According to local authorities, an Israeli drone attacked a car near Beirut on Thursday during rush hour, killing at least one person and injuring three others. Zeina Khodr, a journalist for Al Jazeera, was present when authorities examined the wreckage.
In an effort to establish friendly relations with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, which were under US control when American troops withdrew from the country four years ago, Russia has accepted the credentials of a new Afghan ambassador.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give a boost to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our nations.
Russia becomes the first nation in the world to recognize the Taliban government as a result.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan foreign minister, stated in a video of a meeting with the Russian ambassador to Kabul on Thursday that “this courageous decision will serve as an example for others.”
Russia was ahead of everyone once the process of recognition began.
Washington, which has frozen billions in the country’s central bank assets and put sanctions on some senior Taliban leaders, is likely to be watching closely, which has contributed to the country’s banking sector being largely disconnected from the global financial system.
When US forces supporting Afghanistan’s internationally recognized government pulled out in August 2021, the group seized control of the country.
Since then, Moscow, which referred to the US withdrawal as a “failure,” has since started to normalize relations with the Taliban authorities in order to see them as potential economic partners and ally in the fight against terrorism.
The top diplomat of the Taliban met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow last October, and a delegation from the Taliban took part in Russia’s flagship economic forum, which was held in Saint Petersburg in 2022 and 2024.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, referred to the Taliban as “allies in the fight against terrorism” in July 2024, particularly against ISIS-K, a terrorist organization that has carried out deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Russia.
The organization’s Supreme Court in Russia removed the designation as a “terrorist” in April.
Lavrov urged Moscow to pursue a “pragmatic, not ideologised policy” in the face of the Taliban in the month that Lavrov claimed “the new authorities in Kabul are a reality.”
Over the past 20 years, Moscow’s attitude toward the Taliban has dramatically changed.
Former US-backed Mujahideen fighters who fought the Soviet Union in the 1980s formed the group in 1994 during the Afghan Civil War.
Moscow suffered a crushing defeat in the Soviet-Afghan War, which may have accelerated the USSR’s demise.
Russia’s “terrorist” blacklist was put on hold by the Taliban in 2003 because of its support for separatists in the North Caucasus.
Russia and other nations in the region have to reevaluate their positions of influence as a result of the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
After the Taliban took control, Russia established its first business representative office in Kabul, and it has made it known that it intends to use Afghanistan as a gas transit hub for Southeast Asia.
Salim Ahmed Said, an Iraqi businessman, and his United Arab Emirates-based business, are among those who are the subject of the sanctions, which the US claims smuggled Iranian oil by combining it with Iraqi oil.
“Iran’s behavior has decimated it,” he said. While its leaders have had every chance to choose peace, extremism, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement.
Tehran’s revenue sources will continue to be targeted, and economic pressure will increase to prevent the regime from obtaining the funds it needs to support its destabilizing activities.
US President Donald Trump announced on June 24 that China could purchase Iranian oil, implying that the US might lift its sanctions against Tehran’s energy exports.
However, the promise was sluggish. In response to statements made by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claiming victory over Israel, Trump claimed in a social media post last week that he “immediately dropped all work on sanction relief.”
The US president added that he saved Khamenei from a “VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH” by preventing Israel from assassinating him.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that Khamenei’s assassination had “no operational opportunity.”
On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, killing hundreds of Iranians, including civilians and senior military personnel, without warning.
Three Iranian nuclear sites were attacked by the US in an effort to counteract Israel. Iran responded by attacking an Israeli airbase and an attack on a Qatari airbase with missiles.
Trump claimed Iran’s nuclear facilities were “obliterated” by US airstrikes.
The Pentagon claimed on Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear program had been delayed by one to two years as a result of the US bombing operation.
However, it is unclear where Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles are located.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN nuclear watchdog were ordered to halt cooperation last month as a result of the country’s passing a law.
The US and several European nations have criticized the decision.
Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, suggested on Thursday that Iran is trying to reach a diplomatic solution with the US through Oman and Qatar.
According to Baghaei, “diplomacy must not be abused or used as a weapon for deception or as a form of psychological warfare against their adversaries.”
Tehran, he added, considers its diplomatic efforts to have been “betrayed.”
Trump reiterated the US’s commitment to diplomacy just before Israel began the war last month.
After Shubman Gill’s record-breaking 269 runs and their seamers striking early, England trail India by 510 runs on day two of their second Test, which they lost to at Edgbaston.
When Akash Deep took two wickets in two balls, India were teetered up on Thursday, prompting Mohammed Siraj to top off the act and leave England at 25-3 on a wicket that had been a good one for the bat.
When Deep drew an edge and the ball flew to KL Rahul in the slips, Ben Duckett nicked a ball to the third slip, where Gill made a smart diving catch before Ollie Pope fell for a duck the next time.
India lost its first Test at Headingley to a dropped catch, but Siraj’s draw at the end resulted in Karun Nair finding Karun Nair at first slip.
Gill told the broadcaster Sky Sports, “Fielding was definitely one of those things we talked about as a team, and it’s great to see that come off so far.”
“This game was all about confidence,” he said. We discussed that we would be in the game if we hit 400 again, whether it was first or second.
Harry Brook (30) and Joe Root (18) resisted the umpire’s call to cancel a review for LBW, surviving with a 52-run partnership.
Gill also recorded the highest score by an Indian captain when he passed Virat Kohli’s 254 to become the first Indian to surpass 250 outside of the Indian subcontinent. He broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 241.
In the first two days of the Test, Gill barely managed to make up any errors, but after tea, he had trouble focusing when he attempted to dispatch a short ball from Josh Tongue and discovered Pope at square leg.
The captain’s knock was saluted by the Edgbaston crowd as he returned to the pavilion, where his task had been completed when India were struggling at 211-5 on day one.
Gill, who has allowed 424 runs in the series, said, “I worked on a few things before the series that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket.”
“They are working for me, looking at the results,” I said.
After allowing the all-rounder to score a 203-5, Jadeja and Gill built a 203-run stand before the Tongue bouncer fell, but Gill looked completely at ease on a flat track with little assistance.
Gill barely broke a sweat as England’s bowlers struggled under the heat of the summer sun as he showcased his collection of elegant drives and well-timed flicks to add runs.
Gill broke Sunil Gavaskar’s 46-year-old record for the highest score by an Indian in England (221 in 1979), making his trademark bow once more as the first India skipper to record a double-hundred in England.
As he slammed the ball everywhere, he soon started toying with the fielders’ attacks and placement, coolly switching between sublime and unconventional shots.
Gill was in Twenty20 mode as they cruised past the 500-mark and a rare outside edge pushed the captain to 250 with Washington Sundar playing patiently at the other end.
When Root departed for a well-made 42, a delivery broke through Sundar’s defense to break the seventh-wicket partnership of 144.
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The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” an enormous tax cut and spending package that is a pillar of President Donald Trump’s agenda, has been passed by the United States House of Representatives after nearly 29 hours of debate.
The lower house of the US Congress voted by a margin of 218 to 214 in favour of the bill on Thursday.
The bill was opposed by all 212 Democratic House members. Representatives from the Republican majority, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, joined them.
After the bill’s passage, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the top Republican, applauded his fellow party members.
“I backed this vision,” I said. I backed the organization. I believe in America”, Johnson said to applause.
Trump will now formally enact the bill before it reaches the White House. Before July 4, the country’s Independence Day, the Republican president had requested that the legislation be passed by his fellow party members.
As a result of the new legislation, the US will lift its debt ceiling — the amount the federal government is allowed to borrow — by $5 trillion.
Additionally, the bill strengthens Trump’s top priorities, immigration enforcement, by putting tens of billions of dollars into the country, as well as the tax cuts that he supported in his first term in office.
The bill reduced social initiatives like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which are administered by the government to low-income households, in order to cover those costs.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill will increase the number of people without health insurance by 17 million over the next 10 years.
Additionally, it was predicted that the US’s deficit, or the amount of money owed, would increase by about $3.3 trillion over the same time.
The bill was widely criticized by Democratic lawmakers as a massive redistribution of wealth between the poor and the wealthy, despite the fact that the wealthy will primarily gain from the tax cuts.
Republican supporters like Trump have countered that the bill will fuel growth and cut waste and fraud in the programmes like Medicaid.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” made its way through Congress’ chambers, but not everyone did. Some fiscal conservatives objected to the rise in the national debt, and there were several Republican holdouts who feared the effects of the Medicaid cuts on low-income and rural communities.
“FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE”, Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday night. “RIDICULOUS!! “! “
Even Trump’s erstwhile ally, billionaire Elon Musk, has publicly opposed the bill over provisions he described as “pork”.
In the lead-up to Thursday’s vote, Democrats attempted to stall, with the stated aim of allowing voters more time to contact their local representatives in protest.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spearheaded the effort by using the “magic minute,” which enables party leaders to speak from the House floor as long as they want.
Jeffries extended that right to an oath to Republicans in an hours-long petition to oppose what he characterized as Trump’s harmful policies. He started at around 4: 53am local time (8: 53 GMT) and ended past 1: 39pm (17: 39 GMT).
It took approximately eight hours and 44 minutes to deliver the longest speech ever delivered on the House floor.
Jeffries said to the House, “I’m here to take my sweet time on behalf of the American people,” with his voice swaying at times throughout.
He directed his remarks to the speaker of the House, a leadership role occupied by Republican Mike Johnson.
“Independence Day may be Donald Trump’s deadline. That isn’t my deadline, Jeffries said. “You know why, Mr. Speaker? We don’t support Donald Trump. We serve the American people.
Jeffries warned that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — which he dubbed the “One Big Ugly Bill” — “hurts everyday Americans and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks”. He continued, “The legislation was simply reckless.”
He made a point of referring to the late Republican senator from Arizona, who had fought for Trump on the healthcare debate, by calling his colleagues across the aisle to show them “John McCain-level courage.”
McCain has often been cited as a symbol of bipartisanship in Congress, and Jeffries urged his Republican colleagues to reach across the aisle.
“We embraced the election of President Donald Trump and offered to collaborate with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle whenever and wherever possible to improve the lives of the American people,” Jeffries said.
“But the way that House Republicans have gone is to go it alone and try to smear this One Big Ugly Bill, which is full of extreme right-wing policy priorities, down the throats of the American people,” said Speaker.
In a poll last week from Quinnipiac University, for example, just 29 percent of respondents indicated they were in favour of the legislation, while 55 percent were against it.
Later, Jeffries compared Trump’s resistance to the US’s revolutionary war era, saying, “We’re not here to bend the knee to any wannabe king.” Democrats swelled into cheers and chanted his name “Hakeem!” when he finally said he would give back the floor. Hakeem! “Hakeem” !
The House had been in session overnight as part of a marathon session in order to get to Thursday’s vote.
However, Speaker Johnson himself spoke briefly to the House minutes before the dramatic vote, urging Republicans to show a united front.
He also took a jab at Jeffries’s record-breaking speech: “It takes a lot longer to build a lie than to tell the simple truth”.
“We’ve been waiting too long,” Some of us have literally been awake for days,” Johnson continued. “With this One Big Beautiful Bill, we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before, and every American is going to benefit from that”.
He added that “our reforms will make programs like Medicaid stronger with our reforms.”
Two Republicans did not back away from their party caucus and cast a ballot against the “One Big Beautiful Bill” at the final hurdle.
One of the nay-votes, Representative Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania released a statement said he had previously voted to “strengthen Medicaid”. He claimed that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” had the exact opposite effect in the Senate.
The Senate amendments defied our standards, according to Fitzpatrick, despite the fact that the original House language was written in a way that protected our community.
“I believe in, and will always fight for, policies that are thoughtful, compassionate, and good for our community”.
Massie, by contrast, had always been a waiter. His contention on social media was the rising national debt.
“I voted No on final passage because it will significantly increase U. S. budget deficits in the near term, negatively impacting all Americans through sustained inflation and high interest rates”, he wrote.
Republicans have had to travel a long way to get to Thursday’s vote, which has already taken them months. The House first passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on May 22, in another overnight vote.
The legislation was passed by the least narrow margins in that May vote, with 215 supporting and 214 opposing. At the time, Ohio’s representatives, Massie and Warren Davidson, and Maryland’s Andy Harris, both voted “present,” joined a unified Democratic front in opposing the bill. Two more Republicans missed the vote entirely.
The Senate was faced with yet another uphill battle as a result of that. 53 Republicans, 47 Democrats, and left-leaning independents make up the 100-seat chamber.
To avoid facing a Democratic filibuster, Republicans subjected the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to the Byrd Rule, which allows legislation to pass with a simple majority.
However, Republicans had to veto provisions that had no less than minimal budget impact or increased the deficit outside of a 10-year window in order to comply with the Byrd Rule.
The bill’s revised Senate version was a nail-biting vote, though. On July 1, after another all-nighter, the vote was 50 to 50, with three Republicans siding with the Democrats. The tie-breaker was cast by Vice President JD Vance to advance the legislation.
Democrats did, however, pull off a small symbolic victory by removing the final piece of legislation from the list of names: “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
It was the Senate’s version of the bill that the House voted on Thursday. Since supporting the bill, at least one Republican senator, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, has resentment toward it.
The people of Alaska are the ones who worry most, especially when the potential demise of our most underserved social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP benefits, are concerned, she wrote in a statement earlier this week.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. This process was terrible; it was a desperate attempt to meet an artificial deadline that had put the institution to the test.