 "FirstUp: China showcases military might on Victory Day parade and other headlines of the day")
It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, China is set to hold a massive military parade to commemorate 80 years since the defeat of Japan in World War II in Beijing today. Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse are set to speak out for the first time in a press conference.
In India, the 56th GST Council meeting is scheduled to take place in New Delhi today, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a two-day military exercise in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day.
Military parade on Victory Day in China
China is set to hold a massive military parade in Beijing, showcasing its military strength, technological advancements, and national pride. The parade is set to be attended by several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The parade will commemorate key milestones in the country’s history while emphasising President Xi Jinping’s vision of a strong and modernised People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by 2049, the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The event, organised at Tiananmen Square, is expected to feature tens of thousands of troops, state-of-the-art missiles, tanks, aircraft, and drones, and advanced naval weaponry. China has increasingly used such parades to signal its growing defence capabilities and project power to both domestic and international audiences.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki to meet Trump
Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet former US President Donald Trump at the White House today in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
The meeting is expected to focus on defence cooperation and energy security. Nawrocki, who assumed Poland’s presidency earlier this year, has been vocal about deepening strategic partnerships with Washington, particularly given Poland’s role as a frontline state in Nato’s eastern flank.
For Trump, the meeting is an opportunity to reaffirm his role on the global stage and reinforce his reputation as a leader maintaining strong ties with Eastern Europe.
Epstein victims to speak out at ‘explosive’ press conference
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse are set to break their silence in an ’explosive’ press conference today. The event, scheduled to take place in New York City, will bring together several victims who have never publicly spoken about their experiences until now.
Lawyers representing the women said the press conference would shed light on the “full scale” of Epstein’s crimes, as well as the alleged complicity of powerful figures who enabled him. Survivors are expected to detail not only the abuse they endured but also the failures of law enforcement and legal institutions that allowed Epstein to escape justice for years.
The event comes at a time when renewed calls are being made for accountability after the release of previously sealed documents linking Epstein to high-profile businessmen, politicians, and celebrities.
GST council meeting in New Delhi
The 56th Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting is scheduled to begin in New Delhi today. The two-day event will begin at 11 am each day. The meeting will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
A key item on the agenda is the rationalisation of GST slabs, a long-debated reform aimed at simplifying the tax structure and reducing complexities for businesses. The council is likely to revisit the proposal of merging the 12 per cent and 18 per cent tax brackets into a single slab, which could streamline collections but may impact prices of essential goods and services.
IAF to hold two-day drill near Pakistan’s airspace
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a two-day military exercise in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat and Rajasthan today. The drill is aimed at testing combat readiness, enhancing coordination between units, and preparing for potential contingencies along the sensitive frontier.
The exercise will involve a mix of frontline fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs, along with ground-based air defence systems. Aircraft such as Rafales, Su-30 MKIs, and Mirage-2000s are expected to participate, practising offensive and defensive manoeuvres under simulated wartime conditions.
According to the Indian Air Force, this is a routine exercise, and a Notam (Notice to Airmen) has been issued accordingly.
With inputs from agencies
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