US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Boston Sanctuary City Policy 
China Expands Nuclear Defense Network in Remote Desert 
Poland Considers Revoking Zelensky’s Top Honor Over Controversial UPA Army Unit Recognition 
UN Blacklists Israel and Russia Over Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Claims 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S. 
DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll Over Alleged Perjury 
BCA Research Warns Iran and Ukraine Ceasefires May Offer Limited Relief for Global Markets 
Netanyahu Orders Expansion of Israeli Control in Gaza to 70% 
Trump Nears Decision on Iran Ceasefire Extension as Key Disputes Remain 
Russia Prepares New Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine, Zelenskiy Warns 
US Designates Brazil’s PCC and Comando Vermelho as Global Terrorist Entities Ahead of FTO Listing 
Kentucky School District Secures $27 Million in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements 
Brazil Extends Fuel Subsidies and Tax Relief Measures Through July 2026 Amid Global Oil Market Volatility 
US Plans Faster Military Drawdown in Europe, NATO Allies Face Greater Defense Role 
Brazil Struggles to Stop Illegal Amazon Gold Mining as Gold Prices Surge 
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration announced that they would be reopening the country’s key trade route with Pakistan. The reopening comes four days after the border crossing was closed off and left many trucks carrying food and other items stranded in the area.
The Taliban government announced the reopening of the Torkham border crossing it shares with Pakistan four days after the border was closed off. The decision by the Taliban to reopen the border crossing follows the meeting between a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif visited Afghanistan’s capital Kabul the day before to discuss security, among other issues.
The delegation met with Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and other Taliban officials. At the time, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad announced that the Torkham trade route would be reopened on Thursday due to a “breach of commitments” by Pakistan.
Pakistani officials said on Thursday that they would be reopening their side of the border after completing the “administrative requirements.”
“We are just completing the necessary documentation and other administrative work before reopening the gate which is expected in another few hours,” said a Pakistani security official to Al Jazeera.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a 2,600-kilometer-long border. The Taliban said it closed the Torkham border crossing due to Islamabad allegedly denying entry to Afghan migrants seeking medical care. Pakistan has accused the insurgent group of harboring armed attackers that are members of the outlawed Pakistan Taliban, also known as the TTP.
The TTP has been accused of the surge of violent attacks across Pakistan, killing dozens. The meeting in Kabul was amidst the TTP’s attacks in the country.
A report released on Thursday by the Crisis Group warned against international donors cutting off aid to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s policies barring women from participating in aid work and education.
The report called for Western countries to find a “liminal space between pariah and legitimate status” in order to respond to the humanitarian crisis the country has been under since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of foreign military forces.
