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• Afghanistan is facing a dire economic crisis nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power. • The collapse is driven by a combination of deep-rooted domestic structural failures and persistent regional geopolitical constraints. • This instability highlights the Taliban's inability to establish a functioning financial system or secure broad international legitimacy.

• The EU has sparked outrage among Afghan women by initiating talks with the Taliban, signaling a shift in how the bloc balances security concerns against human rights. • This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst a broader climate of rising anti-immigration rhetoric across Europe. • Separately, France's health ministry confirmed the country's first case of Ebola in a doctor who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Donald Trump is currently benefiting from the Senate filibuster, which prevents the SAVE America Act from reaching a final vote. • While Trump often criticizes the rule, the filibuster spares him from a public legislative defeat that could expose divisions within the Republican party. • A push to change Senate rules to bypass the filibuster would force GOP lawmakers into difficult loyalty tests ahead of critical midterm elections.

• The House of Commons Library is tracking financial market indicators, including share prices, oil, and gold, to assess the overall health of the economy. • The FTSE-100, which monitors the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange, experienced a sharp decline in 2020 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. • On March 23, 2020, the index closed at 4,994, marking its lowest point since October 2011.

In today’s newsletter: Amid rising anti‑immigration rhetoric across Europe, the decision to engage with the Taliban signals a profound shift in how the EU balances security and human rightsGood morning. It’s a slap in the face. That’s the phrase I kept hearing – in furious overnight messages, in blazing opinion columns – as Afghan women responded to the meeting between EU officials and the Taliban that took place in Brussels on Tuesday.The talks, to discuss how to scale up the deportation of Afghan migrants, were met with widespread outrage, and disbelief that Europe would countenance offering legitimacy to a regime that affords a bird better protections than a woman.World news | Venezuela’s interim leader has declared a state of emergency after the country was struck by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed dozens of buildings and killed at least 32 people, with experts warning the death toll could rise significantly.Heatwave | The UK has broken its all-time temperature record for June and France has recorded its hottest day ever for the second day running, as a heatwave affecting more than 90 million people sweeps across swathes of Europe.UK politics | Donald Trump has labelled Andy Burnham “extremely liberal”, in his first public comments about the former Greater Manchester mayor since he emerged as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer.Europe news | The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in France, the country’s health ministry has said, in a doctor who had returned from a humanitarian mission to an area affected by the outbreak in the DRC.UK news | A little-known system in which US military personnel are tried through a court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK is under growing scrutiny. Continue reading...

• The ongoing conflict between Israel and the US-Iran axis has disrupted oil and gas supplies across the Middle East. • These disruptions are driving energy price increases, which may lead to higher inflation and reduced GDP growth within the UK. • The severity of the economic shock depends largely on overseas geopolitical decisions and the resulting stability of global energy markets.

The US president told reporters the former Manchester mayor ‘probably won’t open up the North Sea’ for oil explorationDonald Trump has labelled Andy Burnham “extremely liberal”, in his first public comments about the former Greater Manchester mayor since he emerged as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer.The US president told reporters Burnham “probably won’t open up the North Sea” for oil exploration, and that “the UK is dying”, signalling that the newly elected Labour MP could face a rocky relationship with Trump. Continue reading...

Police confirm they are investigating as sources close to accused MP say he vehemently denies the allegations and is considering legal actionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA female Victorian Liberal MP has accused a member of her party room of assaulting her at a community event, throwing the party into turmoil just five months out from the state election.Sources close to the accused MP said he vehemently denies the allegation and is considering a defamation legal action against his colleague. Continue reading...

McQueen was a long-serving member of the Liberal party before defecting to One Nation in MayFormer Liberal heavyweight Teena McQueen is being remembered for her contribution to the party despite her defection to One Nation.McQueen, who served as the federal Liberal Party vice president from 2017 to 2023, died on Wednesday after battling severe sickness. Continue reading...

• Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce and technology giant, filed a lawsuit against the US government on Tuesday. • The legal action challenges the Department of Defense's decision to place the company on a list of businesses linked to the Chinese military. • This move is significant as being on the military-linked list can lead to severe investment restrictions and sanctions for US entities.

Sharon Graham is urged to withdraw her claim that the energy secretary would cost jobs if he became chancellorMore than 40 progressive economists have written to Sharon Graham, the leader of Unite, rejecting her claim that Ed Miliband would destroy jobs if he becomes the next chancellor.With Andy Burnham almost certain to be prime minister within weeks, there is a fierce debate within Labour about who should succeed Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, with Miliband considered a frontrunner. Continue reading...

Party colleagues concerned opposition leader was missing an opportunity to differentiate Coalition from One NationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor has attempted to clarify comments on multiculturalism after his five non-answers on Tuesday which left colleagues dumfounded and questioning the opposition leader’s approach to One Nation.As senior Liberals lined up endorse to Australia’s cultural diversity on Wednesday, outspoken backbencher, Andrew McLachlan, went further, challenging his leader to “embrace the reality of modern Australia”. Continue reading...

Report says by aiming at children Israel is undermining capacity of Palestinian people to existIsrael continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, an ⁠independent UN inquiry has found.The report by the UN independent international commission of inquiry examined violations against Palestinian children since the start of the war in Gaza, and said about 30% of those killed by Israeli forces have been children. Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch, who joined US anti-abortion activists and European far-right parties at ARC, described energy secretary as a ‘villain’Britain’s net zero policies and energy secretary Ed Miliband have come under fire at a conference of conservatives, rightwing populists and wealthy US backers linked to Donald Trump.The energy policies pursued by the British government were described as a “tragic mistake” by Trump’s energy secretary, one of a number of officials from the US administration who are attending the event. Continue reading...

Suspect in incident at Chico branch of Butte county library arrested, police say, but no known motiveTwo people were killed and a child was injured in a shooting at a northern California library on Monday evening, authorities said.A suspect in the incident at the Chico branch of the Butte county library has been arrested, according to the Chico police department. Continue reading...

• Iranian Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf announced that the United States will release $12 billion in frozen Iranian funds. • Donald Trump claimed the released funds would be used to purchase U.S. produce, a statement that Tehran immediately rejected. • To manage the process, four working groups have been established to oversee sanctions termination, the nuclear file, economic reconstruction, and MoU implementation.

Energy secretary expected to argue that UK clean economy is booming as private sector pledges over £100bn of investmentEd Miliband is to say that the UK must stick to net zero targets to deliver jobs and growth, as speculation surrounds the energy secretary’s role under a new prime minister.He will make the speech as data shows more than £100bn in green investment has been pledged by private sector companies in this parliament. Continue reading...

Rights campaigners and MEPs say meeting would normalise regime that erases women from public lifeEU officials are facing fierce criticism over plans to host the Taliban in Brussels on Tuesday, with rights campaigners and MEPs warning that the meeting risks normalising a regime that has banned girls from school beyond the sixth grade and sought to erase women from public life, while its ranks include two leaders accused of crimes against humanity.The Belgian foreign ministry said on Monday it had issued five single-day visas to a Taliban delegation to attend a meeting in Brussels. Sources told the Guardian the meeting was expected to take place on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• Nepal elected a former rapper as prime minister following legislative elections held in March 2026, which were preceded by widespread youth protests. • The new leader, Shah, has committed to a balanced and independent foreign policy based on non-alignment to navigate the influence of neighboring China and India. • This transition marks a significant political shift driven by youth activism and a desire for independent governance.

• Afghanistan has launched strikes against targets located within Pakistan, significantly escalating cross-border tensions between the two nations. • The attacks represent a direct threat to the fragile ceasefire currently in place, marking a volatile shift in diplomatic relations. • This escalation highlights the ongoing instability and security challenges persisting in the region under the current administration.

• Prince Harry is bringing Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK for the Invictus Games. • This trip marks Meghan Markle's first return to the United Kingdom in four years. • The visit is significant as it brings the family back to British soil amid ongoing tensions with the royal family.

Thomas, 43, a former military police officer, has whip suspended during investigation into the allegationsA Liberal Democrat MP suspended by the party has been arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault, the Guardian understands.Cameron Thomas, the MP for Tewkesbury, was arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday. The Liberal Democrats said the 43-year-old had had the whip and membership of the party suspended. Continue reading...

• UK inflation dropped to 2.8% in April 2026, performing better than initial forecasts. • Economic experts predict a rebound in inflation, expecting it to rise to 3.5% by the end of the year. • The labor market is showing signs of cooling, with the number of payrolled employees steadily decreasing since mid-2024.

Musical stars and retired politicians from less polarised era seeming antidote to cage fights on White House lawnThe Barack Obama presidential center opened in Chicago on Thursday after more than a decade in the making amid a musical fanfare and paeans to democratic principles that evoked a previous age, all while delivering an implied rebuke to Donald Trump.Featuring appearances by a cast of musical stars and retired politicians from a less polarised era, it was a seemingly perfect antidote to the crass spectacle of cage fights on the White House lawn. Continue reading...

MP for Tewkesbury understood to have been arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday nightA Liberal Democrat MP has had the whip suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation, a party spokesperson said.Cameron Thomas was arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday night, it is understood. His office has been contacted for comment. Continue reading...

Directive aimed at government workers, but reports of wider implementation spark warnings of future Afghanistan-wide prohibitionThe Taliban have ordered a sweeping ban on the use of smartphones by government officials – in what some analysts say could foreshadow broader, population-level restrictions.In a directive issued by the Taliban’s military courts and reviewed by the Guardian, the ban was to take effect this week and prohibits “high rank, low rank, general mujahideen, or service staff” from using mobile phones. Continue reading...

• The author argues that Turkey and Israel are the primary hegemonic aspirants in the Middle East, predicting an eventual collision between the two as Iranian power collapses. • A potential conflict would likely expand beyond the Middle East, impacting Greece, Cyprus, and broader European stability. • The analysis suggests that the U.S. must prioritize conflict management to prevent intra-alliance warfare and ensure the continued freedom of navigation and energy development.