Pakistan’s military launched intelligence-based strikes on seven militant camps and hideouts along the Afghanistan border, targeting groups it blames for recent deadly suicide attacks and bombings inside Pakistan. The strikes, described as a “retributive response,” follow a surge of violence attributed to Afghanistan-based factions of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State affiliates and were confirmed by Pakistan’s Information Minister. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban authorities of failing to prevent militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks, further straining ties between the neighboring countries. Afghanistan reported dozens of deaths and civilian casualties amid the operation. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump has increased the temporary global tariff from 10% to 15%, hours after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier import duties. He used Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days. “I… will be effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff… to the fully allowed… 15% level,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said many countries had been “ripping” off the US for decades. The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Trump had exceeded his powers under a 1977 emergency law. Trump said new “legally permissible” tariffs will be introduced during the 150-day period. (PC: India Today)

A new report says the Pentagon has prepared several options for President Donald Trump if nuclear talks with Iran collapse. One option includes a possible strike targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, according to Axios. “They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the ayatollah and his son,” a Trump adviser was quoted as saying. US officials said Trump is ready to accept a deal if Iran proves its nuclear programme will stay peaceful. “If the Iranians want to prevent an attack, they should give us an offer we can’t refuse,” a senior official said. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has introduced a new 10% global tariff after the Supreme Court struck down most of his earlier import taxes. In a 6–3 ruling, the court said he had exceeded his powers under a 1977 emergency law. Calling the decision “terrible”, Trump criticised the justices who ruled against him. “We have alternatives – great alternatives,” he said at the White House. He signed the new tariff order under Section 122 of the Trade Act, which allows temporary duties for 150 days. The earlier tariffs had been challenged by businesses and states. The ruling could open the way for refund claims. (PC: BBC)

The UK government is considering a new law to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession over his past links to Jeffrey Epstein. Defence Minister Luke Pollard said it was the “right thing to do,” but added that any step should follow the police investigation. Andrew was recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation. He denies all wrongdoing. He had earlier stepped back from public duties after criticism over his ties to Epstein. Any change to the line of succession would need approval from Parliament and support from Commonwealth countries. (PC: BBC)

Two improvised explosive devices were found in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir as agencies warned of a possible Lashkar-e-Taiba plot targeting Delhi. Officials have not linked the recoveries to the alert, but security remains tight.   In Punjab, an IED was found in a bag near a police post in Amritsar. “A suspicious bag was spotted… the bomb disposal squad confirmed it as an IED and diffused it,” SSP Sohail Qasim Mir said. Another IED was detected in Ganderbal’s Safapora area in Kashmir and defused by the army’s bomb squad and J&K Police. Security has been stepped up across Delhi. (PC: India Today)

Punch-kun, the young Japanese macaque who recently won hearts after being accepted by his troop at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, has now made another adorable breakthrough. After overcoming early rejection and slowly bonding with adult members of the group, Punch has formed a playful connection with another juvenile macaque. Zoo officials shared that the pair were seen grooming, chasing, and sitting closely together — positive signs of social bonding in macaque communities. The new friendship marks another step in Punch’s emotional development and integration, delighting animal lovers worldwide who continue to follow his heartwarming journey.

In Bannu District of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a suicide attack during an intelligence-based military operation left two Pakistani soldiers dead and five militants killed, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. The casualties included Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, who were killed after their security convoy was targeted by militants called Fitna al-Khwarij, a term used by authorities for alleged Indian-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters. Troops intercepted a vehicle-borne suicide bomber, averting a larger civilian tragedy, but militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the lead convoy, triggering intense combat. The clash highlights ongoing security challenges in northwest Pakistan’s militant-affected regions. (PC: Dawn)

At Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque named Punch-kun has captured global attention after being embraced by his monkey troop following an emotionally difficult start. Born in July 2025, Punch was abandoned by his mother and initially rejected by other macaques, leading staff to care for him using a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. Zookeepers slowly reintroduced him to the group, and recent viral footage shows an adult monkey hugging and grooming Punch — a key sign of acceptance and social bonding among primates. The touching moment has delighted viewers worldwide.

Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, has sparked controversy by asserting that **Israel has a “biblical right” to territory stretching from the Euphrates to the Nile, citing the Old Testament promise to Abraham’s descendants during an interview with Tucker Carlson. Huckabee said it “would be fine if they took it all,” though he later clarified that Israel currently seeks only to live in peace and secure areas where its people reside. Critics say his remarks reflect strong evangelical support and downplay Palestinian rights, raising international concerns over U.S. Middle East policy.