A miner in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan poured water over a block of jade, exposing the green stone that is part of the Taliban authorities’ push to capitalize on the country’s rich mineral resources. Touting the return of security, the Taliban government is rushing to court local and foreign investors to exploit the country’s underground wealth and secure a crucial revenue stream, though experts warn of the risks of cutting corners. Emeralds, rubies, marble, gold, and lithium: the resources buried across Afghanistan’s rocky landscape are estimated to be worth a trillion dollars, according to U.S. and UN assessments from…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government, gave an update on Monday, revealing that they are working to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk, also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, discussed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during a social media talk on X, which he owns. Trump has appointed Musk to lead a federal cost-cutting panel. The conversation, which included former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, began with Musk saying they were working to shut down USAID.…
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, demanding that these countries curb the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration, especially in the cases of Canada and Mexico. This move has triggered a trade war that could impact global growth and reignite inflation. Mexico and Canada, the top two U.S. trading partners, immediately vowed retaliatory tariffs, while China said it would challenge Trump’s decision at the World Trade Organization and take other “countermeasures.” Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and most Canadian imports and 10% on Chinese goods through three executive orders,…
Philadelphia: The death toll from the crash of a medical jet carrying a Mexican child home from a hospital in Philadelphia has reached seven, with 19 others reported injured, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The crash, which marked the second major aviation disaster in the United States this week, occurred on Friday when a twin-engine Learjet 55 crashed into a busy Philadelphia neighborhood. The impact caused the jet to explode, scattering wreckage across homes and vehicles. Earlier, officials confirmed that all six people aboard, including the young girl who had been receiving medical care in the U.S., her mother, and members…
On Sunday, the Chinese government condemned the Trump administration’s imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, while keeping the door open for talks with the US to prevent the conflict from escalating further. Beijing announced its intention to challenge President Donald Trump’s tariff at the World Trade Organization and take unspecified “countermeasures” in response to the levy, which takes effect on Tuesday, according to the finance and commerce ministries. The response was more measured compared to the immediate escalation seen in China’s trade dispute with Trump during his first term, reflecting the more cautious language Beijing has used in…
Albert Einstein created a list in 1941 for his wife, Mileva Maric, as their marriage was nearing collapse. Recognizing that his relationship with one of the first women to study mathematics and physics in Europe was beyond repair, Einstein attempted to salvage their bond by presenting a list of demands. The physicist suggested that they stay together for the sake of their two sons, Hans and Eduard, but under strict conditions. He outlined that Mileva had to abide by these rules to continue living together. The list, however, did not have the desired impact. A few months later, Mileva moved…
In an effort to reduce bitterness between the PPP and PML-N—key ruling coalition partners—the former urged the latter to ensure the implementation of the power-sharing formula agreed upon between the two sides in February 2024, revealed well-placed sources on Monday. This development occurred during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP leaders, including Syed Khursheed Shah, Shazia Marri, and Aijaz Jakhrani, at National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s residence in Lahore on Sunday. The purpose of the visit was to congratulate Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, who is from PPP, on his son’s wedding. During their interaction with…
Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday asserted that elements obstructing peace in Kurram will be dealt with an iron fist, and announced that head money would be fixed on miscreants to restore stability to the region. This statement came after continued acts of terror in the restive region, where miscreants attacked aid convoys and government officials, despite a peace accord being signed between warring tribes last month following deadly clashes that claimed several lives. Three days ago, an attack occurred in Upper Kurram, where unidentified persons opened fire at Boshehra Assistant Commissioner Saeed Manan, leaving him…
Quetta: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for national cohesion to confront terrorism and ensure the prosperity and stability of the country during a special visit to Quetta on Monday. Addressing a meeting on the law and order situation in Balochistan, the Prime Minister stated, “There is no room for political division or politics on national issues.” His visit came after the martyrdom of 18 soldiers while thwarting a terrorist attack in Balochistan, with 23 terrorists being killed in subsequent operations. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists had attempted to set up roadblocks in Kalat’s Mangocher…
Rawalpindi – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has written a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, urging him to change policies, his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry revealed on Monday. Speaking to the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan is imprisoned, Chaudhry said, “Imran Khan, as a former prime minister and party leader, has written a six-point letter to the army chief.” According to Chaudhry, Khan, who was removed from power in 2022 through a parliamentary vote, expressed solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism, acknowledging the sacrifices of soldiers. Khan also urged the…
