The Taliban launched an attack on the capital of the western Afghan province of Farah, briefly overrunning the city.

At least 25 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the attack on Tuesday.

Afghan provincial official Fared Bakhtawer said "security checkpoints around the city have collapsed into the hands of the Taliban, causing high casualties among security forces."

Though the Taliban have now left the city, a spokesperson said that “without any disturbance, the mujahideen withdrew to their safe positions,” according to Reuters. Afghan security officials claimed to have killed hundreds of fighters.

Turkey’s government ordered Israeli ambassador, Etan Naeh to leave the country in response to Israel’s killing of Palestinian protestors in the Gaza strip yesterday.

The ambassador was told by Turkey’s foreign minister that it would be “appropriate” if he returned to Israel “for a while” reports the Washington Post.

Israel responded by asking Turkey’s ambassador to Israel to also return to Turkey.

On June 20^th war crimes judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will discuss whether to launch investigation into the forced exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. The decision was made after chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, asked the court whether deportations could be investigated as a crime against humanity.

"The chamber convenes a status conference on 20 June 2018, to be held in closed session, only in the presence of the prosecutor," ruled Judge Peter Kovacs on Friday.

Catalan parliament has completed negotiations within parties to allow for the selection of a pro-independence candidate to assume presidency of Catalan parliament and end the emergency direct rule imposed by Madrid.

The Catalan regional parliament is set to elect Quim Torra with a simple majority after the far left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (cup) agreed to not block the vote.  

Mr Torra was handpicked by the exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who faces jail on rebellion charges if he returns to Spain from Germany.

In the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since 2014, 55 protestors were killed with over 2,700 injured by live gunfire reports Reuters.

The Palestinian Authority said that at least 1,100 of those injuries were lower limb gunshot wounds.

Thousands of Palestinians protested at the border between Gaza and Israel to mark Israel’s 70^th anniversary.  As the protests swelled, Israeli forces opened fire and sprayed tear gas.

Myanmar’s troops and government aligned paramilitaries have clashed with fighters from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army in the north of the country, leaving at least 15 people dead.

“Fighting took place since 5am this morning at three places: two military bases in Muse and one near a bridge on the way to Lashio town,” TNLA spokesman Major Mai Aik Kyaw told AFP.

Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stated that the Libyan government has yet to arrest and surrender Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli – a Major in the Libyan National Army who was charged with committing war crimes.

“ICC suspects who are indicted with charges of grave crimes under the Rome Statute cannot be sheltered or given refuge. They must be apprehended and face justice before the Court so that their guilt or innocence can be established,” stated Bensouda in her brief to the UN Security Council.

Sweden’s Défense Minister Peter Hultqvist on Wednesday reiterated his government’s commitment to training and supporting Kurdish Peshmerga forces, reports Kurdistan24.net.

“We have a training mission in Iraq – in Erbil. We have worked there together with the Peshmerga for a long time. We have a good experience of that and we thing its very important for Sweden to be a partner in the coalition against Da’esh. There is no change in our support to the mission. That’s the bottom line for the Kurdish people. We’re here to help.”

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont announced his decision to renounce leadership of Catalonia on Wednesday.

Speaking from hi self-exile in Berlin, Mr Puigdemont, pointed to Catalan lawmaker Quim Torra as a strong candidate to take on the role of regional president.

UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa stated that the escalating violence in Gaza is exacerbating child suffering.

According to UNICEF, five children were killed and hundreds injured during peaceful protests along the Israeli border. In addition, many children exhibit signs of distress and trauma. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, ordered the Israeli Security Forces to stop the use of "lethal force against unarmed demonstrators."

In addition, electricity cuts and fuel shortages in Gaza have further deepened concerns – as nine out of 10 families do not have access to potable water.