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express editorial

Indian Express02-06-2025
Express View on Martha Stewart on the Sports Illustrated cover: Age is just a number
May 17, 2023 7:26 am
Putting 81-year-old Stewart on the cover sends out an especially powerful message against the unconscious — or even conscious — ageist bias that exists in industries such as beauty, fashion and entertainment
Express View on government's Open Network for Digital Commerce: An audacious idea
May 17, 2023 7:19 am
If ONDC is to 'help our small retail survive the onslaught of large tech-based e-commerce companies', it will have to do better than them or even what UPI did in payments. And it should definitely not burn the money of taxpayers or public financial institutions
Express View: Terror strike in Poonch flags challenges at the LOC
April 22, 2023 7:15 am
New Delhi needs to keep up the heat on Islamabad while firewalling diplomatic events from falling hostage to purveyors of terrorism
Express View: A campus that is safe and free
April 19, 2023 7:27 am
It must provide an enabling environment for students. Ensuring security should not be at the cost of their freedoms.
Express View: In Media One verdict, SC does some much-needed plain-speaking on national security
April 07, 2023 7:07 am
In this instance, as in so many others, the Supreme Court has moved the needle for greater openness and more freedom, without which both justice and democracy are incomplete.
Indian Express editorial on The Wire story and the police raids: A tale of two
November 05, 2022 10:46 am
Those in power out to delegitimise a free press. And a newsroom that put self-righteousness above rigour.
Questions on Morbi bridge collapse must be answered – for the sake of ensuring accountability and for drawing lessons for the future
November 01, 2022 9:12 am
Providing relief is just the starting point. The bigger concern should be to understand why the bridge collapsed just four days after it was reopened. This is important for the sake of ensuring accountability and also for drawing lessons for the future.
Standoff involving President's office, executive and judiciary triggers a constitutional crisis in Nepal
September 23, 2022 10:48 pm
The Kathmandu meltdown underlines the failure of Nepal's political class to manage the sweeping changes that came about after the 2008 abolition of the monarchy
The return of cinemas marks a new beginning in Kashmir
September 22, 2022 5:45 am
For the ordinary people of Kashmir, many of whom have grown up without having watched a single film on the big screen, the promise of these miracles — taken for granted by millions around the world — is a hopeful start
Alone together: The story of a Japanese man earning by simply being there for others speaks of a loneliness that won't be easily fixed
September 08, 2022 8:10 am
That so many are willing to pay for the companionship that, in a less disconnected world, would be freely available, speaks of a profound malaise
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State was once sold for $7.2 million - Why Alaska matters in Trump-Putin talks? Russian legacy, wartime history, and Cold War strategy in focus
State was once sold for $7.2 million - Why Alaska matters in Trump-Putin talks? Russian legacy, wartime history, and Cold War strategy in focus

Time of India

time5 hours ago

  • Time of India

State was once sold for $7.2 million - Why Alaska matters in Trump-Putin talks? Russian legacy, wartime history, and Cold War strategy in focus

File photo of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin When US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, the summit will unfold against a backdrop of centuries of history between the two nations and a state that has long been at the frontlines of international tensions. Alaska's Russian roots Russian fur traders arrived in Alaska in the early 18th century, establishing hubs in Sitka and Kodiak Island. Though the Russian population never exceeded 400 settlers, their presence left lasting marks: the oldest building in Anchorage is a Russian Orthodox church, and many Alaska Natives bear Russian surnames. Russian settlers coerced locals into harvesting sea otters for pelts, while missionaries baptized an estimated 18,000 Alaska Natives. By 1867, depleted resources and post-Crimean War finances led Czar Alexander II to sell Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million -- a move derided as 'Seward's Folly' until gold was discovered decades later. Strategic importance in war and peace Alaska proved its strategic value during World War II when Japanese forces captured Attu Island, the only battle on North American soil. During the Cold War, US leaders feared Soviet attacks via the North Pole, prompting radar and missile installations, while military construction shaped roads and communities that later facilitated oil development and the trans-Alaska pipeline. Recent Pentagon warnings about Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic have seen US troops deployed to remote Aleutian islands, highlighting Alaska's ongoing strategic relevance. A long history of high-profile visits Alaska has hosted a range of world leaders. Japanese Emperor Hirohito stopped in Anchorage in 1971; President Reagan met Pope John Paul II in Fairbanks in 1984. Barack Obama visited in 2015, becoming the first sitting US president north of the Arctic Circle. More recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping toured Anchorage in 2017, and US-China talks resumed there in 2021. Criticism of the summit location Some Alaskans question the symbolism of hosting Putin in the state, especially following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Anchorage Assembly suspended its sister city relationship with Magadan, while the Juneau Assembly expressed concern to Vladivostok. Activist group Stand Up Alaska has organized protests ahead of the summit. Experts suggest that the location could send unintended messages. Nigel Gould-Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, warned that Putin might use Alaska's history to argue territorial claims, 'It's easy to imagine Putin making the argument…'We gave you Alaska. Why can't Ukraine give us a part of its territory?'' Alaska, with its Russian heritage, strategic significance, and history of high-stakes diplomacy, now plays host to yet another chapter in US-Russia relations, one that blends history, geography, and modern geopolitics in equal measure.

China Is Playing the Long Game on Trade. It's Working
China Is Playing the Long Game on Trade. It's Working

NDTV

time8 hours ago

  • NDTV

China Is Playing the Long Game on Trade. It's Working

President Donald Trump's trade war was meant to rebalance global power in America's favor. Instead, China is playing the long game, enduring short-term economic pain to shape any eventual deal to its advantage. The strategy appears to be working - for now. On Monday, Washington granted Beijing another 90-day reprieve, extending a pause on tariffs through Nov. 10. China announced it would do the same. Markets welcomed the move, which offered some relief after months of tension. The delay will give President Xi Jinping's policymakers more time to plan their next move. Time is Xi's ally. So far, the clearest outcome of each round of talks has been a commitment to meet again. Despite Trump's insistence that China has taken significant steps to improve their trade relationship, Beijing has made no consequential concessions on any of his key concerns. (China has offered some small compromises, none on the scale of American demands.) The extension has come at a delicate time for the economy, which is plagued by sluggish domestic demand and a slowdown in the property sector. Bloomberg Economics says that China is among the few major nations without a clear timeline or terms for a deal, while others have struck agreements to secure lower tariffs. Even with this reprieve, it notes, Beijing faces average US tariffs of 40% - almost 25 percentage points above the global average. This will hurt prospects for Chinese citizens, who have enjoyed more than three decades of near double-digit growth. The economy expanded by 5.2% in April-June from a year earlier - enviable by global standards - but anxieties among the once-thriving middle class over the future for their children are rising. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, with joblessness at 14.5% in June. That figure has improved in recent months, but analysts point to significant challenges: More than 12 million university students are set to graduate with hopes of joining the workforce. Still, China is betting that despite these economic costs, it can fight this trade war to the end. Politically, Beijing is preparing the population for a long battle. State media editorials in recent months have lauded a Mao-era philosophy as a possible strategy to counter American pressure. They reference the former Chinese leader's 1938 essay On Protracted War, which laid out his approach to combating the invading Japanese between 1937 and 1945. During a series of lectures in May and June 1938, Mao spoke of how the "contest of strength is not only a contest of military and economic power, but also a contest of human power and morale." Scholars say the idea was to alert his fellow citizens that the war would be long and grueling, but could be won through endurance and unity. Despite millions of Chinese dead, Mao refused to yield. The conflict only ended after Japan surrendered in World War II in 1945. (Mao's civil war with the Nationalists lasted another four years.) Xi appears to be heeding his predecessor's counsel: Patience, at all costs - with the aim of shifting the odds in Beijing's favor. Domestically, Xi has the levers of the Chinese state at his disposal to help him craft a now well-worn narrative that the West is keeping China down. The trade war has fueled those views, which play well with an already disgruntled citizenry. Internationally, Trump is doing much of the work for him. In contrast to Washington's chaos on everything from trade to international students' university admissions, Beijing is presenting itself as a champion of multilateralism - notwithstanding that it's also trying to reshape the world order to its advantage. China is happy to keep the talks going, but is unlikely to make any concessions, as William Yang, the International Crisis Group's senior North East Asia analyst, says in a note. "China believes momentum is on its side because Trump has a stronger desire to sign a deal with Beijing so that he can claim victory and secure a summit with Xi in the fall." But Washington's economic leverage is gradually eroding, as China pushes ahead with its strategy of self-reliance. Beijing wants to reduce dependence on US markets, and deepen control over critical supply chains, as a report from the RAND thinktank notes. China on Monday urged local firms to avoid using Nvidia Corp.'s H20 processors, especially in government projects, following a White House directive requiring it and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. to pay 15% of Chinese AI chip sales to Washington. As Mao wrote, "final victory will not come about without human action." Trump may tout his successes in bringing China's economy to heel. By betting on time and resilience, Beijing is showing it's willing to wait for the win. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

South Korea: Lee to visit Japan from August 23-24 for summit talks with Ishiba
South Korea: Lee to visit Japan from August 23-24 for summit talks with Ishiba

Hans India

time9 hours ago

  • Hans India

South Korea: Lee to visit Japan from August 23-24 for summit talks with Ishiba

Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan from August 23-24 for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss ways to advance bilateral relations and trilateral partnership with the United States, the presidential office said on Wednesday. Lee will make a two-day visit to Japan before travelling to Washington for his first summit with US President Donald Trump on August 25. The visit will be Lee's first trip to Japan since taking office in early June and his second in-person meeting with Ishiba, following their talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June. "The leaders will seek to solidify the foundation for future-oriented cooperation between the two countries, while also discussing ways to strengthen Korea-Japan and Korea-US-Japan cooperation, regional peace and stability, and other regional and global issues," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing. "We hope this visit to Japan will further deepen their personal bonds and trust," she added. Lee's decision to stop in Japan before visiting the US is seen as unusual, as previous South Korean Presidents have typically chosen Washington as their first destination for diplomatic talks. In their previous meeting, Lee and Ishiba agreed to build future-oriented relations, continue "shuttle diplomacy," or regular exchanges between leaders, and bolster trilateral cooperation with the US. Lee's pursuit of "pragmatic diplomacy" is expected to be put to the test as his visit coincides with both the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, and the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Lee has pledged to pursue a "two-track" policy of separating historical disputes from future-oriented cooperation, as Seoul and Tokyo share a consensus on the need to step up cooperation amid the changing economic and security environment. As key Asian security allies of the US and major economic powers, both countries face rising trade uncertainties from the Trump administration's steep tariffs and mounting security threats from North Korea's growing ties with Russia. Lee is expected to discuss Washington's trade policies with Ishiba ahead of his planned talks with Trump, given that both nations are major exporters to the US market. The US recently began imposing 15 per cent tariffs on goods from South Korea and Japan, including automobiles, after the two Asian nations separately reached trade deals involving large investment packages and US energy purchases. Asked whether Seoul's import restrictions on Japanese seafood would be discussed at the summit, the presidential spokesperson said Seoul and Tokyo have been arranging agenda items, including the issue, Yonhap news agency reported. "Easing restrictions on seafood imports is more of a concern for Japan than for us," Kang said. "We will respond appropriately based on our basic position. Since our top priority is public health, this issue is currently under coordination." South Korea banned all seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures near Fukushima in 2013 over concerns about radiation following the 2011 nuclear meltdown and has vowed to maintain the curbs until public concerns are fully addressed. With Lee's visits to the US and Japan now confirmed, the presidential office said it would scrap its earlier plans to send special envoys to the two countries.

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