Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 29th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Over 1 million Afghan refugees return home amid UN warnings
More than 1 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since January, with around 600,000 coming from Iran and nearly 282,000 from Pakistan. The Afghan interim government is urging returnees to help rebuild the war-damaged country, but the UN warns of urgent humanitarian needs for food, shelter, and employment.
2. Uzbekistan’s gold exports surge by 54.8 percent
Uzbekistan’s gold exports rose by 54.8 percent in the first five months of 2025, reaching 6.49 billion U.S. dollars. The precious metal now accounts for 43.8 percent of the country’s total exports. Officials say the growth reflects strong international demand, even as Uzbekistan works to diversify its export portfolio.
3. Pakistan operation kills 14 militants following deadly convoy blast
A suicide bombing targeting a military convoy in Pakistan’s North Waziristan killed 13 soldiers and injured three civilians. Following the attack, security forces launched an operation that killed 14 militants. The military said sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate remaining threats in the region.
4. UK Business Secretary to hold talks with Lotus over factory future
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet with Lotus after concerns emerged about the future of its Hethel plant in Norfolk. Lotus, owned by China’s Geely, denied plans to close the factory, calling the UK its largest European market. The company said it is exploring options to enhance efficiency and global competitiveness.
5. Russia-North Korea cultural ties reach "unprecedented heights"
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a 125-member delegation, declaring cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever. The visit includes concerts and lectures, and comes amid deepening political and military cooperation between the two countries.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for peace talks with Iran, as Tehran’s renewed claim that it had blocked the Strait of...
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Mazen Torki Saud Al-Qadi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan, on 21 J...
Fuel stations in Russian-controlled Crimea stopped selling fuel to individuals and businesses from 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the Russian-install...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the violent attacks in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday, which left five men injured, were motivated by "an...
Britain's Observer newspaper reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and outline a timetable for his departure. ...
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has met Norway’s newly appointed special envoy for Afghanistan, Bjørn Hansen, to discuss political and regional issues, the Foreign Ministry said.
Representatives from the diplomatic community, the United Nations and international organisations gathered in Kabul on Wednesday ahead of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), set to take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
At least nine children and a woman were killed after Pakistani forces bombed the home of a local resident in Afghanistan's Khost province, Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday (25 November).
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
Morocco captain and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France after an appeals court ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, but the celebrations were tempered by a costly red card for veteran forward Miguel Almirón.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for peace talks with Iran, as Tehran’s renewed claim that it had blocked the Strait of Hormuz threatened to overshadow efforts to advance a tentative deal to end the war.
Fuel stations in Russian-controlled Crimea stopped selling fuel to individuals and businesses from 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the Russian-installed governor said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the violent attacks in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday, which left five men injured, were motivated by "anti-Muslim hatred".
Britain's Observer newspaper reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and outline a timetable for his departure.
Thousands gathered in Novi Sad, Serbia, to commemorate the deaths of 16 people in the 2024 railway station awning collapse and renew calls for snap elections.
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