Wang Yi in Delhi for talks on border and bilateral issues
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi started a three-day visit to India on Monday, meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He and Doval will hold the 24th round of boundary talks, though no breakthrough is expected, Firstpost reported.
Recent steps like resuming the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra, visas, and flights have signaled easing, but experts caution these are tactical gestures, not a strategic thaw. Core issues—boundary disputes, trade gaps, and mistrust—persist, keeping ties far from normal despite speculation of closer alignment.
Heavy rain shuts Mumbai schools, disrupts city
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ordered all schools closed, including afternoon shifts, as waterlogging disrupted traffic and daily activities across several areas, Firstpost reported.
The red alert—the highest in IMD’s warning system—covered Borivali, Thane, Kalyan, Mulund, Powai, Santa Cruz, Chembur, Worli, Navi Mumbai, and Colaba. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors unless necessary and follow official safety guidelines.
The IMD also warned of a flash flood risk in Mumbai and its suburbs until early August 19, while other parts of Maharashtra remain under yellow and orange alerts, according to Firstpost.
US envoy to discuss long-term ceasefire with Israel after Lebanon commits to disarming Hezbollah
The U.S. special envoy to Lebanon said Monday that his team would discuss the long-term cessation of hostilities with Israel, after Beirut endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for the Hezbollah militant group to disarm, Associated Press reported.
Tom Barrack, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war reconstruction in the country, after months of shuttle diplomacy between the U.S. and Lebanon.
Barrack is also set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri, who often negotiates on behalf of Hezbollah with Washington, according to Associated Press.
“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step,” said Barrack, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. “Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.”
India’s purchase of Russian oil has to stop, says US trade adviser
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has called on India to stop purchasing Russian crude, warning that these imports are funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and weakening global sanctions. In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, he accused India of acting as a “clearinghouse” for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports that provide dollars to the Kremlin.
India, the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, gets over 30 percent of its fuel from Moscow. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods over the issue. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed on Independence Day to protect Indian farmers and stand firm against US trade pressure, Al Jazeera reported.
