Security

Iran has shot down a US made F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. Once verified independently, this marks a major blow to the military prestige of both the US and Israel, long reliant on the aircraft’s supposed invincibility.

Afghanistan is witnessing a period of relative stability, with improved nationwide security, ongoing reconstruction and a steady increase in tourism, based on recent reports and officials’ comments. Thousands of foreign tourists visited the country over the past year, while hundreds of thousands of Afghans traveled domestically without major security concerns.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the IEA’s Foreign Minister, described the outcome of the talks with Pakistan as “good”. During a meeting with Zhao Xing, China’s ambassador in Kabul, Muttaqi discussed the negotiations hosted by China in Urumqi, which aimed to end the conflict between the Afghanistan and Pakistan. Muttaqi expressed hope that “minor differences” would not deter the progress of these talks.