Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, ruling power since 2021
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.
Since early May 2026, multiple suicide vehicle-bombings and coordinated gun attacks have struck security posts in Pakistan's northwestern border districts (Bajaur, Bannu), killing dozens of officers and civilians. Pakistani authorities have blamed Afghanistan-based militants, including the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) or a TTP splinter group, and have summoned Afghan diplomats while cross-border tensions remain unresolved.
The European Commission plans to invite Taliban officials to Brussels in the near future for talks on returning migrants to Afghanistan.
A Taliban decree regulating divorce in Afghanistan has sparked international condemnation over alleged endorsement of child marriage and reduced pathways for women to obtain divorce. Activists warn the measure could entrench discrimination, while the Taliban defend it as aligned with Islamic law.
The Taliban’s defence minister, Mohammad Yaqoob, has joined Russia at the International Security Forum in Moscow where a military-technical agreement has been signed. Details remain undisclosed, but officials describe it as a bilateral framework covering equipment, licenses and collaboration. Analysts say the agreement is symbolic and unlikely to yield an immediate, large-scale military alliance.
A cargo truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan has overturned in Laghman province, killing 18 people including 10 children and injuring dozens. The incident underscores dangerous transport conditions and the strain on displacement routes as the Taliban-led government offers condolences and emergency aid.
European, Indian, and Canadian policymakers are pursuing strategic autonomy while staying within the U.S.-led order, recalibrating ties with major powers. Afghanistan’s engagement with Russia raises questions about legitimacy and regional balance as Moscow and others weigh long-term commitments.
Protests in Herat over hijab rules have intensified as security forces deploy to disperse demonstrators. Reported casualties and arrests trigger UN concerns, while Taliban officials deny using force and describe the events as maintaining order.
Protests over dress-code arrests in Herat have escalated as police have opened fire during demonstrations. The UN and rights groups warn of serious rights abuses amid a harsher enforcement of hijab rules. Multiple arrests and at least one fatality are reported, with authorities insisting actions align with Shariah.
Haji Najibullah has been sentenced after pleading guilty to providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to take hostages. David Rohde has described the kidnapping in 2008 and expressed disappointment that Najibullah refuses to take responsibility. The court spared a life sentence due to the guilty plea and mitigating factors.
Across Afghanistan and Pakistan, airstrikes on the border provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika have killed civilians, including children, and injured many more. UNAMA has documented civilian casualties and is calling for de-escalation, a durable ceasefire, and humanitarian access as fighting continues near the border.
Booker Prize Foundation launches All Around the World, a short story collection by Booker winners and nominees to widen access to reading. The collection accompanies the Quick Reads program, with 12,000 copies donated and free digital access, addressing barriers such as time, cost, and representation.
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.