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.

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.

New global tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump have officially taken effect at a rate of 10%, lower than the higher levels previously indicated.

Following a ruling by the US Supreme Court that blocked several of his broader import tax measures, Trump initially announced plans for a 10% global tariff before later signalling an increase to 15%.

However, official documentation confirms that the tariffs were implemented at the 10% rate from Tuesday, with no formal directive yet issued to raise them further. The White House is reportedly working on updating the rate to reflect the proposed 15%, though no timeline has been confirmed.

The move follows Friday’s executive order introducing the temporary tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. This provision allows the president to impose import duties for up to 150 days without requiring approval from Congress.

The administration stated the measure aims to address international payment imbalances and strengthen trade conditions for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers.

Trump has consistently argued that tariffs are essential to narrowing the US trade deficit — the gap between imports and exports. Despite these efforts, the deficit widened by 2.1% last year, reaching approximately $1.2 trillion.

The ruling from the Supreme Court also centred on the president’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which had previously enabled the administration to collect at least $130bn in tariffs.

Legal and business responses are now emerging. Logistics giant FedEx has filed a lawsuit seeking a full refund of import taxes paid under IEEPA, while advocacy group We Pay The Tariffs says it represents more than 900 American companies requesting swift reimbursement.

While some analysts warn that shifting tariff policies could heighten global trade tensions, administration officials have indicated that the measures are designed to recalibrate trade relationships in a way that supports domestic economic priorities.