A sharp escalation in hostilities has pushed relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan into a dangerous new phase, with Pakistan’s defence minister stating the country is now in what he described as an “open war” following a series of cross-border strikes.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif made the declaration after Islamabad launched airstrikes targeting locations in Kabul as part of a broader military response.

The strikes came shortly after the Taliban announced a major offensive against Pakistani military posts along the border late on Thursday night.

The renewed clashes mark the most serious deterioration in relations since the fragile ceasefire agreed in October. Previous negotiations aimed at ending hostilities broke down last year, with both sides accusing each other of failing to engage constructively.

The Taliban said it had initiated what it called a “retaliatory operation” on Thursday evening. Pakistan responded swiftly, accusing Afghan forces of opening unprovoked fire across multiple locations in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Islamabad described its military response as “immediate and effective,” followed by air raids in the early hours of Friday targeting sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika — all near the rugged 2,600km border shared by the two nations.

Pakistan’s military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 22 Afghan military targets were struck, claiming more than 200 Taliban fighters were killed. He also reported the loss of at least 12 Pakistani soldiers.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid disputed those figures, stating that 13 fighters had been killed and 22 injured, while also reporting civilian casualties.

In a brief post later removed from social media, Mujahid said Afghan forces had launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand. Taliban sources indicated these attacks involved drones launched from Afghan territory.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Tarar said the country’s military successfully intercepted Afghan drones targeting Swabi, Nowshera and Abbottabad — the latter home to Pakistan’s military academy.

A tragic tram derailment in Milan has resulted in the loss of one life and left at least 39 others injured, some seriously, following an accident that unfolded in the heart of the northern Italian city.

The crowded tram was operating on the Line 9 route along Viale Vittorio Veneto at approximately 16:00 local time when it suddenly left the tracks and crashed into a nearby building.

Initial reports indicate that the person who died was a pedestrian struck during the derailment, while most of the injured were passengers on board. Emergency services responded rapidly, deploying multiple ambulances and civil protection teams, who have since set up a medical assistance tent at the scene to treat victims.

Passengers described a frightening sequence of events, recalling a loud noise beneath the tram moments before it veered off course, accelerated, and collided with a structure.

One passenger told Italian media the experience felt like an earthquake, explaining that the sudden jolt threw people to the floor.

As the tram came off the tracks, it reportedly struck a traffic light before crashing into the window of a restaurant. A delivery rider waiting at the signal and a pedestrian nearby narrowly avoided injury.

Witnesses in nearby buildings described hearing a powerful impact, with some seeing part of the tram lodged into a shopfront.

Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the derailment, though early media reports suggest the vehicle may have taken a sharp bend too quickly while turning out of Viale Vittorio Veneto.

Giuseppe Sala, the city’s mayor, visited the crash site alongside other officials as investigations began.

Transport operator ATM expressed deep shock over the incident and extended condolences to those affected.

The accident comes as Milan hosts a surge of international visitors attending the globally renowned Milan Fashion Week, adding to the urgency of the emergency response in one of the city’s busiest periods.

The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has resigned months after a dramatic theft involving France’s historic crown jewels.

Her resignation was submitted to President Emmanuel Macron, who reportedly described the move as an act of responsibility amid ongoing scrutiny of the museum’s security systems.

The theft occurred on the morning of 19 October last year, when intruders used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony overlooking the River Seine.

Authorities have arrested four main suspects in connection with the incident. However, the eight stolen pieces — valued at approximately €88m — remain missing.

Among the items taken was a diamond and emerald necklace once gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife. During their escape, the thieves dropped a 19th-century diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, causing damage. The museum has since released images showing the crown to be nearly intact and potentially restorable.

The Louvre, which attracts more than 8.7 million visitors annually and houses masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, has faced increasing attention over its infrastructure.

Shortly after the theft, des Cars acknowledged that the museum’s external CCTV system was outdated. Notably, the only camera monitoring the exterior wall breached during the break-in was not directed toward the balcony used by the suspects.

Security upgrades had been planned, including a proposal to double surveillance coverage, but funding constraints posed challenges for implementation.

A parliamentary inquiry is now examining the circumstances that allowed the theft to occur. A preliminary report has pointed to systemic weaknesses in security arrangements.

In recent weeks, the museum has also confronted additional operational pressures, including a suspected ticket fraud scheme and a water leak — issues that have intensified calls for institutional reform.