The Taliban is joining a United Nations-organised meeting for the first time. The two-day event in Doha, will focus on international engagement, as well as the Afghan economy and women's rights.

Doha

The Taliban is participating in a United Nations-led meeting in Doha for the first time. This event will focus on international engagement, Afghanistan's economy, and women's rights. Delegations from Qatar, the US, and 30 other countries are attending.

Previous UN-led meetings in Doha did not include Taliban representatives. The first meeting excluded them, and the Taliban declined to participate in the second without official recognition as Afghanistan's sole representative. Afghanistan’s delegation includes officials from the Ministries of Counter-Narcotics, Trade, and Foreign Affairs.

The UN meeting aims to address Afghanistan's economic challenges, including restrictions on its banking system and narcotics issues. Engagement strategies are intended to foster stability and economic improvement in Afghanistan. The UN clarified that participation does not equate to recognizing the Taliban's authority.

Unlike prior meetings, the UN Secretary-General will not be present, with the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace-Building Affairs attending instead. The UN continues to push for human rights and women's rights in Afghanistan as conditions for reintegration into the international community.

Despite not recognizing the Taliban's ambassador, the UN maintains operations across Afghanistan, spending over $1.4 billion on humanitarian projects in the past year. UN officials met with the Taliban and grassroots organizations in April to discuss climate change. China's appointment of an ambassador to Taliban-led Afghanistan marks a notable development. The Taliban views this meeting as vital to achieving broader international recognition and economic enhancement.



Taliban joins first ever UN-led meeting in Doha

This is the third UN-led meeting in Doha discussing Afghanistan. But the first, the Taliban government delegation is attending. The Taliban was not invited the first time, then refused to attend the second time without recognition as Afghanistan's sole representative. The Afghan delegation includes officials from the Ministries of Counter-Narcotics, Trade and Foreign Affairs. Joining them are Qatar's special envoy, the US special representatives for Afghanistan and envoys from 30 other countries. The economy, including restrictions on Afghanistan's banking system and narcotics, are top of the agenda. But also... We want to solve issues related to constructive and positive interactions in Afghanistan with the United Nations, the concerned countries and all the countries of the world. We want to find a common path towards the improvement of the situation, especially the economic situation and all-round stability of Afghanistan. Unlike in the first two meetings, the UN Secretary-General will not attend. Instead, it will be the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace-Building Affairs. The UN says the meeting is part of efforts to reintegrate Afghanistan into the international community. This sort of engagement is not legitimization or normalization. Only engagement through common, coordinated, principled international position can provide strong incentive for the de facto authorities to adopt policies that would allow for the reintegration into the international community. These policies include human and specifically women's rights. The UN does not recognize the Taliban's selection of an ambassador. Instead, appointing a representative from outside the government. The UN works across Afghanistan, spending more than $1.4 billion on humanitarian projects last year. And in April, UN agencies met Taliban government officials and grassroots organizations to discuss climate change. China was the first to name an ambassador to Taliban-led Afghanistan in 2023. For the Taliban delegation, this meeting is an opportunity to push for wider recognition of its government and improve its economy. Imogen Kimber, Al Jazeera.

Lebanon's Hezbollah launched a big rocket and drone attack at Israel on Thursday (July 4) and threatened to hit new targets in retaliation for the killing of a top commander, in the latest surge of violence in the steadily worsening conflict across the border.

Acre

Tensions at Israel-Lebanon border

Hezbollah launches rocket and drone barrage on Israel

Britons were voting on Thursday (July 4) in a parliamentary election that is expected to bring Keir Starmer's Labour Party to power, sweeping away Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives after 14 often turbulent years.

London

UK General Election

Britain votes as Labour expected to sweep to power

Four people have been charged for a security breach after draping pro-Palestinian banners from the rooftop of Parliament. Meanwhile Labor Senator Fatima Payman has resigned from the party after disagreeing with the Albanese government over Palestine.

Canberra

Protestors climb on Parliament House rooftop; Senator Payman resigns

Hurricane Beryl pounded Jamaica with heavy rains and 200 km/h winds, knocking out power to much of the capital. Now churning toward Mexico, Beryl has already killed at least nine people and caused widespread destruction across the eastern Caribbean.

Kingston

Hurricane Beryl: Jamaica hit by powerful storm

Despite mounting pressure to step down after a dismal debate performance, Joe Biden will ‘absolutely not’ abandon the U.S. presidential race, the White House has announced. Biden reportedly told staffers, ‘I am running…. No one’s pushing me out.’

Washington

U.S. Presidential Election

Defiant Biden remains in the Presidential race

Polls suggest Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is set to become Britain’s next prime minister with a majority government in Thursday’s national election. This would end 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative Party rule that saw Brexit, scandals and multiple leadership changes.

Watford

U.K.'s Labour Party expected to win in landslide

Hurricane Beryl surged over Jamaica Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 4 hurricane before heading to the Cayman Islands. Beryl has been blamed for at least six deaths in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica as Category 4

Hurricane Beryl struck Union Island, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, overnight, leaving nearly everyone homeless. Grenada also faces devastation and communication systems are down after Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Jamaica is preparing for Beryl's approach, with residents urged to evacuate vulnerable areas.

Hurricane Beryl churns toward Jamaica as Category 4

Hurricane Beryl is roaring through the Caribbean, causing havoc on several islands. At least six people have died, including three in Grenada, and one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hurricane Beryl kills six, causes ‘immense destruction’

The Albanese government will invest more than $22 billion in renewable energy projects over the next decade. The initiative aims to attract private investment and phase out coal power by 2038, while competing with the Opposition's nuclear proposal.

Government unveils major renewable energy plan

For the first time, a Democratic member of Congress has called on Joe Biden to drop out of the race for president following his shaky debate performance last week. Biden’s team maintains the president is still fit for office.

Calls grow for Biden to leave presidential race

After devastating parts of the southeast Caribbean, Hurricane Beryl churned toward Jamaica as a monstrous storm. While the extent of the damage so far is unclear, authorities have said the picture on some islands is grim, with widespread destruction.

Bridgetown

Widespread destruction across Jamaica after Storm Beryl

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a ceasefire to accelerate an end to the war with Russia, and also said he wanted a big cooperation agreement with Kyiv.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Putin supporter makes surprise Ukraine visit

More than 100 people were killed in a stampede at a religious gathering in India's state of Uttar Pradesh over the weekend. Officials say the commotion from overcrowding and extreme afternoon heat contributed to the stampede.

Hathras

Deadly stampede at Indian religious event

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have desperately started fleeing the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis after Israel issued an evacuation order. Gaza's European Hospital was included in the evacuation, leaving many sick and wounded patients desperate for care.

Rafah

Israel-Gaza War

Palestinians flee Khan Younis as Israeli forces approach

More than 100 people have been killed and more than a dozen others injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India, authorities say. It was not immediately clear what caused the panic and stampede as people rushed to leave a makeshift tent.

Death toll from India stampede rises to 116

Powerful Hurricane Beryl barreled towards Jamaica on Tuesday (June 2) as the 2024 Atlantic season's first hurricane and the earliest storm on record to reach the strongest possible ranking: Category 5.

Climate Crisis

Beryl sets tone for 'very dangerous hurricane season'

Israeli forces bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday (July 2), and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel's intensive military operations in nine months of war.

Sderot

Thousands flee as Israel bombs southern Gaza

Hurricane Beryl barreled towards Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm on Tuesday after making landfall on smaller islands in the Caribbean, downing power lines, causing flash flooding and reportedly killing two people.

Hurricane Beryl leaves trail of destruction across Caribbean

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Kyiv to work towards a "quick ceasefire" in Ukraine that could pave the way for negotiations with Russia to end more than two years of war. Orban issued the appeal standing next to President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Ukraine, the first by the vocal critic of Western support for Kyiv.

Hungary's Orban calls for Ukraine ceasefire to speed up peace talks

A car hit pedestrians near Seoul city hall, killing nine people and injuring at least four, South Korean media reports said, citing police and fire officials.

Seoul

Seoul: Nine killed after car plows into crowd

U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that was seen as a win for his election rival, former President Donald Trump, calling it a dangerous precedent that did a disservice to the American people.

Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and taken into custody after a stabbing at the University of Sydney on Tuesday morning, which triggered a lockdown of the university buildings. Police are now probing alleged extremist links to the incident.

Council of the City of Sydney

Terrorism investigation launched after Sydney Uni stabbing

Donald Trump was quick to celebrate a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing presidential immunity for official acts while in office, a decision his opponents described as ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘dangerous.’

U.S. Supreme Court rules Presidents have 'some immunity'

Hurricane Beryl strengthened as it churned toward the Caribbean's Windward Islands on Monday, according to officials, threatening devastating flooding and storm surges as life-threatening high winds picked up speed.

Saint George's

Hurricane Beryl 'extremely dangerous' as it gains strength

A year-long Border Force investigation has implicated 70 Melbourne airport workers and airline crew in drug and illegal product smuggling operations. The accused individuals include baggage handlers, ground crew, and airline crew members.

Melbourne

Airport staff implicated in smuggling investigation

The U.S. Justice Department will criminally charge Boeing with fraud over two fatal crashes and ask the planemaker to plead guilty or face a trial, two people familiar with the matter say.

Seattle

U.S. to criminally charge Boeing over 737 MAX crashes

The far right is on the verge of taking power in France for the first time since the Second World War after President Emmanuel Macron’s party lost badly in a snap election.

Paris

France snap election

French far-fight defeats Macron's centrists

Some high-profile Democrats have come to U.S. President Joe Biden’s defence after his debate performance and calls for him to end his re-election campaign. Biden reportedly now holding talks with his family at Camp David.

Supporters defend Biden's debate performance

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from Mea She’arim in West Jerusalem are protesting against conscription in the Israeli military. They prefer imprisonment over military service following the High Court's decision to end their exemptions.