Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, a landlocked Central/South Asian state
The Conservative plan to bar foreign nationals from social housing could free up about 230,000 homes, but critics warn it may breach international obligations and drive up homelessness, with Labour and charities warning of legal challenges and human consequences.
The Taliban-era ban on girls' secondary education persists as multiple reports show rising suicides and personal tolls among Afghan women. New investigations quantify deaths and ongoing suppression, while international condemnation continues amid economic and health concerns.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, known as Lisa, has been found dead in a derelict Athens building. A 26-year-old man, reportedly Afghan, has been arrested in connection with her death. Police identify suspect via fingerprints; consular support is provided to her family.
An Afghan migrant has been ordered jailed pending trial on murder charges after the body of 38-year-old Elisabeth Ross was found in a suitcase in Athens. He was identified from security footage, with police detailing his background and conditions of detention.
38-year-old Elisabeth-Jane Ross has been found dead in a derelict Athens building. A 26-year-old Afghan boxer, Sharif Ahmadzai, is facing charges including homicide with intent and robbery. Greek authorities say he admitted moving the body but denies murder. Investigations involve CCTV review and tissue analysis; temperatures during the time of death reached around 36C.
The United States has expanded deportations of third‑country nationals under deals with multiple countries, including Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. Rights groups warn of abuses as deportees face uncertain futures after removal from the U.S., with many lacking ties to the destination nations.
EU member states have approved a migration pact that empowers deportation hubs in third countries and tighter border controls; critics warn this could undermine asylum rights while proponents say it will speed removals and deter irregular migration.
Two roadside bombs in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have killed at least seven people. A first blast hit a vehicle; a second exploded as rescuers arrived. Police say three others were wounded. Authorities are conducting a search for those responsible; no group has claimed the attack.
UN and UNHCR data show 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced by end-2025, with returns rising to 4.36 million refugees and 10.3 million IDPs returning home. Returns are highly concentrated in a few countries; conditions for repatriation remain challenging amid violence and instability.
The United States has begun a phased drawdown of PEPFAR in South Africa, citing policy disagreements and a belief that South Africa can sustain its HIV programs. Pretoria says it will continue treatment with domestic funding, while UN meetings seek clarity on future donor support.
Trump has awarded the Medal of Honor to three veterans, including Maj. James Capers and Maj. Nicholas Dockery, with Col. John Ripley posthumously recognized. The ceremony follows a years-long process, aided by new legislation authorizing the honors. Each recipient is cited for acts of gallantry in Vietnam or Afghanistan.
The European Union has invited Taliban officials to Brussels for talks on irregular migration and readmission of Afghans without a right to stay. The meeting, coordinated by the European Commission with Sweden, is described as technical and not a recognition of the Taliban. Rights groups warn the engagement could legitimise a regime that has curtailed women’s rights and humanitarian conditions.
The Guardian reports that the EU hosted Taliban officials amid escalating Taliban restrictions on women. Separately, a French-Pakistani family case highlights domestic violence in Pakistan and ongoing repatriation efforts. BBC and AP cover image-based abuse and individual stories of women’s rights struggles in Pakistan, underscoring regional tensions between human rights advocacy and migration enforcement.
Afghan asylum seekers in the EU and the Taliban delegation in Brussels are at the center of renewed debate over deportations and migration rules. The meeting, while not recognizing the Taliban, aims to coordinate returns and tighten border controls amid human rights concerns in Afghanistan.
Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of US Army Europe and Africa and NATO’s Allied Land Command, is relinquishing his post on July 2 as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive to trim senior ranks. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will oversee duties in the interim. Donahue’s departure follows praise for his Afghanistan evacuation leadership and comes as the Army weighs downgrading Europe/Africa from four-star to three-star command.
The government has introduced an Immigration and Asylum Bill that will recover costs from asylum seekers with sufficient funds and create new safe routes funded by community groups, universities, and employers. The policy is controversial, drawing criticism from charities and opposition who warn it could deter refugees and overburden families.
The Indus Waters Treaty remains under strain as India suspends its participation after a Kashmir attack the Pakistan government denies involvement in. Pakistan warns any change to water flows could amount to war, while mediators push for dialogue and adherence to international law.
The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, affecting about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, with broader implications for about 1.3 million TPS holders from 17 countries. The ruling signals potential deportations and reshapes humanitarian protections in the United States.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge remains closed despite calls to open it, with Mallory McMorrow accusing Donald Trump of blocking its opening to benefit a major donor. The scenario is unfolding as Michigan’s primary races intensify and the bridge becomes a point of political leverage.
Sooryavanshi has been included for a landmark T20 series start, highlighting India’s push to nurture a teenage talent who would become the youngest player in India’s senior men’s team if selected. The series against Ireland and England marks a watershed moment after his IPL MVP season, though his debut remains contingent on selection.
A magnitude 6.1 to 6.2 earthquake strikes Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, with the epicenter reported by regional authorities. Tremors are felt across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage. Afghan authorities confirm impact in Kabul and surrounding areas. Emergency services in affected Pakistani provinces have placed district administrations on alert.
Pakistan has conducted intelligence-based ground operations and calibrated strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, targeting Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Fitna al-Khwarij. Officials report 29 militants killed, with additional engagements across Paktia, Paktika and Kunar. Pakistan vows to protect citizens as cross-border violence intensifies.
Andy Burnham has vowed to deliver radical change by devolving power from Westminster, proposing a “No10 North” and a broad programme on housing, utilities and growth. He emphasises collaboration over confrontation as he faces a crowded leadership landscape.
Andy Burnham has consolidated support after Makerfield by-election and is positioned to lead Labour. Polls show rising backing, but MPs warn against an early general election. He faces the task of forming a new government and defining a policy agenda, with a potential reshuffle and cabinet choices pending.
The United States and Iran have oscillated between indirect negotiations in Doha and denials of any planned talks. Doha mediators are engaging with both sides as new pressures around the Strait of Hormuz persist. Reports from Doha indicate mixed signals from Washington and Tehran about whether direct talks are on the table.
Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan’s first and only astronaut, has died of cancer in Stuttgart, Germany, on June 21. Born in Ghazni, he flew on the Mir space station in 1988 as part of a Soviet-led mission and later lived in exile. His legacy is marked by a historic spaceflight that connected Afghanistan with the wider cosmos.
Indirect talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan are pressing to implement the Islamabad Memorandum and to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say progress is being made, with a monitoring channel set to report violations, and discussions on how part of Iran’s frozen assets could be used to purchase needed goods.
Authorities have mobilised for a three-day state funeral for Ali Khamenei, with millions expected to attend. Tehran lies in a hush as shops close and airspace tightens. The funeral will travel to Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad, with a Saudi-led war context looming over the proceedings.
A 41-year-old Afghan evacuee in ICE custody has died after an acute allergic reaction exacerbated by asthma. The death, ruled an accident, has sparked calls for transparency as families seek the autopsy report and details on the substances involved. Officials say the events unfolded after the detainee experienced breathing trouble and tongue swelling.
El Niño has strengthened, with forecasters warning it will be among the strongest on record. Regions across Africa, South Asia, and the Americas face droughts, floods, and rising food prices as climate impacts intensify. Aid groups warn that vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers will bear the brunt as aid budgets tighten.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at 74, Qatar's Amiri Diwan has announced. He has been credited with transforming Qatar into an energy and diplomatic power by expanding LNG production, founding Al Jazeera, building sovereign investment vehicles and stepping down voluntarily in 2013 to hand power to his son.
A raft of new data shows a record-breaking group of migrants crossing the English Channel in a single dinghy, while authorities warn that overcrowding and dangerous routes persist. Across multiple reports, the total number of arrivals so far this year remains lower than last year, but per-boat capacity is increasing and enforcement efforts are expanding.
Monsoon floods have struck Nuristan, Afghanistan, damaging Parun and surrounding areas. Authorities report dozens dead, hundreds missing or injured, as forecasters warn of more heavy rainfall. Rescue teams are struggling amid rugged terrain and limited infrastructure; international aid agencies are mobilising.
Dawood Safi has admitted manslaughter in the fatal 2025 Uxbridge stabbing, citing diminished responsibility due to a psychotic state. He remains on trial for the attempted murders of his landlord and a 14-year-old boy, with further evidence presented in Southwark Crown Court.
The United States has launched a broad campaign to isolate the International Criminal Court, aiming to weaken its authority and deter investigations involving American personnel. Rubio argues the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty, while allies face pressure to withdraw or face penalties. Several ICC officials have already faced sanctions.
Officials say a string of fatal incidents involving immigration enforcement have prompted renewed scrutiny of DHS vetting and tactics. The Maine and Houston shootings have sparked demands for independent investigations and reforms as lawmakers push for oversight.
The ICC oversight body is set to vote on Karim Khan’s fate after allegations of misconduct toward a female aide. Khan has denied wrongdoing; the UK Bar Standards Board and US sanctions have added pressure as the Assembly of States Parties prepares for a special session at the UN on July 24.
The ICC has restructured the 50-over World Cup for 2027, proposing a first-round round involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, a two-group main stage, a 'Super Seven' knockout, and no quarterfinals. The change aims to increase context and consequences but faces concerns over transparency and impact on emerging cricket nations.
Troy Jackson has won the Maine Democratic nomination to replace Graham Platner and will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson has consolidated delegate support at a special convention in Bangor and is positioning a working‑class, progressive agenda while critics and Jewish voters express concern over his recent stances on Israel.
US advocacy groups have filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging Donald Trump’s 2025 sanctions on ICC officials and related actors for alleged war-crimes investigations. The suit argues the measures violate the First Amendment and chill protected advocacy, while the administration defends them as targeting abuses at the ICC.
Los Angeles prosecutors have presented texts, photos and forensic evidence at a preliminary hearing accusing singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, of murdering and sexually abusing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Evidence shown has included long-running messages, indications of a pregnancy and abortion, purchases of tools and a body bag, and DNA matches tying blood in Burke’s garage and a Tesla to the victim.
England has leveled the ODI series against India after a four-wicket win in Cardiff. Root has guided the chase, finishing on 99 not out, as England adapts to 50-over cricket and eyes a Lord’s finale ahead of the World Cup.
The Justice Department has filed the first-ever petition to the dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 1996 to deport an unidentified individual linked to terrorism; a hearing has been held and additional information is requested as the court considers its path forward.
The Oversight Project has released roughly three hours of audio and 117 pages of heavily redacted transcripts of Joe Biden’s 2016–17 interviews with his ghostwriter for Promise Me, Dad. The recordings, obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s documents probe, show Biden discussing retained notes and at times struggling with dates and details; Republicans say the tapes prove decline, Biden calls the release political.
UNAMA reports 499 civilian deaths and 1,216 wounded from cross-border fighting; Amnesty International says Kabul strike may be a war crime. Pakistan defends its Kabul airstrike as precision targeting of militant infrastructure. Tensions have intensified since February, with both sides trading accusations and casualties rising.
England’s search for a new red-ball coach is nearing a resolution as Stephen Fleming emerges as the frontrunner, with interviews underway following Brendon McCullum’s departure. A decisive appointment could shape the team’s direction ahead of next year’s fixtures.
Two deadly ICE incidents in Maine and Texas have prompted a review of enforcement tactics. A US resident was shot in Maine; authorities are weighing officer conduct, training reforms, and vetting issues amid political pressure. A separate airport confrontation involving ICE threats has spotlighted accountability concerns.
The International Criminal Court has voted to remove Karim Khan as prosecutor after findings of serious misconduct, amid a global political climate where the United States seeks to dismantle the ICC. The vote is decisive; the court continues to face sanctions, vacancies, and questions about its future leadership.
Torrential rains and flash floods have intensified across Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighboring regions. Authorities have recorded hundreds of deaths, with the NDMA and local agencies warning of ongoing risks as rivers swell and monsoon systems persist. Cities face evacuations, damaged homes, and disrupted livelihoods.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu are in Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. They are seeking stronger defense cooperation with the United States as Kyiv presses for Patriot missile licences and co-production talks, while Iran’s role in the Middle East remains a focal point after a tense U.S.-Israel dynamic.