 "Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in India for two days, starting Monday, August 18. File image/PTI")
Expect a manic Monday today from the world of news.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will begin his two-day visit to India as part of ongoing efforts by the two neighbours to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he will travel to Washington, DC to meet US President Donald Trump today. Also, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit Armenia.
Here’s what else to expect from the day.
China’s Wang Yi in India
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in India starting today for a two-day visit to discuss new confidence-building measures for durable peace and tranquillity along their contested border.
Wang’s visit is largely seen as part of ongoing efforts by the two neighbours to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The trip assumes greater significance in view of increasing tensions in India-US relations following President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent that included an additional penalty of 25 per cent for purchasing Russian oil.
The Chinese foreign minister will be in India primarily to hold a fresh round of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary question with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Wang and Doval are the designated special representatives for the boundary talks.
Zelenskyy in Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Washington today for talks with US President Donald Trump, Zelensky announced earlier.
“On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, DC, to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” Zelensky posted in English on X.
He said he supports Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,” he added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsZelenskyy advocated for the inclusion of European representatives, especially on the issue of security guarantees for his country. Zelenskyy and Trump had earlier had a phone conversation lasting about an hour. European leaders were later connected to the conversation, which lasted more than an hour and a half in total.
Trump informed Zelenskyy and the Europeans about the “main points of their discussion” with Putin, Zelenskyy said.
Downton Abbey auction at Bonhams
Downton Abbey fans will be able to bid on props, costumes, and other items from the hit TV show and films in an auction starting today. The sale is being held by the London auction house Bonhams, which will feature everything from dresses to a clapper board.
It comes ahead of the release of a third film - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - in cinemas in September and follows six highly successful seasons of the show on the small screen.
Among the higher-priced items going under the hammer are the Downton Abbey “bell wall”, the servant call system that featured prominently in the television series. It is estimated to fetch up to £7,000. Various dresses will be available, including a wedding costume worn by Lady Mary Crawley - played by Michelle Dockery - in the first episode of season three, priced at £3,000 to £5,000.
Google on trial
Web giant Google will go on trial today after claims of collecting personal data from mobile devices despite users disabling tracking settings. Earlier, a federal judge rejected the argument that the company disclosed about how its web & app activity settings worked.
Users of Android and non-Android mobile devices accused Google of invading their privacy and violating a California law against unauthorised fraudulent computer access by intercepting and saving their personal browsing histories without consent.
Iran’s president in Armenia
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to depart on Monday evening for a two-day tour to Armenia and Belarus. The announcement was made by Mehdi Sanaei, political advisor to Iran’s president, in a post on the social media platform X.
Sanaei said improving bilateral relations with Armenia and Belarus, especially in the trade area, and signing cooperation documents would be on the president’s agenda during the visits, adding that the trips had been scheduled for late June but were postponed.
Pezeshkian’s visit to Armenia is expected to take place as Armenia and Azerbaijan, which had been at loggerheads over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988, signed on August 8 a peace agreement in Washington.
With inputs from agencies