logo
Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow on 4-day visit, attend V-Day celebrations

Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow on 4-day visit, attend V-Day celebrations

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day official visit during which he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin and take part in the 80th anniversary celebrations on the occasion of victory over Nazi Germany in WWII culminating with the V-Day parade at the Red Square.
This will be his 11th visit to Russia since 2013, Russian news agency TASS reported.
According to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, in a tete-a-tete over tea on Thursday, Putin and Xi are scheduled to discuss sensitive international issues such as Russia's relations with the United States, including Ukraine, before joining their delegations.
Xi is accompanied by Foreign Minister Wang Yi who earlier today had a telephonic conversation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on India's Operation Sindoor.
India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people.
There are also speculations here that at their meeting over tea, Putin and Xi would discuss the India-Pakistan escalation after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Experts here say in the changed world, China will not throw its military might behind its all-weather friend Islamabad as India is its major trade partner.
Earlier, on Tuesday local Izvestia daily quoting experts wrote that Russia could be a mediator between New Delhi and Islamabad, but both should be approached through back channels.
Fresh developments in relations between India-Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor by New Delhi can be expected to be prominently discussed by the two leaders.
They note that New Delhi can heed Moscow's advice but Islamabad would have to be approached through Beijing.
Tomorrow after their Kremlin talks Putin and Xi are scheduled to issue a joint statement and speak to the press, which probably would reflect their action plan to de-escalate the India-Pakistan conflict sparked by the brutal Pahalgam terror strike.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What is MAX, the state-owned app Russia's Vladimir Putin is trying to replace WhatsApp with?
What is MAX, the state-owned app Russia's Vladimir Putin is trying to replace WhatsApp with?

First Post

timea minute ago

  • First Post

What is MAX, the state-owned app Russia's Vladimir Putin is trying to replace WhatsApp with?

Russia has ordered its officials to switch over to the Max app by September 1. Moscow has, in recent years, been trying to reduce its use of foreign apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Russia, after the invasion of Ukraine, designated Meta – which owns Facebook and WhatsApp – as an 'extremist organisation'. What is the Max app? read more Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Russian officials until September 1 to switch over to Max. Reuters Russia is set to ban WhatsApp in favour of its own chat app. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to switch to a Russian app being developed known as Max. But what happened? What do we know about the Max app? Let's take a closer look: What happened? Russia has been trying to reduce its use of foreign apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. Facebook and Instagram are already banned in Russia. Russia in 2024 blocked Viber messenger. Russia after the invasion of Ukraine designated Meta – which owns Facebook and WhatsApp – as an 'extremist organisation'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moscow is now set to ban WhatsApp, which is used by around 68 per cent of Russians every day. Putin in June signed a law mandating the development of a state-sponsored messenger. The Max app is being designed by state-run VK Company, which owns VK Video, a rival to YouTube. VK Company was founded by Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram. The law also calls for apps to be banned from nations that have imposed sanctions on Russia. He gave Russian officials until September 1 to switch over to Max. Authorities are now telling WhatsApp to be prepared to stop services in Russia. Moscow is now set to ban WhatsApp, which is used by around 68 per cent of Russians every day. AP "The presence of such services in Russia's digital space is, in fact, a legal violation of national security," Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma IT Committee, said. The Kremlin this week published a list of instructions from Putin, including an order to introduce additional restrictions on the use in Russia of software, including communication services, produced in 'unfriendly countries' that have imposed sanctions against Russia. Russian lawmakers also approved sweeping legal amendments, proposing fines of up to $63 for anyone searching for material online that the government deems extremist - which includes not just the likes of Instagram and Facebook, but many opposition politicians and activists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move drew criticism, including from some Kremlin backers such as Margarita Simonyan, a state media executive who said journalists would be unable to investigate activities of opposition groups such as the Anti-Corruption Fund of late opposition figure Alexei Navalny. What do we know about Max app? Not much. Officials say it is a messaging app much like WhatsApp, but with a huge difference. The Max app is said to have full control over users' microphone, camera, contacts, geolocation and files. It does not turn off by standard means, uses root access and system files. It also sends data automatically to its parent company which is controlled by Russian authorities. quoted one official as saying, 'The authorities have already created a new element of the centralised digital tracking system – messaging app Max from VK. All officials were ordered to switch to Max. The application has full access to the microphone, camera, contacts, geolocation and files. Does not turn off by standard means, uses root access and system jar files – signs of malicious software. The data is automatically transmitted to servers linked to VK, which is under the control of the secret services of the Russian Federation". STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many are worried that the state is going to use Max to further tighten its grip on the lives of its citizens. Some also fear that the authorities could hinder access to WhatsApp to encourage people to switch to Max. Russia has done this in the past. YouTube has seen its audience in Russia drop sharply after Russia has slowed download speeds. The user base, which was over 40 million daily users in mid-2024, is now just under 10 million. Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the lower house of parliament's information technology committee, said in a statement on Telegram that the state-backed app, MAX, could gain market share if WhatsApp left. 'It's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market,' Gorelkin said. Russian Senator Artem Sheikin last year had said that Moscow may block the app if it refuses to fall in line with Russian laws. Telegram, ironically, is also under the eye of the authorities. The app was created by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While it does not have end-to-end encryption by default, it is known for its 'secret chats' that can protect users' privacy. With inputs from agencies

Who are they, what is their party position: Tharoor hits back at K. Muraleedharan
Who are they, what is their party position: Tharoor hits back at K. Muraleedharan

The Hindu

timea minute ago

  • The Hindu

Who are they, what is their party position: Tharoor hits back at K. Muraleedharan

Days after Kerala Congress leader K Muraleedharan's scathing criticism of him, party MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) asked who are these people making such remarks and what party position they hold. Also Read | Murali calls Tharoor's Modi praise 'quite disgusting' in first open attack from Kerala Mr. Muraleedharan on Sunday hit out at Mr. Tharoor again, saying that he will not be invited to any party programme in the state capital till he changes his stance on the national security issue. Mr. Muraleedharan said Mr. Tharoor, also a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, was no longer considered "one of us". Also Read | BJP questions Congress over not nominating Tharoor for delegation on Operation Sindoor Asked about the remarks, Mr. Tharoor told reporters, "First of all, it seems to me that the people saying this also have to have a basis for saying this. Who are they? What is their party's position? I would like to know." Speaking with reporters, Mr. Muraleedharan had said, "Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event." His response had come a day after Mr. Tharoor had said that the nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. The Congress MP had also said that a lot of people have been very critical of him because of his stand supporting the armed forces and the central government in connection with what happened recently in the country and its borders. "But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country," Mr. Tharoor had said at an event in Kochi on Saturday. Mr. Tharoor had also said that when people like him call for cooperating with other parties in the interests of national security, their own parties feel that it's disloyal to them, and that becomes a big problem. Mr. Muraleedharan had earlier hit out at Mr. Tharoor over the sharing of a survey suggesting he is UDF's most preferred choice for Chief Minister, saying "he should first decide which party he belongs to".

Shashi Tharoor snaps back at Congress colleague Muraleedharan's ‘will not cooperate' remark: ‘Who are they?'
Shashi Tharoor snaps back at Congress colleague Muraleedharan's ‘will not cooperate' remark: ‘Who are they?'

Mint

timea minute ago

  • Mint

Shashi Tharoor snaps back at Congress colleague Muraleedharan's ‘will not cooperate' remark: ‘Who are they?'

As Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Congress continues to deepen over his perceived bonhomie with the Central government, the Thiruvananthapuram MP has now responded to a colleague's remark that they 'will not cooperate with him', saying he cannot speak for other people's behaviour. After the Parliament session today, Shashi Tharoor was asked by mediapersons about the criticism he continues to face withing his own party. To which, the Congress MP said, 'The people who are saying this should have some basis for saying so. Who are they? I want to know.' 'Then we will see. Don't ask me about the behaviour of others. I can talk about my behaviour,' he said. Earlier on Monday, July 21, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said that the party was not ready to cooperate with Shashi Tharoor in Kerala. Also Read | Tharoor 'should step down if…': Congress' Muraleedharan warns amid row over 'Emergency' Speaking with ANI, K Muraleedharam said, "The final authority will be the Congress high command, which will decide whether to take action against him or allow him to remain in the party. We are not ready to cooperate with him in Kerala because he always keeps attacking the Congress and Indira Gandhi. In the last one year, PM Modi did not say a single word about Sanjay Gandhi but he accused Sanjay Gandhi. He always opposes Rahul Gandhi's statement." Muraleedharan added, 'We are upset with his performance in Kerala. He is no longer coming to his parliamentary have decided that we will not cooperate with him in the upcoming local body elections. We will follow the instructions given by the high command.' His remarks came after Shashi Tharoor stated recently that sometimes it is necessary to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security – a stance he has emphasised while representing India in other nations following Operation Sindoor.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store