This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available. President Joe Biden’s State Department has ordered all families of U.S. government personnel in Kyiv, Ukraine, to leave the country “immediately” due to the “increased threats” of a Russian invasion. In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, the State Department said it made the order “out of an abundance of caution due to continued Russian efforts to destabilize the country and undermine the security of Ukrainian citizens and others visiting or residing in Ukraine.” “We have been in consultation with the Ukrainian government about this step and are coordinating with Allied and partner embassies in Kyiv as they determine their posture,” the statement continued.

The Taliban is seeking China’s assistance in getting its Islamic Emirate government officially recognized by the international community, a crucial step that could help Afghanistan access some $9 billion in frozen reserves held overseas. “All of the conditions of the international community required for recognition are already fulfilled,” Bilal Karimi, a deputy spokesman of the Taliban, said by phone Monday. “The Islamic Emirate wants China to take the lead to help the current government achieve international recognition.” The U.S., its allies and even Russia and China have yet to recognize the Taliban government due to concerns over continued links with terrorism as well as human rights abuses and banning girls’ education. Some of the Taliban’s cabinet members are blacklisted under U.S. and U.N. sanctions. Since taking power in August, the Taliban have insisted they have made progress with pledges to let women study and work, preventing the country from being used for terror activities and forming an inclusive government. Meeting these conditions could have helped the group get closer to getting international recognition although in reality it has been difficult to achieve. The sidestepping of the Taliban’s efforts to secure international recognition has made it difficult for the Afghan government to gain access to the reserves, which could have helped alleviate a cash crunch in Afghanistan. The United Nations has warned that more than half of the country’s population faces acute hunger and almost all Afghans could be living in poverty by mid-2022. The Taliban’s acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani met with China’s ambassador Wang Yu over the weekend, asking for China’s support in gaining official recognition. Both officials pointed the finger at the U.S. for blocking the Taliban’s access to the reserves held in American and European banks. “The United States should not seek revenge against Afghans through economic