Aid organizations say tens of millions of people are facing extreme hunger in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. They are dependent on grain imported from Ukraine and also from Russia. Cary Fowler is the U.S. special envoy for global food security and is on the line.

The African Union Special Envoy for Covid-19 response Strive Masiyiwa says African countries want to buy Covid-19 vaccines rather than keep waiting for jabs and implores producers to give the continent a fair shot at access.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN special envoy on Myanmar, held out hope that the military would not brutally crack down on the ongoing mass protest movement against the February 1 coup. She also called for "targeted sanctions" on leaders of the regime and said she had asked them to allow her to visit the country, a request they have rejected "for the moment".

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.⁣

Taliban officials have met with a US special envoy for the first time since peace talks collapsed a month ago. But US officials have said official peace talks have not resumed.