International News
Four Police Killed, Six Injured In Pakistan Taliban’s Roadside Bombing
In a devastating attack that shook the city, four police officers including a deputy superintendent were killed by a roadside bomb while trying to defend a police station under siege by Taliban militants in northwest Pakistan.
The incident took place on Thursday morning when heavily-armed TTP fighters launched an attack on a police station in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
According to senior local police official Muhammad Ashfaq, the attack was a “planned act of terrorism”.
He said “deputy superintendent Iqbal Mohmand was known as an “exceptional poet” Who was always the centre of attention during poetic festivals.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Thursday and accused Mohmand of “brutally” killing its fighters. It said there were no TTP casualties.
Tariqullah, a senior local administration official, said that the bomb used in the attack which occurred around 3 kilometers (2 miles) away from the station was powerful enough to pierce the armored personnel carrier that was transporting the officers.
He said, five other officers stationed at the police station as well as the driver of the armored personnel carrier were also injured in the attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Twitter the attack “has left my heart heavy with sorrow”.
“Our police officers and soldiers have made unforgettable sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” he said.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has a history of targeting law enforcement officials, whom they accuse of conducting extra-judicial executions.
The TTP was founded in 2007, when Pakistani militants fighting alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan split off from the main group to focus their attacks on Islamabad.
They sought revenge against the Pakistani government for supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.
At their peak, the TTP controlled vast territories in northwest Pakistan. However, a military operation in 2014 largely routed the group following a deadly school attack that claimed the lives of nearly 150 people, mostly pupils.
Attacks have been steadily rising since the Afghan Taliban’s return in Kabul, and Islamabad says the TTP are launching assaults from Afghan soil.
In November of last year, a fragile six-month ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistani government collapsed.
In January of this year, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a mosque located in a police compound in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
According to report, the attack claimed the lives of more than 80 officers, making it one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in recent years.
The government of France has issued an urgent directive to its citizens in Mali, advising them to leave the country immediately following a fresh wave of violent attacks.
In a travel advisory released on Wednesday, the French foreign ministry described the security situation in Mali as “extremely volatile,” citing recent assaults carried out by jihadist groups and Tuareg separatist fighters over the weekend.
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According to the statement, all travel to Mali remains strongly discouraged regardless of purpose, as authorities warned that the risk to foreign nationals has significantly increased.
“French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available,” the ministry said.
The advisory comes amid renewed concerns over instability in the Sahel region, where armed groups have continued to intensify their operations despite years of military interventions.
President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating security climate in Mali, particularly following the withdrawal of foreign forces and the growing influence of insurgent factions.
Mali has been grappling with insecurity since 2012, as jihadist insurgency, separatist tensions, and political unrest continue to undermine stability in the country.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
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