Pakistan on Friday declared what it described as an “open war” against Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities following a sharp escalation in cross-border fighting that has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. The announcement came as reports of explosions and heavy gunfire emerged from Kabul and Kandahar, underscoring the deteriorating security situation along the frontier. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad’s patience had been exhausted after months of mou

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Thursday that it will not permit the Pentagon unrestricted access to its technology, pushing back against pressure from US officials who warned of possible action under the Defense Production Act. The dispute highlights growing tensions between private AI developers and the US government over how advanced systems should be deployed in military and intelligence operations. According to the company, the Pentagon had given Anthropic a d

Eight months after a four-year-old girl was found dead in a swimming pool at a Miami rental property, authorities have released the 911 call placed by her mother, bringing renewed attention to a case that continues to move through the Florida court system. The recording, made public this week, offers new insight into the moments following the child’s death and comes as prosecutors prepare for upcoming court proceedings scheduled for May. Dr. Neha Gupta, 37, an Oklahoma-based pedia

The oldest Quaker meeting house west of Iowa is marking its 140th anniversary with a renewed focus on accessibility, launching a fundraising campaign to modernize the historic property while preserving its architectural heritage. The San Jose meeting house, a longstanding landmark in local and California history, is working to bring its facilities into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as part of a broader commitment to inclusivity and community outreach. The

India has made two significant changes to their squad ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe. With a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, the Men in Blue have included Sanju Samson and Axar Patel in the playing XI, replacing Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar. Samson will take on wicketkeeping duties for India, while Axar Patel will bring his all-round capabilities to the side. India’s entry into the Super 8 was marred by a defeat to South Africa on Sunday

In a historic move for Maharashtra politics, Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, was unanimously elected as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The decision came at the party's national executive meeting, held on Thursday, where senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and formally proposed her name. The proposal was met with overwhelming support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention, officially marking Sunetra Paw

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Ohio lawmakers are advancing new leg

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 climbed to another record high on Thursday, extending its streak of gains as investor enthusiasm around the so-called Takaichi trade continued to fuel buying in domestic equities. The index rose 1.1 percent to close at an all-time high of 59,199.31, marking its third consecutive session of record finishes. The broader Topix index also advanced 1.45 percent, reaching a fresh peak as market sentiment remained buoyant. The rally in Japan stocks has been c

Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu received an enthusiastic welcome as she returned to the Bay Area this week, marking a celebratory homecoming for the Oakland native following her latest international triumph. The 20-year-old figure skating champion landed at San Francisco International Airport late Monday night after a lengthy trip from Italy, where she recently secured her gold medal performance. Fans gathered at the arrival gate to greet Liu with cheers and applause, underscoring t

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a standing ovation in Israel’s parliament on Wednesday as he delivered a historic address to the Knesset, becoming the first Indian prime minister to speak before the Israeli legislature. Lawmakers rose to their feet and chanted his name as Modi began his remarks by conveying greetings from 1.4 billion Indians. In his speech, the prime minister strongly condemned terrorism and reiterated India’s firm policy of zero tolerance toward ex

On the birth anniversary of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala, once a prominent leader in the AIADMK, officially launched her new political party and unveiled its flag. The flag, designed with the images of iconic leaders C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran (MGR), and Jayalalithaa, marks a significant step in her attempt to reclaim political relevance in Tamil Nadu. The new party, which Sasikala promises will follow in the footsteps of these Dravidian leaders, is positioned as

Waymo has officially launched its driverless taxi service in Dallas, marking another major step in the company’s nationwide expansion of autonomous ride-hailing. The service is currently available to a limited group of riders who joined the app’s waitlist, with a broader public rollout expected later this year. The move has generated both enthusiasm about the future of transportation and renewed debate about the safety of autonomous vehicles. Company officials said early access

Meta has announced a significant multiyear agreement with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to accelerate its artificial intelligence expansion, marking another major investment in computing infrastructure just days after committing to large-scale purchases of Nvidia processors. The social media giant said Tuesday that the deal will involve deploying up to 6 gigawatts of AMD’s graphics processing units across its AI data centers, along with AI-optimized central processing units designed to suppo

Satellite imagery and open-source flight tracking data indicate that the United States has significantly expanded its military presence across Europe and the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensify over Tehran’s nuclear programme. More than 150 American military aircraft have reportedly been repositioned to forward operating bases in what analysts describe as one of the largest regional force deployments in over two decades. The aircraft include heavy cargo planes, aerial refuelling tanker

In a heated discussion in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged ghee adulteration in Tirumala Laddus. Kalyan emphasized that while he did not directly blame the previous Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for the adulteration, the responsibility lies with the TTD governing body and its allocated board. Kalyan clarified that he never accused Jagan personally of being behind the adulteration. Howev

India's T20 World Cup 2026 journey has hit a rough patch after a heavy 76-run loss to South Africa in their Super 8 opener. While the team’s future in the tournament remains uncertain, their coach, Gautam Gambhir, is now under intense scrutiny for his handling of key decisions. Critics, including 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth, have raised concerns about Gambhir's strategies, particularly his team selection choices. Srikkanth expressed doubts over Gambhir’s role,

Team India’s path to the T20 World Cup semifinals is now entirely dependent on their ability to turn around their Net Run Rate (NRR) following a crushing defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener. With India sitting in third place in Group 1 and a dismal NRR of -3.800, the equation for qualification has become clear: India must beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs or more when the two teams meet in Chennai on February 26. After a strong start to the tournament, including an impressive v

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the top seed at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, had to dig deep before overcoming Zhang Zhizhen in the first round. Despite having six match points, the Canadian finally clinched a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory. Auger-Aliassime admitted that he lost count of the match points, as the frustration built up. "Having match points is the position you want to be in as a player, but it's weird how the mind plays a trick on you," Auger-Aliassime said. "It's much further for me from losing