Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Closure Paralyzes Trade, While Other Global Events Unfold
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - The ongoing closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has crippled trade along a key route for over three months, leaving truck drivers stranded and with no end in sight, according to NPR Politics. The blockade's impact is being felt on both sides of the border, exacerbating existing economic challenges. Meanwhile, other global events are also making headlines, including the impact of internet blackouts in Iran and the state of U.S.-Europe relations.
The border closure near Torkham, Pakistan, has left Afghan truck driver Anwar Zadran and many others in a difficult situation. "For more than three months," Zadran stated, according to NPR Politics, highlighting the prolonged nature of the crisis. The closure has disrupted the flow of goods and people, impacting livelihoods and regional trade.
In Iran, a near-total internet blackout on January 8th has severely disrupted the country's higher education system, according to Nature News. This situation echoes a similar five-day blackout in 2019, raising concerns about digital isolation. The current restrictions are the most severe since the 1980s cultural revolution, which saw universities closed for three years. The blackout's impact on academic operations remains unclear.
Across the Atlantic, former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen reflected on the state of Europe-U.S. relations. Speaking to NPR News ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Rasmussen discussed the evolving dynamics between the two regions. He noted that he "would not have topped my list" to predict which country might see big anti-U.S. protests in 2026.
In other news, the American University of Beirut is home to a unique population of cats, according to NPR News. The university's code of conduct stipulates that students are not allowed to mistreat the animals.
Finally, research published in Nature News indicates that tree rings and salt lakes are providing clues about ancient rainfall patterns.
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