Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has declared an “open war” against Afghanistan’s Taliban government, saying Islamabad’s “patience has reached its limit” after renewed cross-border attacks and deadly clashes. Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, responding to what it calls unprovoked Afghan firing on its forces along the Durand Line. Both sides report heavy casualties and destruction of military posts, with conflicting casualty numbers. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering militant groups, while Kabul denies this. The escalation marks a major deterioration in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, raising fears of broader regional instability. (PC: AFP)

President Donald Trump warned Congress that Iran is developing missiles capable of striking the United States, but three intelligence sources citing Defense Intelligence Agency assessments project no operational ICBM before 2035, even with Chinese or North Korean assistance. US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva hit an impasse, with Washington demanding zero enrichment and uranium transfer while Tehran maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful. Indirect talks yielded a "positive response" mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister, who will next meet VP JD Vance in Washington. Technical talks continue in Vienna at IAEA headquarters. The US has imposed fresh sanctions while not ruling out military action. Iran has reportedly capped its missile range at 2,000 kilometres.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" against Afghanistan's Taliban government following intense airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Pakistan described its military campaign, "Operation Ghazab Lil Haq," as a response to Afghan cross-border attacks on Pakistani border troops. AFP journalists reported explosions and gunfire lasting over two hours above Kabul and Kandahar. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistani strikes but denied casualties. Afghanistan maintained its cross-border operations were retaliatory. President Asif Ali Zardari vowed Pakistan's response would be "comprehensive and decisive." Civilian areas near the Torkham crossing were also hit, wounding refugees and forcing evacuations. Both nations continue issuing sharply conflicting casualty figures.

A major military escalation has erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with both nations claiming significant battlefield gains and heavy casualties. Pakistan Air Force jets struck targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Paktia, with Islamabad claiming 133 Afghan Taliban and TTP fighters eliminated, 27 Taliban posts destroyed and 80 artillery tanks neutralised under "Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq." Pakistan also claimed destruction of two Afghan corps headquarters and multiple brigade installations. Afghanistan's Taliban countered, claiming 55 Pakistani personnel killed, 17 taken hostage, two Frontier Corps headquarters destroyed and 19 outposts captured. Both governments have issued sharply conflicting accounts of the confrontation, described as one of the most intense episodes of cross-border fighting in recent years along the disputed Durand Line. (PC: X)

The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington is displaying a reconstruction of YouTube's original 2005 watchpage, built using internet archives from December 2006. The museum has also acquired Me at the Zoo, the very first video uploaded to YouTube by co-founder Jawed Karim in April 2005. The 19-second clip, filmed on a digital camera, has amassed nearly 380 million views and 18 million likes. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan called it "the beginning of a global cultural phenomenon." Senior curator Corinna Gardner described the acquisition as an "important moment in internet history." A mini display at V&A East Storehouse will further explore the reconstruction process. Previous digital acquisitions include WeChat and Flappy Bird. (PC: BBC)

The Pakistan Air Force launched airstrikes inside Kabul and other Afghan provinces, killing over 130 Taliban fighters in what Islamabad called retaliatory action following alleged cross-border attacks by Afghan forces. Pakistan’s information minister described the operation, part of broader Operation Ghazab lil Haq, as a decisive response to “unprovoked aggression,” targeting Taliban military installations in Kandahar and Paktia and destroying multiple posts and depots. Afghan officials condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty, with Kabul claiming civilian casualties. Tensions along the Durand Line have sharply increased, raising fears of a broader confrontation between the neighbours.

Afghanistan launched a large-scale retaliatory offensive against Pakistan along the disputed Durand Line on Thursday, following Islamabad's airstrikes on Afghan territory on February 22. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed coordinated artillery and infantry attacks targeting Pakistani military checkposts, with Afghan forces reportedly capturing at least 15 Pakistani checkposts across Goshta, Nangarhar, and Kunar provinces. At least nine Pakistani troops were severely wounded. Heavy fighting continues across Mohmand, Chitral, and Kurram districts. Pakistan called Afghanistan's strikes "unprovoked" and claimed to be responding immediately. The Taliban's Ministry of Defence condemned Pakistan's actions as a breach of international law, while Pakistan maintained it had conclusive evidence linking terror attacks to militants operating from Afghan soil.

The United States has deployed F-22 Raptor stealth jets to Israel for the first time, amid escalating tensions with Iran over its nuclear programme. Around a dozen aircraft departed from RAF Lakenheath in England, with flight tracking data and plane spotters confirming movements over the Mediterranean. US officials confirmed some jets had already arrived in Israel while others were en route. The deployment adds to an already significant American military buildup in the Middle East, including two aircraft carrier strike groups and over 60 fighter jets stationed in Jordan. The jets arrived two days before US-Iran nuclear negotiations resumed in Geneva, Switzerland, with Oman mediating. Further technical discussions are expected next week in Vienna. (PC: Reuters)

Europe's royal landscape is transforming as a generation of Gen-Z princesses prepares to ascend their thrones, driven by gender-neutral succession laws adopted across multiple nations. Absolute primogeniture where the firstborn inherits regardless of gender has replaced male-preference systems, with Sweden pioneering the reform in 1980. Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Leonor of Spain, Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, and Estelle of Sweden are all positioned to become their nations' future queens. These young royals are internationally educated, socially progressive, and environmentally conscious. Belgium adopted gender-neutral succession in 1991, Netherlands in 1983, and Norway in 1990, collectively reshaping centuries-old monarchical traditions across the continent. (PC: NDTV)

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has officially approved the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, instructing Transport for London to remove all traffic between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street by September. The decision follows two public consultations, with a majority supporting the plans. The stretch will be closed to private vehicles, buses, taxis, cycles and scooters, with service vehicles permitted only between midnight and 7am. Buses will be rerouted along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place. New pedestrian crossings, cycle routes, taxi ranks and blue-badge parking bays will be introduced. Oxford Street contributes an estimated £25 billion annually to London's economy. Khan aims to position it alongside Paris and New York as a global leisure destination. (PC: BBC)