
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban's rule in Afghanistan
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed it had accepted credentials from Afghanistan's newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. The ministry stated that this official recognition would foster "productive bilateral cooperation".
Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry hailed the development as a "historic step". Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was quoted welcoming the decision as "a good example for other countries."
The Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Since then, the group has sought international recognition while imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
While no country had formally recognized the Taliban administration until now, the group had engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates.
Still, the Taliban government has been relatively isolated on the world stage, largely over its restrictions on women.
Although the Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, it started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover. Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.
Russian officials have recently been emphasizing the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan, and lifted a ban on the Taliban in April.
Russia 's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said in remarks broadcast by state Channel One television that the decision to officially recognize the Taliban government was made by President Vladimir Putin on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Zhirnov said the decision proves Russia's 'sincere striving for the development of full-fledged relations with Afghanistan.'
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Times
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
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Update: Date: 2025-07-04T16:36:01.000Z Title: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Content: All-night attack on Kyiv followed conversation between US president and Putin. This live blog is closed Russian drone attack on Kyiv Jakub Krupa and Tom Ambrose (earlier) Fri 4 Jul 2025 18.31 CEST First published on Fri 4 Jul 2025 09.27 CEST From 4.28pm CEST 16:28 Ukrainian president said he spoke with US president Donald Trump about the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defence amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. In a brief note about their call, published on Telegram, he said the US president was 'very well informed' about the situation in Ukraine, as the pair discussed 'the possibilities of air defence and agreed that we will work on increasing the protection in the sky.' He said they agreed to hold a separate meeting between their teams on this issue. 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Germany's interior minister plans to host an EU summit to push for stricter rules for the bloc's asylum system in Bavaria on 18 July, a ministry spokesperson said, as the new government seeks to deliver on a campaign pledge (13:46). In Spain, more than 35,000 people have signed onto a petition calling on the government to decree a maximum temperature at which people can work outdoors (13:33). And that's all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today. If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at I am also on Bluesky at @ and on X at @jakubkrupa. 6.13pm CEST 18:13 EU and US negotiators will hold final stretch talks through the weekend as Brussels chases a deal before a 9 July deadline to avoid the return of steep tariffs, diplomats said, as reported by AFP. If the European Union does not clinch an agreement with the United States by Wednesday next week, higher levies will snap back in and unleash economic pain on the bloc. During a Friday briefing for member states, a senior EU official told countries there was no deal yet but talks would continue 'likely over the weekend', an EU diplomat told AFP. 5.59pm CEST 17:59 We're now getting a bit more on this developing story with Ukraine saying that a Russian strike hit power line to the plant, causing blackout. 5.47pm CEST 17:47 As we wait to hear from Trump, the International Atomic Energy Agency said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has lost all off-site power today. They said it's the 9th time this happened during 'military conflict,' but added that it's only the first time since late 2023. 'The ZNPP currently relies on power from its emergency diesel generators, underlining extremely precarious nuclear safety situation,' it added. AFP noted that the power plant's six reactors are all shut down but the plant requires power to its cooling systems for safety. Updated at 5.54pm CEST 5.19pm CEST 17:19 Ajit Niranjan European capitals scorched by extreme heat this week – such as Berlin, Paris and Madrid – can expect to see twice as many heatwave days by the end of the century, a new analysis from Climate Analytics has found, unless faster action is taken to reduce fossil fuel pollution. Current climate policies are projected to heat the planet by about 2-3C by the end of the century, a level of warming that will translate into a catastrophic worsening of weather extremes. The analysis found annual heatwave days are set to more than double by the end of the century in Paris (to 41 days) and Berlin (to 48 days). In Madrid, they are on track to almost triple (to 57 days). Athens and Rome could expect to see 58 and 61 heatwave days, Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, said it was important that people understood the dangers of overshooting 1.5C of global warming – the level world leaders agreed to aim for by 2100 at a climate conference in Paris 10 years ago – and that they redoubled efforts to cut pollution if it was breached. 'It's doubly disappointing in the same week that European citizens have been losing loved ones to unmanageable heat, that the EU has watered down its own 2040 climate target,' he said. On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed cutting planet-heating pollution by 90% by 2040 but - in a bid to win over reluctant member states - allowed the limited purchase of foreign carbon credits to offset slow action at home. The proposal fell short of recommendations from the EU's own climate science advisors, who had called for a 90-90% target without the use of offsets. 'We need European leadership on this issue now more than ever,' said Hare. 'Watering down commitments is completely the wrong move at the wrong time.' 4.48pm CEST 16:48 Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo The number of people injured in a massive gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome on Friday has risen to 45, with two in a critical condition. Among the wounded are police officers, firefighters and emergency workers who had responded to an earlier, smaller blast triggered when a truck struck a gas pipe. The second explosion, which occurred in the northeast of the capital, was powerful enough to be heard across the city, sending a wave of panic through neighbourhoods. A thick column of smoke was visible from many areas of Rome. The injured were taken to nine hospitals across the city. They include local residents hurt by flying shards from shattered windows. Medical officials said six people were in a 'code red' condition, with two on life support. The critically injured pair suffered burns over 55% and 25% of their bodies, along with inhalation trauma and barotrauma – injuries caused by the force of the air displacement from the blast. Of the 45 injured, 24 are civilians, 12 are police officers, six are firefighters and three are emergency services personnel. Fabio Balzani, who manages a nearby summer camp, told state agency Ansa it was fortunate the explosion happened early in the day. 'It would have been a massacre if the usual 60 children and 120 pool guests had been there,' he said. Early-morning staff and the first children to arrive were evacuated after the initial gas smell was detected. Environmental campaign group Legambiente called for fewer petrol and gas stations in urban areas, warning that extreme summer heat raises the risk of such incidents. Taxpayers' association Federcontribuenti added that 'the facility should not have been placed in that location'. Health authorities issued warnings about the dangers of exposure to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). 'LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, if inhaled in high concentrations can cause nausea, dizziness, neurological issues, loss of consciousness and, in the most severe cases, asphyxiation,' said the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA). 'Direct contact with the cryogenic liquid can also result in cold burns and serious skin damage.' Local residents were advised to keep windows shut as fumes and ash from the blaze continued to spread through the area. 4.43pm CEST 16:43 Jakub Krupa As we wait to hear from Trump on his call with Zelenskyy, let me bring you updates on that gas explosion in Rome earlier today and on the European heatwave. 4.28pm CEST 16:28 Ukrainian president said he spoke with US president Donald Trump about the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defence amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. In a brief note about their call, published on Telegram, he said the US president was 'very well informed' about the situation in Ukraine, as the pair discussed 'the possibilities of air defence and agreed that we will work on increasing the protection in the sky.' He said they agreed to hold a separate meeting between their teams on this issue. Zelenskyy added that they also talked about the opportunities for joint arms production, saying 'we are ready for direct projects with America,' as well as potential other joint purchases and investments. The Ukrainian president also passed his best wishes on the US Independence Day, thanking for the US support so far. 'We have done a lot together with America and support all efforts to stop the killings and restore a normal, stable, dignified peace. A decent agreement is needed for peace, and Ukraine supports American proposals,' he said. Updated at 4.30pm CEST 4.10pm CEST 16:10 Jakub Krupa If and when we hear from Trump or Zelenskyy, I will bring you their comments here immediately. 3.48pm CEST 15:48 Andriy Yermak, the most senior aide to Ukrainian president , said in a brief social media update that the call with Trump was 'a very important and meaningful conversation between the presidents.' 'All details will be available very soon,' he added. 3.43pm CEST 15:43 Meanwhile, German magazine Spiegel reports that German chancellor Friedrich Merz also spoke with US president Donald Trump, discussing the situation in Ukraine and EU-US trade. Spiegel reported that Trump made no commitments during the call, with Germany reportedly calling for more support for Ukraine on air defence. Updated at 3.46pm CEST 2.56pm CEST 14:56 Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, killing one person, injuring at least 23 and damaging buildings across the capital hours after US president Donald Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday. Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles. Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre. Kyiv's military administration chief said on Friday afternoon a body had been found in the wreckage of one of the strike sites. Updated at 3.06pm CEST 2.23pm CEST 14:23 Jakub Krupa That brings you up to date on most important things happening in Europe today. Let's go back to Ukraine, as we wait more details on that much anticipated Trump-Zelenskyy call. Updated at 2.24pm CEST 2.21pm CEST 14:21 A strike by French air traffic controllers entered its second day, leaving many passengers stranded at the start of Europe's peak travel season, Reuters reported. Civil aviation agency DGAC told airlines to cancel 40% of flights at the three main Paris airports because of the strike, which the air traffic controllers say is over staff shortages and ageing equipment. Up to half of flights at France's other airports, mostly in the south, were also affected, DGAC added. The Airlines for Europe (A4E) lobby group said late on Thursday that 1,500 flights had been cancelled over the two-day strike, affecting 300,000 passengers and causing cascading delays. 2.08pm CEST 14:08 Finland's president Alexander Stubb approved the country's withdrawal from a treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing a 'deteriorated security situation' and longer-term threat from Russia, AFP reported. Finnish lawmakers voted to leave the anti-landmine Ottawa Convention in June but the decision needed to be signed by the president. 'Finland is not facing an immediate military threat, but the changes in the operating environment require that we strengthen our defence,' Stubb said in a statement. 'We have a long border with Russia, which is not a party to the Ottawa Agreement. We have seen how Russia wages war today.' AFP noted that Finland's decision will come into effect six months after the country formally notifies the United Nations. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as Poland, also plan to exit the treaty.