At least 14 military personnel, 18 militants and three civilians, including a child, were killed in a series of coordinated attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to military and police officials. The violence, which involved two bomb explosions and a subsequent gunfight near a security checkpoint, also left at least 12 people injured. Security officials said the deadliest incident occurred near a military check post in Bajaur district on Monday when militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a wall close to the facility. The powerful blast killed 11 members of the security forces and a young girl who was nearby at the time of the explosion. Authorities described the attack as a deliberate attempt to breach the checkpoint’s defenses. In a statement issued Tuesday, the military’s media wing said troops responded swiftly after the blast. According to the statement, security personnel engaged the attackers who attempted to flee the scene. The military reported that 12 militants were killed during the follow-up operation, crediting what it called a “vigilant and resolute response” by troops on the ground. Officials maintained that the attackers’ plan to overrun the check post was successfully thwarted. In a separate operation in Shangla district, police confirmed that three security personnel and three militants were killed during what was described as a search-and-rescue mission. Authorities said the militants involved in that encounter had been linked to plots targeting Chinese nationals working in the region, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety of foreign workers in Pakistan’s sensitive border areas. The latest violence comes amid a broader surge in militant activity across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal regions. Security analysts note that attacks have increased since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Official data indicates that more than 2,400 people were killed in terror-related incidents during the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting a sharp rise in militant violence compared with previous years. Pakistani authorities have blamed the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for many of the recent attacks. The group, whose fighters largely originate from Pakistan’s tribal belt near the Afghan border, has intensified operations against security forces and government targets. Officials say counterterror operations will continue as security agencies attempt to contain the growing threat. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and additional security measures have been reinforced across vulnerable districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Veteran civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential Black political figures in modern American history, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, prompting an outpouring of tributes from political leaders and activists across the globe. He was 84. While the exact cause of death has not been officially confirmed, Jackson had been living for several years with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition that affects movement and speech. Jackson rose to national p

A tragic explosion occurred at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, during Friday prayers, resulting in multiple injuries. The blast took place at the Tarlai Imambargah, located in the Shehzad Town area of Islamabad. Local media reports confirmed the incident, detailing that several people were injured as a result of the explosion. Police and rescue services have swiftly arrived at the scene, initiating rescue operations to assist the victims and prevent further casualties. As investiga

In a significant legal blow to actor Vijay, the Madras High Court has upheld a Rs 1.5 crore tax penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department and dismissed his appeal challenging the levy. The penalty is linked to the alleged non-disclosure of additional income derived from the 2015 film Puli. According to the Income Tax Department, during tax searches conducted in 2015, it was revealed that of Vijay’s total remuneration of around Rs 15 crore, nearly Rs 5 crore was paid in cash and

RALEIGH, N.C. — Drivers across central North Carolina are being urged to use extra caution on area roads as a cold front moves through the region, bringing a mix of snow and rain followed by plunging overnight temperatures. Weather officials warn that conditions late Sunday into early Monday could create patchy black ice, potentially making the morning commute hazardous. The cold front delivered light snow in some areas and primarily rain in others across central North Carolina on

At least seven people were killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion struck Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday, an area widely regarded as one of the Afghan capital’s most secure neighborhoods. The blast hit a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street, close to a restaurant popular with foreign visitors, triggering panic in a locality known for hosting diplomats, business travelers, and international residents. Emergency teams rushed to the scene as smoke and debris filled the street

Iran remained largely cut off from the global internet on Sunday, January 18, as a nationwide communications blackout extended into a tenth consecutive day following a brief and tightly controlled restoration of access. Internet monitoring organizations reported that limited connectivity, which had been temporarily allowed for select online services, was once again curtailed, leaving much of the country isolated amid continuing nationwide unrest. According to NetBlocks, a group that

Several airlines operating from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Qatar suspended flights to Iran on Friday as widespread protests and communication disruptions continued to affect the country, leading to growing uncertainty across the regional aviation sector. The cancellations affected key routes linking major Gulf and Turkish hubs with Iranian cities, underscoring the broader impact of the unrest on international travel. According to information published on the Dubai Airports

Iran remained largely cut off from the global internet on Friday as authorities enforced a nationwide digital blackout while protests continued to spread across the country, intensifying an already volatile political and economic crisis. Internet monitoring data showed that connectivity across Iran had dropped to almost zero for more than 12 hours, severely limiting access to online communication platforms as demonstrators gathered in cities nationwide. According to internet trackin

Iran witnessed a dramatic escalation in nationwide unrest as anti-Khamenei protests intensified following a rallying call by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrations entered their 12th consecutive day, with residents across Tehran and other cities chanting slogans from homes and marching through streets despite heavy restrictions imposed by authorities. Late Thursday, internet connectivity and telephone services were abruptly cut across the country, triggering what monitorin

WASHINGTON — The first day of Kwanzaa was observed in Southeast Washington with a gathering that brought together multiple generations to reflect on culture, history, and community. Nearly 150 people filled two rooms of the Anacostia Community Museum as families assembled to mark the start of the weeklong celebration, which runs from December 26 through January 1. The event centered on storytelling led by Mama Ayo, a longtime cultural educator who has spent decades teaching the pr

AUSTIN, Texas – Authorities are investigating a large overnight fire that erupted at an affordable housing development under construction in Southeast Austin, causing widespread damage and prompting concern among nearby residents. The Austin Fire Department reported that the intensity of the flames forced crews to take a defensive approach, battling the blaze from the outside due to rapidly growing heat and structural instability. The incident occurred at a building site along Sou

Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has strongly defended the Taliban government's right to maintain political and economic relations with India, pushing back against Pakistan’s criticism over Kabul-Delhi engagement. Speaking at a conference in Kabul, Muttaqi dismissed Islamabad's accusations that India supports anti-Pakistan groups, calling them inconsistent and politically motivated. He reminded that Pakistan itself maintains diplomatic presence in New Delhi with act

Houston residents are waking up to a noticeably colder holiday morning as Thanksgiving begins with crisp, seasonable temperatures across the region. Morning lows dipped into the 40s, marking a drop of nearly twenty degrees from last week’s early-morning conditions. The cooler air settled in overnight, giving the city a refreshing start to the holiday, while mostly sunny skies are expected to hold throughout the day. The clear weather should provide an ideal backdrop for gatherings, travel,

Hong Kong is reeling after a catastrophic fire ripped through seven high-rise residential buildings in the Wang Fuk Court estate, killing at least 55 people and leaving hundreds more unaccounted for in one of the city’s worst disasters in decades. The fire began on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly engulfed multiple 31-storey towers undergoing repairs in Tai Po, where bamboo scaffolding and renovation materials helped the flames spread at alarming speed. Firefighters continued battling hotspo

The 91st annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will take place on Thursday, marking the start of a major holiday weekend as visitors and residents prepare for several days of celebrations across the city and surrounding suburbs. The long-running event, known for drawing tens of thousands of spectators, will once again fill the downtown corridor with floats, dancers, marching bands, specialty performers and an array of local and national talent. Organizers expect a strong turnout as families make

Hong Kong authorities have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter following a catastrophic fire that swept through a high-rise housing complex in Tai Po, marking one of the city’s deadliest blazes in a decade. Police confirmed the arrests on Thursday and said a full briefing would be held to outline the early findings of the investigation and the circumstances that led to the rapid spread of the flames. The incident has raised urgent questions about building safety, maintenance pro

Reports claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled or delayed his upcoming India visit due to security concerns after the recent Delhi blast have triggered widespread discussion. However, senior government sources have now clarified that such claims are misleading and factually incorrect. The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu, initially expected later this year, is unlikely to take place in 2025, but officials emphasize that the decision has no

A routine trip to a scenic mountain destination in China turned into a widely discussed incident after a fire, reportedly caused by a tourist mishandling ceremonial candles and incense, engulfed the Wenchang Pavilion in Jiangsu Province. The fire broke out on November 12 and quickly spread through the three-storey structure, with videos online showing towering flames and dense black smoke rising above Fenghuang Mountain. The dramatic visuals sparked public concern and renewed debate about tou

China is developing the world’s first artificial floating island capable of surviving nuclear blasts and extreme ocean disasters. The massive 78,000-tonne structure, officially known as the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, is designed as a long-term deep-ocean base that can support up to 238 people for four months without fresh supplies. The island will feature a semi-submersible twin-hull design similar in size to the Fujian aircraft carrier and is expected to be o