US Supreme Court blocks Trump bid to end birthright citizenship

The US Supreme Court has ruled that children born in the United States are entitled to citizenship under the Constitution, delivering a major setback to Donald Trump, United States president, and his efforts to curb automatic birthright citizenship.

In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said children born in the US to parents who are undocumented or temporarily in the country remain citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment. The ruling rejected Trump’s argument that such children are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore should not qualify for citizenship.

The court reaffirmed that the amendment, adopted after the Civil War, guarantees citizenship to virtually everyone born on US soil. Trump criticised the ruling, calling it “too bad” and urged Congress to pursue legislation to end the policy instead. Civil rights groups welcomed the decision as a victory for constitutional protections and immigrant families.

US Supreme Court upholds bans on transgender women in female school sports

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states can prohibit transgender women from competing in female school and college sports, upholding laws enacted by Idaho and West Virginia.

All nine justices agreed that the state laws do not violate Title IX, the federal civil rights law banning sex-based discrimination in education. However, the court split 6-3 over whether the restrictions breach the Constitution’s equal protection clause, with the conservative majority finding they do not.

Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said neither the Constitution nor Title IX requires states to restructure women’s and girls’ sports. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a partial dissent, argued the ruling weakens equal protection guarantees. The decision is expected to reinforce similar laws already adopted in more than two dozen US states.

Roof collapse at Pakistan tuition centre kills 14 children

At least 14 children have been killed after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in the Kahna suburb of Lahore, Pakistan, trapping pupils beneath the debris.

Emergency responders said most of the victims were between seven and 11 years old, while five others were injured. Rescue teams completed operations within an hour of receiving the distress call.

Authorities have launched an investigation and detained two people as part of the initial inquiry. Witnesses alleged the building’s roof had been in poor condition and was undergoing repairs while classes continued, raising concerns about negligence. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed condolences and ordered support for the victims’ families.

US envoys meet Qatar mediators as direct Iran talks remain off the table

Senior US officials have travelled to Doha for discussions with Qatari mediators on the future of negotiations with Iran, but no direct meetings with Iranian representatives are planned, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are holding consultations with mediators following a fragile ceasefire that ended four days of fighting linked to tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and Iran are working under a Pakistan- and Qatar-brokered framework that halted hostilities and reopened the vital shipping route. The agreement gives both sides 60 days to negotiate a broader settlement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent truce. Mediators say initial discussions in Switzerland made encouraging progress despite continuing political differences.

One dead as fierce wildfire forces evacuations in northern Greece

A fast-moving wildfire has claimed one life in northern Greece, prompting the evacuation of residents as firefighters battled difficult conditions near the city of Thessaloniki.
The victim’s body was found in a burnt area near the village of Liti, while a woman suffered burns after attempting to extinguish the flames. More than 100 firefighters, supported by dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft, were deployed to tackle the blaze.

Strong winds and dry weather fuelled the fire, creating repeated flare-ups and a wall of flames stretching several kilometres. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the wildfire, which is one of several fires affecting Greece as the country enters its peak summer and tourist season.

AFRICA

Thousands march against undocumented migrants in South Africa

Thousands of demonstrators have marched across South Africa demanding the removal of undocumented migrants, prompting a heavy security deployment amid fears of violence.

Police, supported by private security personnel and the military in parts of Johannesburg and Durban, monitored protests organised by anti-migrant groups that had issued a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.

Authorities said the demonstrations were largely peaceful despite isolated incidents of looting and violence. Three additional arrests were made in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow district after two people were injured. Police also said around 25,000 undocumented migrants have been repatriated, while many others have fled communities fearing intimidation and attacks.

Ghana floods kill 13 as authorities warn of more heavy rain

At least 13 people have died after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, with officials warning that the death toll could rise.

The Ghana National Fire Service said rescue teams have saved more than 470 people as floodwaters submerged homes, stranded vehicles and damaged buildings in several low-lying communities.

The government has urged residents to remain indoors or move to higher ground as meteorologists forecast another major storm approaching from the east. Emergency personnel from the military, police, fire service and disaster management agency remain on the ground, while the flooding also sparked a major fire at a rubber factory in the capital.

Senegal parliament backs reforms to curb presidential powers

Senegal’s National Assembly has approved constitutional reforms that would strengthen parliamentary oversight while reducing some presidential powers, deepening political tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and parliamentary Speaker Ousmane Sonko.

The reforms, passed by a commanding majority after heated debate, expand lawmakers’ investigative powers and require the government to disclose agreements involving the country’s natural resources.

The legislation follows the collapse of the alliance between Faye and Sonko, who rose to power together in 2024 before a bitter political split. Sonko was dismissed as prime minister in May but later became speaker of parliament after being elected by lawmakers. The government says the reforms will be submitted to a national referendum.

UN warns Ebola outbreak could cost Africa $3.6bn

The United Nations has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could inflict economic losses of up to $3.6 billion and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs if the virus continues to spread.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, has infected 1,307 people and killed 377 in the Democratic Republic of Congo since it was declared in May.

Smaller numbers of cases have also been reported in Uganda, while health experts fear the disease could spread to neighbouring countries, including South Sudan. The UN cautioned that the outbreak could trigger a broader development crisis if containment efforts are not intensified.

DR Congo signs diamond processing and marketing deal with Swiss firm

Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a partnership with Switzerland-based technology company ADEX Platform aimed at transforming how the country’s diamonds are processed and sold internationally.

The agreement, signed by the state-run Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN) and ADEX, will establish a 50-50 joint venture known as ADEX RDC S.A. The venture plans to build an international-standard diamond cutting and jewellery facility in Congo while launching a digital platform to connect Congolese diamonds directly with global buyers.

The government says the project is designed to improve transparency, curb smuggling and increase local value addition in one of Africa’s largest diamond-producing countries.

Despite its vast mineral wealth, Congo has experienced falling diamond production and persistent illicit exports, with most of its output still coming from artisanal mining.