US to ease human rights criticism of El Salvador, Israel and Russia: Report
Usually, these annual reports are released around March or April each year."The 2024 Human Rights Report has been restructured in a way that removes redundancies, increases report readability and is more responsive to the legislative mandates that underpin the report," a State Department official briefing reporters on Wednesday said."The report is not meant to be a every single human rights abuse that's happened in every single country. It's meant to be illustrative and a broad picture of what the conditions of human rights are on the ground in each country."- EndsMust Watch
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‘Titanic efforts': Is Russia accusing Europe of derailing Putin-Trump Alaska talks?
As US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, prepare for their talks in Alaska, Russia claimed that unnamed nations are orchestrating 'titanic efforts' to disrupt the planned summit between the two leaders. read more US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders' summit. Reuters/File Photo As US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, prepare for their talks in Alaska, Russia claimed that unnamed nations are orchestrating 'titanic efforts' to disrupt the planned summit between the two leaders. The announcement of the meeting with the potential to change the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has heightened tensions significantly, with the European allies calling for the inclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the meeting. In light of this, Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's investment envoy, alleged that certain unnamed countries are working to prolong the war. Dmitriev went on to accuse the unnamed nations of deploying disinformation and provocations to prevent progress toward a ceasefire or peace deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why it matters Trump has previously claimed that Russia and Ukraine were nearing a ceasefire agreement that could end the three-and-a-half-year conflict. While the details of the deal Trump is trying to push have not been disclosed, it may involve Ukraine ceding substantial territory, a prospect opposed by many European nations. Amid the speculations, Dmitriev publicly accused undisclosed states of seeking to sabotage the summit with misinformation and destabilising actions. 'Undoubtedly, a number of countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump,' Dmitriev said in a post in his Telegram account on Saturday, specifying that by efforts he meant 'provocations and disinformation,' Reuters reported, although he did not elaborate further. Soon after Trump's proclamation, the Kremlin confirmed that Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska to pursue a long-term resolution to the conflict, though both sides expect the process to be fraught. It is pertinent to note that this will be the first time Putin has set foot on American soil for 20 years. Meanwhile, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov told Reuters that the two leaders would 'focus on exploring ways to secure a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.' He acknowledged that 'this will clearly be a difficult process,' but stressed that Russia intends to pursue it 'actively and energetically.' With inputs from agencies.
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China to start work on one of world's most ambitious railway lines. Why India is watching closely
China is expected to start work on a railway line linking Hotan in Xinjiang to Shigatse in Tibet this year. The artery is likely to cross from Aksai Chin and close to the G219 national highway, near the Line of Actual Control. The disputed region has created tensions between India and China in the past. Here's why the railway line could now spur concerns in New Delhi read more Two workers walk along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as they check the railway track in Dangxiong county of the Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2007. File Photo/Reuters China will soon begin construction of a railway line that will link Xinjiang and Tibet, running close to its Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The ambitious project has been in development for many years. It is one of China's biggest railway projects. A section of the planned railway line is expected to go through the disputed Aksai Chin region, which is likely to raise hackles in New Delhi. Let's take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China's planned Xinjiang-Tibet railway line China's Xinjiang-Tibet railway line is expected to cross from Aksai Chin and close to the G219 national highway, near the Line of Actual Control. The railway line will connect Hotan in Xinjiang to Shigatse in Tibet, joining with the existing Lhasa-Shigatse line, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP). This will form a nearly 2,000 km strategic artery that will link northwestern and southwestern China. As per reports, the first section of this line will be from Shigatse to Pakhuktso. The railway line is likely to pass through Rutog and around Pangong Lake on the Chinese side of the LAC. 'This ambitious project aims to establish a 5,000 km plateau rail framework centred on Lhasa by 2035,' Hubei-based Huayuan Securities said in a research note last week. The route will have an average elevation of more than 4,500 metres, running through the Kunlun, Karakoram, Kailash and Himalayan mountain ranges. The construction of the railway line will face challenges, as it will pass through glaciers, frozen rivers and permafrost. The ambitious project is part of Beijing's plan to connect Tibet with the rest of the country. China already has three railway lines linking Tibet: the Qinghai-Tibet line, the Lhasa-Shigatse line, and the Lhasa-Nyingchi line. A bridge of the Lhasa to Shigatse railway line crosses a river in Nyemo County, during a government-organised tour of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, October 17, 2020. File Photo/Reuters The Lhasa-Nyingchi line goes to Tibet's southeast, and close to the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The planning for the Xinjiang-Tibet line began in 2008, when it was made a part of the revised 'Medium and Long-Term Railway Network Plan', which was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The link was to be included in a network connecting Tibet's Lhasa to the Chinese mainland, Yunnan and Chengdu to the East and Xinjiang in the West. In May 2022, survey and design tenders for the Hotan-Shigatse section were launched. The Chinese transport ministry in April 2025 said that the Xinjiang-Tibet railway line is one of the 45 major projects, where construction is expected to begin this year. ALSO READ: PM Modi to visit China: Why the trip matters amid Trump's steep tariffs on India Company set up to oversee construction China has launched a state-owned company to supervise the construction and operations of the railway line that will connect Hotan in Xinjiang and Lhasa in Tibet, SCMP reported, citing the Shanghai Securities News. The Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company has been registered with a capital of 95 billion yuan ($13.2 billion) and is wholly owned by China State Railway Group. The new company's scope includes construction, production of railway transportation equipment, real estate development and operations. It will also develop tourist facilities, according to Economic Times. Why India would be wary of Xinjiang-Tibet line The possibility of the Xinjiang-Tibet railway line passing through Aksai Chin is concerning for India. Both countries claim the region, with China saying that it is part of Xinjiang. However, this is a false claim. China captured Aksai Chin in the 1950s and bolstered its military grip over the area during the 1962 India-China war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two countries went to war at the time over the region due to the construction of G219, resulting in thousands dead on both sides. Aksai Chin remains a disputed region between India and China. General JJ Singh (retired), former chief of Army staff, wrote for The Week in 2023, 'China is very sensitive to any threat posed to its strategic artery.' Aksai Chin is a strategic artery that would help China to move its troops closer to the LAC, a big worry for India. The development comes as India and China work to improve relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes near the LAC. They are holding talks to ease border tensions. With inputs from agencies
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'We are the world's boss': The mindset behind Trump's tariff
In an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and his tariffs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that 'we are the world's boss' mentality has led to policies aimed at hindering Indian exports. read more In an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and his tariffs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that 'we are the world's boss' is driving such policies. Speaking at the foundation ceremony of the BEML Rail Hub for Manufacturing in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen, Rajnath on Sunday said that India on the back of its 'homegrown strength' has become the envy of those who think 'we are the world's boss', according to The Times of India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Many wonder how India is growing at such a fast pace. They are trying their best to ensure goods made in India by Indians are costlier than goods made in their countries. They feel this will ensure that when goods made in India become expensive, the world wouldn't buy them. They are putting in much effort to ensure this,' said Singh. Trump has slapped 50 per cent tariffs on India — he imposed 25 per cent tariff on July 31 as part of the broader rollout for over 60 countries and topped that with 25 per cent tariff last week for India's purchase of Russian oil. Estimates say these tariffs could cut Indian exports to the United States by up to 60 per cent. Firstpost has previously reported that the government is considering floating a support package for exporters from the most vulnerable sectors, such as marine products, textiles, and edibles. Gadkari slams Trump's 'dadagiri' In separate remarks slamming Trump without naming him, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that countries doing 'dadagiri' (bullying) in today's world are able to do so because they are economically strong and have technology, according to PTI. Gadkari said that no one will be able to bully India if India's exports and economy pick up pace. 'If the rate of our exports and economy increase, then I don't think we will need to go to anyone. Those who are indulging in `dadagiri' are doing so because they are economically strong, and they have technology. If we get better technology and resources, we will not bully anyone, because our culture teaches us that welfare of the world is most important,' said Gadkari. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another tariff-related development, the foreign secretary will join commerce ministry officials to brief the parliamentary foreign affairs committee on Trump's tariffs on Monday. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor chairs the committee.
