US News | ReportWire publishes the latest breaking U.S. and world news, trending topics and developing stories from around globe.
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An early morning shooting on Friday sent one man to the hospital in Durham.
Durham Police are investigating the incident on NC Highway 147 near Jackie Robinson Drive.
Officials say a man was shot and taken to the hospital around 3:30am.
His condition is unknown.
Officers reported a vehicle was also struck by bullets.
The WRAL Breaking News Tracker will have updates on our newscasts.
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WTOP is relaunching “Friday Freebies,” bringing you the top freebies you can get in the D.C. region, every week.
We’ll run them down every Friday morning on air at 103.5 FM and here on WTOP.com.
Know of a freebie you’d like featured in WTOP’s Friday Freebies roundup? Let us know!
In addition to tracking a mighty January storm, WTOP is tracking weather-related freebies and deals for Sunday and Monday (Jan. 25 and 26) and beyond.
We’re posting them here, if you’d like to venture out on foot to a neighborhood favorite (local leaders are urging you NOT to drive during the storm).
WTOP’s Friday Freebies are coming to you early this week in honor of the New Year ahead.
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Michelle Basch
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Ortonville VFW Post 582 Commander Dennis Hoffman
Hello to all of our veterans and 94.7 WCSX Classic Rock listeners. Friday is upon us and for this week, our I Thank You shout out goes to US Army Veteran and VFW Post 582 Commander Dennis Hoffman.
Some veterans have the opportunity to share their stories in their own words. For others though, their stories come from those who know them best or for this week’s “I Thank You Friday”, from a neighbor who recognizes the dedication and patriotism of one individual whose service to community and country is admirable.
Dennis Hoffman was nominated by a community neighbor who goes by Nick, who had this to say about his friend and the recognition for the hard work Dennis has done for his fellow man.
Nick: “Good Morning 94.7 WCSX, I wanna give a shout out to in my opinion one of the hardest working veterans you’ll find here in Ortonville. His name is Dennis Hoffman, and he is the Post Commander of our tiny community, VFW Post 582. Mr. Hoffman has been commanding the VFW for over 10 years and in that time has made our town a better place thanks to his assistance in programs such as the Honor Guard Rifle Team, and outreach programs with our local teachers and our local cub scout troop. Mr. Hoffman continues to represent and serve our country and community with a smile and a sense of duty. KEEP PLAYING THE BOB SEGER WCSX, your station is #1!”
Post 582 Sr. Vice Commander Carl Jeffrey & Post Commander Dennis Hoffman
Patrick McAbeeFrom left, Ted Lambiris, Dennis Hoffman, and Cliff Filhart. Members of the Ortonville VFW Post 582 during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Ortonville Cemetery.
Dennis Hoffman’s service to his country began in 1968 with his draft notice to the United States Army. As detailed in this letter from a State of Michigan House Committee Testimony, US Army Veteran Dennis Hoffman has served honorably for the Stars & Stripes and faced challenges that only few can relate to.
A small sample of it reads: “Commander Hoffman was drafted to the army in June 1968 following Boot Camp at Fort Bragg North Carolina and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk Louisiana. The USS Pueblo was seized by the North Koreans and international waters on January 23, 1968 in the crew held hostage. Due to this new conflict his battalion in October was split in half some going to Vietnam and some including Commander Hoffman sent to the DMZ (Korean demilitarized zone).
“I was disappointed says Hoffman, I was trained for jungle warfare, and I wanted to fight. I didn’t fight the draft. I just felt it was part of my duty as a US citizen.” He patrolled the DMZ for 13 months and dealt with conflicts as people tried to sneak through the fence. There was a mile to the military demarcation line, and it was filled with bunkers and foxholes, allowing Hoffman and his battalion to patrol the area. He left the army after his two-year draft period was complete.
When the Ortonville VFW post was charted in 1984 he joined and continues to give to the 16 programs supported by the VFW. Those of which include, Honor Guard-Rifle Team, Voice of Democracy Essay contest, Oakland County Campout, Poppy Program, VFW national home for children in Eaton Rapids, and local food banks. The list goes on… Thank you, Commander Hoffman for all you and your fellow VFW members do for the community.”
VFW Post 582 Accepting Buddy Poppy donations
VFW Post 582 located at: 486 Mill St., Ortonville, MI 48462 is always looking for volunteer assistance and donations to continue the many local programs and charities that are supported through the VFW under Commander Hoffman’s watch. Joining as a member of the VFW is also an option for those who have served and can find out more by visiting the Post itself during one its meetings, calling their number (248) 736-4104 , or by going to their Facebook page to talk to a fellow veteran to find out more.
The unwavering support for the Red, White, & Blue and service to the U.S. Army and the community of Ortonville is appreciated and never forgotten. For those here at 94.7 WCSX, we say Thank You Dennis Hoffman!
Remember, when you see a veteran, thank them for their service and listen to their journey and stories. Let them know that their sacrifices will never be forgotten, and that they are appreciated for their service which allows us to enjoy the freedoms that we have today.
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Austin Zidar
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Happy Friday! Our final day of the workweek is off to a foggy, but mild, start as temperatures only bottom out in the 40s & 50s across the board. Don’t expect much change throughout the day in the mercury department; highs will struggle to warm much due to clouds and northeasterly breezes this afternoon. More fog may build in overnight into Saturday morning, but the skies should quickly clear as high pressure builds in from the southwest, allowing for highs to finally reach into the mid-to-upper 60s for most across the Piedmont & Foothills. The sunny skies and warmer highs crescendo into Sunday; count on afternoon temperatures to soar into the mid-70s at the very least around the Metro, while the High Country enjoys highs in the mid-60s.
Unfortunately, the good times come to a screeching halt by the start of March’s first workweek as a cold front sweeps into the Carolinas by Monday morning. While the incoming front won’t bring much, if any, rain, highs may struggle to clear the 30s & 40s across the board as high pressure brings a wedge setup back to the WCCB Charlotte viewing area. The American model even brings some wintry weather to the High Country, Foothills, and Piedmont north of I-40 as a weak clipper disturbance passes north of the Queen City. While meaningful precipitation is unlikely, this could be something to watch between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Regardless of what happens to start the week, much warmer air filters into the Carolinas by Wednesday. Charlotte will likely string together multiple days in the 70s between Wednesday and the following weekend; highs may even approach 80° on March’s first Saturday. Just three weeks away from spring!
Today: AM fog and a stray shower. PM mostly cloudy with a stray shower. High: 56°. Wind: NE 5-10.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog late. Low: 47°. Wind: Light.
Saturday: AM fog. PM mainly sunny & warm. High: 68°. Wind: Light.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Cooler. Low: 42°. Wind: Light.
Sunday: Beautiful. High: 76°. Wind: W 5-10.
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James Scott
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Today is Friday, Feb. 27, the 58th day of 2026. There are 307 days left in the year.
On Feb. 27, 1973, members of the American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children; the occupation would last for over two months.
In 1933, Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire; Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming communists, used the fire to justify suspending civil liberties.
In 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea began during World War II; Imperial Japanese naval forces scored a decisive victory over the Allies.
In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms in office, was ratified.
In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued the Shanghai Communique, a historic joint statement that called for normalizing relations between their countries, at the conclusion of Nixon’s historic visit to China.
In 1991, Operation Desert Storm came to a conclusion as President George H.W. Bush declared in a White House address that “Kuwait is liberated, Iraq’s army is defeated,” and announced that the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight, Eastern time.
In 1997, Ireland became one of the last countries in the world to legalize divorce. Divorce remains illegal in just two countries: the Philippines and Vatican City.
In 2010, in Chile, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed 525 people and caused up to $30 billion in damage and a major power blackout.
In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated East-West tensions by ordering nuclear forces put on high alert while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to talks with Moscow as Russia’s troops and tanks drove deeper into the country.
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The Associated Press
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Editor’s note: The details in this story may be disturbing for some readers. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org.
There’s a hearing Friday afternoon for the North Andover, Massachusetts, officer who is facing an assault charge after she was shot by police during an armed confrontation in her home last summer.
Kelsey Fitzsimmons has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to the June 30 incident at her Phillips Brook Road home. Police were serving Fitzsimmons with a restraining order and informing her that her fiancé, who claimed she had assaulted him and threatened the life of their child, was obtaining court-ordered custody of their son.
Fitzsimmons and her lawyers have previously pushed back against the police account of what happened on that night, with Fitzsimmons previously saying she never, as alleged, pointed her gun at other officers, claiming only that she pointed the weapon at her own head. She was in treatment for postpartum depression at the time.
Fitzsimmons is currently scheduled to go on trial on March 23.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
Now able to meet bail conditions, Kelsey Fitzsimmons is going home for the holidays.
Friday’s hearing comes a day after her legal team, in a new filing, accused her ex-fiancé of breaking into her home with several other men after she was shot. Her attorneys say the home’s WiFi and surveillance system was cut during this break-in, and they allege her ex-fiancé stole her laptop and used it to steal money from her bank account and access her personal medical records.
Her attorney provided surveillance video to NBC10 Boston that shows the alleged break-in. It shows a man apparently breaking down a door to the home and entering with several others following. The men can also be seen inside a basement area just before the video cuts off.
The defense’s latest motion also took aim at her colleague who shot her, alleging that the officer has been placed on leave twice — yet still worked details and collected overtime for them, against their union agreement.
Kelsey Fitzsimmons was shot in her own home by a fellow officer during a confrontation in June.
Fitzsimmons was jailed for months following the incident in June. She was released after a hearing in December in which she established that she was healthy enough to take a breathalyzer test, which was a condition of her release. She was initially freed on personal recognizance back on Sept. 8 with several conditions, including court-ordered alcohol testing, but she was taken back into custody just days later when an Essex Superior Court judge vacated the court’s prior order of pre-trial release after her lawyers submitted an emergency motion asking the court to modify the terms and conditions — saying it was impossible for Fitzsimmons to use the court-ordered SCRAM system for alcohol testing due to injuries suffered when she was shot.
Fitzsimmons is due in Essex Superior Court in Lawrence at 2 p.m. Friday for a trial readiness hearing.
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Monica Madeja and Kaitlin McKinley Becker
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PACIFIC PALISADES, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A Los Angeles firefighter says the Lachman Fire was still smoldering when crews were ordered to leave, days before embers reignited into the deadly Palisades Fire, according to newly released deposition testimony.
Scott Pike, a 23-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, testified last month as part of a lawsuit filed by 3,000 Palisades Fire victims against the city and the state.
Pike said he saw at least five areas that were still smoking and extremely hot.
“I saw light smoke on the ground,” he said. “I saw branches that were smoking still. I could smell smoke, and there were … for what I would say … I would say several smokers.”
Pike said some of the hot spots were intense enough that he hesitated to touch them, even with gloves.
“I could feel the heat coming off of it, and I didn’t even want to use my gloved hand because it was hot,” he said. “So I just kicked it with my boot to kind of expose it and there was like red hot, like, coals, what I believe to be the base of a bush or branches that was still smoldering, and I even heard crackling.”
Pike testified that he reported what he found to other firefighters and a captain but felt his concerns were dismissed.
He also said he was never interviewed for the city’s after-action report on the Palisades Fire.
Los Angeles Fire Department leadership has maintained that flames were out at the site of the Lachman Fire.
Pike said the devastation that followed weighs heavily on him.
“I saw something, I said something and to my best ability, I felt like we could have done more,” he said.
Mayor Karen Bass’ office released a statement Thursday, saying the mayor has been “extremely public” about demanding transparency.
“As Mayor Bass said months ago when this first came to light, these revelations are ‘tremendously alarming,’” read the statement. “That’s why she immediately ordered a full investigation of the Lachman Fire. For more than a year, Mayor Bass has been extremely public about her demand for transparency and accountability to inform ongoing Fire Department reforms, and because those affected deserve nothing less.”
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Leanne Suter
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Downton Abbey, the award-winning series from Julian Fellowes, spans 12 years of gripping drama centered on a great English estate on the cusp of a vanishing way of life. The series follows the Granthams and their family of servants through sweeping change, scandals, love, ambition, heartbreak, and hope.
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Cascade PBS Staff
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A house fire in western Jefferson County started a small wildfire Thursday morning, causing pre-evacuation warnings for people living in Golden Gate Canyon after flames spread to nearby trees and grass.
The Geneva fire burned less than an acre after it was first reported in the 10600 block of Ralston Creek Road at 11:35 a.m., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Jefferson and Gilpin county officials sent out pre-evacuation warnings for a 3-mile radius around the fire and for homes in Golden Gate Estates, Braecher Ranchettes and the surrounding area.
The fire also briefly caused evacuations for the southern part of Golden Gate Canyon State Park and visitor center, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said in an email to The Denver Post.
Fire crews stopped forward progress on the fire by 12:34 p.m., and county officials lifted pre-evacuations for the surrounding area just after 1 p.m.
The Geneva fire was fully contained as of Thursday afternoon, according to the wildfire dispatch program WildCAD.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
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JAKARTA, Feb 27 (Reuters) – An Indonesian court has jailed nine people in a major corruption case involving subsidiaries of state energy firm Pertamina, including two former chief executives of its units, which prosecutors say caused $17 billion in state losses.
The case, which centres on alleged illegal leasing of a fuel terminal and illegal imports of crude oil, among other offences, is one of the biggest launched under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, who has vowed to eradicate corruption.
The nine were sentenced by the Central Jakarta Court, with the reading of the verdicts starting on Thursday afternoon and continuing into the early hours of Friday. The defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine years to 15 years, after prosecutors had sought terms of 14 to 18 years.
Yoki Firnandi, former chief executive of Pertamina International Shipping, and Riva Siahaan, former Pertamina Patra Niaga chief executive, each received a nine-year sentence from the panel of judges.
Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, a beneficial owner of a fuel terminal leased by Pertamina, was jailed for 15 years for his involvement, less than the 18 years sought by prosecutors.
Riza is the son of businessman Mohammad Riza Chalid, who has been named a suspect in the case and who the police said is now at large.
The three men had each denied the charges against them and pleaded not guilty, local media reported during the trial.
Riza’s lawyer Patra Zen said on Friday his client rejected the ruling and would appeal.
Outside the court on Friday, Firnandi said he was disappointed by a verdict that he called a farce, and said he would discuss with his counsel about appealing.
Siahaan’s lawyer Luhut Pangaribuan said he was saddened and disappointed by the verdict.
Pertamina said it respects the court’s ruling and reiterated it has “zero tolerance towards corruption,” company spokesperson Muhammad Baron told Reuters.
“We continue to make improvements and transform in carrying out business processes and operations,” he said, adding that the company is ready to give legal assistance to the defendants until the court issues a legally binding ruling.
(Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, and Bernadette Christina; Editing by John Mair, Martin Petty and Thomas Derpinghaus)
Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.
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Reuters
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time in seven years, the Sacramento City College Panthers are back in the playoffs — and they believe they’re just getting started.
“What’s the reason why these players are here? They believe in what we’re doing,” head coach Caleb Theodore said.
That belief has fueled a turnaround that hasn’t happened in years. The Panthers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2018-2019 season and followed it up with a postseason win over Napa Valley on Wednesday night.
“It’s truly a blessing. To be a part of it is just amazing. With all these girls and the coaching staff. It’s a really fun experience,” said freshman Rheanna Nobleza.
For sophomore Sierra Tuliau, the mission was clear from the moment she arrived on campus.
“Just coming into Sacramento College and knowing they haven’t been to the playoffs in 7 years. My goal was to come into this program being a leader and doing what I can to help us to the playoffs,” Tuliau said.
Tuliau delivered in a big way. The sophomore scored a game-high 45 points in Wednesday’s playoff victory over Napa Valley, a performance that underscored the confidence she’s had in the group since the offseason.
“I knew we could make it this far. We had faith. We work hard. We had summer workouts, and I knew coming into this season, based off summer workouts, it looked really good,” Tuliau said.
That confidence is rooted in what players describe as an unmatched work ethic.
“Nobody works harder than we do. You’re not in the gym at 4 a.m. This is where we live. We may lose a few games, but nobody is as disciplined as we are,” said sophomore Madeline Young.
Much of the program’s rise has come under Theodore, now in his second year as head coach. He points to four pillars that shape the team’s identity: winning at the highest level, excelling in the classroom, engaging the community and developing leaders.
“Win at the highest level. Competing for state. Operating like a high level 4-year program. Second pillar is to excel in the classroom. We are a top academic program in the country. Third pillar is to engage the community. The last pillar is to develop leaders in the world,” Theodore said.
The goals for this season leave little room for doubt.
“We want to win the first state championship in the state capitol. It’s never happened before,” Theodore said.
“To win state,” Tuliau said.
“Finish strong. Do what we can do. Hopefully win state. Actually no, we will win state,” Nobleza said.
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To protect and serve took on a whole new meaning for two officers in the San Francisco Bay Area last weekend.
Authorities in Milpitas posted video of a rescue of a family from a burning apartment building, in which a toddler and a dog were thrown off a balcony to waiting police officers below.
According to the Milpitas Police Department, dispatchers received a call around 3:15 p.m. Saturday from residents who were trapped inside their apartment on South Park Victoria Drive.
Two officers arrived on scene in less than two minutes and found the doors to the apartments were blocked by heavy fire.
“I just looked up the hallway,” Officer Trevon Hartley with the Milpitas Police Department said. “There was a small hallway leading up to the 2nd floor. The door was fully engulfed in flames. Just smoke everywhere.”
Officer Trevon Hartley was the first on the scene, getting there in just about a minute and a half since the initial call came in. Fellow officer Ricardo Barragan wasn’t far behind.
“Getting there, you can feel the heat,” Barragan said. “You can see the smoke even more. Just going towards the building, you can see obviously, OK, we need to do something now because if we don’t, something bad can happen.”
As the fire grew, the officers worked on a plan to rescue the family, who were on the balcony. They were told there were three people trapped in the apartment, including a 3-year-old toddler.
Milpitas police said the officers guided the parents through the rescue, telling them to drop their 3-year-old daughter to officers waiting on the ground.
“I got her, I got her. Drop her,” one of the officers was heard saying in a video posted by police.
The video then shows the girl being caught by an officer and taken to safety.
“I’m a father myself, so that’s why I was pretty focused on the child first,” Hartley said. “So, looking back on it, it makes you nervous. I’m just glad it worked out well.”
Hartley didn’t even have time to think. He just knew he had to get the child off the balcony. The former wide receiver for the San Jose Spartans made the most valuable play of his career.
“When we first got there, I didn’t hesitate because, in the moment, I was sure of myself,” he said. “Like, if you drop this kid, I’m going to catch her. It wasn’t even a thought or contemplation of what should I do. It was just drop her and catch her.”
After making the heroic save, both officers weren’t quite prepared for what happened next.
“I didn’t even know there was a dog,” Hartley and Barragan said. “Right after we caught the daughter, they instantly put the dog up. I was like oh, there’s a dog now. Here’s my dog here’s my dog.”
Hartley and Barragan were both raised in Milpitas. Hartley lived in the same apartment complex where the fire happened. These hometown heroes are expected to be recognized by the city for their bravery. Both shy away from being called heroes. They just did what had to be done to save lives.
“It’s strange to see yourself in that situation,” Hartley said. “There’s a lot of stuff that I don’t even remember doing, and to see some of the situations where it was scarier than I thought it was. In the moment, I’m not thinking this fire is right next to me, but to see it on video, it makes it more real.”
Firefighters arrived and were able to evacuate the remaining occupants of the apartment, police said. No serious injuries were reported.
“We are incredibly thankful for the calm and courage shown by the residents during such a terrifying moment, and for the seamless teamwork between our dispatchers, officers, and fire personnel,” police said in a statement Tuesday.
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Tim Fang
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(FOX40.COM) — Pulse-pounding footage showing the moments two skiers rescued a man trapped under snow last week at Palisades Tahoe has gone viral. This incident happened just one day after — and roughly 30 minutes away — from where an avalanche killed nine skiers. FOX40 spoke with one of the rescuers to hear the harrowing […]
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Sierra Krug
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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON) — A 46-year-old Walnut Creek man who was reported to police for looking into homes and parked cars with a flashlight just after midnight Thursday morning was shot and killed by responding officers. The Walnut Creek Police Department said the man was holding what appeared to be a firearm, which was later determined to be a pellet gun.
The fatal police shooting occurred around 12:10 a.m. near Buena Vista Elementary School. Authorities said the officers gave multiple commands for the man to drop his weapon in the area of Buena Vista and Alvarado avenues before police discharged their firearms. Neighbors told KRON4 that they heard four gunshots.
Despite immediate life-saving measures, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. No officers were injured during the incident.
The man’s mother, Annie Pereya, spoke to KRON4 News following the fatal shooting and identified her son as Joaquin Anthony “Tony” Pereya. Annie said that her son has had a lifetime of mental illness and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the fifth grade.
Photo of Joaquin Anthony “Tony” Pereya, courtesy of family
“I live right up the street; Probably he was heading towards our house,” Annie told KRON4. “They’ve told me that he had a gun and pointed a gun at a police officer and they fired at him.”
Tony’s mother said she believes that he was not on his medication at the time and that she and her husband have lived in fear because of his mental struggles. She is upset that the state does not force people like Tony and others with severe mental issues to take medication because she said it had helped her son whenever he was on it.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The officers involved in the fatal shooting were placed on administrative leave per department policy, police said.
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Ryan Mense and Will Tran
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Pakistan’s defense minister early Friday said that his country had run out of “patience” and now considers itself in an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack.In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” gathered militants from around the world and begun “exporting terrorism.”Video above: Shiite Muslims take part in a rally to condemn Israeli strikes on Iran “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Asif’s comments.Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.His remarks came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan says the strikes were in retaliation for Afghan cross-border attacks.The escalation comes months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire between the two sides.Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims could not be independently verified.Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that “several others were captured alive.” It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday.Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded.Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.In Islamabad, two senior security officials said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, a gesture typically interpreted as a request to halt firing. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban posts along the border.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence.He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. “Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response,” he said.Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees who were waiting to return home from the northwestern Torkham border have been taken back to safer places following the eruption of clashes.Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in Oct. 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcible deportation and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.Since then, millions have streamed across the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, also contributed to this story.
Pakistan’s defense minister early Friday said that his country had run out of “patience” and now considers itself in an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack.
In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” gathered militants from around the world and begun “exporting terrorism.”
Video above: Shiite Muslims take part in a rally to condemn Israeli strikes on Iran
“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Asif’s comments.
Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.
His remarks came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan says the strikes were in retaliation for Afghan cross-border attacks.
The escalation comes months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire between the two sides.
Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims could not be independently verified.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that “several others were captured alive.” It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded.
Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.
In Islamabad, two senior security officials said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, a gesture typically interpreted as a request to halt firing. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban posts along the border.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence.
He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. “Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response,” he said.
Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees who were waiting to return home from the northwestern Torkham border have been taken back to safer places following the eruption of clashes.
Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in Oct. 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcible deportation and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.
Since then, millions have streamed across the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.
Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.
Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, also contributed to this story.
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BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Buses, trams and trains across Germany ground to a halt early Friday as local transport workers heeded a call by the Verdi public sector union to stage a strike on February 27 and 28.
The union is aiming to gain leverage in negotiations that cover working conditions, specifically working hours and shift work, allowances for night and weekend work, as well as salaries. Exact demands vary from state to state.
Talks on a collective wage agreement affect about 150 bus, tram and local train companies with around 100,000 employees in states across Germany, including the cities of Berlin and Hamburg.
(Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Michael Perry)
Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.
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Reuters
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — What started as a simple TikTok joke spiraled into a viral sensation that caused chaos for a small business. Now, in a city known for its quirky charm, Portland is witnessing an unexpected turn in the social media world — and it’s all thanks to an unlikely friendship. Chris Hedgecock, the […]
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Anthony Kustura
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