Iran showcased a new ballistic missile, the Jihad, with a 1,000 km range, and an upgraded Shahed-136B drone with a 4,000 km range during a military parade in Tehran. The unveiling comes amid increasing tensions in the Middle East, following the Hamas-Israel conflict that erupted on October 7. Western countries, including the U.S., allege that Iran has supplied missiles and drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine, a claim Tehran denies. Iran's Revolutionary Guards highlighted their growing defense capabilities, calling for unity among Islamic nations against Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

A rare polar bear appears for the 1st time in 8years was shot by police in a remote village in Iceland after being considered a threat to residents. The incident occurred in the northwest part of the country, where the bear was found rummaging through garbage near a summer house. Police consulted with the national environment agency, which advised against relocating the bear due to safety concerns. The owner of the summer house, an elderly woman, locked herself upstairs as the bear approached. She contacted her daughter in Reykjavik for help. Police chief Helgi Jensson expressed regret over the decision to kill the bear but emphasized the potential danger it posed to the frightened resident.

Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, a Hungarian CEO with a PhD in particle physics, has been linked to a series of pager explosions in Lebanon that killed 37 people, including Hezbollah militants, and injured over 3,000. Barsony-Arcidiacono heads BAC Consulting, a Budapest-based company identified by a Taiwanese firm as responsible for manufacturing the pagers involved in the blasts. The devices were reportedly linked to Hezbollah operatives. Shrouded in mystery, Barsony-Arcidiacono is fluent in seven languages and is now under scrutiny for her firm's role in the deadly attacks, raising questions about her involvement and the company’s connection to the blasts.

New York Magazine's Washington correspondent, Olivia Nuzzi, has been placed on leave pending a third-party review. The move follows Nuzzi's disclosure of a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former US presidential candidate she covered in the 2024 campaign. Nuzzi admitted to the relationship, violating the magazine's conflict of interest standards. The publication stated that Nuzzi failed to disclose the relationship, which compromised her reporting. The review aims to assess the impact of Nuzzi's relationship on her work. The magazine emphasized its commitment to journalistic integrity and ethical standards.

Travis King, the U.S. soldier who fled from South to North Korea in 2023, has been sentenced to one year of confinement and dishonorably discharged from the military. He faced charges of desertion and assaulting a non-commissioned officer. However, with time already served and credit for good behavior, the 24-year-old Army private has been released, according to his legal team. During a hearing at Fort Bliss, Texas, King pleaded guilty to five of the original 14 military charges, with the remaining charges being dismissed. The case attracted global attention after his brief defection to North Korea.

Hezbollah has confirmed the death of a second senior commander, Ahmed Wahbi, in an Israeli strike on Beirut. Wahbi, who oversaw the Radwan special forces during the Gaza war until early 2024, was killed alongside another commander, Ibrahim Aqil, whose death was previously announced. The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned Aqil's killing as a "crime" and warned that Israel would "pay the price" for its actions. The strike highlights ongoing tensions in the region, with both Hezbollah and Hamas expressing strong retaliatory sentiments following the deaths of their senior leaders.

An Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut targeted and killed senior Hezbollah military commander Ibrahim Aqil, who had a $7 million US bounty on his head. Aqil, wanted by the US for over 40 years for his alleged role in the 1983 bombings of the US embassy and marine barracks, was accused of being behind recent attacks in Lebanon. The airstrike occurred as Lebanon's caretaker government held an emergency meeting following days of explosions. The strikes have shaken a nation already familiar with conflict, with a Lebanese minister calling the attacks "war crimes." Lebanon has been rocked by a string of recent violent incidents, deepening tensions in the region.

Sri Lankans are voting in the first presidential election since mass protests in 2022 led to the ousting of the former leader due to the country's severe economic crisis. The election is viewed as a key moment for voters to decide on economic reforms aimed at recovery. However, many citizens are facing hardships from increased taxes and cuts to subsidies and welfare. Analysts expect economic issues like inflation and the cost of living to dominate the election. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been tasked with leading the country's recovery, is seeking another term to stabilize Sri Lanka's economy and regain public and international confidence.

Israel's military conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, resulting in at least 14 deaths and numerous injuries. Among those killed was Hezbollah's operations commander, Ibrahim Aqil, alongside other senior members of the group's elite Radwan unit. This marks Israel's third strike on Beirut this year, amid escalating cross-border tensions following multiple attacks on Hezbollah members, attributed to Israeli actions. The Lebanese health ministry indicates that the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue in the rubble. The situation remains critical, with 66 reported injuries, nine of which are in serious condition.

The Israeli military is reportedly recruiting African asylum-seekers to support its Gaza war efforts, offering permanent residency in return. Advocacy groups express skepticism over the fulfillment of these promises. As of 2020, around 30,000 asylum-seekers, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, reside in Israel, but less than 1% of claims are approved. Critics argue that this recruitment exploits vulnerable individuals, noting that military service should not be a condition for refugee status. Amid a soldier shortage, questions persist about the transparency and legality of these practices.