North Korea May Deploy 120 Missiles to Russia 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
Taiwan President Lai Oversees Coastal Strike Drills in Han Kuang War Games 
Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures 
New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella Pledges Drug Crackdown, Economic Reforms 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Houthi Attack on Yemen’s Mocha Port Kills Seven, Injures 30 
Trump Administration Plans $1 Billion Security Aid Package for Colombia 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Iran-Oman Hormuz Shipping Deal Nears Final Stage 
Senate Majority Leader John Thune Moves to Advance Crypto Clarity Act 
Myanmar Rejects ASEAN Special Envoy, Challenges Regional Peace Plan 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats 
Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
Trump Orders Probe Into Pentagon Munitions Stockpile Leaks After Iran Conflict 
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Afghanistan is still facing a worsening humanitarian crisis under the leadership of the Taliban, which regained control in 2021. China is set to host international talks, including an Extended Troika, to discuss the humanitarian crisis.
China will be hosting two international meetings in Tunxi to discuss Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian and economic crisis. This comes as Beijing seeks to make a diplomatic push for Afghanistan’s economic stability and development under the insurgent group.
The foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries will be attending the two-day meeting – Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Diplomats from Indonesia and Qatar will also be attending the meeting hosted by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. The Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, will also be attending the discussions.
There will be a separate meeting for the “Extended Troika” for the special representatives for Afghanistan from China, the US, and Russia, according to China’s foreign ministry.
“China, the US, Russia, and Pakistan are all countries with significant influence on the Afghan issue,” said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said Tom West, who is the US special envoy for Afghanistan, will be attending the meeting. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived Wednesday for the international talks at Tunxi but has yet to confirm if he will attend the Afghan meetings.
The talks also come amidst the insurgent group’s reversal to reopen secondary schools for girls, which drew international condemnation. US officials also canceled a meeting with the Taliban in Doha in response to the group’s reversal on the reopenings of secondary schools.
As a result of the Taliban’s shutdown of secondary schools for girls until further notice, the World Bank has suspended four projects in Afghanistan that are worth $600 million. The projects aimed to improve the country’s healthcare, education, and agriculture.
Afghans also staged protests in front of the country’s education ministry, calling to reopen schools for girls. The insurgent group cited that the schools for girls would be closed until a curriculum was made in accordance with the group’s interpretation of Islam and Afghan traditions.
