Ruling movement of Afghanistan since 2021, with a history of militant governance and strict social controls.
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.
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.
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 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 Home Secretary and Immigration Minister are in a public clash over care-worker visa rules. A Times op-ed by Mike Tapp has sparked calls for his sacking, while Downing Street says decisions will follow the ministerial code. The government is pushing a wide reform package on migration as opposition voices push back.
Labour’s immigration minister Mike Tapp has triggered a high-stakes clash with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood by publishing an unauthorised Times op-ed advocating a care-worker exemption from new migration rules. Mahmood is demanding his sacking, while Downing Street weighs a response as the PM seeks to preserve party discipline.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Red Sea incident has intensified a U.S.-Iran clash over the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis claim strikes on two Saudi-linked tankers, while U.S. forces have conducted strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to threaten maritime traffic. Diplomacy shows no clear progress.
Parliament’s Defence Committee has branded the MoD’s handling of the Afghan relocation data breach as a systemic failure, calling for accountability, better data protection, and a clearer path for Afghans awaiting resettlement.
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old permanent resident, appears in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court after her relatives were convicted in Oklahoma for an ISIS-inspired plot to attack voters on Election Day 2024. The court, created in 1996, has yet to hear a petition. The government argues she pledged loyalty to ISIS and aided the conspiracy, while her counsel argues the case violates due process.
President Trump’s Cabinet meeting at Camp David has become a focal point as he faces Republican pushback on a tax-audit immunity deal and the fate of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Comments on an Anti-Weaponization Fund are circulating, while lawmakers seek written assurances from the White House. The briefing follows related talks about immunity provisions tied to the Trump family.
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.
UN reports a rising number of girls deprived of secondary schooling in Afghanistan, with the ban affecting education, health, and the economy. The Taliban’s restrictions have widened gaps in literacy and teacher availability, prompting international calls to lift the ban.
Afghan Taliban diplomacy in Kabul and Europe is shaping migration policy. Germany has expanded deportations and opened Taliban‑led missions, raising safety concerns for Afghan activists and refugees who fled the regime. The move comes as Western states balance pragmatism with human rights warnings.
UNESCO and UN Women warn five years into Taliban rule that bans on secondary and higher education for girls and women have intensified, erasing two decades of progress and threatening Afghanistan’s social and economic future. The UN calls for immediate restoration of education rights as thousands remain barred from schooling.
UN agencies report detainee cases in Herat and Kabul as the Taliban hold six staff from the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation and two UNAMA employees. The UN calls for access and adherence to immunities as the humanitarian situation worsens and cross-border clashes continue.
The Taliban’s return to power has reached five years as Kabul marks the anniversary with ceremonies and crackdowns. While security has improved and some infrastructure projects advance, women face sweeping restrictions, humanitarian needs rise, and international recognition remains limited. Attacks against officials persist, while aid workers face detentions amid a fragile economy.
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.
CBC News has clarified its language guidance on 9/11, emphasizing attribution for terrorism-related reporting while preparing extensive coverage for the 25th anniversary. The move follows backlash over a leaked memo and public scrutiny from U.S. officials and Canadian authorities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.