International Funding

The Taliban, long known for maintaining a united front and keeping internal conflicts out of public view, is now exhibiting unprecedented internal discord.

The number killed in violence last year was the highest since the military coup in 2021. Over 1,800 civilians were killed in 2024, many in indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, with attacks on schools, places of worship and healthcare facilities having become routine.

During a fiery exchange in the Oval Office, Trump accused Zelensky of “overplaying his hand” and dismissed Ukraine’s appeals for defined security guarantees.

In contrast, when Trump had said on Wednesday in Miami that USAID had spent $21 million in India, most papers not only latched on to the news but also displayed it well on Page 1.

The decision to terminate these grants reportedly came after a suggestion from Trump’s close aide, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. Musk advised the administration to cut down on what he described as unnecessary foreign aid spending.

In August 1971, President Richard Nixon, without any international consultations, launched what became known as the Nixon Shock. He broke the link between gold and the US dollar, thereby ending the international monetary system established in 1944.

“Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges. We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.  The prospect of nuclear war remains – outrageously – a clear and present danger.”

According to the IMF, the Maldivian government faces the critical challenge of balancing fiscal discipline with economic growth. The IMF feels that while reforms may be difficult, they are essential to ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable development in the years ahead.