Taliban Offers United States Access To Afghanistan’s Mineral Wealth Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has expressed openness to U.S. investment in Afghanistan, emphasizing economic collaboration as a path to lifting international sanctions and releasing frozen Afghan assets. Speaking to the Financial Times on 31 August, Muttaqi stated that relations between Afghanistan and the United States should be evaluated based on future cooperation rather than the past 20 years of conflict. He highlighted that Afghanistan’s economic policy is open to foreign investment, including in mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and trade. However, Muttaqi did not confirm whether the proposal for U.S. investment had been directly presented to the White House. Geological assessments by the U.S. and former Afghan authorities indicate Afghanistan holds untapped mineral reserves valued at over $1 trillion, including copper, iron ore, niobium, cobalt, gold, and lithium. Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban has signed mining contracts worth more than $7 billion, primarily with China and Iran, focusing on gold, precious stones, and chromite. Despite these efforts, UN experts have warned that normalizing relations with the Taliban should not occur without significant progress on human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls. Muttaqi criticized international sanctions, arguing they have failed to achieve their intended goals. He asserted that no individual, government, or institution should use Afghan assets as a tool of political pressure. U.S. President Donald Trump has shown limited willingness to engage with the Taliban, maintaining demands for the return of Bagram Air Base, which Muttaqi rejected, calling it a national asset of Afghanistan.#taliban #financial_times #un #afghanistan #amir_khan_muttaqi
US Refunds $100 Billion of Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs The U.S. government has refunded approximately $100 billion in tariffs collected under Donald Trump’s “liberation day” measures, following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the levies illegal. The refund, representing 60% of the total $165 billion in tariffs collected, was reported by customs officials to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) on Tuesday, according to the Financial Times. The decision marks a significant financial reversal for the Trump administration, which had imposed the tariffs as part of its economic strategy to boost domestic production and address trade imbalances. The tariffs, which targeted imports from over 80 countries, were initially introduced in 2024 as part of Trump’s broader economic agenda. The levies, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, applied to nations including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China, and the European Union’s 27 member states. These measures were justified under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries engaging in forced labor. However, the Supreme Court’s February ruling invalidated a portion of these tariffs, prompting the government to return funds to affected companies. The refund process has been ongoing, with the Trump administration having already paid out $20 billion in refunds, leaving an additional $65 billion to be distributed. The financial impact of the tariffs has been mixed, as the U.S. federal deficit surged to $1.37 trillion in the first nine months of the fiscal year, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2025. While the deficit had narrowed in 2024 due to higher tax revenues and tariff income, the new tariffs have contributed to its resurgence. A coalition of 25 U.S.#us #donald_trump #financial_times #supreme_court #court_of_international_trade
8th Pay Commission Expected to Announce 13-14% Salary Hike, Experts Say The 8th Pay Commission, which is currently reviewing salary and benefits for central government employees and pensioners, is expected to announce a salary increase of between 13% and 14%, according to experts. While labor unions and employee organizations have been pushing for a higher hike, financial analysts and brokerage firms predict the final decision will fall within this narrower range. The commission, which was established on November 3, 2025, has 18 months to submit its recommendations to the government. Central government employees, numbering around 50 lakh, and pensioners, totaling approximately 65 lakh, are closely monitoring the commission’s findings. Employees have been demanding a significant revision to the fitment factor, a multiplier used to calculate salary increases, to account for inflation and rising living costs. The National Council of Joint Action Committee (JCM) has called for a fitment factor of 3.83, which would raise the minimum basic pay to ₹69,000. This would also benefit pensioners, as higher basic pay would increase their retirement benefits. However, experts from financial institutions like Ambit Capital and the Financial Times suggest a more moderate approach. They estimate the fitment factor could range between 1.8 and 2.46, leading to a salary increase of 13% to 14%. These projections are based on the need to balance the financial burden on the government with the demands of employees. The current fitment factor, which has been in place since 2015, has not kept pace with inflation, which has surged over the past decade.#financial_times #8th_pay_commission #ranjana_prakash_desai #ambit_capital #national_council_of_joint_action_committee
Russian Military Cooperation with Iran and Ukrainian Advances in Southern Ukraine Russia is intensifying its military collaboration with Iran to support Iranian strikes against U.S. and Israeli forces in the Middle East. According to a report by the Financial Times on March 25, Western intelligence sources indicate that Russia is nearing completion of a phased shipment of unspecified drones, medical supplies, and food to Iran. Officials briefed on the intelligence revealed that discussions about drone deliveries began shortly after the U.S.-Israeli campaign started, with initial shipments processed in early March. These officials expect the deliveries to be finalized by the end of March. While the specific drone model sent to Iran remains unclear, it is likely to be the Geran-2, as Russia has reportedly already provided modified Shahed drone components and satellite imagery to aid Iranian attacks on U.S. forces and allies in the region. Russia has denied Iran’s request for S-400 air defense systems, emphasizing its strategic focus on weakening the United States, which it has identified as a primary geopolitical adversary. Ukrainian counteroffensives in southern Ukraine are gaining momentum, creating challenges for Russian forces preparing for the Spring-Summer 2026 offensive against the Fortress Belt. On March 26, the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Command reported that Ukrainian troops had liberated Berezove, a town southeast of Oleksandrivka, eliminating a Russian salient. Since late January 2026, Ukrainian forces have made significant tactical gains, reclaiming more territory than Russian forces seized in February. Officials noted that Ukrainian troops have liberated over 400 square kilometers in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole regions between late January and mid-March 2026.#iran #ukraine #financial_times #russian_military #donetsk_oblast
HDFC Bank chairman Atanu Chakraborty resigned abruptly amid a power struggle with CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan, according to a report by the Financial Times. The dispute, which centered on strategic disagreements and governance issues, intensified over Jagdishan’s reappointment as CEO, raising concerns about leadership stability at India’s largest private lender. Chakraborty, who had served as non-executive chairman since 2021, stepped down last week, citing “ethical differences” in his resignation letter. His sudden exit has sparked questions about internal governance and the bank’s broader operational health. HDFC Bank has initiated a legal review to investigate the circumstances of Chakraborty’s resignation. The bank has engaged law firms including Wadia Ghandy, Trilegal, and an international firm to examine the matter. The review may involve interviews with board members and senior management to gather insights, as stated in a regulatory filing. The bank described the process as a proactive measure to ensure an objective assessment of the issues raised in Chakraborty’s resignation. In an interview with The Economic Times, Jagdishan acknowledged the unexpected nature of Chakraborty’s departure. He noted that the bank had encouraged the chairman to raise concerns through internal channels but stated no specific issues were shared. Jagdishan emphasized that the bank is exploring all options, including legal avenues, to address the situation. The CEO also mentioned plans for multiple board-level discussions to review past decisions and address any gaps. The conflict between Chakraborty and Jagdishan highlights the challenges of balancing strategic vision and governance in a major financial institution.#financial_times #hdfc_bank #economic_times #atanu_chakraborty #sashidhar_jagdishan
Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P Live Updates for March 9 Equities saw a reduction in losses on March 9 as the Financial Times reported that Group-of-Seven nations are considering a coordinated release of petroleum from strategic reserves. This potential action aims to stabilize energy prices, which have been rising sharply in recent weeks. The news helped curb declines in global markets, particularly in Asia, where the region’s benchmark stock index had earlier dropped by as much as 5.6% before recovering to below a 4% loss. Equity-index futures for both the U.S. and European markets also showed signs of stabilization. The report, which was first shared by the Financial Times, indicated that the G7 countries are exploring measures to address the surge in energy costs. While details of the proposed release remain unclear, the potential intervention has sparked renewed optimism among investors. Markets had been under pressure earlier in the week due to concerns over inflation and geopolitical tensions affecting energy supplies. The release of oil from reserves could provide temporary relief by increasing supply and reducing price volatility. In Asia, the rebound in the benchmark index followed a sharp decline driven by fears of prolonged high energy prices. Traders had anticipated that the G7’s potential action would ease market stress, and the news appeared to validate those expectations. However, the recovery was partial, with the index still trading below its previous levels. Equity-index futures for the U.S. and Europe also narrowed their losses, suggesting that investors are cautiously optimistic about the potential impact of the G7’s decision. The market reaction highlights the sensitivity of global equities to energy price movements.#energy_prices #stock_market #financial_times #group_of_seven #g7
Google के सीईओ सुंदर पिचाई की नई सैलरी, 6300 करोड़ रुपये का हुआ पैकेज गूगल के सीईओ सुंदर पिचाई के नए वेतन पैकेज के बारे में एक नया खुलासा हुआ है। रिपोर्ट्स के मुताबिक, आने वाले तीन साल के लिए उनके लिए 692 मिलियन डॉलर (लगभग 6300 करोड़ रुपये) का पैकेज तय किया गया है। यह जानकारी फाइनेंशियल टाइम्स की एक रिपोर्ट में सामने आई है। इस पैकेज का बड़ा हिस्सा परफॉर्मेंस आधारित स्टॉक यूनिट से आता है, जो अल्फाबेट के शेयर होल्डर्स के रिटर्न और S&P 100 इंडेक्स पर निर्भर करते हैं। पैकेज के तीन हिस्सों में विभाजित करने पर हर साल करीब 2100 करोड़ रुपये के आसपास की रकम आती है। इसमें से हर साल लगभग 2 मिलियन डॉलर (18 करोड़ रुपये) की सैलरी दी जाती है। पैकेज का एक बड़ा हिस्सा 126 मिलियन डॉलर मूल्य के परफॉर्मेंस स्टॉक यूनिट से आता है। ये स्टॉक अल्फाबेट के शेयर होल्डर्स के रिटर्न और S&P 100 इंडेक्स पर निर्भर करते हैं। यदि पिचाई अपने टारगेट को पूरा करते हैं, तो कुल रकम 252 मिलियन डॉलर तक पहुंच सकती है, जबकि अगर वे टारगेट को पूरा नहीं करते हैं, तो यह रकम जीरो होने का खतरा रहता है। गूगल ने पहली बार पिचाई के लिए 35 करोड़ डॉलर के नए स्टॉक इंसेंटिव्स की घोषणा की है। ये कंपनी के ऑटोनॉमस प्रोजेक्ट्स की ग्रोथ से जुड़े हैं। पिचाई को 13 मिलियन डॉलर के वायमो के स्टॉक मिलेंगे, जबकि उनको 4.5 करोड़ डॉलर की कीमत के शेयर विंग में दिए जाएंगे। पिचाई 2004 में गूगल से जुड़े थे और बाद में च्रोम ब्राउज़र के डेवलपमेंट और एंड्रॉइड डिवीजन की कमान संभाली। शुरुआत में उनकी AI विकास में धीमी गति के लिए आलोचना होती रही, लेकिन बाद में उन्होंने ओपनएआई के साथ सहयोग करके चैटजीपीटी लॉन्च किया। गूगल ने आगे चलकर एडवांस्ड AI मॉडल लॉन्च किए और उनको अपनी अन्य सर्विस में शामिल किया।#google #sundar_pichai #financial_times #alphabet #s_p_100_index
