Afghan forces opened fire on multiple Pakistani military posts along the disputed Durand Line, triggering a fierce two-hour exchange of gunfire between the two sides. Security officials said heavy weapons were used during the clash, raising tensions in an already volatile border region. Pakistan’s military stated it responded “effectively” to what it called unprovoked firing, while Afghan authorities accused Islamabad of earlier aggression. Casualty figures remain unclear, with both sides offering conflicting accounts. The latest confrontation underscores the deepening security crisis between the neighbours, fuelling fears of further escalation and prolonged instability in the region.

A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was defaced with red paint and graffiti. Slogans including “Zionist war criminal”, “Stop the Genocide”, “Free Palestine”, and “Globalise the Intifada” were sprayed on the bronze monument in the early hours of Friday. Metropolitan Police officers arrived within minutes and made an arrest. Heritage wardens cordoned off and began cleaning the statue. Officials condemned the vandalism, noting the landmark has been targeted several times during past protests.

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led authorities say they have launched large-scale offensive attacks against Pakistan’s military positions and installations along the disputed Durand Line border in response to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Kabul claims its forces hit multiple posts and inflicted casualties, while Pakistan insists its troops delivered an “immediate and effective response” and inflicted heavy losses on Afghan fighters. Both sides report conflicting casualty figures and accusations of aggression as tensions soar following repeated exchanges of fire and air operations. The violence marks a significant escalation in the long-running security crisis between the two neighbours.

Pakistani fighter jets carried out air strikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities after Islamabad declared an “open war” against Afghanistan’s Taliban government. The escalation follows days of intense cross-border clashes along the Durand Line. Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts and Taliban positions responsible for attacks on its forces, while the Taliban claims civilian areas were hit and has vowed retaliation. Both sides reported casualties, though numbers remain disputed. The strikes mark one of the most serious flare-ups in recent years, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and prompting international calls for restraint.

Newly obtained FBI memos from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation include unverified but explicit allegations that former President Donald Trump sexually abused a minor in the 1980s—claims omitted from the Department of Justice’s public release of Epstein-related files. The DOJ says it’s reviewing whether documents were improperly withheld under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, amid accusations from Democratic lawmakers that key interview summaries were excluded. The missing pages relate to a 2019 accuser’s multiple FBI interviews. Trump has denied wrongdoing, while critics and members of Congress demand greater transparency over the omissions. (PC: EPA)

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)