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Critical minerals at a critical moment: Testing the Quad’s resolve

The Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington this week made one thing clear: the group wants to move from talk to action. That’s a big shift, and a necessary one. But if you look closely at what’s going on behind the scenes, it’s obvious that turning ambition into results won’t be easy.

Let’s start with comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He talked about moving beyond “ideas and concepts” and turning the Quad into a “vehicle for action.” That’s not just political theatre. It’s a recognition that the Quad, made up of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, needs to prove it can actually do things, not just meet and talk. In today’s world, where geopolitical tensions are rising and alliances are being tested, outcomes matter more than ever.

One of the clearest signs of this new focus is the push to secure critical minerals. This isn’t just about economics, it’s about power. China currently dominates the production and processing of rare earths and other key minerals like lithium, nickel, and copper. That gives Beijing serious leverage, especially in trade talks with the United States. So, when the Quad says it wants to diversify supply chains, it’s not just trying to hedge against market risks – it’s trying to shift the balance of strategic influence.

There are already some early moves. Japan is investing in Australian mines and refining facilities. Australia has offered the United States preferential access to a planned critical minerals stockpile. But here’s the catch: the US hasn’t taken up that offer yet. That hesitation says a lot about the complicated web of bilateral negotiations that sit underneath the Quad’s big-picture goals.

And that brings us to the real challenge: the Quad might look united on the surface, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find some serious friction between the United States and its partners.

If each country is pulling in a slightly different direction, because of domestic politics, economic concerns, or old grievances, it’s going to be hard to deliver on the promises made in Washington.

Take Australia. There’s still tension over the Trump administration’s trade tariffs and pressure on defence spending. Australia’s offer of minerals access seems to have been ignored so far, and there’s growing anxiety over the AUKUS defence pact, which is currently under review.

India’s in a similar boat. It’s also been hit by tariffs, and while its External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called the meeting “very productive,” he was quick to point out that no relationship is free of issues. India also pushed back on Trump’s claims about intervening in the India-Pakistan conflict – a reminder that trust isn’t automatic, even among allies.

Then there’s Japan. It’s facing the same tariff pressure and has been asked to ramp up defence spending. That’s already led to the postponement of a key ministerial meeting. Some analysts say the US-Japan relationship has lost momentum, bogged down by trade talks and public disagreements.

All of this matters because the Quad’s strength depends on its ability to act together. If each country is pulling in a slightly different direction, because of domestic politics, economic concerns, or old grievances, it’s going to be hard to deliver on the promises made in Washington.

That said, the Quad is clearly trying to broaden its scope. The group is now talking about economic development, tech, supply chains, and maritime security. They even brought in “30 or 40 companies” from member countries to explore private sector partnerships. That’s a smart move, governments can’t do this alone.

But let’s not forget the bigger picture. The world is still dealing with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. China’s military rise and its claims on Taiwan are looming large. The Indo-Pacific is a strategic hotspot, and the Quad is trying to navigate it all while keeping its own house in order.

So yes, the Quad’s commitment to action is real. But the road ahead is messy. If the group can push through its internal tensions and deliver on things like critical minerals, it’ll prove that this alliance isn’t just a talking shop, it’s a force to be reckoned with. That’s a big “if.”

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July 3, 2025

PAF chief visits US to seek deeper defence ties

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ISLAMABAD:

Days after the army chief’s unprecedented visit to Washington, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, undertook an official visit to the United States in yet another significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and advancing mutual interests.

This was the first visit by a serving PAF chief in over a decade, indicating the stepped up military engagements between Pakistan and the US.

“The high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defence cooperation and proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties in addition to addressing key regional and global security issues,” read a statement issued here on Tuesday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

There has been renewed interest in Pakistan after it inflicted heavy military losses on India in May during the four-day military conflict. Pakistan Air Force’s spectacular success against Indian Air Force on the night of May 6 and 7 took many, particularly the western countries, by surprise.

According to the ISPR, during the visit, Chief of the Air Staff held a series of high-level meetings with senior U.S. military and political leadership. At the Pentagon, he called on Ms Kelli L. Seybolt, Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), and General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. During the meetings the discussions centered around advancing bilateral military cooperation, enhancing interoperability and exploring avenues of joint training & technology exchange.

Chief of the Air Staff highlighted the historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and United States, particularly in the domains of defence and security cooperation. He reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing ties in the realms of military-to-military cooperation and training between the Air Forces of the two countries.

The two sides also agreed upon the continuation of high-level military engagements in future through senior-level interactions. “These interactions are deemed crucial for maintaining momentum in the ongoing cooperative endeavours in the areas of joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programs between the two nations,” it said.

At the US State Department, the Air Chief met with Mr. Brown L. Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Mr. Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs.

The meetings served as a forum to underscore Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability, its firm commitment to counterterrorism efforts and its nuanced perspective on the evolving geopolitical dynamics of South and Central Asia. As part of his engagements at Capitol Hill, Chief of the Air Staff held substantive dialogues with prominent members of the U.S. Congress including Mr. Mike Turner, Mr Rich McCormick and Mr Bill Huizenga.

These interactions reinforced the importance of robust engagement in strengthening bilateral relations and provided a valuable opportunity to share Pakistan’s views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defence cooperation.

Emphasizing Pakistan’s status as a peace-loving nation, the air chief reaffirmed the country’s enduring sacrifices and notable operational achievements in the global war on terror, while also outlining Pakistan’s evolving security calculus in response to the rapidly shifting regional geopolitical landscape.

“The landmark visit not only reaffirmed Pakistan Air Force’s commitment to promoting regional and global peace, but also laid the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue and enhanced interoperability between Pakistan Air Force and the United States Air Force,” the ISPR said.

Meanwhile, South African Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo called on Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

Upon his arrival, a smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented guard of honour to Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo, stated a release issued by ISPR.

During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff emphasized the shared values and aspirations that form the foundation of the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and South Africa.

The Air Chief reiterated PAF’s commitment to bolster aerial combat capabilities of the South African Air Force through tailored training and capacity-building initiatives.

Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo lauded PAF’s robust operational readiness, its multi-domain warfare capabilities and its success in maintaining a credible deterrence posture.

Recognizing the shared values and interests between the two air forces, the South African Air Chief articulated a strong desire to further strengthen and institutionalize the formal relationship between South African Air Force and PAF.

One of the central themes of the discussions was the revamping of South African Air Force’s training regime. In this context, Lieutenant General Mbambo sought Pakistan Air Force’s support in developing a modern and comprehensive training framework, commencing at the academy level.

The visiting dignitary also expressed his earnest desire of participation of South African Air Force officers as observers in PAF’s major operational exercises.

Acknowledging the technical excellence and cost-effective maintenance capabilities offered by PAF’s engineering infrastructure, he also conveyed the intent of South African Air Force to undertake the inspection and maintenance of its C-130 fleet in Pakistan.

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July 3, 2025

Poor lifestyle habits nearly double your chance of developing AFib

Adults with poor Life’s Essential 8 scores faced significantly higher atrial fibrillation risk, suggesting that heart-healthy habits could be key to preventing this common arrhythmia.

Study: Association of life’s essential 8 score with incidence of atrial fibrillation: The Framingham heart study. Image Credit: Magic mine / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers in Boston, USA, investigated the relationship between the Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF).

AF is the most common arrhythmia, whose prevalence and incidence are increasing worldwide. Thirty years ago, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) established age, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, valvular heart disease, heart failure, and coronary heart disease as risk factors for AF. Since then, obesity, metabolic syndrome, excess alcohol intake, and obstructive sleep apnea have been identified as modifiable risk factors for AF pathogenesis.

LE8 is based on the Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), which was developed to define and measure cardiovascular health and promote positive health outcomes. LE8 is an update to LS7 that additionally includes a sleep health metric. Recent studies indicate an inverse relation between the LE8 score and health outcomes, such as fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), kidney disease, dementia, and CVD mortality.

About the study

The present study evaluated the associations between the LE8 score and AF risk. The study population included subjects from the FHS Omni 1 and Offspring cohorts. Individuals aged 45 years or older attending one or more index exam cycles were included in the current analyses. Participants were assigned a composite cardiovascular health score at their index exams based on their adherence to eight healthy lifestyle components.

These lifestyle components included diet, smoking habits, sleep duration, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, physical activity, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. The LE8 score was the mean of the scores assigned to each component. The study’s outcome was incident AF, ascertained from electrocardiograms. Subjects were followed up from the date of the index exam until the next index exam, incident AF, death, or for 10 years.

Fine-Gray hazard models, which account for competing mortality risks, were used to evaluate the associations between LE8 and AF risk, adjusted for sex and age. In secondary analyses, separate models were developed for each LE8 component. In addition, the team investigated whether age modified the association between incident AF and LE8. The association between the LE8 score and the risk of all-cause mortality was also assessed.

Findings

The study included 3,161 participants aged 65 years, on average, who contributed 4,628 index exam cycles. Most participants were female (57%) and from the Offspring cohort (93%). The average LE8 score was 67.6 at the index exams. The LE8 score was ≥80 (ideal), <50 (poor), and 50–79 (intermediate) for 16%, 7%, and 76% of participants, respectively. Overall, 410 individuals had incident AF, and 424 deaths occurred over the follow-up.

The risk of incident AF was higher for individuals with poor LE8 scores compared to those with ideal scores. The incidence rate of AF per 1,000 person-years of follow-up was 17.2 for participants with poor LE8 scores, 7.9 for those with ideal scores, and 10.3 for those with intermediate scores. Notably, intermediate cardiovascular health showed no significant difference in AF risk compared to ideal health (sHR=0.95). Moreover, higher continuous scores were associated with a reduced risk of AF.

Subjects with poor scores on the BMI, blood pressure, and glucose components had a greater risk of AF than those with ideal scores on the respective components. There was no evidence that age modified the association between incident AF and LE8. Furthermore, participants with poor LE8 scores had an elevated risk of all-cause mortality relative to those with ideal scores. A more favorable score for physical activity, glucose, and smoking was associated with lower mortality risk.

Conclusions

In sum, the study assessed the risk of incident AF in two FHS cohorts using LE8 scores. AF incidence was 10.4 cases per 1,000 person-years, comparable to estimates from other studies. A poor LE8 score was associated with an increased risk of AF compared to an ideal score. Moreover, higher continuous scores were associated with lower risk of AF and all-cause mortality. Poor blood pressure, glucose, and BMI scores were also associated with a higher AF risk.

An intermediate LE8 score was not associated with the risk of AF. The analysis accounted for repeated participant contributions across exam cycles using statistical clustering methods. Notably, the sample predominantly comprised middle-aged and older adults of European descent (the Offspring cohort), which limits generalizability to younger individuals and other ethnic or racial groups. Recall or misclassification bias was also likely, as several LE8 components were assessed using self-reported data. Future analyses should focus on whether specific interventions or behaviors would augment CVD outcomes.