Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, landlocked in Central Asia
Nicholas Brandram, a 44-year-old HSBC private banker and former Army captain, has been found unresponsive at his Chiswick home. He had been under investigation in the 2017 Putney Bridge incident and was released under investigation last week. Police say the death is unexpected but not believed to be suspicious. The case has drawn ongoing media attention as investigators pursue the Putney Pusher link.
A glacier collapse in the Nepal-Tibet region has triggered massive floods and landslides, killing and displacing thousands. Studies link warming in the Himalayas to accelerating glacier melt and rising risk of cascading hazards, while monitoring gaps threaten early warnings for downstream communities.
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces has reaffirmed participation in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games after Buckingham Palace clarified that the King has no objection, following Uganda’s initial withdrawal amid tensions over the Harry-Meghan coverage. The reversal follows a call between Uganda’s CDF and the King’s private secretary, signaling a diplomatic resolution.
Lebanon’s security institutions are preparing for a future without UNIFIL, as Paris hosts a preparatory meeting to align international support for the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces. France and Italy have proposed a multinational follow-on force, while Washington backs a framework that links aid to Lebanon’s reform commitments.
Abhishek Sharma has hit a 108 off 34 to lead India to 221-7 against Afghanistan in New Delhi. Sanju Samson adds 50 as India cruise to a 127-run win; Afghanistan collapses to 94 all out, bowled by Bishnoi, Patel and Reddy. India head to the Asian Games in Nagoya while Afghanistan plans a largely different side.
A coordinated assault in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has killed police officers and civilians and injured dozens. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a mosque inside a police compound, triggering a gunfight with security forces. The attack is being linked to the Pakistani Taliban, with no group claiming responsibility yet. Security forces are pursuing suspects as the situation unfolds.
The UK’s one-in, one-out returns pilot has been extended into October. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended the policy, saying it remains cheaper than alternative housing options while acknowledging operational challenges in scaling removals. About 1,400 people have been removed to France since August 2025, with many subsequently returning or going underground in Europe.
Canada has matched the United States’ 50% tariffs on a broad range of goods, escalating a tense trade war. Ottawa says it will apply counter-tariffs across sectors including steel, dairy, appliances and electronics, while promising support for affected businesses as talks stall. The row centers on autos, housing materials and consumer items, with markets reacting to the broader clash over sovereignty and trade rules.
The latest sanctions have intensified economic pressure on Tehran as a U.S.-led effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalls. Tehran says it will respond with intensified measures while Washington maintains its economic campaign.
The United States has imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20bn of Canadian goods and Canada has announced dollar‑for‑dollar retaliation, naming more than 700 U.S. products for 15%, 25% or 50% duties from Sept. 8. The moves have hit metals, autos, food and household goods and are pushing costs for manufacturers and consumers on both sides of the border.
UNRWA’s Qalandiya Training Centre, which trains about 340 Palestinian refugees each year, has been raided and closed by Israeli forces. Staff have been expelled, and materials are being removed as the site is eyed for a new educational complex by Jerusalem authorities. UNRWA says the move deprives students of vital vocational training and worsens a broader funding and legal fight surrounding the agency.
The United States has sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer, escalating pressure on the International Criminal Court. Tokyo defends its role as ICC backer and calls for restraint while Akane pledges to continue defending the court. The move comes amid broader US pressure on ICC members amid investigations into Israeli actions in Gaza and past concerns about US troops in Afghanistan.
A Marine veteran, Jeanine John Taele, 38, is undergoing psychiatric evaluation and has been referred to a Hollywood mental health court. Police found a loaded pistol, a badge reading “security protection agent,” and 200 notebooks with surveillance notes after Taele was arrested at Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles while a Trump event occurred nearby. He is not yet deemed fit to stand trial.
A glacier collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border has triggered a devastating flood cascading through Nepal and China. Initial assessments have reclassified the event from a quake to a glacial debris flow, with authorities warning of possible secondary flooding as debris dams breach. Satellite imagery shows a glacier break, ice and rock tumbling into valleys, and rivers rising rapidly downstream.
King Harald V has died at Oslo University Hospital at 06:35 on Friday, Aug. 28, aged 89. Crown Prince Haakon has become King Haakon VIII and will take the oath before parliament on Tuesday. Norway has declared national mourning; tens of thousands have left tributes at the royal palace and a funeral date is set for Sept. 9.
Afghan education advocates have relocated a significant portion of their work to Rwanda, where a new campus will double SOLA’s enrollment. Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan girls continue to attend clandestine schools inside the country; many face arrest, yet view education as essential to a different future.
The latest deportation flights have carried Afghans, Iranians and others to the Central African Republic as part of a broader U.S. crackdown on asylum seekers. Returnees face risks and uncertain futures amid ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
A U.S. judge has authorized emergency feeding for Rahmanullah Lakanwal amid a high-stakes murder case tied to a Washington, D.C. incident near the White House. The court order allows nonconsensual nutrition and medical care as prosecutors press for life-saving measures while defense attorneys challenge the move.
Iran and the United States remain locked in a volatile standoff over a June ceasefire framework. Iran says it will reciprocate if the US returns to commitments under the MoU, while regional diplomacy at the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan seeks to de-escalate and reopen Hormuz. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continue, and allied diplomacy intensifies.
The acting Navy secretary has been nominated by the president to a permanent post as U.S. forces confront intensified strikes with Iran. The Lincoln has spent nine months at sea, while domestic political shifts accompany the military movements.
The US Army has awarded an $11.26 million contract to TERN to deploy AI-based navigation and vehicle health systems that can operate offline, providing independent positioning when GPS is disrupted. The system preloads a local map, works offline, and updates when connections return, with cybersecurity considered. The move aims to reduce GPS vulnerability on the battlefield.
A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered the dismissal of Bergdahl’s claims in district court, effectively leaving the conviction intact and signaling limited avenues for overturning a court-martial in civilian courts. The decision stems from questions over jurisdiction and who can vacate a military judgment. Bergdahl’s legal team is evaluating options as the case continues to echo through legal and political circles.
The UK and France have stepped up operations to stop small-boat crossings, with more officers deployed and a record 230 migrants aboard a single vessel reported this summer. Ministers say co-operation is bearing fruit, but authorities warn smugglers continue to adapt as arrivals fall overall.
A new analysis shows that Americans’ memories of 9/11 diverge along personal, political and regional lines, even after a quarter-century. The piece follows survivors, families and younger generations, revealing how policies, culture and memory shape what the tragedy means today.
Iran and the United States have intensified hostilities. US strikes on Iran’s southern coast target military assets while Iranian forces respond with missiles at bases in Jordan, Bahrain and elsewhere. A wedding party in Kuhestak has been hit, killing several civilians and injuring dozens, including children. Both sides warn of further actions as tensions flare around the Strait of Hormuz.
A Paris court has opened a three-week trial for 14 men linked to the 2021 Channel crossing disaster in which 27 to 31 people died. Prosecution says the defendants helped launch a substandard boat; defendants deny responsibility and some are being tried in absentia. Victims’ families attend the proceedings.
A collection of anniversaries and remembrances reflect on the 9/11 attacks and their enduring health, security, and national unity legacies, across major outlets reviewing the events and their aftermath.
The Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador is expiring this week, but no firm end date has been announced. DHS has indicated it will decide at the appropriate time, with protections remaining in place until then. Officials note that TPS extensions could affect about 200,000 Salvadorans and broader policy changes.
Police remarks captured on a Carcassonne body cam show racist and homophobic language linked to National Rally associates. The clip has sparked condemnation from officials and intensified scrutiny ahead of France’s presidential race. Investigations are underway as parties distance themselves.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye sign a defence pact, pledging mutual deterrence. Attacks by Yemen's Houthis against Saudi territory have prompted Islamabad to warn that aggression could activate the Mecca agreement. The pact remains defensive, with operational details still being developed.
A survey of how intelligence, counter-terrorism, and national security strategies have evolved since the 2001 attacks, reflecting on failures, reforms and shifting threats as the world marks the 25th anniversary.
Multiple ceremonies across the UK and US commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Leaders emphasise unity, resilience and shared values as memorials honour nearly 3,000 victims, including 67 Britons.
Today, on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, ceremonies have taken place at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington and the Flight 93 memorial in Pennsylvania. President Donald Trump has delivered remarks at the Pentagon; all living former presidents and Vice President JD Vance have attended the New York memorial. New New York documents on toxic dust have been released.
Emma Bonino has died aged 78. A pioneering feminist, humanitarian advocate and European diplomat, she helped legalize abortion in Italy, shaped EU humanitarian policy and led +Europa. Tributes praise her lifelong fight for freedom and rights.
The Department of Justice has secured the first-ever removal under the Alien Terrorist Removal Court after Nazira Haji Zada, a lawful permanent resident in Fort Worth, Texas, has waived appeals and accepted designation as an "alien terrorist." The DOJ says classified evidence supported her removal after her son and son-in-law were convicted in a 2024 election-day attack plot.
The CIA has released 71 presidential daily briefs from 1998–2001, detailing Osama bin Laden’s movements, financing and networks. The documents include warnings that bin Laden may strike the US and pursue weapons, but do not reveal new details on the attacks themselves.
A UN-backed assessment cited by The Washington Post finds that al-Qaeda and Islamic State–Khorasan have established training camps in at least 14 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, with risks of regional conflict overshadowing global jihad. The Taliban’s permissive environment is enabling a limited but persistent jihadist presence.
Three Iran security forces have been killed in clashes with gunmen in Sistan-Baluchistan. State media say five attackers died and weapons were seized; authorities describe the incident as part of ongoing security operations in Iran’s southeast.
A 9/11 25th-anniversary feature analyzes how U.S. society has shifted in security, politics and daily life, showing diverse experiences across communities and generations without a single, shared narrative.
The Congressional Budget Office has concluded that the six‑month US‑Israel war against Iran has cost about $38 billion and will rise further, with inflation projected to jump 0.5 percentage points in early 2027. The shortage of munitions and rising energy prices are straining budgets and testing US readiness as policymakers consider emergency restocking funding.
A Virginia federal court has sentenced Mohammad Sharifullah to the maximum term for providing material support to ISIS-K, while jurors remain deadlocked on his role in the Kabul airport bombing. Prosecutors say he helped scout the Abbey Gate route and coordinated attacks, though the court did not tie him to the airport bombing itself.
The US State Department has extended visa denials to Palestine Liberation Organization members and Palestinian Authority officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, saying they have failed to meet commitments and have pursued international legal actions and unilateral recognition that undermine peace. The Palestinian mission to the UN will keep staff waivers so diplomats can operate in New York.
Vlatko Andonovski has moved from Kansas City to Chicago as sporting director, as the Stars overhaul their staff after a dismal season. The change aligns with ownership’s rebuilding plan, aiming for a playoff run next year.
Pakistan’s medical regulator has ordered Afghan students in Pakistani medical and dental colleges to return home, barring new admissions for the current year. Courts are hearing petitions from students and rights groups. The move follows deteriorating Pakistan–Afghanistan relations since the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021, with Amnesty International calling the policy discriminatory.
Migrant transfers to a 1,700-capacity tent camp in Ceuta’s port have begun amid chaotic scenes, with authorities reporting several thousand remaining in the enclave. The operation is aimed at concentrating migrants for processing while sparking political debate ahead of elections.