moon.

After Luna's demise, all eyes are now on India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, whose Vikram lander is expected to land close to Luna's landing site on Wednesday (August 23) at 18:03 hours (Indian Standard Time).

<h2 data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_4878EF2D-2226-F8EF-95CC-123DFC42D025@published">Niamey, Niger</h2>

The West African nation hit by a coup last month saw a belligerent show of support from the country's citizens for the military junta that took over Niamey's corridors of power after overthrowing democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Meanwhile, the regional bloc of leaders, (ECOWAS) managed to get assurance from the junta that it will reverse the coup and install civilian leadership in the next three years.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

About 62 miles northwest of the US capital Washington DC, in Camp David, the presidential holiday retreat, Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol.

About 62 miles northwest of the US capital Washington DC, in Camp David, the presidential holiday retreat, Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol. Just right before the crucial trilateral summit, the US agreed to give up anti-whaling language in its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework which many described as an effort to court Tokyo and avoid any dilution of grand optics at Camp David. Tokyo says hunting and eating whales are part of its culture, a practice opposed by nature conservationists worldwide. Standing alongside Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Japanese Prime Minister described the meeting as "exactly what is needed at this time." He added: "I’m convinced the trilateral security cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea has further strengthened regional peace and stability." The leaders issued a sharply worded joint statement about Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, (or what the Philippines says is the West Philippines Sea) where China has claimed territory that according to international law, belongs to other countries, and said recently it plans military drills. "Regarding the dangerous and aggressive actions we recently witnessed by the People's Republic of China in support of its illegal maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea, we ... strongly oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters," the statement said. Moscow, Russia The week ended on a low note for Moscow. Its Lune-25 probe, the country's first in nearly 50 years, crash-landed on Moon. The last lunar lander, Luna-24, landed on the surface of the Moon on August 18, 1976. The Luna-25 spacecraft launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur Oblast on August 10, setting the vehicle on a swift trip to the moon. After Luna's demise, all eyes are now on India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, whose Vikram lander is expected to land close to Luna's landing site on Wednesday (August 23) at 18:03 hours (Indian Standard Time). Niamey, Niger The West African nation hit by a coup last month saw a belligerent show of support from the country's citizens for the military junta that took over Niamey's corridors of power after overthrowing democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Meanwhile, the regional bloc of leaders, (ECOWAS) managed to get assurance from the junta that it will reverse the coup and install civilian leadership in the next three years. 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.

The Capitals: All eyes on New Delhi after Moscow fails to repeat Soviet-era triumph of its lunar mission

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world.

Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420.&nbsp;

The number 420 is a Section that specifies criminal penalties for acts of cheating in the Indian Penal Code, the official criminal code of the world's largest democracy, created by the British imperialists in 1860.&nbsp;

Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code could become Section 316 of proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new lawbook that could come to define the criminal code in the world's largest democracy.

Section 420; 355 other provisions as well as the Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act are set to be a matter of past.

The objective of what could soon be India's erstwhile justice system codes, was to "punish, not deliver justice", Amit Shah, the Minister for Home Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet said while introducing the three bills in parliament that will replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act.&nbsp;

My colleague C. Krishnasai details in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-indian-govt-proposes-revamp-of-colonial-era-laws-heres-what-will-change-624710">this explainer</a> what all will change once these proposed changes are enacted as laws by the Indian parliament.

Read more, in The Capitals this week.&nbsp;

<h2>Quito, Ecuador</h2>

In Ecuador, sandwiched between Colombia and Peru on South American continent, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was slayed by an assailant in broad daylight ahead of elections on August 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The killing of Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and drug crime that have beset Ecuador, reflected a crisis-ridden&nbsp;security situation in much of South America.&nbsp;

Villavicencio had claimed to have received multiple death threats from Mexico-based&nbsp;Sinaloa Cartel, an organised crime group that operates in Ecuador.

<h2>Washington DC, United States of America</h2>

From Washington this week came a remarkable assertion of security guarantee to Philippines, if the islands located more than 4,000 miles away across the Pacific is faced by an armed aggression from Beijing.

While all eyes have been on Taipei for its central role in the US-China confrontation for&nbsp;semiconductor dominance, Manila, albeit unthinkably, could very well emerge as Beijing-Washington flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific.

The US State Department condemned China's aggression against the Philippines in what Beijing calls&nbsp;South China Sea but Manila asserts as West Philippine Sea.

"The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the US statement warned China.

<h2>Wellington, New Zealand</h2>

For decades, Wellington was known for its "independent foreign policy", a foreign policy preposition popularised by New Delhi during the decades after cessation of Cold War. This week, a significant shift was marked in Wellington's defence posturing.

The country&nbsp;released a roadmap for the future of defence and national security this week.&nbsp;

The new doctrines mark a major shift in New Zealand's foreign policy and suggest the government's intent to join AUKUS, an Anglophone tripartite alliance between Australia, the US and the UK.

New Zealand is going to embrace "Pillar Two" of the AUKUS pact: "AUKUS Pillar Two may present an opportunity for New Zealand to cooperate with close security partners on emerging technologies," the government document reads. 
 
That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world. Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world. Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420. The number 420 is a Section that specifies criminal penalties for acts of cheating in the Indian Penal Code, the official criminal code of the world's largest democracy, created by the British imperialists in 1860. Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code could become Section 316 of proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new lawbook that could come to define the criminal code in the world's largest democracy. Section 420; 355 other provisions as well as the Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act are set to be a matter of past. The objective of what could soon be India's erstwhile justice system codes, was to "punish, not deliver justice", Amit Shah, the Minister for Home Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet said while introducing the three bills in parliament that will replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act. My colleague C. Krishnasai details in this explainer what all will change once these proposed changes are enacted as laws by the Indian parliament. Read more, in The Capitals this week. Quito, Ecuador In Ecuador, sandwiched between Colombia and Peru on South American continent, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was slayed by an assailant in broad daylight ahead of elections on August 20. The killing of Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and drug crime that have beset Ecuador, reflected a crisis-ridden security situation in much of South America. Villavicencio had claimed to have received multiple death threats from Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel, an organised crime group that operates in Ecuador. Washington DC, United States of America From Washington this week came a remarkable assertion of security guarantee to Philippines, if the islands located more than 4,000 miles away across the Pacific is faced by an armed aggression from Beijing. While all eyes have been on Taipei for its central role in the US-China confrontation for semiconductor dominance, Manila, albeit unthinkably, could very well emerge as Beijing-Washington flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific. The US State Department condemned China's aggression against the Philippines in what Beijing calls South China Sea but Manila asserts as West Philippine Sea. "The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the US statement warned China. Wellington, New Zealand For decades, Wellington was known for its "independent foreign policy", a foreign policy preposition popularised by New Delhi during the decades after cessation of Cold War. This week, a significant shift was marked in Wellington's defence posturing. The country released a roadmap for the future of defence and national security this week. The new doctrines mark a major shift in New Zealand's foreign policy and suggest the government's intent to join AUKUS, an Anglophone tripartite alliance between Australia, the US and the UK. New Zealand is going to embrace "Pillar Two" of the AUKUS pact: "AUKUS Pillar Two may present an opportunity for New Zealand to cooperate with close security partners on emerging technologies," the government document reads. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: New Delhi's bid to truly own its books of law

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

In Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, the national security advisers and representatives of more than 30 countries met with a purported goal to end war in Ukraine.

One would expect that the two warring sides would remain central to the peace talks. This was not the case.

But in Jeddah, the Saudi crown prince shook hand with the leader of one warring side, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.<img alt="MBS-Zelensky" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a894385b-8f5f-4091-9db9-50737dddbc20" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-08-06T220757.336.png" />

While multiple reports in the western media said that Moscow did not accept the invitation to the peace talks, the Russian state media said that Moscow was not even invited in the first place.

Here is a step-by-step account in this <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-making-sense-of-talks-to-end-ukraine-war-that-did-not-include-russia-622887">WION explainer</a> to make sense of the 'peace talks' to end Russia-Ukraine war that did not include Russia.

<h2>Naypyidaw, Myanmar</h2>

On the first day of August 2023, days after Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from jail to house arrest, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmars-ousted-leader-aung-san-suu-kyi-to-be-pardoned-reports-621261">she was pardoned in five criminal cases</a> by the country's military rulers. Suu Kyi's sentence has been reduced by six years in total after the partial clemency.&nbsp;

Up until last week, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate was lodged in a prison in Naypyidaw. Suu Kyi had been sentenced to 33 years in prison after a range of charges were brought by the army.

Rajiv Bhatia, India's former ambassador to Myanmar and Distinguished Fellow at Mumbai-based Gateway House, in an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/myanmar-why-the-lady-still-matters-622478">Opinion piece for&nbsp;WION</a>, wrote: "Up until last week, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate was lodged in a prison in the capital city of Naypyitaw. Suu Kyi had been sentenced to 33 years in prison after a range of charges were brought by the army. Most of the charges, experts argue, have been brought in to keep her away from garnering public support. Her party had won a second five-year mandate in the 2020 elections before the military came calling."

<h2>Ottawa, Canada</h2>

From the Canadian capital, the story that captured most attention was that of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing the end of his marriage with former television host Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

Meanwhile a rampaging anti-smoking campaign that Ottawa imposed starting this week, surprised activists and observers worldwide.&nbsp;

From August 1, each cigarette sold in Canada will come with an individual health warning, such as "cigarettes cause impotence" and cancer, and that there is "poison in every puff".&nbsp;

<h2>Islamabad, Pakistan</h2>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/02/370810-2023-07-26t113230z1lynxmpej6p0j6rtroptp4pakistan-politics-khan.JPG?imwidth=1920" />

In news from Pakistan's corridors of power, a former prime minister was sent to prison, second time in less than three months. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison-in-toshakhana-case-622603">Khan has been sentenced to three years in prison</a> in the Toshakhana case, for allegedly selling state gifts. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief. Khan's legal team has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest and the verdict in Toshakhana case.

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, the national security advisers and representatives of more than 30 countries met with a purported goal to end war in Ukraine.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, the national security advisers and representatives of more than 30 countries met with a purported goal to end war in Ukraine. One would expect that the two warring sides would remain central to the peace talks. This was not the case. But in Jeddah, the Saudi crown prince shook hand with the leader of one warring side, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. While multiple reports in the western media said that Moscow did not accept the invitation to the peace talks, the Russian state media said that Moscow was not even invited in the first place. Here is a step-by-step account in this WION explainer to make sense of the 'peace talks' to end Russia-Ukraine war that did not include Russia. Naypyidaw, Myanmar On the first day of August 2023, days after Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from jail to house arrest, she was pardoned in five criminal cases by the country's military rulers. Suu Kyi's sentence has been reduced by six years in total after the partial clemency. Up until last week, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate was lodged in a prison in Naypyidaw. Suu Kyi had been sentenced to 33 years in prison after a range of charges were brought by the army. Rajiv Bhatia, India's former ambassador to Myanmar and Distinguished Fellow at Mumbai-based Gateway House, in an Opinion piece for WION, wrote: "Up until last week, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate was lodged in a prison in the capital city of Naypyitaw. Suu Kyi had been sentenced to 33 years in prison after a range of charges were brought by the army. Most of the charges, experts argue, have been brought in to keep her away from garnering public support. Her party had won a second five-year mandate in the 2020 elections before the military came calling." Ottawa, Canada From the Canadian capital, the story that captured most attention was that of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing the end of his marriage with former television host Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. Meanwhile a rampaging anti-smoking campaign that Ottawa imposed starting this week, surprised activists and observers worldwide. From August 1, each cigarette sold in Canada will come with an individual health warning, such as "cigarettes cause impotence" and cancer, and that there is "poison in every puff". Islamabad, Pakistan In news from Pakistan's corridors of power, a former prime minister was sent to prison, second time in less than three months. Khan has been sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case, for allegedly selling state gifts. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief. Khan's legal team has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest and the verdict in Toshakhana case. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: Saudi Arabia's peace bid for Ukraine minus Moscow, Ottawa's 'cigarettes cause impotence' warning

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

In Niger's capital Niamey, the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his own presidential guards.

President Bazoum was the first elected leader to succeed another in Niger since its independence from the French in 1960. Now his captors have suspended the country's constitution and installed Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state.

Niger is a key part of the African region known as the Sahel, a land belt that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA).

The coup leaders have warned regional and Western powers against military intervention to reinstate the democratically-elected president.

<h2>Baghdad, Iraq</h2>

Baghdad and Kuwait city over the weekend pledged to work towards resolving issues dating back to Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of the oil-rich country.

The disputes over the maritime border demarcation and joint oilfields top the bilateral agenda for potential resolution.

"We discussed the pending issues between the two sides and we also discussed ways to protect the good relations between the two countries and develop them," Iraqi foreign minster Fuad Hussein said at a joint press conference with Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah.

<h2>Buenos Aires, Argentina</h2>

The International Monetary Fund reached a staff-level agreement with Argentina to unlock about $7.5 billion and complete the fifth and sixth reviews of the struggling country's $44 billion loan programme.

The agreement, which still needs IMF Executive Board approval, eases some programme requirements because a devastating drought has created a "very challenging" economic environment in Argentina.

<h2>Bangui, Central Africa Region</h2>

Central African Republic is voting on a constitutional referendum on Sunday which, if it passes, could remove a presidential term limit and allow President Faustin-Archange Touadera to run for a third term in 2025.

Touadera was first elected in 2016 for a five-year term and won reelection in 2020 for what was supposed to be his final term in office.

The new constitution would allow him to run for a fresh seven-year mandate, and the number of terms he or another candidate could run for president would be unlimited.

<h2>Phnom Penh, Cambodia</h2>

Beijing's maritime expansion edged to its intended goal in southeast Asia's Cambodia as Phnom Penh announced that work is almost complete on a naval base that the West fears is intended for Chinese military use.

US officials suspect the Ream Naval Base is being redeveloped for use by China, a close ally of Cambodia.

<h2>Paris, France</h2>

This week, the Olympic clock on July 26 showed that exactly one year from now the world will be in the middle of its 33rd Olympic Games.

During a ceremony held at Paris 2024’s "Pulse" headquarters, International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach symbolically presented invitations to the presidents and representatives of the NOCs of Greece, as the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and of the host countries of recent and upcoming Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, as well as the IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In Niger's capital Niamey, the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his own presidential guards.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In Niger's capital Niamey, the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his own presidential guards. President Bazoum was the first elected leader to succeed another in Niger since its independence from the French in 1960. Now his captors have suspended the country's constitution and installed Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state. Niger is a key part of the African region known as the Sahel, a land belt that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA). The coup leaders have warned regional and Western powers against military intervention to reinstate the democratically-elected president. Baghdad, Iraq Baghdad and Kuwait city over the weekend pledged to work towards resolving issues dating back to Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of the oil-rich country. The disputes over the maritime border demarcation and joint oilfields top the bilateral agenda for potential resolution. "We discussed the pending issues between the two sides and we also discussed ways to protect the good relations between the two countries and develop them," Iraqi foreign minster Fuad Hussein said at a joint press conference with Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah. Buenos Aires, Argentina The International Monetary Fund reached a staff-level agreement with Argentina to unlock about $7.5 billion and complete the fifth and sixth reviews of the struggling country's $44 billion loan programme. The agreement, which still needs IMF Executive Board approval, eases some programme requirements because a devastating drought has created a "very challenging" economic environment in Argentina. Bangui, Central Africa Region Central African Republic is voting on a constitutional referendum on Sunday which, if it passes, could remove a presidential term limit and allow President Faustin-Archange Touadera to run for a third term in 2025. Touadera was first elected in 2016 for a five-year term and won reelection in 2020 for what was supposed to be his final term in office. The new constitution would allow him to run for a fresh seven-year mandate, and the number of terms he or another candidate could run for president would be unlimited. Phnom Penh, Cambodia Beijing's maritime expansion edged to its intended goal in southeast Asia's Cambodia as Phnom Penh announced that work is almost complete on a naval base that the West fears is intended for Chinese military use. US officials suspect the Ream Naval Base is being redeveloped for use by China, a close ally of Cambodia. Paris, France This week, the Olympic clock on July 26 showed that exactly one year from now the world will be in the middle of its 33rd Olympic Games. During a ceremony held at Paris 2024’s "Pulse" headquarters, International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach symbolically presented invitations to the presidents and representatives of the NOCs of Greece, as the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and of the host countries of recent and upcoming Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, as well as the IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team. 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.

The Capitals: Coup in Niger capital Niamey, Baghdad's bid for peace with Kuwait city, and more

From the corridors of power in Madrid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-elections-spaniards-vote-in-snap-polls-after-campaign-centered-on-womens-rights-618598">emerged the progressive discourse </a>over gender parity&nbsp;that dominated weeks of election campaigns in Spain.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has been seen progressive laws on abortion and transgender rights. But such rights could bet stripped back if the right-wing Vox party comes to power, Sanchez has warned.<img alt="Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his opponent Santiago Abascal | Reuters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fa4574ef-0f5a-4959-9625-0d37364d4763" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2819%29_0.png" />

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his opponent Santiago Abascal | Reuters

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Vox party's&nbsp;Santiago Abascal is running on the agenda of reversing Sanchez's policies on gender parity, queer rights, and a reduction in the regional government's powers.

Opinion polls predict that Sanchez may very well lose to the right-wing alliance, worrying observers who in the past have hailed the country's laws to ensure gender parity. By the next edition of The Capitals, Madrid may have a new government or a new prime minister.&nbsp;

Read this, and more, in The Capitals.

<h2>Pretoria, South Africa</h2>

<img alt="South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="076a21b0-59f7-45aa-93a3-fae847a3c2ca" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2820%29_4.png" />

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa | Reuters

The diplomatic tumult surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal attendance at the BRICS summit in South Africa has taken a pause. Putin will attend the summit virtually and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-to-skip-brics-summit-in-south-africa-617528">not physically</a>, while foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to South Africa for the summit.&nbsp;

South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court&nbsp;in 2002, under which it issued the warrant for Putin's arrest in March. Thus, South Africa would have had to arrest the Russian president if he had landed in the country for the BRICS summit.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had asked the ICC for an exemption on the grounds that imposing detention could endanger the "security, peace and order of the state."

He also told the court: "It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk war with Russia."&nbsp;

<h2>New Delhi, India</h2>

<img alt="Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi | Twitter/@narendramodi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0dbb8693-52bd-4f4c-94c6-7a7e1dcc5576" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2821%29_2.png" />

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi | Twitter/@narendramodi

In the Indian capital, Colombo <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lankan-presidents-wickremesinghe-visits-india-holds-talks-with-india-pm-modi-618203">rode on a wave of optimism</a> unleashed by enhanced economic partnership between the two neighbours.

During Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to India earlier this week,&nbsp;mutual cooperation was enhanced in various sectors, such as tourism, power, trade, higher education and skill development.

Specific projects announced included passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka; a feasibility study on establishing a petroleum pipeline, a land bridge across the Palk Strait and the launch of India's Unified Payments Interface in Sri Lanka.

<h2>Phnom Penh, Cambodia</h2>

<img src="http://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/23/368872-untitled-design-16.png" />

Cambodian leader Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet alongside the ancient Angkor Wat Temple | Reuters

Not many know of Cambodia beyond the ancient Angkor Wat temple. But the country had its national election this Sunday. The results have not been released but the declaration of elections is widely known.

Long-time leader Hun Sen, who is nearing the completion of his fourth decade in power, and his&nbsp;Cambodian People's Party (CPP), are <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambodia-elections-voting-begins-in-southeast-asian-country-where-boycott-is-criminal-offence-618557">expected&nbsp;to once again sweep</a> all 125 seats in parliament. The only significant challenger was disqualified in May. There has been no real opposition.

Since the 1990s, when the United Nations helped Cambodia transition into a functioning democracy after years of civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, Hun Sen's party has won all six national elections every five years.

<h2>Kabul, Afghanistan</h2>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/22/368817-untitled-design-2023-07-22t202724302.png?imwidth=1920" />

The defence minister in Afghanistan's Taliban government&nbsp;Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid advocated for the international legitimacy of the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"We have completed the requirements that a government should have. There aren't any requirements left to be met so that the world won't recognise us as a result. It might take some time for them to be ready to recognise us, but we ask countries that are not under the pressure of America and can recognise us, to recognise the government of&nbsp;Afghanistan," Mujahid said in an interview with Al Arabia TV.&nbsp;

Taliban's rule in Afghanistan has been marked by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-afghan-women-react-to-veiled-attempts-to-legitimise-talibans-rule-618494">repression of the rights of women</a> and the return of theological practices. The failure of Kabul's current rulers to mend their ways to ensure education rights for women remains the biggest impediment to the international recognition of their regime.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

From the corridors of power in Madrid emerged the progressive discourse over gender parity that dominated weeks of election campaigns in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has been seen progressive laws on abortion and transgender rights.

From the corridors of power in Madrid emerged the progressive discourse over gender parity that dominated weeks of election campaigns in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government has been seen progressive laws on abortion and transgender rights. But such rights could bet stripped back if the right-wing Vox party comes to power, Sanchez has warned. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his opponent Santiago Abascal | Reuters Meanwhile, Vox party's Santiago Abascal is running on the agenda of reversing Sanchez's policies on gender parity, queer rights, and a reduction in the regional government's powers. Opinion polls predict that Sanchez may very well lose to the right-wing alliance, worrying observers who in the past have hailed the country's laws to ensure gender parity. By the next edition of The Capitals, Madrid may have a new government or a new prime minister. Read this, and more, in The Capitals. Pretoria, South Africa South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa | Reuters The diplomatic tumult surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal attendance at the BRICS summit in South Africa has taken a pause. Putin will attend the summit virtually and not physically, while foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to South Africa for the summit. South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court in 2002, under which it issued the warrant for Putin's arrest in March. Thus, South Africa would have had to arrest the Russian president if he had landed in the country for the BRICS summit. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had asked the ICC for an exemption on the grounds that imposing detention could endanger the "security, peace and order of the state." He also told the court: "It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk war with Russia." New Delhi, India Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi | Twitter/@narendramodi In the Indian capital, Colombo rode on a wave of optimism unleashed by enhanced economic partnership between the two neighbours. During Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to India earlier this week, mutual cooperation was enhanced in various sectors, such as tourism, power, trade, higher education and skill development. Specific projects announced included passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka; a feasibility study on establishing a petroleum pipeline, a land bridge across the Palk Strait and the launch of India's Unified Payments Interface in Sri Lanka. Phnom Penh, Cambodia Cambodian leader Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet alongside the ancient Angkor Wat Temple | Reuters Not many know of Cambodia beyond the ancient Angkor Wat temple. But the country had its national election this Sunday. The results have not been released but the declaration of elections is widely known. Long-time leader Hun Sen, who is nearing the completion of his fourth decade in power, and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP), are expected to once again sweep all 125 seats in parliament. The only significant challenger was disqualified in May. There has been no real opposition. Since the 1990s, when the United Nations helped Cambodia transition into a functioning democracy after years of civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, Hun Sen's party has won all six national elections every five years. Kabul, Afghanistan The defence minister in Afghanistan's Taliban government Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid advocated for the international legitimacy of the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. "We have completed the requirements that a government should have. There aren't any requirements left to be met so that the world won't recognise us as a result. It might take some time for them to be ready to recognise us, but we ask countries that are not under the pressure of America and can recognise us, to recognise the government of Afghanistan," Mujahid said in an interview with Al Arabia TV. Taliban's rule in Afghanistan has been marked by repression of the rights of women and the return of theological practices. The failure of Kabul's current rulers to mend their ways to ensure education rights for women remains the biggest impediment to the international recognition of their regime. 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.

The Capitals: Madrid's tryst with women's rights, Pretoria avoids 'risking war' with Moscow

About 107 years ago in 1916, 15 years before New Delhi arrived on the global map as India's capital -- that too under British imperial rule -- the Indian troops <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cast-from-the-past-indians-who-died-protecting-france-615813">marched down</a> Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris after a decisive fight against German forces during the First World War. Thousands of Indians, albeit while serving the British imperial army, laid their lives on French land and those ultimate sacrifices reverberated this week in the French capital during its National Day celebrations in which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Guest of Honour.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/14/366868-untitled-design-2023-07-14t170630744.png?imwidth=1920" />French President Emmanuel Macron meets India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris during Bastille Day Celebrations on July 14, 2023 | @EmmanuelMacron/Twitter

Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron watched French and Indian soldiers march down the tree-lined Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, while French-made Rafale fighter jets India bought in 2015 took part in a fly-past over the Arc de Triomphe.

Hailing defence as an important pillar of India-France ties, Modi said: "We will now focus on co-production and&nbsp;co-development for fighter jets and submarines, not just for India but also for other friendly countries."

France has been one of India's closest partners in Europe for decades. It was the only Western nation not to impose sanctions on New Delhi after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998.

The Paris-New Delhi bonhomie dominated the news cycle this week.&nbsp;

Read this and more in The Capitals this week.&nbsp;

<h2>Jakarta, Indonesia</h2>

<img alt="Foreign Ministers of ASEAN nations met in Jakarta this week | Reuters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88e7d27e-a553-4800-ac59-b1e0dbfb9b43" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-16T231503.589.png" />

Sporting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/blinken-jaishankar-sport-fancy-shirts-emerge-as-homies-of-asean-meet-615700">fancy shirts</a>, the Asian 'homies' met in Jakarta in a collective albeit indirect show of resistance against China's maritime assertion in the South China Sea. But worldwide, the spotlight was put on the reiteration of the condemnation of ongoing violence in Myanmar, and its collective condemnation by Southeast Asian foreign ministers.&nbsp;

But since top diplomats from China, the United States and Russia were among those who joined the Association of South East Asian Nations' Regional Forum (ARF), the broad-based agendas were hijacked by geopolitical flare-ups, consisting of a theatre for rebukes and diplomatic squabbles.

Myanmar, one of the bloc's 10 members, has been beset by fighting since the military seized power in early 2021 before unleashing a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy opponents.

<h2>Islamabad, Pakistan</h2>

New Delhi in the past has accused Pakistan of harbouring an Ivy League of terrorists. India's foreign minister Dr S. Jaishankar last month addressed his Pakistani counterpart as 'spokesperson and justifier of a terrorism industry'.

New Delhi could now add cautious-praiser-of-terrorism phrase for Pakistan in its vocabulary to slam Islamabad's credentials of exporting terrorism across Indian borders.

Islamabad came up with a 'cautious' praise for Kabul's Taliban's rulers, who have been described as constituents of a regime that harbours terrorism.

Asif Durrani, Pakistan's special representative on Afghanistan, told Voice of America that Afghanistan’s interim rulers recently initiated certain steps to address Pakistan’s cross-border terror concerns.

"It's a serious issue. But steps are being taken to neutralise the TTP. We should also understand that it will take a while, but the process has been initiated," Durrani said in response to a recent Taliban announcement that TTP militants were being moved away from Afghan areas bordering Pakistan.

"That is a step the Afghan government is taking, so we have to wait and see the results. It is now in the initial stages, so it would be too early to comment," said the envoy. "But if this relocation of the TTP can actually happen and lead to peace along our borders, it would be a significant development and we would welcome it."

<h2>Vilnius, Lithuania</h2>

Before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced war on Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's land border with US-led NATO ran up to 754 miles. Today, it stands at 1,584 miles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped, as NATO leaders met for a summit at a former Soviet Republic's capital, for an additional expansion of Russia's land borders with NATO nations with Ukraine making up for the latest addition. It did not happen.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
‘Not a part of the cool kids league’ <a href="https://t.co/MWG7CWVfx1">https://t.co/MWG7CWVfx1</a>
— Rahesha Sehgal (@SehgalRahesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/SehgalRahesha/status/1679111637096353794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

As the alliance meet furthered in Vilnius, an image of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky standing alone, amid a sea of NATO leaders made way for a caption game on social media, an eerie reflection that his demands weren't met.&nbsp;

"We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met," the NATO declaration said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

About 107 years ago in 1916, 15 years before New Delhi arrived on the global map as India's capital -- that too under British imperial rule -- the Indian troops marched down Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris after a decisive fight against German forces during the First World War.

About 107 years ago in 1916, 15 years before New Delhi arrived on the global map as India's capital -- that too under British imperial rule -- the Indian troops marched down Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris after a decisive fight against German forces during the First World War. Thousands of Indians, albeit while serving the British imperial army, laid their lives on French land and those ultimate sacrifices reverberated this week in the French capital during its National Day celebrations in which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Guest of Honour. French President Emmanuel Macron meets India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris during Bastille Day Celebrations on July 14, 2023 | @EmmanuelMacron/Twitter Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron watched French and Indian soldiers march down the tree-lined Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, while French-made Rafale fighter jets India bought in 2015 took part in a fly-past over the Arc de Triomphe. Hailing defence as an important pillar of India-France ties, Modi said: "We will now focus on co-production and co-development for fighter jets and submarines, not just for India but also for other friendly countries." France has been one of India's closest partners in Europe for decades. It was the only Western nation not to impose sanctions on New Delhi after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The Paris-New Delhi bonhomie dominated the news cycle this week. Read this and more in The Capitals this week. Jakarta, Indonesia Sporting fancy shirts, the Asian 'homies' met in Jakarta in a collective albeit indirect show of resistance against China's maritime assertion in the South China Sea. But worldwide, the spotlight was put on the reiteration of the condemnation of ongoing violence in Myanmar, and its collective condemnation by Southeast Asian foreign ministers. But since top diplomats from China, the United States and Russia were among those who joined the Association of South East Asian Nations' Regional Forum (ARF), the broad-based agendas were hijacked by geopolitical flare-ups, consisting of a theatre for rebukes and diplomatic squabbles. Myanmar, one of the bloc's 10 members, has been beset by fighting since the military seized power in early 2021 before unleashing a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy opponents. Islamabad, Pakistan New Delhi in the past has accused Pakistan of harbouring an Ivy League of terrorists. India's foreign minister Dr S. Jaishankar last month addressed his Pakistani counterpart as 'spokesperson and justifier of a terrorism industry'. New Delhi could now add cautious-praiser-of-terrorism phrase for Pakistan in its vocabulary to slam Islamabad's credentials of exporting terrorism across Indian borders. Islamabad came up with a 'cautious' praise for Kabul's Taliban's rulers, who have been described as constituents of a regime that harbours terrorism. Asif Durrani, Pakistan's special representative on Afghanistan, told Voice of America that Afghanistan’s interim rulers recently initiated certain steps to address Pakistan’s cross-border terror concerns. "It's a serious issue. But steps are being taken to neutralise the TTP. We should also understand that it will take a while, but the process has been initiated," Durrani said in response to a recent Taliban announcement that TTP militants were being moved away from Afghan areas bordering Pakistan. "That is a step the Afghan government is taking, so we have to wait and see the results. It is now in the initial stages, so it would be too early to comment," said the envoy. "But if this relocation of the TTP can actually happen and lead to peace along our borders, it would be a significant development and we would welcome it." Vilnius, Lithuania Before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced war on Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's land border with US-led NATO ran up to 754 miles. Today, it stands at 1,584 miles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped, as NATO leaders met for a summit at a former Soviet Republic's capital, for an additional expansion of Russia's land borders with NATO nations with Ukraine making up for the latest addition. It did not happen. ‘Not a part of the cool kids league’ https://t.co/MWG7CWVfx1 — Rahesha Sehgal (@SehgalRahesha) July 12, 2023 × As the alliance meet furthered in Vilnius, an image of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky standing alone, amid a sea of NATO leaders made way for a caption game on social media, an eerie reflection that his demands weren't met. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met," the NATO declaration 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.

The Capitals: Delhi's 'defence' march with Paris, Kyiv fails its NATO admission for now, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

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;

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.

Belarus will join it by 2024, it was announced.

But New Delhi turned it&nbsp;into a virtual format for some unknown reason.

&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" />

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 <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;

Read more in The Capitals this week.

<h2>Damascus, Syria</h2>

<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" />

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;

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).

<h2>Taipei, Taiwan</h2>

<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" />

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 <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.

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.

<h2>Guatemala City, Guatemala</h2>

<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" />

Sandra Torres of Social Democratic Party, a former first lady, alongside Bernardo Arevalo of Semilla, a young progressive party | Reuters&nbsp;

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;

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;

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.&nbsp;

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;

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;

The presidential runoff is scheduled to take place on August 20, 2023.

That's all for The Capitals this weekend. See you next week.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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

Hello and welcome. This is The Capitals.

The divisions of our diverse world were in full display in the capitals across the world.

From two European capitals&nbsp;— Paris and Stockholm&nbsp;— the ripples of an act of police violence and a purported demonstration in the name of freedom of speech were felt worldwide. While in a Paris suburb, a policeman was seen shooting a teenager, stoking violent protests in and beyond France, in Stockholm the burning of holy Quran outside a mosque on one of the holiest days in Islam sparked outrage worldwide.

The act performed in Stockholm by a group of demonstrators will mar Sweden's bid to enter US-led NATO amid Russian offensive in Ukraine, analysts said. 
 
Read this and more, in The Capitals.

<h2>Paris, France</h2>

<img alt="Paris policing" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb791bd7-c660-4686-a0f1-9a156741dd9c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-02T223515.885.png" />

"You are going to get a bullet to your head", Nahel M, 17, was told by a policeman in Nanterre, a Paris suburb earlier this week after his vehicle was stopped for violation of one of the traffic rules.

As per video doing the rounds, the police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop.&nbsp;

Police initially reported that Sahel&nbsp;was shot after driving his car at police. But footage of the incident authenticated by multiple news outlets proved that to be false.

The incident has sparked five straight nights of violent unrest in Paris and cities across France that have seen protesters clash with police and massive damage to the public property. Thousands have been arrested so far.&nbsp;

Over the weekend, a mayor's house was car-rammed and ransacked.

The incident has reignited debate over violent policing patterns in France, especially in the areas with minority population.&nbsp;

More than 40,000 police officers mobilised to patrol cities across the country. Since Tuesday, more than 2,000 people have been detained and more than 500 law enforcement personnel&nbsp;have been injured.

<h2>Stockholm, Sweden</h2>

For months since the beginning of war in Ukraine, there have been repeated attempts by Sweden and nations deemed its supporters to ensure its entry to NATO, a US-led military alliance that has played chief role in conflicts worldwide over past three decades.

But an act done in the name of freedom of speech has now put the months of efforts into a standstill. A group of demonstrators this week were allowed by a Swedish court to burn a copy of holy Quran. Sweden is now condemned by the Muslim world&nbsp;— including by Turkey, a NATO member&nbsp;— for allowing the burning of the holy book.

The timing of the burning of Islam’s holy book, during the important Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, has further angered Muslims in many countries, who were celebrating the holiday that marks the end of the hajj pilgrimage.

In the incident in Stockholm on Wednesday, two men, watched by a crowd of people, tore pages out of a Quran and burned them outside a mosque.

In an application for the permit, one of the men said he wanted to express his opinion about the Quran by tearing it up and burning it. The police had granted a permit for the demonstration after a Swedish court ruled that banning it would harm the notions of right to freedom of speech.

<h2>Vatican City, Vatican</h2>

Pope Francis on Friday granted an audience to the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is behind bars in Britain and is battling extradition to the United States.

"The Holy Father has received in audience Mrs. Stella Assange, with family members," a Vatican statement said, with no further details.

Stella Assange is fronting the campaign to have her husband freed. While it was not immediately clear that is Assange's matter&nbsp;was discussed, the meeting is being interpreted as another attempt by Stella to highlight her husband's incarceration.

<h2>Washington DC, United States</h2>

<img src="http://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/01/363685-untitled-design-2023-07-01t154045258.png" />

In Washington DC, the US President Joe Biden's off-the-cuff remarks ended up boosting extremist Taliban government in Kabul.&nbsp;

Biden said that Washington is getting the help from Afghanistan's Taliban government to 'end' Al-Qaeda threat. Biden's seemingly off-the-cuff remark contradicts a UN report released last month that said&nbsp;Taliban maintains "strong and symbiotic" ties with Al-Qaeda, and that late Osama bin Laden's terror group "is rebuilding operational capability" on Afghan soil.

Biden was leaving a press conference on Friday on the US Supreme Court's decision to block his student debt relief programme when a reporter asked if he admitted to mistakes during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

"No, no. All the evidence is coming back," he replied, according to a White House transcript.

"Do you remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al Qaeda would not be there. I said it wouldn't be there. I said we'd get help from the Taliban. What's happening now? What's going on? Read your press. I was right."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Hello and welcome. This is The Capitals. The divisions of our diverse world were in full display in the capitals across the world. From two European capitals — Paris and Stockholm — the ripples of an act of police violence and a purported demonstration in the name of freedom of speech were felt worldwide.

Hello and welcome. This is The Capitals. The divisions of our diverse world were in full display in the capitals across the world. From two European capitals — Paris and Stockholm — the ripples of an act of police violence and a purported demonstration in the name of freedom of speech were felt worldwide. While in a Paris suburb, a policeman was seen shooting a teenager, stoking violent protests in and beyond France, in Stockholm the burning of holy Quran outside a mosque on one of the holiest days in Islam sparked outrage worldwide. The act performed in Stockholm by a group of demonstrators will mar Sweden's bid to enter US-led NATO amid Russian offensive in Ukraine, analysts said. Read this and more, in The Capitals. Paris, France "You are going to get a bullet to your head", Nahel M, 17, was told by a policeman in Nanterre, a Paris suburb earlier this week after his vehicle was stopped for violation of one of the traffic rules. As per video doing the rounds, the police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop. Police initially reported that Sahel was shot after driving his car at police. But footage of the incident authenticated by multiple news outlets proved that to be false. The incident has sparked five straight nights of violent unrest in Paris and cities across France that have seen protesters clash with police and massive damage to the public property. Thousands have been arrested so far. Over the weekend, a mayor's house was car-rammed and ransacked. The incident has reignited debate over violent policing patterns in France, especially in the areas with minority population. More than 40,000 police officers mobilised to patrol cities across the country. Since Tuesday, more than 2,000 people have been detained and more than 500 law enforcement personnel have been injured. Stockholm, Sweden For months since the beginning of war in Ukraine, there have been repeated attempts by Sweden and nations deemed its supporters to ensure its entry to NATO, a US-led military alliance that has played chief role in conflicts worldwide over past three decades. But an act done in the name of freedom of speech has now put the months of efforts into a standstill. A group of demonstrators this week were allowed by a Swedish court to burn a copy of holy Quran. Sweden is now condemned by the Muslim world — including by Turkey, a NATO member — for allowing the burning of the holy book. The timing of the burning of Islam’s holy book, during the important Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, has further angered Muslims in many countries, who were celebrating the holiday that marks the end of the hajj pilgrimage. In the incident in Stockholm on Wednesday, two men, watched by a crowd of people, tore pages out of a Quran and burned them outside a mosque. In an application for the permit, one of the men said he wanted to express his opinion about the Quran by tearing it up and burning it. The police had granted a permit for the demonstration after a Swedish court ruled that banning it would harm the notions of right to freedom of speech. Vatican City, Vatican Pope Francis on Friday granted an audience to the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is behind bars in Britain and is battling extradition to the United States. "The Holy Father has received in audience Mrs. Stella Assange, with family members," a Vatican statement said, with no further details. Stella Assange is fronting the campaign to have her husband freed. While it was not immediately clear that is Assange's matter was discussed, the meeting is being interpreted as another attempt by Stella to highlight her husband's incarceration. Washington DC, United States In Washington DC, the US President Joe Biden's off-the-cuff remarks ended up boosting extremist Taliban government in Kabul. Biden said that Washington is getting the help from Afghanistan's Taliban government to 'end' Al-Qaeda threat. Biden's seemingly off-the-cuff remark contradicts a UN report released last month that said Taliban maintains "strong and symbiotic" ties with Al-Qaeda, and that late Osama bin Laden's terror group "is rebuilding operational capability" on Afghan soil. Biden was leaving a press conference on Friday on the US Supreme Court's decision to block his student debt relief programme when a reporter asked if he admitted to mistakes during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. "No, no. All the evidence is coming back," he replied, according to a White House transcript. "Do you remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al Qaeda would not be there. I said it wouldn't be there. I said we'd get help from the Taliban. What's happening now? What's going on? Read your press. I was right." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Capitals: Stockholm allows Quran burning, Julian Assange receives attention from Vatican

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

In a relatively credible biographical account of Vladimir Putin's life, 'His Life and Times: Putin' by British journalist Philip Short, the Russian president has been described as ruthless, shockingly pragmatic and a leader with autocratic bend who hates historical amnesia — a loss of collective national memory about an event — a euphemism for present-day Russia's lost Soviet glory.<img alt="Putin Biography" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1b47ffe9-ba73-45b3-b31b-618e023bed36" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-25T205019.484.png" />

But over the weekend, after Putin's own former chef-turned-businessman-turned-warlord directed his mercenaries towards Moscow, the shockwaves were felt across global capitals. The people in newsrooms, like this writer, felt they were witnessing history. A coup d'état appeared nearly imminent.&nbsp;

But in less than 36 hours, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group led by its boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ended as dramatically as it began. Putin's shocking pragmatism prevailed after he deployed one of his vassal states' leaders to diffuse the crisis. Prigozhin is now in Belarus after pulling his men back to their bases.&nbsp;<img alt="Vladimir Putin | Reuters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a95e5c5-8616-4e3e-885b-6a86121c2ccb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-25T115710.522.png" />

Here is a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-rebellion-when-putins-former-chef-served-a-dish-of-treason-ten-points-608452">blow-by-blow account</a> of the hours when Putin's former chef served him a dish of 'treason'.&nbsp;

More on The Capitals from capitals other than Moscow.

<h2>Washington DC, United States</h2>

<img alt="India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden during a White House state dinner hosted in former's honour" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fcc9d393-df46-4ffc-a0e3-db9197ad3e8a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-23T091155.002_0.png" />

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden during a White House state dinner hosted in former's honour | AFP

A State Dinner in the White House. A subtle insertion of democratic values advocated by great Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore — <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-the-mind-is-without-fear-biden-invokes-tagore-in-state-dinner-for-modi-607649">'Where the mind is without fear</a>' — and a mega bilateral convergence on business interests. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the United States had everything but lows.&nbsp;

Riding on India's moment of growth, Modi addressed the US Congress, met top business leaders and brought home billions in investments. India announced that it will sign Artemis Accords, a non-binding multilateral arrangement between the US and other governments designed to guide civil space exploration.&nbsp;

The two nations also hailed 'giant leap' in cooperation on space science, chip development and mineral security.&nbsp;

<h2>Paris, France</h2>

<img alt="Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at a climate finance summit in Paris | @LulaOfficial/Twitter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f34142b5-3dfd-405d-b12d-eea703dcb655" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-25T154157.736.png" />

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at a climate finance summit in Paris | @LulaOfficial/Twitter

In yet another moment of Global South's geo-economic assertion, US dollar’s role as primary reserve currency for global trade was challenged at a finance summit in Paris by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen defended the oversized role of US dollar in global markets.

"Why can’t we trade in our own currencies?" Brazilian President Lula asked an assertive US treasury secretary Janet Yellen.

South African President Ramaphosa said that the "issue of currency" would be discussed at the upcoming meeting of BRICS countries later this year, which South Africa is scheduled to host in August.

<h2>Athens, Greece</h2>

<img alt="Greece election" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="124177fd-5dbd-4b33-aa29-9c006e70102c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-25T210732.487.png" />

People visit the Areios Pagos hill, with the Acropolis' Propylaea seen in the background, in Athens, Greece | Representative image/Reuters

For the corridors of power in one of the world's oldest capitals, voters across Greece headed to a repeat election this weekend. Fomer Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a second term to form the government.&nbsp;

Mitsotakis' New Democratic party won the election on May 21, twenty points clear of rival Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party. However, it fell short of the majority needed to rule without forming a coalition. As election rules this time would accord up to 50 bonus seats to the winner of the vote, the New Democracy party is widely projected to emerge victorious.

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In a relatively credible biographical account of Vladimir Putin's life, 'His Life and Times: Putin' by British journalist Philip Short, the Russian president has been described as ruthless, shockingly pragmatic and a leader with autocratic bend who hates historical amnesia — a loss of collective national memory about an event — a euphemism for present-day Russia's lost Soviet glory.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In a relatively credible biographical account of Vladimir Putin's life, 'His Life and Times: Putin' by British journalist Philip Short, the Russian president has been described as ruthless, shockingly pragmatic and a leader with autocratic bend who hates historical amnesia — a loss of collective national memory about an event — a euphemism for present-day Russia's lost Soviet glory. But over the weekend, after Putin's own former chef-turned-businessman-turned-warlord directed his mercenaries towards Moscow, the shockwaves were felt across global capitals. The people in newsrooms, like this writer, felt they were witnessing history. A coup d'état appeared nearly imminent. But in less than 36 hours, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group led by its boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ended as dramatically as it began. Putin's shocking pragmatism prevailed after he deployed one of his vassal states' leaders to diffuse the crisis. Prigozhin is now in Belarus after pulling his men back to their bases. Here is a blow-by-blow account of the hours when Putin's former chef served him a dish of 'treason'. More on The Capitals from capitals other than Moscow. Washington DC, United States India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden during a White House state dinner hosted in former's honour | AFP A State Dinner in the White House. A subtle insertion of democratic values advocated by great Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore — 'Where the mind is without fear' — and a mega bilateral convergence on business interests. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the United States had everything but lows. Riding on India's moment of growth, Modi addressed the US Congress, met top business leaders and brought home billions in investments. India announced that it will sign Artemis Accords, a non-binding multilateral arrangement between the US and other governments designed to guide civil space exploration. The two nations also hailed 'giant leap' in cooperation on space science, chip development and mineral security. Paris, France Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at a climate finance summit in Paris | @LulaOfficial/Twitter In yet another moment of Global South's geo-economic assertion, US dollar’s role as primary reserve currency for global trade was challenged at a finance summit in Paris by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen defended the oversized role of US dollar in global markets. "Why can’t we trade in our own currencies?" Brazilian President Lula asked an assertive US treasury secretary Janet Yellen. South African President Ramaphosa said that the "issue of currency" would be discussed at the upcoming meeting of BRICS countries later this year, which South Africa is scheduled to host in August. Athens, Greece People visit the Areios Pagos hill, with the Acropolis' Propylaea seen in the background, in Athens, Greece | Representative image/Reuters For the corridors of power in one of the world's oldest capitals, voters across Greece headed to a repeat election this weekend. Fomer Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a second term to form the government. Mitsotakis' New Democratic party won the election on May 21, twenty points clear of rival Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party. However, it fell short of the majority needed to rule without forming a coalition. As election rules this time would accord up to 50 bonus seats to the winner of the vote, the New Democracy party is widely projected to emerge victorious. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Capitals: Moscow dodges mutiny bullet, Global South cements its rise in Washington and Paris

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. 
 
This week, the African leaders spoke as the world listened. Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Kyiv and St. Petersburg, the leaders from the world's second most populous continent pitched their peace plan to end the raging war between Russia and Ukraine now in its 17th month. It finally culminated into a verbally explosive blame-game between Kyiv and Moscow but the message has become clear: Africa's geo-economic credence gives it a rare heft unique to the continent.&nbsp;

Far away from Kyiv and St Petersburg, in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the leaders of G20 nations to include African Union — a bloc of 55 nations of Africa&nbsp;— in the crucial diplomatic grouping.

Read this and more, in The Capitals this week.

<h2>New Delhi</h2>

<h2><img alt="India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d817402c-a640-4ddf-870c-f31e885a3d03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T185217.852.png" /></h2>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in New Delhi | Reuters

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon all G20 nations for the African Union be given full, permanent membership of the diplomatic group at its upcoming summit in India.

The move demonstrated India's commitment to strengthening Africa's representation and partnership in shaping global affairs.

<h2>Kyiv</h2>

<img alt="Ramaphosa Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5cbef54a-c953-4c40-a3d4-21976c6eacd1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T183210.231.png" />

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa | Reuters photo for representation

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa presented a 10-point peace plan of the African Peace Mission during his visit to Kyiv this week.

As the main points, Ramaphosa emphasised that the war must be settled, and peace has to be achieved through diplomatic means as soon as possible. Ukraine's President Zelensky later responded, however, that talks with Moscow are possible only after a full withdrawal of Russian troops.

<h2>Cairo</h2>

<img alt="Egypt President Sisi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8037291e-f2ab-4545-8b16-2c668ca1fc31" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T183527.299.png" />

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi | Reuters

From Egyptian capital Cairo, a formal application to be the part of five-member BRICS bloc of emerging economies became a major geo-economic moment of significance.&nbsp;

BRICS comprises of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The development comes after Cairo joined the BRICS bank to help the crisis-hit Egypt reduce dependence on US dollars.

Egypt has become the latest entrant to shed the US currency in trade with several member states of the BRICS economic bloc.

<h2>Jerusalem</h2>

<img alt="Jerusalem Netanyahu" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c4ef31-3c6b-4825-99e7-c858898c5e8a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T184134.023.png" />

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing on corruption charges at Jerusalem's District Court, in Jerusalem | Reuters image for representation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial entered a momentous stage this week when the former prime minister and current Opposition leader Yair Lapid testified against Netanyahu.

Lapid was called as a witness to speak about his time as finance minister in 2013-2014, when he was approached by both Netanyahu and billionaire Arnon Milchan about the idea of extending the duration of the tax break given to returning Israelis who have lived abroad, from 10 years to 20.

Netanyahu’s trial began three years ago, and according to the current schedule is slated to last for another five years, although various reports have said that the extensive witness list could be trimmed, potentially shortening the trial by a couple of years.

<h2>Pyongyang</h2>

<img alt="Putin Kim Jong-un" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86b4a879-7b19-4c31-bad2-81c1f48a6e44" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T184440.901.png" />

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia in this undated photo | Reuters image for representation

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster strategic cooperation.&nbsp;

Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin marking Russia's national day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and displaying "full support and solidarity." An isolated communist dictatorship, North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year.

<h2>Kabul</h2>

<img alt="A Taliban guard posted at a checkpoint in Kabul" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e09bd45c-84a4-42a8-80bd-38066b5a31ab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-18T184606.897.png" />

A Taliban guard posted at a checkpoint in Kabul | Reuters

A United Nations report this week further decreased the chances of Kabul's Taliban regime to have any form of international legitimacy.&nbsp;

The UN report vindicated the skepticism that was widely expressed when the US withdrawal from Afghanistan pushed Taliban back to power.&nbsp;

That Kabul will end up nurturing the sanctuaries of terrorism, either directly or indirectly.&nbsp;

It said that the connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities.

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. This week, the African leaders spoke as the world listened. Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Kyiv and St.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. This week, the African leaders spoke as the world listened. Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Kyiv and St. Petersburg, the leaders from the world's second most populous continent pitched their peace plan to end the raging war between Russia and Ukraine now in its 17th month. It finally culminated into a verbally explosive blame-game between Kyiv and Moscow but the message has become clear: Africa's geo-economic credence gives it a rare heft unique to the continent. Far away from Kyiv and St Petersburg, in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the leaders of G20 nations to include African Union — a bloc of 55 nations of Africa — in the crucial diplomatic grouping. Read this and more, in The Capitals this week. New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in New Delhi | Reuters India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon all G20 nations for the African Union be given full, permanent membership of the diplomatic group at its upcoming summit in India. The move demonstrated India's commitment to strengthening Africa's representation and partnership in shaping global affairs. Kyiv Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa | Reuters photo for representation South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa presented a 10-point peace plan of the African Peace Mission during his visit to Kyiv this week. As the main points, Ramaphosa emphasised that the war must be settled, and peace has to be achieved through diplomatic means as soon as possible. Ukraine's President Zelensky later responded, however, that talks with Moscow are possible only after a full withdrawal of Russian troops. Cairo Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi | Reuters From Egyptian capital Cairo, a formal application to be the part of five-member BRICS bloc of emerging economies became a major geo-economic moment of significance. BRICS comprises of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The development comes after Cairo joined the BRICS bank to help the crisis-hit Egypt reduce dependence on US dollars. Egypt has become the latest entrant to shed the US currency in trade with several member states of the BRICS economic bloc. Jerusalem Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing on corruption charges at Jerusalem's District Court, in Jerusalem | Reuters image for representation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial entered a momentous stage this week when the former prime minister and current Opposition leader Yair Lapid testified against Netanyahu. Lapid was called as a witness to speak about his time as finance minister in 2013-2014, when he was approached by both Netanyahu and billionaire Arnon Milchan about the idea of extending the duration of the tax break given to returning Israelis who have lived abroad, from 10 years to 20. Netanyahu’s trial began three years ago, and according to the current schedule is slated to last for another five years, although various reports have said that the extensive witness list could be trimmed, potentially shortening the trial by a couple of years. Pyongyang North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia in this undated photo | Reuters image for representation North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster strategic cooperation. Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin marking Russia's national day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and displaying "full support and solidarity." An isolated communist dictatorship, North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year. Kabul A Taliban guard posted at a checkpoint in Kabul | Reuters A United Nations report this week further decreased the chances of Kabul's Taliban regime to have any form of international legitimacy. The UN report vindicated the skepticism that was widely expressed when the US withdrawal from Afghanistan pushed Taliban back to power. That Kabul will end up nurturing the sanctuaries of terrorism, either directly or indirectly. It said that the connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Capitals: Pretoria, New Delhi lead Africa's ascent in global diplomacy

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/10/358347-new-wion-8.png?imwidth=1920" />Exhausted but happy and at peace, four indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were reunited with their relatives in the Colombian capital Bogota this weekend, in a happy ending to a nerve-racking saga that gripped the nation.

The siblings, who had been wandering alone in the jungle after surviving a small plane crash that left their mother and two other adults dead, were discovered after an intense rescue operation involving sniffer dogs, helicopters and aircraft.

Looking thin and frail, the children were transported by army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota.&nbsp;

"They’ve given us an example of total survival that will go down in history," Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said.

<h2>Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</h2>

Iran reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia after a seven-year closure, after a Chinese-brokered rapprochement &nbsp;managed to redraw the region's diplomatic map.

The Iranian mission resumes in its former premises in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, near Syria's embassy, which is also expected to reopen soon following Saudi outreach to Damascus.

"We consider today an important day in the relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli told a flag-raising ceremony.

"The cooperation between the countries is entering a new era."

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

<h2>Warsaw, Poland</h2>

Half a million protesters packed the streets of central Warsaw earlier this week making it one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in the 30 years since the end of communism.

Lech Walesa, a former Polish president, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the fight against communism, joined opposition figures at the head of the march ahead of legislative elections in the autumn.&nbsp;

People travelled from across the country after former prime minister Donald Tusk, head of the centrist opposition party Civic Platform (PO), called for the protest against "the high cost of living, swindling and lying, and for democracy, free elections and the EU".

<h2>Vienna, Austria</h2>

In the Austrian capital, Saudi Arabia said that it will make a deep cut to its oil output in July. This is in addition to a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply into 2024 as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries led by Russia sought to boost flagging oil prices.

Vienna headquarters the OPEC+ group.

Saudi's energy ministry said the country's output would drop to 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from around 10 million bpd in May, the biggest reduction in years."This is a Saudi lollipop," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz told a news conference. "We wanted to ice the cake. We always want to add suspense. We don't want people to try to predict what we do... This market needs stabilisation".

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Exhausted but happy and at peace, four indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were reunited with their relatives in the Colombian capital Bogota this weekend, in a happy ending to a nerve-racking saga that gripped the nation.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Exhausted but happy and at peace, four indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were reunited with their relatives in the Colombian capital Bogota this weekend, in a happy ending to a nerve-racking saga that gripped the nation. The siblings, who had been wandering alone in the jungle after surviving a small plane crash that left their mother and two other adults dead, were discovered after an intense rescue operation involving sniffer dogs, helicopters and aircraft. Looking thin and frail, the children were transported by army medical plane to a military hospital in Bogota. "They’ve given us an example of total survival that will go down in history," Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Iran reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia after a seven-year closure, after a Chinese-brokered rapprochement managed to redraw the region's diplomatic map. The Iranian mission resumes in its former premises in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, near Syria's embassy, which is also expected to reopen soon following Saudi outreach to Damascus. "We consider today an important day in the relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli told a flag-raising ceremony. "The cooperation between the countries is entering a new era." That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. Warsaw, Poland Half a million protesters packed the streets of central Warsaw earlier this week making it one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in the 30 years since the end of communism. Lech Walesa, a former Polish president, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the fight against communism, joined opposition figures at the head of the march ahead of legislative elections in the autumn. People travelled from across the country after former prime minister Donald Tusk, head of the centrist opposition party Civic Platform (PO), called for the protest against "the high cost of living, swindling and lying, and for democracy, free elections and the EU". Vienna, Austria In the Austrian capital, Saudi Arabia said that it will make a deep cut to its oil output in July. This is in addition to a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply into 2024 as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries led by Russia sought to boost flagging oil prices. Vienna headquarters the OPEC+ group. Saudi's energy ministry said the country's output would drop to 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from around 10 million bpd in May, the biggest reduction in years."This is a Saudi lollipop," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz told a news conference. "We wanted to ice the cake. We always want to add suspense. We don't want people to try to predict what we do... This market needs stabilisation". 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.

The Capitals: Bogota's great Amazon miracle, Riyadh's oil games in Vienna and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from The Capitals worldwide.&nbsp;

A lone protestor standing in front of a line of army tanks at Beijing's Tiananmen Square remains one of the most iconic pictures of defiance in the twentieth century. Crushed by China's Communist Party rulers in June, 1989, Beijing's Tianenmen Square horror turned 34 this week.

In what started as student-led protests in the mid-1980s, by this time of 1989, catapulted huge sections of the Chinese society, demanding political openness and less censorship.&nbsp;

In the weeks following June 4, 1989, up to one million protestors gathered in Tiananmen Square, making it one of the largest public moments of defiance in the 20th century.

Between June 3 to June 4 in 1989, the troops began to move towards Tiananmen Square, opening fire, crushing and arresting protestors to regain control of the area.

The Chinese government deemed them "counter-revolutionary riots". They said that 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel died. But in 2017, newly released documents revealed that Sir Alan Donald, the British Ambassador to China was told by a member of China's State Council that at least 10,000 people were killed in the Tiananmen crackdown.

In 2023, the commemoration of the events of June 1989 remains a muted affair subject to Beijing's massive censorship. Eight people in Hong Kong were arrested earlier as they staged symbolic protest to commemorate the victims of the events of June 1989.

A carnival celebrating Hong Kong's handover to China is scheduled to take place at the park where public commemoration of Tiananmen Square horror used to take place in the city for decades. Elsewhere, overseas Chinese commemorated the victims of Tiananmen with symbolic vigils and anti-Communist Party candle marches.

<h2>Singapore</h2>

Singapore became the most significant diplomatic capital this week as the city-state hosted the Shangri-La Dialogue, one of Asia's key defence summits. While the lack of US-China talks disappointed many, it's the Washington-Beijing showdown in itself which emerged as the summit's highlight despite war in Ukraine being presented as the most pressing issues faced by the world at the moment.&nbsp;

While the Chinese defence minister took a veiled dig at the United States, accusing Washington of indulging in other's business with a 'cold war mentality', the Pentagon flagged China's 'increasingly risky' behaviour in the region.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto's proposal to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine brought Jakarta support from Beijing but flak from the most capitals in the West. Calling for the cessation of hostilities, Subianto called for a referendum to be held in the disputed areas.&nbsp;

<h2>Washington DC, United States</h2>

US President Joe Biden this week signed into law the debt ceiling bill that had been passed by Congress preventing a potential default in the largest economy worldwide. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 enables the government to raise the debt ceiling and continue borrowing, ensuring the timely payment of obligations. The enactment of law follows a rare moment of display of bipartisan support which raised the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.&nbsp;

<h2>Dakar, Senegal</h2>

Tensions rose high in Dakar after clashes broke out between the supporters of an Opposition politician and police, leading to 15 deaths over two days.

The army was deployed to the streets but scuffles erupted on Friday night in parts of the capital, Dakar, and in other parts of the country.

The tensions flared up after a court convicted opposition leader Ousmane Sonko of morally "corrupting" a young woman and sentenced to two years in prison. This, his supporters say, is government's move to take Sonko out of the running for the 2024 poll.

The United Nations, the European Union and Senegal's former colonial power France have also expressed concern over the violence.

<h2>Kampala, Uganda</h2>

A group of Ugandan street kids from a Kampala slum will perform at the grand finale of Britain's Got Talent. The children of the Triplets Ghetto Kids troupe have already wowed the Britain's Got Talent judges and viewers alike with their energetic dance medley, colourful costumes and captivating smiles.

The Ghetto Kids first became an internet sensation in 2014 when their homemade dance video featuring the hit "Sitya Loss" by Eddy Kenzo, another Ugandan orphan turned music star, went viral.&nbsp;

The clip of several youngsters dancing on a dirt road opened a floodgate of opportunities for the group whose videos on YouTube have had many millions of hits.

They have gone on to win several African and global awards, and have worked with international music stars such as American singer-songwriter Chris Brown and Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from The Capitals worldwide. A lone protestor standing in front of a line of army tanks at Beijing's Tiananmen Square remains one of the most iconic pictures of defiance in the twentieth century.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from The Capitals worldwide. A lone protestor standing in front of a line of army tanks at Beijing's Tiananmen Square remains one of the most iconic pictures of defiance in the twentieth century. Crushed by China's Communist Party rulers in June, 1989, Beijing's Tianenmen Square horror turned 34 this week. In what started as student-led protests in the mid-1980s, by this time of 1989, catapulted huge sections of the Chinese society, demanding political openness and less censorship. In the weeks following June 4, 1989, up to one million protestors gathered in Tiananmen Square, making it one of the largest public moments of defiance in the 20th century. Between June 3 to June 4 in 1989, the troops began to move towards Tiananmen Square, opening fire, crushing and arresting protestors to regain control of the area. The Chinese government deemed them "counter-revolutionary riots". They said that 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel died. But in 2017, newly released documents revealed that Sir Alan Donald, the British Ambassador to China was told by a member of China's State Council that at least 10,000 people were killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. In 2023, the commemoration of the events of June 1989 remains a muted affair subject to Beijing's massive censorship. Eight people in Hong Kong were arrested earlier as they staged symbolic protest to commemorate the victims of the events of June 1989. A carnival celebrating Hong Kong's handover to China is scheduled to take place at the park where public commemoration of Tiananmen Square horror used to take place in the city for decades. Elsewhere, overseas Chinese commemorated the victims of Tiananmen with symbolic vigils and anti-Communist Party candle marches. Singapore Singapore became the most significant diplomatic capital this week as the city-state hosted the Shangri-La Dialogue, one of Asia's key defence summits. While the lack of US-China talks disappointed many, it's the Washington-Beijing showdown in itself which emerged as the summit's highlight despite war in Ukraine being presented as the most pressing issues faced by the world at the moment. While the Chinese defence minister took a veiled dig at the United States, accusing Washington of indulging in other's business with a 'cold war mentality', the Pentagon flagged China's 'increasingly risky' behaviour in the region. Meanwhile, Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto's proposal to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine brought Jakarta support from Beijing but flak from the most capitals in the West. Calling for the cessation of hostilities, Subianto called for a referendum to be held in the disputed areas. Washington DC, United States US President Joe Biden this week signed into law the debt ceiling bill that had been passed by Congress preventing a potential default in the largest economy worldwide. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 enables the government to raise the debt ceiling and continue borrowing, ensuring the timely payment of obligations. The enactment of law follows a rare moment of display of bipartisan support which raised the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. Dakar, Senegal Tensions rose high in Dakar after clashes broke out between the supporters of an Opposition politician and police, leading to 15 deaths over two days. The army was deployed to the streets but scuffles erupted on Friday night in parts of the capital, Dakar, and in other parts of the country. The tensions flared up after a court convicted opposition leader Ousmane Sonko of morally "corrupting" a young woman and sentenced to two years in prison. This, his supporters say, is government's move to take Sonko out of the running for the 2024 poll. The United Nations, the European Union and Senegal's former colonial power France have also expressed concern over the violence. Kampala, Uganda A group of Ugandan street kids from a Kampala slum will perform at the grand finale of Britain's Got Talent. The children of the Triplets Ghetto Kids troupe have already wowed the Britain's Got Talent judges and viewers alike with their energetic dance medley, colourful costumes and captivating smiles. The Ghetto Kids first became an internet sensation in 2014 when their homemade dance video featuring the hit "Sitya Loss" by Eddy Kenzo, another Ugandan orphan turned music star, went viral. The clip of several youngsters dancing on a dirt road opened a floodgate of opportunities for the group whose videos on YouTube have had many millions of hits. They have gone on to win several African and global awards, and have worked with international music stars such as American singer-songwriter Chris Brown and Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid. 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.

The Capitals: Beijing's Tiananmen horror turns 34, Singapore's Shangri-La moment under sun, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world.

In New Delhi, surrounded by India’s secular traditions and acclimated by the opposition's partial boycott, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new, bigger parliament. &nbsp;

"When India moves forward, the world moves forward. This new building of the parliament will call for the development of the world along with the development of India," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/symbol-of-aspiration-for-140cr-people-indian-pm-modi-during-his-opening-speech-in-new-parliament-597431">Modi said</a>, while adding that the world’s biggest democracy has shed its colonial baggage by shifting to a parliament premise built in free India.

<h2>Ankara, Turkey</h2>

"We can say bye bye to Kemal. Bye bye and bye Kemal," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-presidential-run-off-results-erdogan-trumps-kilicdaroglu-in-historic-vote-597594">said</a> Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a roaring crowd of supporters as he won country’s unprecedented run off vote, trumping his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, to claim the beginning of his third decade into power in Ankara's corridors of power. 
Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for 20 years – and he is now set to serve another five-year term.

<h2>Abuja, Nigeria</h2>

A new president will run the state of affairs from Abuja’s corridors of power. President Muhammadu Buhari over the weekend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigerians-have-chosen-well-president-muhammudu-buhari-hails-successor-tinubu-597537">addressed</a> his fellow citizens and 'friends of Nigeria', defending his record over economy and security issues and hailing his successor Bola Tinubu.&nbsp;

"To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world," Buharu said in his address to the nation.

Meanwhile, the electoral call of presidential succession in Abuja remains disputed as incoming President Bola Tinubu’s victory is being challenged by two opposition rivals. On May 30, a court will hear main arguments in the election petition.

<h2>Moscow, Russia</h2>

Moscow slammed the US-led effort to boost Ukraine’s war-effort with F-16 fighter jets.&nbsp;

Calling the move "an unacceptable escalation" of the conflict, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said, "It's playing with fire, without a doubt," as he condemned the attempt to "weaken Russia" by "Washington, London and their satellites in the European Union".

<h2>Yerevan, Armenia</h2>

The Armenian capital this week showed signs of deepening its truce with Baku, the Azeri capital. Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan said this week that his nation was willing to recognise the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in its entirety as a part of Azerbaijan given rights of ethnic Armenians living in the region are guaranteed.

He acknowledged, "The 86,600 sq km of Azerbaijan's territory includes Nagorno-Karabakh." "If we understand each other correctly, then Armenia recognises the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the named limits, and Baku - the territorial integrity of Armenia at 29,800 sq km," he added.

<h2>Paris, France</h2>

The heart-moulding elevation of excitement towards the Paris 2024 Olympics achieved a moment of significance this week as the Olympic committee and French authorities presented protocol for Paris 2024's Olympic opening ceremony.

For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, the Opening ceremony will not be taking place in a stadium. Instead, the extravaganza will unfold along the River Seine, with spectators lining streets and bridges in the heart of the French capital. The plan is not without risks, and organisers revealed extensive safety protocols this week.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi, surrounded by India’s secular traditions and acclimated by the opposition's partial boycott, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new, bigger parliament.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi, surrounded by India’s secular traditions and acclimated by the opposition's partial boycott, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new, bigger parliament. "When India moves forward, the world moves forward. This new building of the parliament will call for the development of the world along with the development of India," Modi said, while adding that the world’s biggest democracy has shed its colonial baggage by shifting to a parliament premise built in free India. Ankara, Turkey "We can say bye bye to Kemal. Bye bye and bye Kemal," said Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a roaring crowd of supporters as he won country’s unprecedented run off vote, trumping his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, to claim the beginning of his third decade into power in Ankara's corridors of power. Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for 20 years – and he is now set to serve another five-year term. Abuja, Nigeria A new president will run the state of affairs from Abuja’s corridors of power. President Muhammadu Buhari over the weekend addressed his fellow citizens and 'friends of Nigeria', defending his record over economy and security issues and hailing his successor Bola Tinubu. "To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world," Buharu said in his address to the nation. Meanwhile, the electoral call of presidential succession in Abuja remains disputed as incoming President Bola Tinubu’s victory is being challenged by two opposition rivals. On May 30, a court will hear main arguments in the election petition. Moscow, Russia Moscow slammed the US-led effort to boost Ukraine’s war-effort with F-16 fighter jets. Calling the move "an unacceptable escalation" of the conflict, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said, "It's playing with fire, without a doubt," as he condemned the attempt to "weaken Russia" by "Washington, London and their satellites in the European Union". Yerevan, Armenia The Armenian capital this week showed signs of deepening its truce with Baku, the Azeri capital. Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan said this week that his nation was willing to recognise the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in its entirety as a part of Azerbaijan given rights of ethnic Armenians living in the region are guaranteed. He acknowledged, "The 86,600 sq km of Azerbaijan's territory includes Nagorno-Karabakh." "If we understand each other correctly, then Armenia recognises the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the named limits, and Baku - the territorial integrity of Armenia at 29,800 sq km," he added. Paris, France The heart-moulding elevation of excitement towards the Paris 2024 Olympics achieved a moment of significance this week as the Olympic committee and French authorities presented protocol for Paris 2024's Olympic opening ceremony. For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, the Opening ceremony will not be taking place in a stadium. Instead, the extravaganza will unfold along the River Seine, with spectators lining streets and bridges in the heart of the French capital. The plan is not without risks, and organisers revealed extensive safety protocols this week. 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.

The Capitals: New Delhi's renewed tryst with parliament, Ankara's third decade with Erdogan in power, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.

<img alt="Sam Altman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6e72a54d-7724-4b46-9cb7-1a14231f831c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T212338.370.png" />

Samuel Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI | AP

The Chief Executive of the world's most successful Artificial Intelligence startup of the day testified in a US Senate hearing this week.

His testimony sent jitters worldwide as despite being dressed down on Capitol Hill, Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, agreed with the US lawmakers on the need to regulate increasingly powerful Artificial Intelligence technology.

"If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong," Sam Altman said at the Senate hearing.

Altman proposed the formation of a US or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to "take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards."

Read this and more, in The Capitals this week.&nbsp;

<h2>Bangkok, Thailand</h2>

<img alt="Thailand elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="026799c3-8642-452e-9397-1e7dd9a3b8d5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T210546.987.png" />

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat&nbsp;in Bangkok on May 18, 2023 | AFP

The Thai capital whose tryst with democracy has long been marred by coups witnessed a resounding rejection of the army-backed politicians, as the results of Thailand general elections began pouring in.

The election campaign pitted opposition parties Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) and their promises of democracy and reform against the ageing generals leading the government, among them Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha who first came to power in a 2014 coup.

The MFP stunned observers by emerging as the largest party.&nbsp;

Two more small parties joined the new coalition formed by MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat, giving it 313 out of 500 seats in the lower house.

Pita Limjaroenrat has expressed confidence of becoming prime minister as coalition talks continue.&nbsp;

<h2>Islamabad, Pakistan</h2>

<img alt="Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c901f86-a8d0-4c9e-bdef-34a3f87a53fe" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T211109.228.png" />

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir | Commons

At the start of this week, a statement from Pakistan Army headquarters at Rawalpindi said that those responsible for attack on state and military assets following ousted prime minister Imran Khan's arrest should be tried under Army Act.

Rawalpindi's wish became Islamabad's command a day later on Tuesday, May 16.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, while repeating the Army’s statement, declared that protestors who attacked Pakistan's state assets and military installations during protests that erupted after the arrest of ousted prime minister Imran Khan, will be tried under army laws.

The Pakistan Army Act, which was brought into force in 1952, is used to put military personnel on trial under the military’s own legal code.

This author reported earlier this week that as an institution with a long history of coups, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/to-coup-or-not-coup-pakistan-armys-options-after-imran-khans-mini-intifada-592986">Pakistan Army is contemplating its options</a> following remarkable acts of defiance against its nearly unimpeachable authority in recent days.&nbsp;

Writing for WION, senior journalist and columnist Madhavan Narayanan said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/who-is-the-boatman-who-is-the-passenger-sinking-pakistan-needs-some-answers-591593">sinking Pakistan needs some answers</a>: Who is its boatman and who are its passengers, Narayanan asked while referring to the ongoing tumult across Pakistan.&nbsp;

<h2>Montevideo, Uruguay</h2>

<img alt="Montevideo 'March of Silence'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="928f72b3-ae1e-4fc6-a0c6-ad66917270b7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T211440.569.png" />

Demonstrators hold 'March of Silence' in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital on May 20, 2023 | Reuters

White daisies bloomed across the Uruguayan capital, each with a missing petal in the memory of those who went missing during the country's dictatorship that began five decades ago.

Tens of thousands took the streets of the Uruguayan capital on Saturday evening in a "March of Silence" to remember those who were forcibly disappeared by the state, both in Uruguay and in neighboring Argentina, during a wave of military rule in the region.

<h2>Amsterdam, Netherlands</h2>

<img alt="Van Gogh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3649d6f0-6490-46f9-b572-6deb40bc3903" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T211734.589.png" />

The exhibition in Amsterdam is scheduled to run till September 3, 2023 | AFP

Vincent Van Gogh's feverish final months in a French village, when he churned out masterpieces even as he spiralled into agonising illness, became the subject of a one-off exhibition opening this week in Amsterdam. 
The show at the Van Gogh Museum in the Dutch capital, which opened on May 19, features 50 of the 74 works produced in his frenzied last days in Auvers-sur-Oise, just northwest of Paris, before his death at the age of 37.

<h2>Dhaka, Bangladesh</h2>

<img alt="Pathaan Dhaka" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb063beb-a333-494b-97f2-04e9754f95ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-21T212006.142.png" />

Fans pose with 'Pathaan' merchandise in Dhaka | Twitter/@SRKUniverse

Thousands flocked to cinemas in Dhaka this week to watch one of the Indian subcontinent's biggest stars on big screen. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-pathaan-movie-review-it-serves-brand-shah-rukh-khan-well-555803">Pathaan</a>' became the first Indian film to hit the theatres with a full-release status in Bangladesh in more than half a century.&nbsp;

Dhaka banned films from its neighbour soon after its independence in 1971, in the face of lobbying from local movie-makers, despite India backing it in its independence war with Pakistan.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Samuel Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI | AP The Chief Executive of the world's most successful Artificial Intelligence startup of the day testified in a US Senate hearing this week.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Samuel Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI | AP The Chief Executive of the world's most successful Artificial Intelligence startup of the day testified in a US Senate hearing this week. His testimony sent jitters worldwide as despite being dressed down on Capitol Hill, Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, agreed with the US lawmakers on the need to regulate increasingly powerful Artificial Intelligence technology. "If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong," Sam Altman said at the Senate hearing. Altman proposed the formation of a US or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to "take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards." Read this and more, in The Capitals this week. Bangkok, Thailand Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat in Bangkok on May 18, 2023 | AFP The Thai capital whose tryst with democracy has long been marred by coups witnessed a resounding rejection of the army-backed politicians, as the results of Thailand general elections began pouring in. The election campaign pitted opposition parties Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) and their promises of democracy and reform against the ageing generals leading the government, among them Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha who first came to power in a 2014 coup. The MFP stunned observers by emerging as the largest party. Two more small parties joined the new coalition formed by MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat, giving it 313 out of 500 seats in the lower house. Pita Limjaroenrat has expressed confidence of becoming prime minister as coalition talks continue. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir | Commons At the start of this week, a statement from Pakistan Army headquarters at Rawalpindi said that those responsible for attack on state and military assets following ousted prime minister Imran Khan's arrest should be tried under Army Act. Rawalpindi's wish became Islamabad's command a day later on Tuesday, May 16. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, while repeating the Army’s statement, declared that protestors who attacked Pakistan's state assets and military installations during protests that erupted after the arrest of ousted prime minister Imran Khan, will be tried under army laws. The Pakistan Army Act, which was brought into force in 1952, is used to put military personnel on trial under the military’s own legal code. This author reported earlier this week that as an institution with a long history of coups, Pakistan Army is contemplating its options following remarkable acts of defiance against its nearly unimpeachable authority in recent days. Writing for WION, senior journalist and columnist Madhavan Narayanan said that sinking Pakistan needs some answers: Who is its boatman and who are its passengers, Narayanan asked while referring to the ongoing tumult across Pakistan. Montevideo, Uruguay Demonstrators hold 'March of Silence' in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital on May 20, 2023 | Reuters White daisies bloomed across the Uruguayan capital, each with a missing petal in the memory of those who went missing during the country's dictatorship that began five decades ago. Tens of thousands took the streets of the Uruguayan capital on Saturday evening in a "March of Silence" to remember those who were forcibly disappeared by the state, both in Uruguay and in neighboring Argentina, during a wave of military rule in the region. Amsterdam, Netherlands The exhibition in Amsterdam is scheduled to run till September 3, 2023 | AFP Vincent Van Gogh's feverish final months in a French village, when he churned out masterpieces even as he spiralled into agonising illness, became the subject of a one-off exhibition opening this week in Amsterdam. The show at the Van Gogh Museum in the Dutch capital, which opened on May 19, features 50 of the 74 works produced in his frenzied last days in Auvers-sur-Oise, just northwest of Paris, before his death at the age of 37. Dhaka, Bangladesh Fans pose with 'Pathaan' merchandise in Dhaka | Twitter/@SRKUniverse Thousands flocked to cinemas in Dhaka this week to watch one of the Indian subcontinent's biggest stars on big screen. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Pathaan' became the first Indian film to hit the theatres with a full-release status in Bangladesh in more than half a century. Dhaka banned films from its neighbour soon after its independence in 1971, in the face of lobbying from local movie-makers, despite India backing it in its independence war with Pakistan. 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.

The Capitals: Washington's AI reckoning; Rawalpindi's wish, Islamabad's command; and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.&nbsp;

In London, a show of archaic pomposity in Charles the third's crowning as King of England was televised for the world. Charles, 74, is now officially the King of United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy.&nbsp;

Read this and more, in The Capitals this week:

<h2>Cairo, Egypt</h2>

<img alt="Arab Council meet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b66d94d2-f6b2-4832-a802-3673d58bcbaf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T193957.768.png" />

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaks during an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on May 7, 2023 | AFP

The Egyptian capital witnessed a remarkable moment towards stability in West Asia this weekend, as foreign ministers from Arab League member states agreed to reinstate Syria’s membership after its suspension more than 10 years ago.

The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19.

Syria’s Arab League membership was revoked after President Bashar al-Assad ordered a crackdown on protesters in March 2011 at the onset of Arab spring that spiraled the country into a civil war.

<h2>Moscow, Russia</h2>

<img alt="The Kremlin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="27a07896-9a37-4334-9bba-ccad3692db25" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T193718.522.png" />

A flying object filmed over the Senate Palace in the Kremlin in Moscow during a suspected Ukrainian drone strike on May 3, 2023 | Reuters

In what appeared to be remarkable optics to justify the escalation of ongoing war in Ukraine, two drones were exploded in Moscow this week as they hovered over Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin residence. Russia designated the incident as a "planned terrorist attack" and "assassination attempt on the president of Russia".

Russia said the United States masterminded the attack, and that Ukraine carried it out.

Washington and Kyiv quickly denied the responsibility.

Despite a multiplicity of claims, a conclusive assertion by either Russia or the West, behind the cause of explosion over the Kremlin is yet to be made.

<h2>Seoul, South Korea</h2>

<img alt="South Korea-Japan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3982527-a4f5-4e02-bed0-875bfd8ab9cf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T193357.871.png" />

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 7, 2023 | AFP

The Japanese and South Korean capitals despite a deeply rooted bitter history, sought deeper ties amid North Korea's nuclear belligerence and China's maritime assertiveness in the region. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Seoul this weekend to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, returning the trip Yoon made to Tokyo in March.&nbsp;

Yoon is facing criticism at home that he has given more than he’s received in his efforts to improve relations with Japan. This includes a proposal that South Korean businesses – not Japanese companies as ordered by a court – compensate victims of wartime labour during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial occupation.

<h2>Berlin, Germany</h2>

<img alt="Berlin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15f43574-d606-4f4a-9bc8-42596b6afddc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T193132.518.png" />

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addresses participants in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (Petersberger Klimadialog) | AFP

In the German capital, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue was attended by climate envoys of 40 countries. The aim was to facilitate the negotiations leading up to COP28 Climate Change summit in Dubai next year.&nbsp;

The breakthrough was simply that there emerged a consensus among the nations for the need to set a new target on renewable energy.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested that the goal could be a tripling of newly installed solar, wind power by 2030, echoing a target proposed recently by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

<h2>Islamabad, Pakistan</h2>

<img alt="Qin Gang" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0641a8fa-c561-46fa-a022-03911867109f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T192752.641.png" />

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Islamabad | AFP

Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang had quite more than a few hit-ins this week. Their multilateral stumble in India's Goa at Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, quite obviously, elevated to a bilateral engagement in Islamabad this week.

While Islamabad expected Beijing to address its bilateral anxieties against India -- which it did by echoing Pakistan's line of argument on India's Jammu and Kashmir -- it also got schooled on the importance of political stability.&nbsp;

"We sincerely hope the political forces in Pakistan will build consensus, uphold stability and more effectively address domestic and external challenges so it can focus on growing the economy," Qin said, addressing a press briefing alongside his Pakistani counterpart after the closed-door strategic talks.

<h2>London, United Kingdom</h2>

<img alt="Charles coronation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="627230ee-da53-41aa-97e3-7dc06ce5e30d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-07T192154.421.png" />

Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla wave&nbsp;from the Buckingham Palace balcony in central London on May 6, 2023, alongside an image from June 2, 1953 showing&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth II with her husband Prince Philip | AFP

Charles Philip Arthur George alias Charles III was crowned the King of England this weekend inside London's historic Westminster Abbey. The British tabloids declared Operation Golden Orb — the codename for the event -- a grand success with feverish banner headlines screaming 'collector's edition'.&nbsp;

But a few miles from where Charles was crowned as King, thousands gathered to protest his coronation that costed British exchequer about $126 million amid a burgeoning cost of living crisis.&nbsp;

London Metropolitan Police force arrested six organisers from the anti-monarchy group Republic as they prepared to protest along the procession route for the coronation.&nbsp;

The detentions infuriated the scores of other demonstrators who rallied near The Mall as well as in Trafalgar Square.

WION's Mohammad Saleh reflects on British Royal family's chequered history with colonial exploits <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-who-does-the-kohinoor-belong-to-589189">here</a>.

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In London, a show of archaic pomposity in Charles the third's crowning as King of England was televised for the world. Charles, 74, is now officially the King of United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. In London, a show of archaic pomposity in Charles the third's crowning as King of England was televised for the world. Charles, 74, is now officially the King of United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy. Read this and more, in The Capitals this week: Cairo, Egypt Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaks during an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on May 7, 2023 | AFP The Egyptian capital witnessed a remarkable moment towards stability in West Asia this weekend, as foreign ministers from Arab League member states agreed to reinstate Syria’s membership after its suspension more than 10 years ago. The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19. Syria’s Arab League membership was revoked after President Bashar al-Assad ordered a crackdown on protesters in March 2011 at the onset of Arab spring that spiraled the country into a civil war. Moscow, Russia A flying object filmed over the Senate Palace in the Kremlin in Moscow during a suspected Ukrainian drone strike on May 3, 2023 | Reuters In what appeared to be remarkable optics to justify the escalation of ongoing war in Ukraine, two drones were exploded in Moscow this week as they hovered over Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin residence. Russia designated the incident as a "planned terrorist attack" and "assassination attempt on the president of Russia". Russia said the United States masterminded the attack, and that Ukraine carried it out. Washington and Kyiv quickly denied the responsibility. Despite a multiplicity of claims, a conclusive assertion by either Russia or the West, behind the cause of explosion over the Kremlin is yet to be made. Seoul, South Korea South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 7, 2023 | AFP The Japanese and South Korean capitals despite a deeply rooted bitter history, sought deeper ties amid North Korea's nuclear belligerence and China's maritime assertiveness in the region. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Seoul this weekend to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, returning the trip Yoon made to Tokyo in March. Yoon is facing criticism at home that he has given more than he’s received in his efforts to improve relations with Japan. This includes a proposal that South Korean businesses – not Japanese companies as ordered by a court – compensate victims of wartime labour during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial occupation. Berlin, Germany German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addresses participants in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (Petersberger Klimadialog) | AFP In the German capital, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue was attended by climate envoys of 40 countries. The aim was to facilitate the negotiations leading up to COP28 Climate Change summit in Dubai next year. The breakthrough was simply that there emerged a consensus among the nations for the need to set a new target on renewable energy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested that the goal could be a tripling of newly installed solar, wind power by 2030, echoing a target proposed recently by the International Renewable Energy Agency. Islamabad, Pakistan Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Islamabad | AFP Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang had quite more than a few hit-ins this week. Their multilateral stumble in India's Goa at Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, quite obviously, elevated to a bilateral engagement in Islamabad this week. While Islamabad expected Beijing to address its bilateral anxieties against India -- which it did by echoing Pakistan's line of argument on India's Jammu and Kashmir -- it also got schooled on the importance of political stability. "We sincerely hope the political forces in Pakistan will build consensus, uphold stability and more effectively address domestic and external challenges so it can focus on growing the economy," Qin said, addressing a press briefing alongside his Pakistani counterpart after the closed-door strategic talks. London, United Kingdom Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony in central London on May 6, 2023, alongside an image from June 2, 1953 showing Queen Elizabeth II with her husband Prince Philip | AFP Charles Philip Arthur George alias Charles III was crowned the King of England this weekend inside London's historic Westminster Abbey. The British tabloids declared Operation Golden Orb — the codename for the event -- a grand success with feverish banner headlines screaming 'collector's edition'. But a few miles from where Charles was crowned as King, thousands gathered to protest his coronation that costed British exchequer about $126 million amid a burgeoning cost of living crisis. London Metropolitan Police force arrested six organisers from the anti-monarchy group Republic as they prepared to protest along the procession route for the coronation. The detentions infuriated the scores of other demonstrators who rallied near The Mall as well as in Trafalgar Square. WION's Mohammad Saleh reflects on British Royal family's chequered history with colonial exploits here. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: London's coronation cast from the past, Arabian homecoming of Damascus, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world.

In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium.

<img alt="Sakshi Malik" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8efcfffc-e7e8-4363-8537-bf49ef2ff2df" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2866%29.png" />

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter

This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation.

<img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93494279-d08c-417c-bbb0-e9542e8f3b70" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2867%29_2.png" />

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI

Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week.

<h2>Khartoum, Sudan</h2>

<img alt="Sudan conflict" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aae3f924-6521-4c96-800c-6211a05503d6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2859%29_0.png" />

An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP

The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement.&nbsp;

So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum.

Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far.&nbsp;

<h2>Washington D.C., United States of America</h2>

<img alt="Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-Yeol" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ee30318-7408-46aa-bbe2-33d4157851e1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2860%29_0.png" />

US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden

US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024.&nbsp;

But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week.&nbsp;

Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States.

Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;

With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.'

South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-i-had-no-damn-idea-you-could-biden-stunned-as-s-korean-prez-sings-american-pie-at-white-house-586628">rendition</a> of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media.&nbsp;

<h2>Asunción, Paraguay</h2>

<img alt="Paraguay Elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b7df2c0-3bcb-4931-bcc5-a8d8b1971c38" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2861%29_1.png" />

A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP

Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets.&nbsp;

But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own.

Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing.

Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena.&nbsp;

Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. &nbsp;

"Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP.&nbsp;

"Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort."

<h2>Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia</h2>

<img alt="Armenia-Azerbaijan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c42eb3f0-ff45-4b11-98bb-f0ffbdbadffa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2862%29_0.png" />

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations."

Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.

The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire.

<h2>Tokyo, Japan</h2>

<img alt="ispace mission" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b126a95-73b1-4d88-addd-5697eabf30b2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2863%29_1.png" />

Employees of 'ispace'&nbsp;bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters

World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. &nbsp;

The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket.

Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander.&nbsp;

The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry.

<h2>New Delhi, India</h2>

<img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="697c0b6c-dd32-4c4b-88f9-c81d69bf595d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2865%29.png" />

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters

In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years.&nbsp;

After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place.&nbsp;

The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks.&nbsp;

While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law.

Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation.

The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium. Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation. Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week. Khartoum, Sudan An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement. So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum. Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far. Washington D.C., United States of America US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024. But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week. Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States. Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula. With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.' South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own rendition of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media. Asunción, Paraguay A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets. But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own. Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing. Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena. Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. "Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP. "Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort." Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations." Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire. Tokyo, Japan Employees of 'ispace' bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket. Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander. The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry. New Delhi, India Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years. After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place. The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks. While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law. Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation. The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation. 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.

The Capitals: Sudan's capital on boil, Washington's 'American Pie' for Seoul, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world.

This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals. The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tried to shore up support for Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine with his visits to four Latin American capitals.

In New Delhi, India tried to leverage its legacy as birthplace of Buddhism as country organised the maiden Global Buddhist Summit.

Here’s what all happened in the capitals this week:

<h2>Khartoum, Sudan</h2>

<img alt="Saudi Arabia rescue from Khartoum" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e11383fd-2512-4d53-97dd-11e617a5061a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2853%29_4.jpg" />

Members of the armed forces passing out chocolates and flowers to Saudi citizens and other nationals upon their arrival in Jeddah, following their rescue from Sudan | AFP

Riyadh’s naval operations led the first successful evacuation of foreign nationals from the conflict-hit Sudan, where since nearly two weeks, the battle for control over the country between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.&nbsp;

The main airport in the Sudanese capital Khartoum continues to be the site of heavy fighting, and that has left only one route left for the evacuation: the sea route.&nbsp;

Riyadh carried out the evacuation from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 850 km east of Khartoum. It announced the “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 countries: Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, the Philipines, Canada and Burkina Faso.

The United States could extract fewer than 100 people. Several thousand US citizens including dual nationals are stranded in the conflict-ridden country. France, Britain, Turkey, European Union, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia continue to be on standby to extract their citizens at the earliest.

<h2>Havana (Cuba), Caracas (Venezuela), Brasilia (Brazil), Managua (Nicaragua)</h2>

<img alt="Lavrov in Brazil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9c4532e-9d6d-469e-8711-1c37e7d7feb4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2823%29_1.png" />

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, left, talks with Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 17, 2023. | AP Photo

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this week concluded his five-day trip to the countries in Latin America, most of whom were perceived to be the allies of earstwhile Soviet Union during cold war. While the host capitals called for a peaceful political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov repeatedly emphasised Russian opposition to “foreign interference in national affairs and unilateral sanctions”.&nbsp;

Rio ended up as the most significant of all geopolitical pitstops that Lavrov took in Latin America this week. In Rio, Russia managed to extract a crucial assertion against American support to the Ukrainian war-effort.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the United States and European allies should stop supplying arms to Ukraine, arguing that they were prolonging the war. "If you are not making peace, you are contributing to war," Lula said.

<h2>London, United Kingdom</h2>

<img alt="Dominic Raab" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb065ec-e816-4d50-832d-f328337bd931" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2854%29_5.jpg" />

Former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab was forced to resign from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet this week | Reuters

London’s Downing Street had a politically significant moment with a yet another scandelous exit. The deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet soon after an inquiry revealed that Raab bullied civil servants at multiple ministries in recent past. Raab has been replaced by Oliver Dowden as the UK deputy prime minister. Raab’s exit comes just weeks before local pay will test Rishi Sunak’s political leadership as a Conservative Party headman in Britain.

<h2>New Delhi, India</h2>

<img alt="Global Buddhist Summit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2c8c13-fc28-43ac-85de-af5412d210c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2824%29_1.png" />

Delegates at Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi | @sidhant/Twitter | WION

India hosted first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi that saw delegates from about 30 countries participating in the event, including Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader living in-exile in India since 1959. The Tibetan leader spoke of “compassion, wisdom and meditation” during the event. India intends to leverage its legacy as the birthplace of Buddhism by amplying its calls to promote peace amid raging conflicts worldwide.&nbsp;

<h2>Lima, Peru</h2>

<img alt="Peru former president" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ded39af1-9327-40b9-b9f4-80d88e830d1c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2825%29_3.png" />

Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo walks with others after his arrival at the airport following his extradition to Peru, in Callao, Peru | Reuters

Peru’s former President Alejandro Toledo arrived in Lima in what his detractors called “to face the law”. Toledo, who was Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006, surrendered to the US authorities on Friday, ending a yearslong legal battle against his extradition which started in 2019 when he was first arrested in California.&nbsp; 
Peru’s former president will serve 18 months of preventative detention while an investigation will probe his alleged role in a bribery scandal. Toledo is accused of taking at least $20 million in bribes and kickbacks from a Brazilian construction company that has previously admitted to have bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America.&nbsp;

<h2>Tunis, Tunisia</h2>

<img alt="Tunisia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0fe0b32-aa37-49d8-a115-48888bd54a02" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2826%29_2.png" />

Rached Ghannouchi | Reuters image

The first bud of Arab Spring, which unleashed a bloom of democratic transitions in West Asia and parts of Africa, continues its struggle towards a democratic blossom.

This week, country’s top opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi was arrested, on charges of incitement against state authorities led by President Kaid Saied.

The 81-year-old leader’s arrest marks a week of dramatic developments in the capital Tunis which saw nearly 100 policemen&nbsp;raiding the house of Ennahdha party leader while he was reportedly breaking his Ramadan fast. Hours later, the headquarters of Ghannouchi’s party, ‘Ennahdha’, a self-styled “Muslim democrat” party, were closed. &nbsp;

The arrest of Ghannouchi has drawn global condemnation, with the United States saying that the rise in arrests of Tunis opposition figures ‘represent a troubling escalation by the Tunisian government against perceived opponents’.&nbsp;

That's all from The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of some of the biggest stories from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, Riyadh’s successful efforts towards the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict-hit Sudan became a crucial moment of geopolitical respite in at least 12 capitals. The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tried to shore up support for Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine with his visits to four Latin American capitals. In New Delhi, India tried to leverage its legacy as birthplace of Buddhism as country organised the maiden Global Buddhist Summit. Here’s what all happened in the capitals this week: Khartoum, Sudan Members of the armed forces passing out chocolates and flowers to Saudi citizens and other nationals upon their arrival in Jeddah, following their rescue from Sudan | AFP Riyadh’s naval operations led the first successful evacuation of foreign nationals from the conflict-hit Sudan, where since nearly two weeks, the battle for control over the country between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded. The main airport in the Sudanese capital Khartoum continues to be the site of heavy fighting, and that has left only one route left for the evacuation: the sea route. Riyadh carried out the evacuation from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 850 km east of Khartoum. It announced the “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 countries: Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, the Philipines, Canada and Burkina Faso. The United States could extract fewer than 100 people. Several thousand US citizens including dual nationals are stranded in the conflict-ridden country. France, Britain, Turkey, European Union, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia continue to be on standby to extract their citizens at the earliest. Havana (Cuba), Caracas (Venezuela), Brasilia (Brazil), Managua (Nicaragua) Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, left, talks with Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 17, 2023. | AP Photo Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this week concluded his five-day trip to the countries in Latin America, most of whom were perceived to be the allies of earstwhile Soviet Union during cold war. While the host capitals called for a peaceful political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov repeatedly emphasised Russian opposition to “foreign interference in national affairs and unilateral sanctions”. Rio ended up as the most significant of all geopolitical pitstops that Lavrov took in Latin America this week. In Rio, Russia managed to extract a crucial assertion against American support to the Ukrainian war-effort. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the United States and European allies should stop supplying arms to Ukraine, arguing that they were prolonging the war. "If you are not making peace, you are contributing to war," Lula said. London, United Kingdom Former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab was forced to resign from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet this week | Reuters London’s Downing Street had a politically significant moment with a yet another scandelous exit. The deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet soon after an inquiry revealed that Raab bullied civil servants at multiple ministries in recent past. Raab has been replaced by Oliver Dowden as the UK deputy prime minister. Raab’s exit comes just weeks before local pay will test Rishi Sunak’s political leadership as a Conservative Party headman in Britain. New Delhi, India Delegates at Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi | @sidhant/Twitter | WION India hosted first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi that saw delegates from about 30 countries participating in the event, including Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader living in-exile in India since 1959. The Tibetan leader spoke of “compassion, wisdom and meditation” during the event. India intends to leverage its legacy as the birthplace of Buddhism by amplying its calls to promote peace amid raging conflicts worldwide. Lima, Peru Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo walks with others after his arrival at the airport following his extradition to Peru, in Callao, Peru | Reuters Peru’s former President Alejandro Toledo arrived in Lima in what his detractors called “to face the law”. Toledo, who was Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006, surrendered to the US authorities on Friday, ending a yearslong legal battle against his extradition which started in 2019 when he was first arrested in California. Peru’s former president will serve 18 months of preventative detention while an investigation will probe his alleged role in a bribery scandal. Toledo is accused of taking at least $20 million in bribes and kickbacks from a Brazilian construction company that has previously admitted to have bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America. Tunis, Tunisia Rached Ghannouchi | Reuters image The first bud of Arab Spring, which unleashed a bloom of democratic transitions in West Asia and parts of Africa, continues its struggle towards a democratic blossom. This week, country’s top opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi was arrested, on charges of incitement against state authorities led by President Kaid Saied. The 81-year-old leader’s arrest marks a week of dramatic developments in the capital Tunis which saw nearly 100 policemen raiding the house of Ennahdha party leader while he was reportedly breaking his Ramadan fast. Hours later, the headquarters of Ghannouchi’s party, ‘Ennahdha’, a self-styled “Muslim democrat” party, were closed. The arrest of Ghannouchi has drawn global condemnation, with the United States saying that the rise in arrests of Tunis opposition figures ‘represent a troubling escalation by the Tunisian government against perceived opponents’. That's all from The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: Riyadh leads Sudan evacuation effort, Moscow’s Latin America outreach, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power all over the world.&nbsp;

This week, the capitals of Sudan, Yemen, India, Northern Ireland, United States, Ghana and Japan witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning.

<h2>Khartoum, Sudan</h2>

<img alt="Khartoum | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb6eef7a-af00-47fc-ae61-4ac58c4f2124" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_187.jpg" />

Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum on April 16, 2023, as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day in battles between rival generals | AFP

Sudanese capital's uneasy calm was wrecked by gunfire and shelling this week as a deadly power struggle broke out between the erstwhile power-sharers, Sudan's army and a paramilitary group. The Rapid Support Force (RSF) is the paramilitary group infamous for many human rights violations in the country located at the crossroads of Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia.&nbsp;

So far at least 56 civilians are reported to be dead in the deadly fight between the Sudanese army and the RSF.&nbsp;

Here is a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-whats-happening-in-sudan-what-caused-the-clashes-583043">WION&nbsp;explainer</a> to&nbsp;what all is happening in Sudan, and the exact genesis of the ongoing battle between the two warring armed factions of contested authorities.&nbsp;

<h2>Sana'a, Yemen</h2>

<img alt="Yemen prisoners' exchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5129fea7-62c8-42c1-b5b1-e41ef467e0a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_229.jpg" />

Prisoners formerly held by Yemen's Houthi rebels board an aircraft of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) before it takes off from Sana'a International Airport on April 16, 2023 | AFP

The Yemeni capital saw boosted hopes of the end to its civil war, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/times-of-truce-major-prisoner-swap-underway-in-yemen-icrc-582486">a three-day exchange of nearly 900 prisoners</a> between Yemen's Houthi rebels and government forces concluded on Sunday.&nbsp;

It is still not known how many prisoners the both sides have.&nbsp;

But both the rebels and government forces are still honouring a ceasefire that expired in October 2022 after a seven-month period. The current exchange of prisoners is being seen as a measure that West Asia watchers expect to formalise into an end to the war.&nbsp;

<h2>New Delhi, India</h2>

<img alt="Narendra Modi Cabinet Committee on Security" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2df8790a-a3c1-49aa-994b-fec8a1f7c70f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_177.jpg" />

File photo of India's Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security | @PMOIndia/Twitter

In New Delhi, India's big space dreams were unveiled in the form of the Indian Space Policy 2023, a formal expansion of space sector reforms India launched in 2020. While the 2020 reforms allowed private sector firms to perform end-to-end space activities, this week's policy release is aimed at providing greater clarity on the specific activities that private firms can carry out, Sidharth MP, WION correspondent covering Space and Defence sectors told The Capitals.

"The Space Policy is said to be a stepping stone to a Space Activities Bill and a Space Activities Law in India, which will codify the roles and responsibilities of the government and private sector in greater detail," Sidharth pointed out.&nbsp;

India aims to constitute at least a tenth of $360 billion global space economy by the end of the decade.&nbsp;

<h2>Belfast, Northern Ireland</h2>

<img alt="Joe Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="10d2400f-9ff6-4861-93c4-08149a317f08" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_148.jpg" />

US President Joe Biden delivered a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast on April 12, 2023 | AFP

US President Joe Biden went down the lane of his Irish ancestory in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast this week. He <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-lands-in-northern-ireland-to-mark-25-years-of-good-friday-agreement-581514">commemorated 25 years of Good Friday peace agreement</a>, a 1998 agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which ultimately&nbsp;diluted the previously concentrated calls for Northern Ireland's separation from Britain.&nbsp;

The four-day visit to Ireland was marked by pomp as Biden was seen acting on behalf of his British allies to strengthen Northern Ireland's union with Britain. "Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]," Biden said at the Ulster University campus in Belfast while referring to pre-1998 calls for separation.

<h2>Washington&nbsp;D.C., United States of America</h2>

<img alt="White House" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a0d9af-933f-40e4-8518-fbed6e52d751" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_131.jpg" />

File photo of the White House in Washington D.C. superimposed with the images of Jack Teixeira, 21, arrested in classified document leak row this week | Reuters

The world's most powerful corridor of power was marred by the most explosive document leak of the decade. This time, it wasn't a Snowden or Assange but a 21-year-old newly minted member of the US Air Force, who unleashed a diplomatic storm of embarrassment over White House. Why embarrassment? Well, for one, the leak of highly classified US military documents revealed how Washington spies on countries it calls its allies and partners. Two, it exposed gaps in Ukrainian air defences amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Here is a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-jack-teixeiras-game-of-pentagon-declassifieds-means-for-internet-surveillance-582483">WION explainer</a>, detailing upon Jack Teixeira, the young man arrested this week, who has been charged with unauthorised removal of classified national defence information.&nbsp;

<h2>Accra, Ghana</h2>

<img alt="Representative image for children's Malaria vaccination | Reuters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9fbb17e7-ae65-4c70-827a-6f627c4e7cc0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_95.jpg" />

Representative image for children's Malaria vaccination | Reuters

This week, the Ghanaian capital <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ghana-approves-oxfords-new-malaria-vaccine-582251">approved</a> the use of Oxford University-Serum Institute of India's&nbsp;anti-malaria vaccine Mosquirix developed by the British drugmaker GSK. Children under the age of three will be inoculated with the anti-malaria vaccine while the exact timeline of the rollout has not been revealed.&nbsp;

Annually, about 600,000 people die due to Malaria, most of them in Africa. Children under the age of three, for whom the anti-malaria vaccine with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/oxford-university-serum-institute-of-india-tie-up-delivers-high-efficacy-malaria-vaccine-582185">77 per cent efficacy</a> has been approved, remain most vulnerable to the disease.

<h2>Tokyo, Japan&nbsp;</h2>

<img alt="Haruki Murakami" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9608964e-93a9-4172-a748-c68b7e993f3f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_11.png" />

People line up to purchase the fresh copies of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's new book&nbsp;'The City and Its Uncertain Walls'&nbsp;at a book store in Shinjuku district of Tokyo early on April 13, 2023 | AFP

Legendary Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's first novel in six years, 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' hit the shelves in Tokyo this week. A Murakami novel is often considered 'an Olympic event' in Japan. While Japanese language readers can score through the 661-page novel, Murakami admirers worldwide will have to wait for some time more for the English translation of the novel.&nbsp;

My colleague Tashneem Chaudhury dissects her 'eternal love story' with Japanese author's works in this piece. '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-i-fell-for-the-murakami-magic-582618">How I fell for the Haruki Murakami magic: My eternal love story</a>'.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, the capitals of Sudan, Yemen, India, Northern Ireland, United States, Ghana and Japan witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power all over the world. This week, the capitals of Sudan, Yemen, India, Northern Ireland, United States, Ghana and Japan witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning. Khartoum, Sudan Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum on April 16, 2023, as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day in battles between rival generals | AFP Sudanese capital's uneasy calm was wrecked by gunfire and shelling this week as a deadly power struggle broke out between the erstwhile power-sharers, Sudan's army and a paramilitary group. The Rapid Support Force (RSF) is the paramilitary group infamous for many human rights violations in the country located at the crossroads of Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia. So far at least 56 civilians are reported to be dead in the deadly fight between the Sudanese army and the RSF. Here is a WION explainer to what all is happening in Sudan, and the exact genesis of the ongoing battle between the two warring armed factions of contested authorities. Sana'a, Yemen Prisoners formerly held by Yemen's Houthi rebels board an aircraft of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) before it takes off from Sana'a International Airport on April 16, 2023 | AFP The Yemeni capital saw boosted hopes of the end to its civil war, as a three-day exchange of nearly 900 prisoners between Yemen's Houthi rebels and government forces concluded on Sunday. It is still not known how many prisoners the both sides have. But both the rebels and government forces are still honouring a ceasefire that expired in October 2022 after a seven-month period. The current exchange of prisoners is being seen as a measure that West Asia watchers expect to formalise into an end to the war. New Delhi, India File photo of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security | @PMOIndia/Twitter In New Delhi, India's big space dreams were unveiled in the form of the Indian Space Policy 2023, a formal expansion of space sector reforms India launched in 2020. While the 2020 reforms allowed private sector firms to perform end-to-end space activities, this week's policy release is aimed at providing greater clarity on the specific activities that private firms can carry out, Sidharth MP, WION correspondent covering Space and Defence sectors told The Capitals. "The Space Policy is said to be a stepping stone to a Space Activities Bill and a Space Activities Law in India, which will codify the roles and responsibilities of the government and private sector in greater detail," Sidharth pointed out. India aims to constitute at least a tenth of $360 billion global space economy by the end of the decade. Belfast, Northern Ireland US President Joe Biden delivered a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast on April 12, 2023 | AFP US President Joe Biden went down the lane of his Irish ancestory in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast this week. He commemorated 25 years of Good Friday peace agreement, a 1998 agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which ultimately diluted the previously concentrated calls for Northern Ireland's separation from Britain. The four-day visit to Ireland was marked by pomp as Biden was seen acting on behalf of his British allies to strengthen Northern Ireland's union with Britain. "Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]," Biden said at the Ulster University campus in Belfast while referring to pre-1998 calls for separation. Washington D.C., United States of America File photo of the White House in Washington D.C. superimposed with the images of Jack Teixeira, 21, arrested in classified document leak row this week | Reuters The world's most powerful corridor of power was marred by the most explosive document leak of the decade. This time, it wasn't a Snowden or Assange but a 21-year-old newly minted member of the US Air Force, who unleashed a diplomatic storm of embarrassment over White House. Why embarrassment? Well, for one, the leak of highly classified US military documents revealed how Washington spies on countries it calls its allies and partners. Two, it exposed gaps in Ukrainian air defences amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. Here is a WION explainer, detailing upon Jack Teixeira, the young man arrested this week, who has been charged with unauthorised removal of classified national defence information. Accra, Ghana Representative image for children's Malaria vaccination | Reuters This week, the Ghanaian capital approved the use of Oxford University-Serum Institute of India's anti-malaria vaccine Mosquirix developed by the British drugmaker GSK. Children under the age of three will be inoculated with the anti-malaria vaccine while the exact timeline of the rollout has not been revealed. Annually, about 600,000 people die due to Malaria, most of them in Africa. Children under the age of three, for whom the anti-malaria vaccine with 77 per cent efficacy has been approved, remain most vulnerable to the disease. Tokyo, Japan People line up to purchase the fresh copies of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's new book 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' at a book store in Shinjuku district of Tokyo early on April 13, 2023 | AFP Legendary Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's first novel in six years, 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' hit the shelves in Tokyo this week. A Murakami novel is often considered 'an Olympic event' in Japan. While Japanese language readers can score through the 661-page novel, Murakami admirers worldwide will have to wait for some time more for the English translation of the novel. My colleague Tashneem Chaudhury dissects her 'eternal love story' with Japanese author's works in this piece. 'How I fell for the Haruki Murakami magic: My eternal love story'. 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.

The Capitals: Sudan's Khartoum a battleground for power, New Delhi's big space dreams, and more

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals.&nbsp;

Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power, all over the world.

This week, the capitals of China, European Union, Israel, Uganda, Bulgaria and Rwanda witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Beijing, China<img alt="Xi-Macron" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="066cc8e7-e980-4d5f-af34-b4533998cc23" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2837%29_14.jpg" /></h2>

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;arrive for the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023 | AFP

In Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron found what he might be missing in Paris these days: Pomp and pageantry.&nbsp;

Macron was welcomed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's charm offensive. The French leader called on Beijing to help make "lasting peace" in Ukraine. But it remains unclear how China's "no-limits" friendship with Russia would stand the test of bringing peace in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian offensive.&nbsp;

After being back in Paris, Macron <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-warns-eu-must-not-take-us-china-side-on-taiwan-issue-after-beijing-visit-580767">warned</a> European Union must resist pressure to become "America's followers". Beijing effect on Paris? One wonders.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Brussels, European Union<img alt="Finland NATO " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f16b667-36c4-4c91-9a0b-ccdb5aa84511" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2838%29_14.jpg" /></h2>

Finland's flag (R) at the headquarters of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Brussels, Belgium on April 4, 2023 | Screengrab from Reuters video

Finland's flag was raised at NATO headquarters in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/finland-now-under-the-nato-cover-will-sweden-join-soon-579281">Brussels this week</a>. The Scandinavian nation became the 31st member of the US-led military alliance. Russia has called it an assault on its security, and has warned Finland of "countermeasures".&nbsp;Blocking the expansion of NATO&nbsp; has long remained a goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership. It remains to be seen how Finland getting into NATO will pan out for war in Ukraine.

<h2 dir="ltr">Jerusalem, Israel<img alt="Al-Aqsa mosque standoff" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="85a3c758-7b7a-4d94-9e52-d5b2d9dc9e2a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-04-09T204310.162.png" /></h2>

Israeli security forces are seen during the expulsion of worshipers from Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem | AFP

This week, Israel's self-proclaimed contested capital yet again saw an escalation of country's existential conflict with Palestine.&nbsp;

It began when Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshipers in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-again-at-jerusalems-al-aqsa-mosque-six-injured-579598">compound of holy Al-Aqsa mosque</a>, defying long-standing compromise on compound's management. Hours after Israeli police pushed back worshipers at the mosque, a barrage of rockets from Gaza strip set off air sirens in southern Israel. The cross-border exchange of fire in Gaza has stoked fears of further violence in the volatile West Asian region.

<h2 dir="ltr">Kampala, Uganda<img alt="Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="098413e0-f3f7-46a0-8075-df4fb877e7a6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2847%29_12.jpg" /></h2>

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni | AFP

In Uganda's capital Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni called on African leaders to "reject the promotion of homosexuality". The Ugandan president is set to sign a bill that will impose death penalty against same-sex activities.

But Kampala's anti-LGBTQ move has not gone unchallenged.

Protests broke out this week in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria against Ugandan president Museveni, as activists marched to Ugandan High Commission and called on South African government to speak out against the proposed law. Meanwhile, the UN high commissioner for human rights has urged President Museveni to not sign the regressive bill. A request Museveni does not appear very keen to follow up.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Sofia, Bulgaria<img alt="Bulgaria election" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d91f2967-b7d9-4b80-ba70-c517deea14f0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2848%29_9.jpg" /></h2>

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (L) speaks to a citizen as he leaves a polling station after casting his ballot during the country's parliamentary elections in Sofia on April 2, 2023 | AFP

This week, the eastern European country had its fifth election in last two years. But like the results of previous four, the latest election is also expected to fade into a political deadlock. The leaders of two parties with most votes have ruled out a coalition. Following this, another temporary cabinet or election is likely to be Bulgaria's next moment of political reckoning.&nbsp;

<h2>Kigale, Rwanda<img alt="Paul Rusesabagina" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="723979c7-4d04-4ce2-a7e2-3ef21aa085ad" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2849%29_6.jpg" /></h2>

Paul Rusesabagina alongside an official poster of 2004 film 'Hotel Rwanda' | Reuters

This week, Paul Rusesabagina, Rwanda's most famous political prisoner, and hero of the film 'Hotel Rwanda', was freed from a prison in Kigale. Paul was depicted in the 2004 film about genocide in his country in which hundreds of thousands were killed. The film showed him as savior of more than 1,200 people at the luxury hotel he managed during the genocide. Paul was arrested in Kigale and subsequently charged with terrorism in 2020 after a trial.&nbsp;

Paul reunited with his tearful family at a U.S. Army base in Texas this week.

His freedom marks an end to months of campaign for his release from the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle, the actor who portrayed Paul's role in Hotel Rwanda.&nbsp;

That's all for The Capitals now. See you next weekend.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power, all over the world. This week, the capitals of China, European Union, Israel, Uganda, Bulgaria and Rwanda witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly round-up of news and views from the corridors of power, all over the world. This week, the capitals of China, European Union, Israel, Uganda, Bulgaria and Rwanda witnessed among the most significant of all events of reckoning. Beijing, China Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023 | AFP In Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron found what he might be missing in Paris these days: Pomp and pageantry. Macron was welcomed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's charm offensive. The French leader called on Beijing to help make "lasting peace" in Ukraine. But it remains unclear how China's "no-limits" friendship with Russia would stand the test of bringing peace in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian offensive. After being back in Paris, Macron warned European Union must resist pressure to become "America's followers". Beijing effect on Paris? One wonders. Brussels, European Union Finland's flag (R) at the headquarters of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Brussels, Belgium on April 4, 2023 | Screengrab from Reuters video Finland's flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels this week. The Scandinavian nation became the 31st member of the US-led military alliance. Russia has called it an assault on its security, and has warned Finland of "countermeasures". Blocking the expansion of NATO has long remained a goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership. It remains to be seen how Finland getting into NATO will pan out for war in Ukraine. Jerusalem, Israel Israeli security forces are seen during the expulsion of worshipers from Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem | AFP This week, Israel's self-proclaimed contested capital yet again saw an escalation of country's existential conflict with Palestine. It began when Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshipers in the compound of holy Al-Aqsa mosque, defying long-standing compromise on compound's management. Hours after Israeli police pushed back worshipers at the mosque, a barrage of rockets from Gaza strip set off air sirens in southern Israel. The cross-border exchange of fire in Gaza has stoked fears of further violence in the volatile West Asian region. Kampala, Uganda Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni | AFP In Uganda's capital Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni called on African leaders to "reject the promotion of homosexuality". The Ugandan president is set to sign a bill that will impose death penalty against same-sex activities. But Kampala's anti-LGBTQ move has not gone unchallenged. Protests broke out this week in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria against Ugandan president Museveni, as activists marched to Ugandan High Commission and called on South African government to speak out against the proposed law. Meanwhile, the UN high commissioner for human rights has urged President Museveni to not sign the regressive bill. A request Museveni does not appear very keen to follow up. Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgaria's former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (L) speaks to a citizen as he leaves a polling station after casting his ballot during the country's parliamentary elections in Sofia on April 2, 2023 | AFP This week, the eastern European country had its fifth election in last two years. But like the results of previous four, the latest election is also expected to fade into a political deadlock. The leaders of two parties with most votes have ruled out a coalition. Following this, another temporary cabinet or election is likely to be Bulgaria's next moment of political reckoning. Kigale, Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina alongside an official poster of 2004 film 'Hotel Rwanda' | Reuters This week, Paul Rusesabagina, Rwanda's most famous political prisoner, and hero of the film 'Hotel Rwanda', was freed from a prison in Kigale. Paul was depicted in the 2004 film about genocide in his country in which hundreds of thousands were killed. The film showed him as savior of more than 1,200 people at the luxury hotel he managed during the genocide. Paul was arrested in Kigale and subsequently charged with terrorism in 2020 after a trial. Paul reunited with his tearful family at a U.S. Army base in Texas this week. His freedom marks an end to months of campaign for his release from the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle, the actor who portrayed Paul's role in Hotel Rwanda. That's all for The Capitals now. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: Beijing's charm offensive, Jerusalem on the boil, and more