News
Phones, Islamic Books And Currency Exchange. Some Businesses Are Making Money Out Of Taliban Rule
KABUL, Afghanistan Taliban – Yunis Safi, a Kabul businessman, understands how important it is to show off your phone if you want something done.
“In Afghanistan, your phone is your personality,” he remarked, beaming, his hands adorned with jewel-encrusted rings. One has an emerald, the other a large Russian diamond. “When you go to a meeting with the government, the better your phone, the more they respect you.”
Safi owns a phone business in the exclusive Shar-e-Naw area. An armed guard stands outside. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is now on store shelves, priced at $1,400. He has customers willing to part with this amount of money, which may surprise some, considering the country’s economic troubles and that more than half of the population relies on humanitarian help for survival.
Afghanistan’s finances were precarious even before the Taliban took power in 2021. The budget relied significantly on foreign help, and corruption was rampant. The seizure shattered Afghanistan’s economy, freezing billions of dollars in international finances and forcing tens of thousands of highly skilled Afghans to flee the country with their money.
Phones, Islamic Books And Currency Exchange. Some Businesses Are Making Money Out Of Taliban Rule
Despite the terrible conditions, some businesses benefit under the Taliban administration. Women are relegated to customers, however, because authorities have forbidden them from most jobs, including retail. None of Safi’s 78 employees are female.
He has tapped into a varied client base, including those eager for the latest iPhone release and those who prefer simple devices. The latter account for the majority of his sales and range in price from $20 to $200.
The Taliban used to target phone towers and threaten telecom companies, accusing them of working with the United States and other international forces to detect insurgent movements via mobile phone signals. Now, they’re investing in 4G mobile networks.
The Communications Ministry reports that 2 million new SIM cards have been issued in the last two years, and subscriber numbers are increasing. Enayatullah Alokozai, a ministry official, stated that the government is investing $100 million in telecom and has completely rebuilt hundreds of towers.
There are 22.7 million active SIM cards in a country with a population of 41 million. Ten million are for phone calls, with the remainder for mobile internet.
According to Trade Ministry estimates, phone imports have increased. More than 1,584 tons of phones entered Afghanistan in 2022. Last year, it weighed 1,895 tons.
Safi said he had many Taliban customers, and the younger ones prefer iPhones. “Of course, they need smartphones. They use social media and enjoy making videos. The iPhone offers stronger security than Samsung. The camera’s resolution, CPU, and memory are all improved. Afghans use smartphones like everyone else.”
Safi has the iPhone 15 Pro Max, an Apple Watch Ultra, and three automobiles.
Business was difficult shortly after the Taliban took power, but it is improving, according to Safi. “The people buying the new release iPhones are the ones with relatives abroad sending money to Afghanistan.”
Phones, Islamic Books And Currency Exchange. Some Businesses Are Making Money Out Of Taliban Rule
Remittances are a lifeline, but less than half of what they were before the Taliban took power and the financial system collapsed.
At Kabul’s rowdy Shahzada Market, hundreds of money changers clutch stacks of the local currency, the Afghani, and noisily hawk their wares. They occupy every floor, stairwell, corner, and cranny.
According to Abdul Rahman Zirak, a senior official at the money exchange market, $10 million changes hands every day. The diaspora sends largely U.S. cash to family, which they convert for Afghani.
Before the Taliban took control, there were more ways to donate money to Afghanistan. However, there are no longer any linkages to SWIFT or international banking, which is one of the main reasons why business is brisk in the market, he said.
“The work of money exchangers has increased and strengthened,” he stated. “Money transfers come from Canada, the U.S., Europe, Australia, Arab nations and other neighboring countries.”
Trade becomes extremely chaotic during the holidays. During the holy month of Ramadan, 20,000 people visited the market daily, and it took more than 90 minutes to enter, he claimed.
Our business may suffer if the restrictions are lifted and the assets are unfrozen. But I don’t see this happening. Many do not have bank accounts. Unemployment is rising, therefore people send money to Afghanistan. Our company will be needed for years to come.”
Irfanullah Arif, who owns Haqqani Books, a specialist retailer of Islamic manuscripts, is likewise pleased with his fortunes. His consumers are primarily religious school professors and pupils.
There are at least 20,000 madrasas in Afghanistan. The Taliban intends to build more. Last year, the supreme commander allegedly directed the recruiting of 100,000 madrassa teachers.
Phones, Islamic Books And Currency Exchange. Some Businesses Are Making Money Out Of Taliban Rule
While Arif’s business suffered, along with everyone else’s, from the chaos that followed the takeover, there was another cause. “All the students left the madrassas and went to work for the (Taliban) government,” Arif claimed.
Success, however, comes with a price. Arif imports everything, and the Taliban are just concerned with collecting revenue, even from Islamic literature.
Arif pays a tax of 170 Afghanis ($2.36) for a carton of 100 books, with a shipping cost of 500 Afghanis ($6.95). His bookstore’s taxes have increased under the Taliban administration.
“That’s why books are expensive in Afghanistan,” he sighed. “With the increase of madrassas, our trade has gone up, but so have the taxes.”
SOURCE – (AP)
News
TikTok Initiates Integration With Lemon8 Amid Impending US Ban
(VOR News) – On Tuesday, a TikTok business announcement was made public that stated users will be able to quickly access Lemon8, a more contemporary social networking application developed by ByteDance, using their TikTok account.
ByteDance asserts that the connection will facilitate the sharing of photographs among users and will also allow for the cross-sharing of photo content between other applications once it is established. ByteDance communicated this to us.
Despite the fact that Lemon8 will remain a distinct application, the two platforms will share a user profile to facilitate communication.
Why does TikTok do this? Lemon8 survived.
Content creators will have the capacity to access both sites with a single account, thereby enhancing convenience. One of its greatest advantages is this.
Lemon8 initiated operations in Japan in 2020, and by 2021, the company had substantially expanded its operations to include markets in the United States of America and Southeast Asia. Users have the ability to access slide shows, photo collections, and the ability to peruse material through “Following” and “For You” feeds on this platform, which is similar to their experience on Pinterest and Instagram.
Furthermore, the capacity to navigate through information is another noteworthy characteristic. A vast array of creative tools, including filters, effects, decals, text templates, and more, are available to Lemon8 users. The instruments are at their disposal.
One of the statements that the company disseminated was as follows: “At TikTok, we are dedicated to the ongoing development of our platform in order to better serve our creators.” The inclusion of Lemon8 among a variety of other photo-sharing websites is indicative of our dedication to improving the experience we offer producers.
There is no doubt in our minds that the introduction of these new tools will not only improve the creative output of individuals but also fortify the community, both of which will ultimately benefit all parties involved.
TikTok may be merging with Lemon8, as TechCrunch revealed in August 2023.
The disclosure does not startle individuals. There is a probability that TikTok will be banned in the United States concurrently with the introduction of this new feature.
By positioning Lemon8 as a companion app to TikTok, ByteDance intends to persuade producers to register for the new platform without requiring them to do so independently. It is feasible that this could serve as an approach to facilitate the transition for creators.
Conversely, it is feasible that the prohibition that TikTok has implemented would extend to other applications that are under the ownership of ByteDance, including Lemon8.
This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that the primary concern that legislators have with TikTok is the possession of the platform by Chinese firms.
Donald Trump’s recent victory may undoubtedly influence the future trajectory of TikTok. Despite the fact that Trump was the one who initially proposed making the program unlawful during his first term in office, the president-elect opted to pursue a different course of action during his campaign for the presidency in 2024.
This remains the case, despite the fact that Trump was the one who initially proposed the app’s prohibition. In the past, he had requested that his supporters vote for him if they opposed the program’s prohibition; however, he is now apprehensive that a ban on TikTok will be advantageous to Meta.
TikTok has only recently begun to accept content in the form of photographs, which is another explanation for this relationship.
This is for certain the case, despite the fact that the short-video format was the primary factor in its initial success. In 2022, TikTok introduced the ability to upload images and began testing TikTok Notes, an application that is specifically designed for photo sharing. Both of these events occurred simultaneously in the same year.
SOURCE: TC
SEE ALSO:
Former NDP Leader Says Trudeau is Top on Trumps Hit List
Trump Appoints Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy in the Incoming Government.
News
Trump Appoints Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy in the Incoming Government.
(VOR News) – Donald Trump, who is the incoming president, has appointed Stephen Miller, who is known for his hardline views on immigration, to the position of deputy director of policy during his administration.
Stephen Miller has served as an advisor to Trump for a considerable amount of time, and Trump has appointed him to this position.
Miller’s selection was confirmed by Vice President-elect JD Vance on Monday, when he tweeted a message of congratulations to Stephen Miller on X. The message was distributed on Twitter. In the message, Vance made the statement, “This is another fantastic pick by the president.”
Stephen Miller reported on the announcement first from Vance.
Stephen Miller is one of the employees who has been with Trump since the beginning of his first campaign for the White House. He is one of the staff members who has been with Trump for the longest period of time among those who have collaborated with him.
During the first term of President Trump’s presidency, he served as a significant adviser, and it is noteworthy that he was a prominent player in many of the policy decisions that President Trump has made, particularly with regard to immigration. Particularly important is the fact that he worked directly with President Trump.
A excellent example of this is the decision that President Trump made in 2018 to launch a deterrence program that would result in the separation of thousands This decision is a fantastic demonstration of it.
Miller was typically the public face of the principles that Trump fought for during the first year that he was in office and during his campaigns. He was also the face of the ideals that he campaigned for.
Additionally, Stephen Miller has been a contributor to the drafting of a considerable number of Trump’s speeches that are politically conservative. These speeches were delivered by this individual.
Following Stephen Miller’s resignation from his position as President of the White House, he has served in the capacity of President of America First Legal throughout this entire time.
America First Legal, a conservative organization, protects individual rights in contrast to the American Civil Liberties Union. A group of individuals who had previously worked as advisors to President Trump came together to start this organization.
This organization’s mission is to raise questions about issues such as problems regarding freedom of speech and religion, as well as concerns regarding national security.
Media, universities, and Stephen Miller all have issues.
In addition, he was a frequent presence during Trump’s campaign this year, traveling on his plane and frequently speaking in front of Trump at the pre-shows and at his rallies. He was also a frequent participant in campaign speeches. Moreover, he was a frequent speaker at rallies that were held by Trump.
Additionally, he provided a significant amount of money to the campaign that was being run. They applauded Stephen Miller at the rally that Trump hosted at Madison Square Garden in the last stretch of the race.
A significant number of people attended the rally and clapped for Stephen Miller. After the events that he described as “decades of abuse that has been heaped upon the good people of this nation — their jobs looted and stolen from them and shipped to Mexico, Asia, and foreign countries,” he addressed the audience that had gathered and declared, “Your salvation is at hand.”
He said this in response to the atrocities that had transpired. That which Stephen Miller had to say was received with a great deal of attention from the people in the crowd.
Their loved ones were murdered by criminal gangs, illegal immigrants, and thugs who had no right to be in this nation. These individuals had no grounds for being here. They were not qualified to be in this country in any way.
The election is “a choice between betrayal and renewal, between self-destruction and salvation, between the failure of America or the triumph of America,” he continued. “We stand here today at a crossroads,” he said, pointing out that the election represents “a choice between the failure of America or the triumph of America.”
What he was alluding to was a reference to the fact that both candidates were running for office at the same time.
SOURCE: AP
SEE ALSO:
Trudeau Condemned in India By Sikhs and Hindus
Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video
Trudeau Shutters Fast-Track Student Visa Program
News
Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland
Another beluga whale has died at Canada’s Marineland, raising concerns about the future of the controversial amusement park and one of the world’s largest captive whale populations. The most recent fatality is the 17th beluga to die at Niagara Falls Aquarium since 2019.
Neither the Ontario government nor the park have revealed the whale’s cause of death.
However, the province’s top animal welfare inspector stated that the quality of Marineland’s water was “within acceptable limits” and that a specialist unit of inspectors examined the water weekly.
Melanie Milczynski stated that enforcement officers have visited the park 205 times since the province took over animal welfare enforcement from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 2020.
In late October, the whistleblower account UrgentSeas, co-founded by Phil Demers, a former walrus trainer at Marineland, posted drone footage of veterinarians and trainers attempting to administer medication and fluids to the ailing beluga.
“I don’t know how many days it has left,” Demers told the Guardian back then. “But, at this point, merely attempting to keep the whale alive isn’t good. Seeing this is heartbreaking. “It just kills you inside.”
Marineland, Canada, is the country’s sole captive whale aquarium. It made news last year when Kiska, the “world’s loneliest orca,” died of a bacterial infection after spending four decades in the park.
Marineland defends its policies.
Before her death, the 47-year-old whale was seen wandering in her tank, having not seen another orca in almost a decade.
The park, which has the world’s largest beluga population, has defended the quality of its care, saying that deaths were normal. Marineland’s professionals “care for the animals when they are sick and make every effort to save them,” according to an email from the park.
According to The Guardian, in August, Marineland was compelled to pay roughly C$85,000 (US$61,000) after being found guilty of three infractions of the province’s animal cruelty rules involving its captive American black bears.
The news of the latest beluga death has sparked an outrage among provincial officials. Marit Stiles, the New Democrat leader, described the outcome as “disgraceful” and promised to shut down the park if elected premier.
Bonnie Crombie, the Liberal leader, cautioned that there was “no accountability” for Marineland and the protection of “beautiful mammals”.
For Demers, whose public confrontations with the park have resulted in several lawsuits from his former employer, the tragedy exemplifies the province’s long-standing reluctance to intervene aggressively in the park.
“We’ve been forewarning the public for over a decade that Marineland’s whales would be dying en masse unless someone intervened to fix the conditions,” he told reporters.
“Now it appears that the government itself is preserving Marineland. It’s tough to trust your institutions when they consistently fail.”
Trending News:
7 Whales Dead In New Jersey, Wind Farm Protests Continue
-
Tech3 weeks ago
Apple Unveiled A Fresh Glimpse Of Their AI Featuring ChatGPT Integration.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Connection Problems With The App Store Are Stopping Customers From Downloading Apps.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
The Meta Foundation Launches a New Anti-Sextortion Campaign on Instagram.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Adobe Commences The Implementation Of AI Video Tools, Which Poses A Challenge To OpenAI And Meta.
-
Tech3 weeks ago
Appeals Court Delays Order For Google To Open Its App Store In Antitrust Case
-
Business4 weeks ago
Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin Will “Rise Stupendously” When Middle East Conflict Escalates.