Coronation Street fans are wondering if a love triangle storyline is about to begin – and it could be terribly awkward if so.

Recently, it became apparent that Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) had a bit of a crush on Ollie Driscoll (Raphael Akuwudike).

They went on a date in the Bistro, which was some welcomed happiness for Lauren after a traumatic few years involving Joel Deering (Calum Lill).

This week though, another character started taking a shine to Ollie, and it was Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney).

Things between Ollie and Lauren were put on hold as a result of Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn) interfering. With Ollie believing Lauren had stood him up, he attempted to talk to her about it in yesterday’s episode, but Lauren didn’t really want to.

Lauren grew suspicious when Amy wandered in and it became increasingly clear that Ollie might like her. Annoyed and somewhat jealous, Lauren told Amy that she looks particularly cosy with Ollie, and that she should go for it if interested.

The scenes between Ollie and Amy were brief yesterday, but fans of the ITV soap are now beginning to wonder they’re going to start seeing each other.

Ange wrote on X: ‘I smell a Lauren/Ollie/Amy love triangle starting to form #Corrie’.

Sarah added: ‘Ollie seems a nice bloke. They just need to get him away from his granny. Think I’d rather he get with Lauren, but if they want to pair him with Amy I wouldn’t be against it’.

Ryan wondered: ‘Could they put Amy & Ollie together? #Corrie’

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If it does happen, it’ll cause drama for two reasons.

If Lauren knows she still has feelings for Ollie and wants to fight for him, he’s going to find himself torn between her and Amy. A classic soap love triangle story if you will.

The second reason is far more problematic though, as Ollie and Amy are actually cousins!

It turns out that Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson) – who is set to be killed off in upcoming scenes – is none other than Ben Driscoll’s (Aaron McCusker) dad.

As first revealed by Radio Times, Maggie had an affair with Jim four decades ago and it will come to light that the patriarch, who is dad to Street legend Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), is also Ben’s father.

With Amy and Ollie being Steve and Ben’s children, starting a romance is a big no no!

If Maggie discovers Ollie and Amy are dating, what will she do to stop it?

MORE: Killer Maggie’s new target confirmed in Coronation Street as she takes spiteful action

MORE: Coronation Street’s Cait Fitton shares emotional tribute after death of beloved family member

PARIS (AP) — They lurk in the oceans, a last resort to pulverize attackers with nuclear fire should France’s commander in chief ever make that terrible call.

French President Emmanuel Macron, the person with the power to unleash France’s nuclear arsenal, will on Monday update French thinking on the potential use of warheads carried on submarines and planes, if it ever came to that. This in the context of concerns in Europe that Russian war-making could spread beyond Ukraine, and uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump ’s steadfastness as an ally.

For decades, Europe has lived under a protective umbrella of U.S. nuclear weapons, stationed on the continent since the mid-1950s to deter the former Soviet Union and now Russia. Lately, however, some European politicians and defense analysts are questioning whether Washington can still be relied upon to use such force if needed.

As the only nuclear-armed member of the 27-nation European Union, the questions are particularly pertinent for France.

Possible revisions to France’s nuclear deterrence policy, sure to be carefully calibrated and scrutinized by allies and potential enemies alike, could be among the most consequential decisions that Macron makes in his remaining 14 months as president, before elections to choose his successor in 2027.

That Macron feels a need to bare France’s nuclear teeth, in what will be the commander in chief’s second keynote speech laying out the country’s deterrence posture since his election in 2017, speaks to his concerns, voiced multiple times, about geopolitical and defense-technology shifts that threaten the security of France and its allies.

Those voicing doubts about Washington’s reliability include Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish parliament’s Defense Committee.

“If things got really serious, I very much doubt that Trump would risk American cities to protect European cities,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We don’t know but it seems very risky to rely on the American protection.”

He and others are turning to France for reassurance. In the longer term, Jarlov argues that other European nations also need to arm themselves with nuclear weapons — an almost unfathomable prospect when U.S. protection seemed absolute in European minds.

“The Nordic countries have the capacity. We have uranium, we have nuclear scientists. We can develop nuclear weapons,” he said. “Realistically, it will take a lot of time. So in the short term, we are looking to France.”

Adjusting to geopolitical risks

The world has changed dramatically since Macron’s first policy-making nuclear speech in 2020, with new uncertainties shoving old certainties aside.

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fifth year, brought war to the EU’s door and repeated threats of possible nuclear use from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. So, too, is North Korea’s nuclear-armed military. In October, Trump spoke about U.S. intentions to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 1992, although U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright later said that such tests would not include nuclear explosions.

Russia revised its deterrence policy in 2024, lowering its bar for possible retaliation with nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom has announced plans to buy nuclear-capable U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets, restoring a capacity to deliver nuclear airstrikes that it phased out in the 1990s, leaving it with just submarine-based nuclear missiles.

The chosen site for Macron’s speech on Monday — the Île Longue base for France’s four nuclear-armed submarines — will drive home that French presidents also have nuclear muscle at their disposal in an increasingly unstable world. They each can carry 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple warheads.

“There are high expectations from the allies and partners, and maybe also the adversaries, about how the French nuclear doctrine could evolve,” said Héloïse Fayet, a nuclear deterrence specialist at the French Institute of International Relations, a Paris think tank.

Speaking in an AP interview, Fayet said she’s hoping for “real changes.”

“Maybe something about a greater and a clearer French commitment to the protection of allies, thanks to the French nuclear weapons,” she said.

France’s nuclear force

Macron said in 2020 that France has fewer than 300 warheads — a number that has remained stable since former President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a modest reduction to that level in 2008.

Macron said the force is sufficient to inflict “absolutely unacceptable damage” on the “political, economic, military nerve centers” of any country that threatens the “vital interests” of France, “whatever they may be.”

Nuclear specialists will be watching for any hint from Macron that he no longer considers the French stockpile to be sufficient and that it might need to grow.

The language of deterrence is generally shrouded by deliberate ambiguity, to keep potential enemies guessing about the red lines that could trigger a nuclear response. Officials from Macron’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the nuclear policy changes that Macron might make, were extremely guarded in their wording, not least because deterrence is a strictly presidential prerogative.

“There will no doubt be some shifts, fairly substantial developments,” one of the officials said.

Protecting Europe

Again with careful wording, Macron in 2020 said the “vital interests” that France could defend with nuclear force don’t end at its borders but also have “a European dimension.”

Some European nations have taken up an offer Macron made then to discuss France’s nuclear deterrence and even associate European partners in French nuclear exercises.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he’s had “initial talks” with Macron about nuclear deterrence and has publicly theorized about German Air Force planes possibly being used to carry French nuclear bombs.

European nations engaging with France are seeking “a second life insurance” against any possibility of U.S. nuclear protection being withdrawn, says Etienne Marcuz, a French nuclear defense specialist at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank.

“The United States are unpredictable — have become unpredictable — because of the Trump 2 administration,” he said. “That has legitimately raised the question of whether the United States would truly be prepared to protect Europe, and above all, whether they would be willing to deploy their nuclear forces in defense of Europe.”

___

Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed.

Redcar and Cleveland Council said in 2022 it was seeking external funding to turn TunedIn! into an arts and culture centre of excellence, maximising its potential and potentially drawing visitors from further afield

Then in 2024 Government ‘levelling up’ funds were allocated for alterations including a new bar/café and box office and a redesign of its studio theatre.

Council spending decision documents recently issued for cabinet approval show the contract term of an external project management and design consultancy providing a multi-disciplinary contribution to the project has been extended with additional levelling up contingency funds being identified to cover the shortfall in costs.

This increased the value of the contract issued to the private firm by £53,337 to £302,325.

A report said: “The council is committed to delivering the scheme, but cannot complete it without approval to vary the contract so that it can continue to project completion. 

“Failure to vary the contract will result in the multi-disciplinary team no longer being able to complete the development, and the outcomes and impacts afforded by the funding being lost.”

TunedIn!, which is located next to the boating lake at Redcar, is currently closed and due to re-open in April once the refurbishment is complete. 

A spokeswoman for the council said: “The project remains on schedule, with Esh Construction currently due to complete the works, including fit-out, by the end of April.

“No delays are being reported at this stage.

“The investment at Tuned In! is focused on upgrading the auditorium and stage, alongside supporting and back-of-house spaces, to enable a year-round programme of performances from grassroots activity through to ticketed shows. 

“This includes improved studio and green room facilities, as well as enhanced café/bar provision to support both daytime use and evening performances.

“Following construction, there will be a period of commissioning and programming ahead of reopening.”

TunedIn! originally cost £5m when it opened in 2011 and was a European Regional Development Fund scheme.

It failed to keep up with income targets and has continued to be subsidised by the council, providing office space for staff and also being utilised as a testing centre during the covid-19 pandemic among other uses.

Hannah Spencer (Green) 14,980 (40.69%, +27.53%)

Matt Goodwin (Reform) 10,578 (28.73%, +14.67%)

Angeliki Stogia (Lab) 9,364 (25.44%, -25.32%)

Charlotte Cadden (C) 706 (1.92%, -5.98%)

Jackie Pearcey (LD) 653 (1.77%, -2.05%)

Sir Oink A-Lot (Loony) 159 (0.43%)

Nick Buckley (Advance UK) 154 (0.42%)

Joseph O’Meachair (Rejoin) 98 (0.27%)

Dan Clarke (Libertarian) 47 (0.13%)

Sebastian Moore (Soc Dem) 46 (0.12%)

Hugo Wils (Comm Lge) 29 (0.08%)

Green maj 4,402 (11.96%)

26.43% swing Labour to Green

Electorate 77,501; Turnout 36,814 (47.50%, +0.70%)

2024: Labour majority 13,413 (36.69%)

Turnout 36,560 (46.80%)

Doctor Amir Khan is known for sharing handy health tips on ITV; however, he recently shared the medication he’d “never” advise people use, and there’s reason behind it

Millions of people use medication every day, but there are some medicines doctors actually don’t like prescribing. For ITV‘s Doctor Amir Khan, he previously admitted there’s a certain kind he would “never” recommend people use, as he thinks it can lead to risky consequences.

The health guru shared the expert advice in a previous episode of the No Appointment Necessary Podcast, which he hosts with presenter Cherry Healey. At the time, they were talking about sleep, and how people can struggle to get a good night’s rest but, according to the GP, there’s something you should try to avoid when attempting to doze off.

It’s not the only vital guidance to be shared on the topic either. It’s also been revealed there’s a simple technique you can use that can help you get off to sleep easily too.

In a clip shared on social media, the doctor was asked when a person should turn to sleeping pills for help. He replied: “I would say never. Never, ever use sleeping tablets.

“There’ll be lots of people watching this going ‘well, I’ve got insomnia, I need sleeping tablets’. Actually, what you need is probably cognitive behavioural therapy and psychiatric input to look at why you’re not sleeping and what can be done.

“The only time I might, and this is so rare, give out sleeping tablets is if there has been an acute situation, like you’ve had a death in the family or you’ve been through a very traumatic incident, and you can’t sleep.

“I will never give them out for more than a week because they’re so addictive, you can build up a tolerance to them and the quality of sleep you have on sleeping tablets, you don’t get into that deep REM sleep that you need to feel fully refreshed. “

It turns out, sometimes, sleeping tablets can actually lead to doing more harm than good. This is why the doctor is so cautious about prescribing them.

What you need to know

While doctors occasionally prescribe sleeping pills for people in severe need of them, they should only ever be used on a short-term basis. They can sometimes be a temporary measure to aid the problem, and are usually only issued for around a week or so, under a doctor’s supervision.

They aren’t considered a long-term solution to sleep issues. Even though they can be effective for initiating sleep, long-term use can cause dependency, tolerance and even daytime drowsiness.

If you suffer with something like insomnia, lifestyle changes and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) are preferred first-line treatments.

People are not advised to use sleeping pills without speaking to a doctor first, as the medication may not be right for you, or there may be better ways of managing symptoms. Don’t use over-the-counter options without contacting your GP first.

If you are prescribed them, there’s no need to be afraid of using them though. You just need to ensure you approach taking them with caution, and be aware of their potential risks.

While they can be effective for short-term relief of insomnia, both prescription and over-the-counter options also come with significant, well-documented risks. This is why they should never be used long-term.

If you’re concerned about your level of sleep, contact your doctor for further advice. They will guide you on the best ways to manage it.

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Ivy Lane is poignantly named in honour of owner Samantha Ness’s late grandmother.

Samantha explained: “My Nana, Ivy Lane, raised me and always believed in me.

“I started Ivy Lane Hair & Beauty to create a space where my daughter Libby and I could work side by side and grow together in late January 2025, after she qualified as a hairdresser.”

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Samantha brings her wealth of experience in the hair care industry, which spans over 30 years, to Ivy Lane.

“We pride ourselves on treating every client exactly the same — whether they have been coming to me for 30 years or it is their very first visit” (Image: Supplied)

Prior to setting up the business, in Auster Road, York, the stylist ran a home salon in Clifton Moor.

She said: “Education remains a huge priority for me and my team, and I am proud to have completed many courses with the brands that we work with – Neal & Wolf and Olaplex – including Neal & Wolf’s Colour Master.

“We are lucky to have a diverse clientele and truly cater to every individual person.

“On the hair side, I offer a wide range of services from ladies, children, barbering and advanced colour work, occasional styling, with a strong focus on education and technical colour.

“I am a Neal & Wolf Colour Master, and hair extensions will also be launching very soon, offered by my daughter Libby.

“On the beauty side, we offer medical-grade aesthetics, sports massage, holistic massage, lash lifts, tints, waxing, and spray tans, pedicures and nail services.”

Samantha is a Neal & Wolf Colour Master (Image: Supplied)

Samantha’s team comprises of three other staff members, Libby Ivy Lane’s junior stylist and Ella and Anaya, the salon’s two assistants.

Four self-employed professionals – Florentyna, a medical aesthetics practitioner, Charlotte, the team’s beautician, Vicky, a holistic massage therapist and Harry, a qualified physiotherapist, also work at Ivy Lane.

Samantha said: “We have grown from a team of two to a team of eight within a year.”

She added: “We pride ourselves on treating every client exactly the same — whether they have been coming to me for 30 years or it is their very first visit.

“Our salon atmosphere is relaxed and calm.

“If clients are in for longer appointments, we often introduce them to each other, and the whole salon becomes part of one big conversation.

“We are a diverse salon where everyone is welcome and can offer quieter appointments if preferred.”

The salon celebrated its first year in business in January (Image: Supplied)

To be named a finalist, Samantha said, means everything to her and her daughter.

She explained: “To be recognised by York as such a new business is completely overwhelming.

“We are so grateful to our amazing clients who have nominated us for this award.”

You can name Ivy Lane Hair & Beauty Salon as your winner by filling out the voting slip included in each of our newspaper before Saturday (February 28).

Key information:

Opening times – Tuesday (9am till 8pm); Wednesday (9am till 6pm); Thursday (9am till 8pm); Friday (9am till 6pm); Saturday (9am till 3pm).

Website – https://ivylaneyork.uk/.

Contact number – 07399 332849.

The building has become a centre for vandalism, as it’s covered in graffiti and windows are boarded up

“Fed up” residents are demanding answers over the future of a derelict building that has been left as an “eyesore” for 19 years. Bretton Court along Flaxlands in Bretton, Peterborough, has been left in disrepair for nearly 20 years.

Once the home of The Roundhead Pub and offices, the building has since been a centre of vandalism, with boarded up windows and graffiti covering it. Nearby residents have seen the building get into a worse state over the years.

They are “fed up” with nothing being done with it, and are demanding answers from its owners. Residents John Hopkins, Alan Gasparutti, Carol Strong and Jo Parker are some of these residents.

“We are all ashamed of it – it’s been like that for a long time and nothing is being done about it,” said Carol. She added: “It looks terrible.”

John, who has lived in Bretton since he was a child, and Alan feel the state of the building will put off people moving to the area. John said: “I know people that have moved away because they feel the community feel is gone [in Bretton]. Buses go past this building and it’s the first thing you see. What do those people think of it?”

Alan said: “The building has been derelict for 19 years. It’s so big, but nothing has been done with it. We don’t want an eyesore here. If anyone goes near there, it will put them off.”

Jo has lived in Bretton since the 1970s. The former art teacher said the “heart of the community has been ripped out” since it has been left in disrepair. She added: “When I moved here, it [Bretton Court] was a place for everyone.

“The pub used to have a gallery, but they didn’t replace it with anything. It feels like Bretton has been left behind. It used to be a great community.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the building is a “disappointing sight”.

They added: “Nothing is being done about it. If it’s not better taken care of, it’s just going to get worse. The barbed wire around it looks like a prison right in front of our houses.”

Several planning applications have been submitted to Peterborough City Council for the building, including conversion of the former pub into shops and offices. These were permitted, but no work has taken place.

John, Jo, Alan and Carol would like to see Bretton Court put to better use. Carole wants the building to be turned into “something for the community” and “something to bring people in”.

She added: “We are just fed up. We want something sorted, but there are always excuses.”

John would like the building to be used for something to improve the nearby health centre, as well as something for the “future generation”.

Jo would like to see it be used for art. She said: “Coming from the world of arts, it could be an art and crafts centre, a dance studio, something to do with music and an art gallery. There is a lot of potential there.”

The building is operated by Medesham Homes, which is a joint venture created by Peterborough City Council and Cross Keys Homes in 2016. Cross Keys Homes has been seeking to dissolve its partnership with Medesham Homes.

The residents feel “fobbed off” by the council, and want some answers over the building’s future. John said: “We want conversations with them. We want to know what is going on, and maybe some input. If they have plans, let us know what is going on.”

Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for finance and corporate governance at the council, said he is aware of residents’ concerns.

Cllr Jamil said: “We are fully aware of the issues concerning Bretton Court, including the impact this may be having on nearby residents, and are actively working with Cross Keys Homes to resolve the long-term future of the site as part of our interest in Medesham Homes Ltd.

“We are working to agree terms, and conclude discussions with Cross Keys Homes as soon as possible. Following this it is anticipated that the site will eventually be refurbished or redeveloped.”

A Cross Keys Homes spokesperson said: “We appreciate, and share, the frustration of local residents regarding the ongoing issues at Bretton Court. We have been looking to dissolve the Medesham Homes partnership for several years now since it was clear that Peterborough City Council didn’t want to keep investing in the joint venture.

“We have made several offers to them and are still waiting for the council’s response with draft heads of agreement on our most recent offer made in August 2025. Unfortunately, without a response, it is impossible for Cross Keys Homes to move forward and realise the positive benefits of the site regardless of which partner takes it over.”

Medesham Homes have been contacted for further comment.

The latest shortages are a result of unexpected heavy rainfall in key growing areas, particularly in southern Europe and North Africa.

Strawberries, raspberries, avocados, and peppers are the worst-affected items, according to The Grocer.

Wet weather in the UK and Europe is continuing to cause significant issues for fruit and veg crops

Leading to sporadic #shortages of some items on supermarket shelves this weekhttps://t.co/2TK5RpMHNq

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— The Grocer (@TheGrocer) February 20, 2026

Analysis by The Grocer showed strawberries in particular have been in short supply, especially in Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, and Asda.

Issues with raspberry stocks have also been reported, especially in Morrisons and Lidl, while the supply of avocados and peppers has also been low in several UK supermarkets.

Retail experts urge Brits to “shop as normal” amid ongoing supply shortage

Almost a third (29%) of shoppers have been left unable to buy fruit and vegetables over the past week, according to a recent survey by product intelligence business Vypr .

Around 26% of consumers said the shortages had forced them to shop at multiple supermarkets, while 67% are worried about potential price increases caused by the recent issues.

Despite concerns about the recent shortages, retail expert and Vypr founder Ben Davies said there was “nothing to be concerned about in terms of food security or general shortages”.

Mr Davies explained: “What it means is that some products are not readily available, but there is still plenty of other food.

“It may mean there are slightly higher prices temporarily as supermarkets won’t be able to run volume promotions on items that are in short supply.

“The supermarket buying teams will be looking at other options for sourcing their fruit and veg if they need to, and everyone will be working very hard to restore the shelves to normal levels.”

The retail expert, whose company works with the likes of Marks & Spencer (M&S), Hallmark, and The Gym Kitchen, also urged shoppers to refrain from panic buying during the shortages.

Mr Davies said: “It’s easy for consumers to feel frustrated when they can’t find what they’re looking for on the shelves, but it’s worth remembering that there are a lot of people working very hard behind the scenes to fix this.

“The buyers, growers, and logistics teams are all pulling together to get things back to normal as quickly as they can.

“The one thing that doesn’t help is panic buying.

“As soon as people start loading their trolleys with extra stock ‘just in case’, the shortage spreads well beyond what the weather actually caused.

“So the best advice is simply to shop as you normally would and consider the needs of others.”

The Vypr founder also recommended shoppers look for other seasonal produce grown within the UK or use frozen alternatives to help survive the stock shortages.

How long will these supermarket shortages last?

Mr Davies said these fruit and vegetable stock shortages could last anywhere from two to six weeks.

He explained: “Typically, these situations resolve within around two – six weeks, depending on the weather and whether buyers can find alternative suppliers from different regions.

“Fresh produce supply chains are actually very agile, but the crops still need some time to grow.”

Around 71% of shoppers have reported not seeing any supply shortages in their local supermaket in recent weeks, but Mr Davies warned retailers to be cautious.

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He said: “While the number of consumers who have been affected by the fruit shortages is small according to our data, what retailers need to be cautious of is that consumers will get frustrated if shortages become more regular.

“Strawberries and raspberries are out of season but we have become accustomed to everything being available 12 months a year and a small, but significant proportion of shoppers are going elsewhere to purchase what they can’t readily find.

“All stages of supply chain will be working hard to rectify this and hopefully this current shortage will be over quickly with minimal lasting impact.”

Have you been affected by supply shortages at your local supermarket? Let us know in our poll above or in the comments below.

Pakistan have accused the Taliban government of backing cross-border attacks, as both sides report conflicting casualty figures and escalating clashes along the border.

Pakistan has announced what it calls an “open war” with neighboring state Afghanistan after launching overnight strikes.

Pakistan’s defence minister said the country had run out of patience and was now in direct conflict with Afghanistan. In a post on X, Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped Afghanistan would stabilise after NATO troops withdrew, and expected the Taliban to focus on the well-being of Afghans and regional peace.

Instead, he accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into what he described as “a colony of India,” gathering militants from around the world and exporting terrorism. “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. Afghan officials had not immediately responded to his remarks.

Pakistan has long accused India of supporting militant groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, allegations that New Delhi denies, reports the Mirror.

The comments came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul, as well as in Kandahar and Paktia Province, according to Pakistani officials and Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

Pakistan said the strikes were a response to cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

Both sides have reported very different casualty figures and each claims to have inflicted heavy losses. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed overnight, with some bodies taken into Afghanistan, and that several others were captured. It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded.

The ministry added that 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases were destroyed, and that the fighting ended around midnight, roughly four hours after it began on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded. Meanwhile, Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied reports that Pakistani troops had been captured.

In another post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters had been killed and more than 200 wounded, adding that 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said further losses were likely from strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.

Two senior security officials in Islamabad said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, typically seen as a signal to stop firing. They 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 positions 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, though he did not provide details or evidence. He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability directly and through friendly countries.

Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees waiting to return home at the northwestern Torkham Border Crossing were moved to safer locations after the clashes began.

Pakistan began a major crackdown in October 2023 to expel undocumented migrants, urging them to leave voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. The policy pushed millions to cross into Afghanistan, including people born in Pakistan who had lived and worked there for decades.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year, with nearly 80,000 more having returned so far this year.

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Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin came second with 10,578, while Labour’s Angeliki Stogia was third with 9,364. The Conservative’s Charlotte Cadden came fourth with 706 votes – the party’s worst ever by-election result – and the Liberal Democrats’ Jackie Pearcey had 653. No other parties got more than 200 votes.