Afghanistan women’s cricket team meet King Charles in fight for official recognition after Taliban exclusion Women were banned from playing sport in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power The Independent UK · Jun 24
He threw himself on a grenade and saved his fellow soldiers: Meet US Medal of Honor recipient Nicholas Dockery More than a decade after risking his life to save fellow soldiers during a fierce battle in Afghanistan, US Army officer Nicholas Dockery has received the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award for bravery. Dockery was honoured at a White House ceremony in June 2026 for his actions during… The Times of India · Jun 24
One Afghan Sister Got Five Years, the Other Just 30 Months: The Human Cost of Labour's New Refugee Rules One sister received five years' leave to remain, while the other was granted just 30 months under Labour's new asylum rules. International Business Times UK · Jun 24
Newsletter: Ukraine tensions and the Taliban question In today's newsletter: All eyes are on Berlin to see if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk can resolve tensions between the capitals, and further questions loom regarding a meeting between the European Commission and the Taliban on Tuesday. Euronews · Jun 24
'A very different Afghanistan: Violence now linked to socioeconomic pressures' François Picard is pleased to welcome Silvia Boccardi, freelance journalist based in Rome. Nearly five years after the Taliban's return to power, Afghanistan occupies an uneasy position in international politics. As European governments increasingly seek practical engagement with the authorities in Kabul, questions persist over whether diplomatic contact can alleviate… France 24 · Jun 23
Taliban delegation heads to Brussels for first EU talks focused on Afghan deportations A delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban government is set to hold rare closed-door talks with European Union officials in Brussels on Tuesday. The discussions are expected to focus on the return of Afghan nationals from Europe, marking an unusual engagement between the bloc and a regime that none of its 27… The Times of India · Jun 23
EU officials discreetly meet Taliban in Brussels to speed up Afghan deportations EU officials and Taliban representatives held a technical meeting in Brussels to discuss the return of Afghan nationals in a fresh attempt to ramp up repatriations of migrants without the right to stay in Europe. Euronews · Jun 23
EU gambles on Taliban talks to fast-track Afghan deportations A Taliban delegation is due to fly into Brussels on Tuesday, having been granted a one-day visa to hold talks with the EU on returning failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan. However, human rights groups have warned that the scheme runs counter to the bloc's values. Radio France Internationale · Jun 23
Shabana Mahmood’s cuts to refugee protection in UK to face legal challenge Exclusive: Refugee status in the UK is now temporary with the right to asylum under review every 30 months The Independent UK · Jun 23
Afghan Taliban to meet EU officials in rare meeting behind closed doors Afghans make up one of the largest groups of migrants seeking asylum in the European Union The Independent UK · Jun 23
Afghan Taliban set for EU migration talks slammed by rights groups The EU is expected to hold talks on returning failed Afghan asylum-seekers with a Taliban delegation in Brussels Tuesday after Belgium issued one-day visas for the team, overriding criticisms from human rights groups. The 27-member bloc does not recognise the Taliban administration, but the European Commission invited a team from… France 24 · Jun 23
Newsletter: Brexit at 10 — the divorce that still defines Britain Also in this newsletter: What happens now to the upcoming EU-UK Summit, who pays for Europe's return hubs, and a Commissioner's travel plans finally revealed. Euronews · Jun 23
EU faces fierce criticism over plans to host Taliban in Brussels Rights campaigners and MEPs say meeting would normalise regime that erases women from public life The Guardian - UK · Jun 23
Belgium issues visas to Taliban delegation for EU migration talks The EU is preparing to host Taliban representatives for the first time since the group's return to power in Afghanistan. Euronews · Jun 22
The Independent UK · Jun 20 At least seven killed in twin roadside bombings in northwest Pakistan Five people were killed in the first blast and two in the second
The Times of India · Jun 20 Afghanistan claims strikes on militant hideouts inside Pakistan Afghanistan's Taliban government claims its forces conducted airstrikes on militant hideouts in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Islamabad vehemently denies this, stating only a drone entered its airspace and was intercepted. This latest exchange escalates tensions, with both nations blaming each other for cross-border militancy and recent deadly incidents,…
Reason · Jun 19 The U.S. and Iran Are Exchanging Nuclear Concessions for Economic Relief. That's Compromise, Not Surrender. Hawks don’t understand what diplomacy is: Both sides give something up and both sides get something in return.
The Guardian - AU · Jun 19 The Afghan family who are safe at last and full of hope, thanks to an Australia Pauline Hanson will never know In International Refugee Week, two speeches paint starkly different visions of the country
The Times of India · Jun 19 ‘Women and girls left vulnerable to abuse’: UN calls for Taliban's new marriage decree to be reversed UN experts voice grave concerns over a new Taliban decree on spousal separation in Afghanistan. The ruling, issued in April 2026, is feared to legitimize child marriage and hinder women escaping abusive relationships. Provisions are seen as discriminatory, potentially impacting religious minorities and leaving girls vulnerable to harm for years…
The Guardian - UK · Jun 19 How Refugee Week film festival brings migrants’ experience home From one hostile environment to another, the documentaries and dramas ranging from Nigeria and Syria to British immigration give vivid life to an experience that can feel very remote
The Independent UK · Jun 19 Trump struggles to clasp Medal of Honor at awkward White House ceremony The president was unable to attach the medal, so ended up tying the blue-ribboned military honor tightly around the veteran’s neck
International Business Times UK · Jun 18 Ex-Taliban Su**ide Bomber Credits UK Asylum for Giving Him a Second Chance To Escape Extremism Maiwand Banayee, once a Taliban recruit, credits education and UK asylum for his transformation from extremism to becoming a physiotherapist, as detailed in his new book.
The Guardian - UK · Jun 18 Taliban order ban on smartphones as officials shown destroying devices Directive aimed at government workers, but reports of wider implementation spark warnings of future Afghanistan-wide prohibition
The Times of India · Jun 17 Taliban’s new diktat: No smartphones for Afghan government employees Government employees across Afghanistan began powering down their smartphones on Wednesday following an order attributed to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Euronews · Jun 17 Afghan government staff told to abandon smartphones or face prison sentence How widely the rule is being implemented across Afghanistan and the scale of its impact were not entirely clear.