Qatari PM holds secret talks with ‘reclusive’ Taliban chief: Report

This was reportedly the Taliban supreme leader’s first meeting with a foreign official

Intense border clashes between Iran, Taliban leave several dead

This follows Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's stern warning to the Taliban over Tehran's rights under the 1973 Helmand River treaty

Asia to be driving force of oil demand for second straight year: Vitol

The president of Vitol Asia warned that growing demand at a time when OPEC+ members are cutting output could lead to a supply shortage and significantly higher prices

Afghanistan seeks boost in energy ties with Russia

In September 2022, Afghanistan signed its first major international agreement to import Russian fuel and wheat

UN leads summit on Afghan crisis without Taliban

The Taliban government in Afghanistan strongly criticized their exclusion from the two-day meeting

The historic US-Saudi relationship cannot bounce back

US imports of Saudi oil are at historic lows, Chinese purchases of Saudi oil continue to grow, and Russian-Saudi energy interests have fully converged. If it's 'all about the economy,' then Saudi-US ties may never quite recover.

Chinese company proposes $10bn investment in Afghan lithium reserves

Identified as Gochin, the company seeks to help build infrastructure and mine the national lithium reserves

Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan FMs hold meeting on Afghanistan

The four ministers discussed a wide range of topics, including Afghanistan’s severe economic crisis and ways to alleviate it

Taliban appoints national consul general to UAE

The Taliban government has yet to be recognized by the international community; however, Kabul is in talks with regional states, such as Qatar and the UAE, to kick start relations

Explosion rocks journalists’ function in Afghanistan, killing four

The explosion comes just two days after the governor of Balkh province was killed at his office by an ISIS suicide bomber

Taliban takes out high-ranking ISIS commanders

The Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan recently accused Washington of financing ISIS-K in the country

In Munich: West sounds alarm over Global South stances

The recent conference on international security policy focused extensively on the significance of the Global South to the west's security. As power competition with China and Russia intensifies, the west is compelled to reassess its approach to relations with these countries.

OPEC+ production cut will remain in place until year’s end: Saudi energy minister

Last year's production cut was taken as an affront by the White House, as for months US officials lobbied threats against the kingdom for allegedly 'siding with Russia'

Qatari, Taliban officials meet in Afghanistan for bilateral talks

The two top officials discussed expanding bilateral relations and Doha potentially providing humanitarian aid to Kabul

MbZ meets with Pakistani PM for bilateral talks

MbZ and the Pakistani PM expressed their desire to bolster joint cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and development

Europe’s gas emergency: A continent hostage to seller prices

Europe’s reliance on Russian gas imports has been upended by sanctions against Moscow. With few options for practical alternatives, the continent will remain energy-dependent and financially-vulnerable regardless of who it imports from.

Pakistan threatens Taliban over failure to curb border instability

Tehrik-e-Taliban presence in Afghanistan under the wing of the IEA contributed additional tensions to the unstable relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Four NGOs stop operating in Afghanistan following ban of female employees

The suspension of some of the aid organizations that millions of Afghans access comes at a time when more than half the population relies on humanitarian aid

White House ‘grateful’ for Qatar’s efforts to free its nationals from Afghanistan jail

Though thankful to the Taliban, the US insisted Kabul end its practices against women and minorities in Afghanistan

Taliban and UAE discuss bilateral ties

In the past 72 hours, representatives from Afghanistan, Qatar, and Israel visited the United Arab Emirates

Taliban to export coal to Iran, deepen economic ties

Afghanistan's reliance on Pakistan to import most of its sellable goods puts it under pressure to avoid angering the leadership in Islamabad

ISIS members behind last month’s Kabul school bombing killed in sting operation: Taliban

The Taliban says six ISIS fighters, who were involved in a recent suicide bombing on an Afghan educational center, were killed during the operation

Recognizing Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan not on Moscow agenda: Official

Russia, Iran and China have repeatedly called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government and to allow education for girls

Beggaring Europe: switching cheap Russian gas for expensive American LNG

EU steps to significantly reduce Russian gas imports will see Europe newly dependent on much pricier US liquefied natural gas

Saudi royal says White House is only one to blame for US energy crisis

The Saudi official also said the kingdom feels 'let down' by the government of US President Joe Biden

Iran accepts credentials of Taliban-appointed diplomats: Report

Tehran maintains that official recognition of the Taliban remains dependent on their respect for the rights of religious minorities and women

Saudi Arabia led OPEC+ decision to abandon US-funded energy data: Report

A decision made in late March by OPEC+ to stop using IEA data came as a major move to distance West Asia's energy giants from Washington

OPEC+ abandons US-funded data as rift with the west grows

The move comes as OPEC+ member nations have refused to cave in to demands by the US and the IEA to increase oil production

Blood and oil: why Saudi Arabia will be bombed until the siege on Yemen is lifted

Riyadh refused Washington's pressure to increase oil production, then faced blistering attacks on its oil facilities and infrastructure from Yemen. Under increasing pressure to end its siege on Yemen, what will the Saudis do?

Taliban officials pledge to ‘protect the religious rights’ of women

Human rights groups have voiced concerns about gender-based discrimination amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan