Trump Slams New York Data Center Ban, Warns AI Investment Could Shift to Other States 
Russian Missile Strike Sparks Fires in Kyiv After Early Morning Air Alert 
Xi Jinping Calls for People-Centered AI Development at WAIC, Expands Global Cooperation 
Trump Declassifies China Election Intelligence, Revives 2020 Election Security Claims 
US Military Completes Sixth Night of Iran Strikes as Conflict Escalates 
Trump Criticizes ABC, NBC and CNN for Limiting Coverage of Election Speech 
Iran Warns Trump Against Striking Infrastructure, Declares Strait of Hormuz a ‘Red Line’ 
Ukraine, EU Sign Landmark Drone Deal to Boost Defense Production 
US Military Launches New Strikes on Iran, Targets Threats to Strait of Hormuz Shipping 
US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Hormuz Tensions Disrupt Global Oil Shipping 
Hegseth Defends Blue Angels After Low Flyover Sparks Safety Review 
US Troop Pullback Raises NATO Security Concerns Amid Russia Tensions 
US Restricts Commercial Flights From Congo Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Israel-Lebanon Talks Resume in Rome as Ceasefire and Troop Withdrawal Remain Elusive 
Zelenskiy Cabinet Reshuffle Puts Ukraine Defense Minister Fedorov’s Future in Focus 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Nicaragua Cuts Diplomatic Ties With Italy Over Red Brigades Extradition Dispute 
The United Nations Security Council failed to reach a consensus surrounding the travel ban waiver on Taliban officials, which expired Friday last week. The nations on the council failed to come to an agreement on whether to extend the travel extensions.
The UN Security Council failed to come to an agreement on whether to extend the travel extensions for the insurgent group, which has been ruling Afghanistan for a year since the withdrawal of the West.
While China and Russia voted to extend the waiver, the United States and other Western nations proposed a reduced list of Taliban officials that are allowed to travel.
The US and other Western countries proposed a reduced list out of protest against the insurgent group’s rollback of women’s rights and its failure to deliver on a pledge to form an inclusive government.
In 2011, the UN Security Council Resolution sanctioned 135 Taliban officials, including asset freezes and travel bans. 13 were granted an exemption to allow them to meet with officials and engage in peace talks.
Back in June, the UN Security Council’s Afghanistan Sanctions Committee removed two Taliban education ministers from the exemption list over its policies on women’s rights.
The committee renewed the exemptions of the others until August 19, including one further month if there are no objections. If no member of the council objects to the travel ban by Monday, it would be implemented for three months.
The United States Thursday last week proposed to re-impose the travel ban on seven of the 13 exempted Taliban officials and keep the exemption for the six others. However, the travel would be limited to Qatar, where US-Taliban discussions have taken place.
Afghanistan remains to be in a humanitarian and economic crisis since the withdrawal of the West and the Taliban’s takeover last year. The country has also been subject to domestic attacks, the latest attack has taken place at a mosque in the capital Kabul last week. At least 21 people were killed, and 33 others were injured from the bombing during evening prayers.
There was no claim of responsibility for the blast, and officials did not publicly accuse anyone.
