Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
U.S. Signals Opposition to Bachelet's UN Secretary-General Bid 
Pentagon Taps Auto Giants to Supercharge U.S. Weapons Production 
Ukraine Advances With Drone-Infantry Warfare Model, Reclaims Territory in the South 
Iran-Lebanon War: Ceasefire Reached as U.S. and Iran Edge Closer to Nuclear Deal 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
France and Britain Lead 40-Nation Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz 
Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
Brazil's Former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Released from U.S. Immigration Custody 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
Israel-Hezbollah War: Netanyahu Vows to Dismantle Militia and Secure Peace Through Strength 
Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
Afghanistan continues to suffer an economic and humanitarian crisis for over a year since the West withdrew its military presence and the Taliban retook control of the country. The United States has pledged to engage in talks to release Afghan assets despite concerns and frustrations with the insurgent group.
Reuters reports the administration of President Joe Biden will be committing to discussions to release billions in foreign-held Afghan assets, according to three sources knowledgeable about the matter.
The pledge comes despite concerns over the Taliban and the Afghan Central Bank’s slow-walking as well as the presence of the late al Qaeda leader in Kabul.
The decision by the administration comes as the need to stabilize Afghanistan’s economy and its growing humanitarian crisis was met with increased concern from Washington.
The United Nations also previously warned that nearly half of the 40 million people that make up Afghanistan’s population are at risk of “acute hunger” especially as the winter season approaches.
The US-led effort involves the transferring of billions of foreign-held Afghan central bank assets into a proposed Swiss-based trust fund. Disbursements would be done through an international board and bypass the Taliban, as many of the group’s leaders and officials are sanctioned by both the US and the United Nations.
Back in June, the Taliban presented a counterproposal in Doha, Qatar.
Two sources familiar with the matter said the State Department and Treasury officials told independent analysts during a briefing between August 11, 12 days after the US CIA drone strike killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri who was in Kabul, that they intend to pursue discussions despite frustration with the pace.
One source said a US official was frustrated that the Taliban and the Afghan central bank are not acting quickly.
The United Nations Security Council has also failed to reach an agreement on whether to extend the travel waiver for several members of the insurgent group who have been granted travel.
The United States and other Western countries have proposed reducing the list of Taliban officials who are allowed to travel in protest of the group’s policies toward women and girls.
