Category: News
Chicago police warn of West Side sexual assaults linked to social media apps
Chicago police issued a community alert Friday warning of recent sexual assaults in the Austin neighborhood that were linked to social media apps.
Police said the suspect arranged to meet the victims after coming into contact with them on social media apps. When the victims arrived at the prearranged meeting place, the suspect would pull out a handgun and sexually assault them, police said.
The assaults began in October in the 5600 block of West Washington Boulevard. In the first attack, the suspect met a woman about 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 26. The next attack happened Nov. 11 around 8 a.m. at the same location.
On Dec. 30, the suspect struck again on Washington Boulevard around 1:45 p.m., and again on Feb. 22 at around 10 a.m., police said.
The suspect was described by police as between 26 to 30 years old. He was last seen wearing a black puffy jacket, a gray hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. He also was wearing a black durag.
Anyone with information about the attacks or the suspect should contact detectives at 312-746-8251.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/sexual-assaults-austin/
Mets: Freddy Peralta será el abridor del día inaugural ante los Piratas
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — Los Mets de Nueva York tendrán al recién adquirido Freddy Peralta en el montículo contra Pittsburgh en el día inaugural de la temporada regular.
Nueva York traspasó a dos prospectos a Milwaukee el mes pasado por el as dominicano.
“Cuando lo adquirimos, estaba bastante claro que iba a lanzar al frente de nuestra rotación. Se lo ganó. Estoy entusiasmado. Todos estamos entusiasmados”, dijo el mánager de los Mets Carlos Mendoza antes del juego de entrenamiento de primavera el viernes contra San Luis.
Los Mets abrirán su campaña en casa el 26 de marzo.
El derecho de 29 años le da a los remozados Mets un abridor de primera línea después de que su rotación fuera zarandeada en la segunda mitad de una decepcionante temporada 2025. También adquirieron al infielder Bo Bichette en la agencia libre y adquirieron al jardinero central Luis Robert Jr. en un canje con los Medias Blancas de Chicago.
Peralta tuvo marca de 17-6 con efectividad de 2.70 en 33 aperturas la temporada pasada, cuando lideró la Liga Nacional en victorias y terminó quinto en la votación del premio Cy Young. Ponchó a 204 en 176 innings y dos tercios y consiguió su segunda selección al Juego de Estrellas.
Está previsto que gane 8 millones de dólares esta temporada y puede convertirse en agente libre después de la Serie Mundial. Tiene marca de 70-42 con efectividad de 3,59 y 1.153 ponches en 931 entradas a lo largo de ocho temporadas en las Grandes Ligas, todas con Milwaukee.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/deportes
Kristi Noem Says DHS Staffers Put Spyware On Her Phone And Laptop To Record Meetings
Kristi Noem Says DHS Staffers Put Spyware On Her Phone And Laptop To Record Meetings
Authored by Debra Heine via American Greatness,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Thursday that certain DHS staffers had allegedly installed spyware on her phone and computer, as well as on devices belonging to other political appointees.
“You wouldn’t even believe what I’ve found since I’ve been in this department,” Noem told conservative podcaster Patrick Bet-David .
Noem said she discovered the spyware last year with the assistance of former DOGE chief Elon Musk and his team.
“They helped me identify that some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me to record our meetings,” Noem said.
Bet-David was flabbergasted by the bombshell revelation.
Stop it!” he exclaimed. Wow!”
“They had done that to several of the politicals,” Noem added.
The DHS Sec. said that if it wasn’t for Musk’s technology experts, there would probably still by spyware on DHS laptops and phones.
Noem also disclosed that a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) was just recently discovered containing files “no one knew existed.”
“An employee walked by a door and wondered what it was and started asking questions,” she explained, adding that when Trump officials went inside to check it out, they found “individuals working there that had secret files that nobody knew about” on controversial topics.
Noem told Bet-David that the secret files were turned over to attorneys for review.
The secretary went on to say she has seen “eye-opening” data from Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and the National Laboratories regarding the scientists who traveled to the infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology in China to conduct gain of function experiments on coronaviruses.
“It was eye-opening,” she said.
The FBI and Department of Energy (DOE) have determined with moderate/low confidence that COVID-19 leaked from the Wuhan lab.
Noem told Bet-David that she never doubted that the “deep state” (entrenched liberal resistance within the bureaucracy) existed, but never would have guessed that it was a bad as it is.
“I’m still every day trying to dig out people who don’t love America, not just in this department, but throughout the federal government,” she said.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/27/2026 – 12:25
BP shares plans for environmental department, compensation
In its latest union negotiations update, BP announced its plan for the Whiting refinery’s environmental department and proposed strategies for employee compensation.
According to its union updates page, the BP refinery has 30 environmental technicians, nine of whom are company employees. With its proposal, the company plans to shift the nine technicians’ work to its “incumbent specialized contractor,” claiming it is standard practice for the industry.
“BP is committed to safety at our refinery — safety for our people, the community, and the environment,” the update said. “The BP Whiting refinery wants to make it clear: we are NOT eliminating our Environmental Department.”
In its update, BP also announced that it has proposed a new job advancement structure “that focuses on skills and competency development.” The company also plans to enhance training programs to upskill the workforce and improve its performance.
“We are negotiating our total compensation package to compete with the external market,” BP’s update said. “As part of that, the average wage increase proposed over the next four years of the contract is over $7.00 per hour or the equivalent of a 13% increase. Our average hourly earner is among the top 10% in the state of Indiana.”
The refinery proposed new overtime management rules to “help ensure overtime is distributed equitably and allows better work-life balance,” according to the update.
United Steelworkers and supporters march past BP Refinery property as they prepare to rally in front of the company’s Whiting headquarters amid contract negotiations on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
United Steelworkers Union 7-1 President Eric Schultz responded to BP’s claims in a statement.
“(BP) is attempting to put a glossy label on their proposals and make deep union concessions sound like standard industry practice, when they are anything but that,” Schultz said. “Outsourcing critical environmental work and maintenance functions, rewriting overtime rules, and pushing a long contract with a lengthy ‘industrial peace’ clause are not about ‘stability.’ They are about shifting risk onto workers and our community, with less accountability. Our members aren’t coming in from Louisiana every week to work here — we live this work every day. Northwest Indiana is our home. We know what keeps this refinery safe, what protects the public, and what sustains middle-class jobs here.”
In his statement, Schultz said that environmental monitoring and compliance are “core refinery safety functions,” and outsourcing the work is not standard. He claims the move would reduce BP’s responsibility for staffing, training and institutional knowledge.
Schultz also claimed that BP’s offered wage package is untrue.
“It is a fact that they have formally proposed to reduce the base wage rate for every job classification in the refinery except for two,” Schultz said. “When their ‘wage increases’ are factored in, the average refinery wage would actually see their hourly rate reduced by $4.18. They cannot ignore what they want to take from us.”
In his statement, Schultz also addressed BP’s sought-after six-year contract term, claiming it’s a one-sided demand that limits workers’ leverage. The union is also prepared to discuss improvements to the overtime rules that would protect workers’ safety, the statement said.
“We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and reaching an agreement that supports safe operations, protects the community, and maintains family-sustaining union jobs,” Schultz said. “We’ve always been the people who keep this refinery running safely — through every challenge. We want an agreement that respects that reality, not one that outsources accountability and calls it ‘modernization.’”
On Jan. 5, BP and the union started negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, according to Post-Tribune archives. The previous agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31, and the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement by deadline.
Both parties have since agreed to rolling 24-hour extensions of the agreement for Whiting refinery workers.
USW announced on Feb. 5 that it was prepared for a strike or lockout at the BP Whiting refinery, citing its desire for a “fair agreement.” No update on a strike or lockout has been given since the announcement.
The company has held more than 40 documented bargaining sessions with the union since Jan. 5, according to a previous email from its spokesperson. The parties have also met in informal settings to discuss the proposals.
In its previous negotiations update, BP announced that it was seeking a six-year contract term and a 150-day notice before any union strike or lockout.
BP has also trained replacement workers, consisting of current and former employees, to operate the refinery safely and in compliance with regulations if a work stoppage occurs, according to a previous email.
The union encouraged members to remove personal belongings from the workplace, schedule any medical, dental or vision appointments, refill prescriptions with 90-day supplies and postpone major purchases or financial obligations until an agreement is reached.
According to the BP website, if employees are absent from work because of a strike or lockout, they will not be eligible for employee benefits, adding that they can still receive benefits through alternative means, including COBRA.
On Feb. 6, the USW reached an agreement with Marathon for a four-year national pattern, which covers about 30,000 union oil workers for dozens of employers. Affected workers are represented through the USW National Oil Bargaining Program, and they work in more than 200 units that include refining, production, pipelines, maintenance, storage, petrochemical and renewable facilities.
BP said in a Feb. 6 statement that the company “is, in no way, obligated to follow the ‘pattern.’”
Negotiations updates from BP are available online, whitingnegotiations.com.
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/bp-shares-plans-for-environmental-department-compensation/
Máximo tribunal de Israel autoriza grupos de ayuda en Gaza; ataques israelíes dejan 5 muertos
Por SAM MEDNICK y WAFAA SHURAFA
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — El máximo tribunal de Israel autorizó el viernes que grupos internacionales de ayuda sigan operando en la Franja de Gaza y otros territorios palestinos, y ataques israelíes mataron al menos a cinco personas en el enclave devastado por la guerra.
La orden de la Corte Suprema, en respuesta a una petición de 17 grupos de ayuda, detuvo en la práctica una decisión anterior del gobierno israelí que prohibía a esos grupos por negarse a cumplir las nuevas normas de Israel.
Israel había anunciado que prohibirá las operaciones de 37 grupos de ayuda para el 1 de marzo por no acatar las reglas introducidas el año pasado, que exigen a los grupos de ayuda registrar los nombres y la información de contacto de los empleados, y proporcionar detalles sobre su financiación y sus operaciones.
Los grupos consideran que las normas son invasivas y arbitrarias, y sostienen que la prohibición obstaculizaría una asistencia crucial. Israel afirma que las nuevas medidas son necesarias para garantizar que los grupos armados no se infiltren en las organizaciones humanitarias.
Un alto el fuego negociado por Estados Unidos y pactado en octubre ha detenido las principales operaciones militares. Pero la guerra de dos años, desencadenada por el ataque de Hamás contra Israel el 7 de octubre de 2023, ha dejado gran parte del territorio en ruinas y a la mayoría de los 2 millones de palestinos de Gaza dependientes de la ayuda internacional.
Israel también ha seguido atacando a lo que dice que son milicianos, a menudo matando a civiles.
Grupos de ayuda expresan alivio
La orden del viernes fue una medida cautelar temporal al tiempo que el tribunal estudia el caso. No se determinó una fecha para una decisión final.
“Sin embargo, este es un paso en la dirección correcta —aunque todavía queda un camino muy, muy largo por recorrer. Seguiremos luchando para poder hacer nuestro trabajo y entregar asistencia que salva vidas a los palestinos que la necesitan”, dijo Athena Rayburn, directora ejecutiva de AIDA, una organización paraguas que representa a más de 100 grupos que operan en los territorios palestinos.
Abogados que representan a los grupos de ayuda señalaron que la decisión ha dado a los palestinos en Gaza y Cisjordania algo de “margen para respirar”.
La petición sostuvo que las nuevas normas violan el derecho internacional y que Israel, como potencia ocupante, tiene la obligación de garantizar que los alimentos y los medicamentos lleguen a la gente. También afirma que Israel no tiene autoridad para cerrar organizaciones en zonas bajo el control nominal de la Autoridad Palestina.
COGAT, el organismo militar israelí que supervisa los asuntos civiles en Gaza, ha señalado que las organizaciones cuyas licencias serán revocadas aportan menos del 1% de la ayuda total que entra al territorio. Más de 20 organizaciones seguirán operando tras cumplir con las nuevas regulaciones, indicó.
Bombardeos israelíes dejan al menos 5 muertos
Ataques aéreos israelíes registrados durante la noche mataron al menos a cinco personas, cuatro de ellas miembros de la policía dirigida por Hamás, informaron autoridades el viernes.
Este tipo de ataques ha interrumpido repetidamente la tregua desde que entró en vigor en octubre. El creciente número de muertos palestinos ha hecho que muchos en Gaza sientan como si la guerra nunca hubiera terminado.
El médico Ahmed al-Farra, del Hospital Nasser, dijo que tres de los cinco murieron por un ataque contra un puesto de control policial en el sur de Gaza, cerca de Jan Yunis. Otro murió en un ataque contra un puesto de control en el campamento de refugiados de Bureij, según un comunicado del Ministerio del Interior dirigido por Hamás, que supervisa a la policía en Gaza.
Al-Farra indicó que un ataque separado en el oeste de Jan Yunis mató a un palestino.
El ejército israelí afirmó que mató a varios milicianos en Rafah, en la frontera con Egipto. Añadió que los ataques fueron en respuesta a una violación del alto el fuego.
La fuerza policial dirigida por Hamás ha seguido operando en la mitad del territorio bajo el control del grupo. El acuerdo de alto el fuego exige que Hamás se desarme y entregue el poder a una comisión de administradores palestinos, y que Israel se retire cuando se despliegan fuerzas internacionales. No hay una fecha fija para implementar esos aspectos del acuerdo.
Embajada de EEUU presta servicios en asentamiento
Por otro lado, en la Cisjordania ocupada, la embajada de Estados Unidos comenzó a ofrecer servicios consulares por primera vez el viernes en un asentamiento israelí.
La medida continúa un cambio de política bajo el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump, cuyo gobierno ha sido mucho más favorable a los asentamientos israelíes en Cisjordania que los anteriores mandatarios de Estados Unidos. La mayor parte de la comunidad internacional considera que los asentamientos son ilegales y un obstáculo para la paz con los palestinos.
La gente hizo fila en el asentamiento de Efrat, donde viven unos 4.000 ciudadanos de Estados Unidos. El alcalde de la ciudad, Dovi Sheffler, expresó: “Estados Unidos dice que Efrat es parte de Israel; Efrat va a estar aquí para siempre”.
Más de 500.000 israelíes viven en asentamientos en toda Cisjordania, que alberga a alrededor de 3 millones de palestinos que viven bajo régimen militar, con la Autoridad Palestina ejerciendo una autonomía limitada en los centros de población.
La embajada de Estados Unidos ya había prestado servicios consulares en Ramala y otras ciudades palestinas de Cisjordania, donde viven muchos palestino-estadounidenses.
Israel capturó Cisjordania, Gaza y Jerusalén oriental en la guerra de Oriente Medio de 1967, territorios que los palestinos quieren para un futuro Estado.
___
Shurafa reportó desde Deir al-Balah, Franja de Gaza. ___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Irán niega acceso a organismo de la ONU a instalaciones nucleares bombardeadas por EEUU
Por STEPHANIE LIECHTENSTEIN
VIENNA (AP) — Irán no ha permitido que el organismo nuclear de las Naciones Unidas acceda a sus instalaciones nucleares bombardeadas por Israel y Estados Unidos durante una guerra de 12 días en junio, según un informe confidencial del organismo de control distribuido entre los Estados miembros y visto el viernes por The Associated Press.
En el informe del Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica (OIEA) se subraya que la agencia “no puede verificar si Irán ha suspendido todas las actividades relacionadas con el enriquecimiento”, ni el “tamaño de las reservas de uranio de Irán en las instalaciones nucleares afectadas”.
Irán tiene cuatro instalaciones de enriquecimiento declaradas, pero en el informe se advierte que, debido a la falta de acceso, el OIEA “no puede proporcionar ninguna información sobre el tamaño actual, la composición o el paradero de las reservas de uranio enriquecido en Irán”.
En el informe se recalca que la “pérdida de continuidad del conocimiento … debe abordarse con la máxima urgencia”.
Irán ha insistido durante mucho tiempo en que su programa es pacífico, pero el OIEA y las naciones occidentales afirman que Teherán tuvo un programa organizado de armas nucleares hasta 2003. Estados Unidos busca un acuerdo para limitar el programa nuclear de Irán y garantizar que no desarrolle armas nucleares.
El material altamente enriquecido debería verificarse con regularidad
El OIEA informó que Irán había comunicado al organismo, en una carta fechada el 2 de febrero, que las salvaguardias normales eran “legalmente insostenibles y materialmente impracticables”, como resultado de amenazas y “actos de agresión”.
En el informe confidencial también se indica que Irán sí permitió el acceso a inspectores del OIEA “a cada una de las instalaciones nucleares no afectadas al menos una vez” desde junio de 2025, con la excepción de una central eléctrica en Karun que está en construcción.
Irán está legalmente obligado a cooperar con el OIEA en virtud del Tratado sobre la No Proliferación de las Armas Nucleares, pero suspendió toda cooperación tras la guerra con Israel.
Según el OIEA, Irán mantiene unas reservas de 440,9 kilogramos (972 libras) de uranio enriquecido hasta una pureza del 60%, a un corto paso técnico de los niveles del 90% propios del grado armamentístico.
Esas reservas podrían permitir que Irán construya hasta 10 bombas nucleares si decide utilizar su programa para producir armas, advirtió el director general del OIEA, Rafael Grossi, en una entrevista reciente con la AP. Añadió que eso no significa que Irán tenga tal arma.
Según las directrices del OIEA, un material nuclear tan altamente enriquecido normalmente debería verificarse cada mes.
El OIEA observa actividad alrededor de sitios nucleares
Ante la ausencia de acceso directo a los sitios nucleares, el OIEA recurrió a imágenes satelitales disponibles comercialmente.
La observación de la instalación de Isfahan, a unos 350 kilómetros (215 millas) al sureste de Teherán, mostró “actividad vehicular regular” alrededor de la entrada a un complejo de túneles utilizado para almacenar material enriquecido, se indica en el informe.
Isfahan fue atacada por Israel y Estados Unidos en junio.
El OIEA indicó que también observó actividad en los sitios de enriquecimiento de Natanz y Fordow, pero añadió que “sin acceso a estas instalaciones no es posible que el Organismo pueda confirmar la naturaleza y el propósito de las actividades”.
El OIEA se sumó a las conversaciones de Ginebra
El OIEA informó el viernes que Grossi asistió a negociaciones entre Estados Unidos e Irán el 17 y el 26 de febrero en Ginebra, en las que “proporcionó asesoramiento” sobre la verificación del programa nuclear iraní. En el informe se indica que esas negociaciones “siguen en curso”.
Las conversaciones del jueves, la tercera ronda de este año bajo mediación omaní, terminaron sin un acuerdo, dejando sobre la mesa el peligro de otra guerra en Oriente Medio, después de que Estados Unidos reuniera una enorme flota de aviones y buques de guerra en la región.
Un funcionario omaní dijo que las conversaciones técnicas de menor nivel continuarían la próxima semana en Viena, sede del OIEA. Es probable que el organismo sea crucial en cualquier acuerdo.
Irán afirma que no busca construir armas y hasta ahora se ha resistido a las exigencias de que detenga el enriquecimiento de uranio en su territorio o entregue sus reservas de uranio altamente enriquecido.
Conversaciones similares, realizadas el año pasado entre Estados Unidos e Irán sobre el programa nuclear iraní, se vinieron abajo tras el inicio de la guerra en junio. Antes de eso, Irán había enriquecido uranio hasta una pureza del 60%.
———
The Associated Press recibe apoyo para la cobertura de seguridad nuclear de la Carnegie Corporation of New York y la Outrider Foundation. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Brutal: Democrats Walked Straight Into This
Brutal: Democrats Walked Straight Into This
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
A new advertisement from conservative group American Sovereignty hammers Democrats for staying seated during President Trump’s State of the Union call to prioritize American citizens over illegal aliens, using footage that lays bare their priorities.
The ad, which dropped Thursday, features Trump stating, “If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Republicans rose in applause while Democrats remained glued to their seats, with overlays labeling the divide and accusing Dems of siding with “illegal immigrant criminals.”
The spot cuts to Trump’s “These people are crazy” remark before closing with “Republicans are for you.”
As we highlighted in previous coverage, Democrats’ behavior during the SOTU revealed whose side they’re on—and it’s not the American people.
Many boycotted the event or sat through applause for victims of illegal alien crime, exposing their allegiance to open borders over citizen safety.
They doubled down afterward, with figures like Debbie Wasserman Schultz labeling the speech “absolutely revolting” for prioritizing Americans.
Even more telling, Rep. Rashida Tlaib appeared to chant “KKK” while Republicans chanted “USA!”—a moment ripe for its own ad.
The ad’s release comes as Republicans eye midterms, with a GOP spokesperson telling the Washington Examiner that vulnerable House Democrats should “get comfortable re-watching the moment they revealed they’re nothing more than America-hating scums who stayed glued to their seats.”
The Democrats handed Republicans a raft of campaign material just in time for the midterms. They don’t even try to hide their hate for Americans
If they can’t stand for ‘protect Americans first,’ what exactly are they standing for?
This ad marks the first in a seven-figure blitz targeting battleground states like North Carolina, Michigan, and Georgia, per Politico, aiming to leverage the SOTU optics for electoral gains.
Trump himself called out Democrats during the speech, saying “you should be ashamed of yourself” for not standing, a moment echoed in White House criticisms and conservative commentary.
As midterms loom, this footage serves as a stark reminder: Democrats’ refusal to stand for American priorities hands Republicans ammunition to rally voters against policies that put citizens last.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/27/2026 – 11:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/brutal-democrats-walked-straight
Hincha tira al suelo a Lionel Messi al invadir la cancha en amistoso de Inter Miami en Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN (AP) — Lionel Messi fue derribado por un aficionado y un guardia de seguridad al final del partido amistoso del Inter Miami en Puerto Rico.
Inter Miami enfrentaba el jueves al Independiente del Valle de Ecuador en Bayamón cuando un aficionado corrió hasta el círculo central y sujetó a Messi por la cintura antes de que ambos fueran tirados al suelo por un guardia de seguridad.
Messi no pareció salir lastimado. El astro argentino se levantó de inmediato y caminó hacia otra parte del campo.
El incidente ocurrió alrededor de los 88 minutos del partido de la gira de exhibición. Varios hinchas invadieron el campo del estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel.
El partido estaba programado originalmente para el 13 de febrero, pero se pospuso porque Messi sintió molestias en la pierna durante el anterior partido de exhibición contra Barcelona SC de Ecuador.
Santiago Morales y Messi anotaron a los 16 y 70 minutos, respectivamente, para darle a Inter Miami una victoria por 2-1.
Los reinantes campeones de la liga de Estados Unidos comenzaron su temporada con una derrota 3-0 ante LAFC el sábado pasado. Enfrentarán a Orlando City el próximo domingo.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Worship news: Event to connect mothers, men’s breakfast and more
CEDAR LAKE
Bethel Church: 13620 Wicker Ave. — Bethel Church will have “The Well,” an event to connect mothers, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 9. The event exists to connect moms of all ages and stages with other moms who desire a deeper faith and Christian fellowship. To register, visit https://bethelweb.org/events?sapurl=Lys4ZWE4L2xiL2V2Lyt5Z3F6NW42P2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZSZyZWNlbnRSb3V0ZT1hcHAud2ViLWFwcC5saWJyYXJ5LmNhbGVuZGFyJnJlY2VudFJvdXRlU2x1Zz0lMkJqcDh5dnJr.
CROWN POINT
St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W Burrell Dr. — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have “John Paul II Letter to Women” Mondays during Lent, with the next gathering being from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 2. Attendees will get soup, bread and crackers for a two-hour feast with facilitator Paula Burrell. Materials will be provided. For more information, call 210-663-2201.
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — The 2026 Bethel Men’s breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. March 14, for men of all ages to gather in a morning of worship, community and teaching. The theme of the breakfast is “transformational living.” To register, text MEN to 47141.
DYER
Saint Maria Goretti: 500 Northgate Drive — Saint Maria Goretti will have Lenten Fish Fry events March 6, March 13, March 20 and March 27. Tickets for the fish fry are sold from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the food is prepared by the Original Lencioni Catering. For the full menu and prices, visit https://smgdyer.org/news/lent-2026/.
VALPARAISO
Valparaiso Baptist Church: 612 Emmettsburg St. — Valparaiso Baptist Church will have Family Night beginning at 6 p.m. March 4. There will be Teens of Truth and Team Kid at 6 p.m., with an adult bible study at 7 p.m. For more information, text 833-458-8611.
WHITING
St. John the Baptist: 1849 Lincoln Ave. — St. John the Baptist School and Faith Community’s annual Lenten Food Drive is collecting donations through March 22. Donations of food or household items are accepted and can be sent to classrooms or dropped off at the church. Volunteers are needed to carry the collected food to the recipient’s car on March 29, following 10:30 a.m. Mass. For more information, email jsandona@stjohnbap.org, and to see a full list of needed items, visit https://www.stjohnbap.org/news/bulletin/68-march-1-2026/file.
Send worship news to cnance@post-trib.com.
Pakistan Declares ‘All-Out War’ Against Afghanistan, Hundreds Dead In Overnight Clashes With Taliban
Pakistan Declares ‘All-Out War’ Against Afghanistan, Hundreds Dead In Overnight Clashes With Taliban
Overnight, Pakistan launched airstrikes across Afghanistan, including targets in the capital of Kabul, soon after which Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif by Friday morning declared an “all-out war” between the two countries.
Hours prior to the commencement of airstrikes and heavier clashes, Afghan Taliban forces reportedly attacked Pakistani border troops Thursday night in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes earlier in the week.
A Pakistani military spokesman has said that 274 Taliban fighters have been killed and more than 400 injured by Pakistani strikes, adding that 74 Taliban posts were destroyed and 18 captured – and counting.
Taliban near the Torkham border, via AFP.
The Taliban for its part has said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized. Kabul have acknowledged Taliban fighters killed, 11 wounded, and 13 civilians injured in the mountainous northwest border region where the line of fighting is concentrated.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which share the disputed 1,600-mile Durand Line, have shifted from cautious engagement to open hostility. The history has been marked by shifting from one-time allies to on-and-off again enemies. Many analysts are pointing to ‘blowback’ for Pakistan after sponsoring the Taliban’s rise in the first place, decades ago (which also had the help of the CIA in ‘Operation Cyclone’).
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who carry out cross-border attacks.
Analysts say the latest escalation marks the first time Pakistan has directly targeted Taliban government sites, or essentially going all out against Kabul, rather than limiting strikes to alleged TTP positions.
Pakistan has said its forces have taken out a number of tanks and armored vehicles, as well as artillery positions. The Taliban relies on equipment left behind and confiscated after US and NATO forces rapidly withdrew from the country in the summer of 2021.
Pakistan has struck Kabul and declared it’s in an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan, after Islamabad accused the Afghan Taliban of opening fire along the shared border.
The fighting follows days of hostilities, despite a ceasefire agreement in October. pic.twitter.com/uQO1NT4H9f
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 27, 2026
It remains that Pakistan’s army has total force domination; however, the Taliban can still inflict pain through acts of terrorism, which Pakistani cities have suffered immensely under.
Acts of terror by Islamist groups have become almost a regular occurrence in Pakistan – with many suspected of having support through Afghanistan. For example, we reported on this major incident just weeks ago as follows:
At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured on Friday when a suicide bomber struck a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, Pakistani officials said, in one of the capital’s deadliest attacks in over a decade.
The blast happened in the Khadija al-Kubra Imambargah mosque in the outskirts of Islamabad, with police saying the attacker had been stopped at the mosque gate before opening fire and setting off explosives among worshipers, according to officials cited by Reuters.
As for how the warring sides compare, regional publication Al-Monitor lays out the following:
Pakistan’s armed forces benefit from good recruitment and retention, bolstered by equipment from its main defense partner China. Islamabad continues to invest in its military nuclear programs and is also modernizing its navy and air force…
Pakistan has 660,000 active personnel in its defense forces, of whom 560,000 are in the army, 70,000 are in the air force, and 30,000 are in the navy.
The strength of the Afghan Taliban’s military is thinner, with only 172,000 active personnel. The group has, however, announced plans to expand its armed forces to 200,000 personnel.
The Taliban’s international isolation has meant that it cannot modernize its military – but still, there have been reports of drone usage against Pakistan positions.
As is typical, Pakistan points the finger at Israel and India for fomenting instability in the region:
“I think we must not miss out at this point the timing of this attack by Afghanistan. If you look at the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi to Israel, it will be easier for you to connect the dots and understand that who is behind these attacks.” – Foreign affairs expert Dr Hassan… pic.twitter.com/uGjwMADETA
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) February 27, 2026
Taliban authorities said their forces carried out drone strikes against military targets inside Pakistan as clashes between the two countries continued, according to statements from the defense ministry and a government spokesperson on Friday.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani Taliban militants attempted to deploy drones against targets within Pakistan, but air defense systems intercepted them and no casualties were reported.
Overall, Pakistan is experiencing some serious blowback for its years-long policies… Sky News’ Yalda Hakim points out that “Pakistan spent decades backing and sheltering the Afghan Taliban – its defense minister acknowledged that to me on camera. Now it says Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is providing sanctuary to militants attacking Pakistan. The consequences are unfolding in real time.”
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/27/2026 – 11:25
