Grammy-winning siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas have publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president, urging fans to vote early on National Voter Registration Day. In a joint Instagram video, they advocated for the Harris-Walz ticket, emphasizing the importance of protecting reproductive freedom, the planet, and democracy. Eilish stated, "We're voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they're fighting for our freedoms and future." Finneas added, "We can't let extremists control our lives; voting for Harris is the only way to stop them." 

In Beirut, a series of pager explosions resulted in at least nine deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. The explosions, which impacted various locations across Lebanon, were linked to devices used by Hezbollah members. The militant group has accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks. The blasts have caused widespread chaos, with Beirut described as a "zombie city" due to the destruction and disruption. The situation remains tense as investigations continue into the origins and responsibility for the explosions.

A new, more contagious Covid-19 variant called XEC is rapidly spreading across Europe and could soon dominate. First identified in Germany in June, XEC has since appeared in the UK, US, Denmark, and other countries. This variant, a hybrid of the omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is showing signs of increased transmissibility due to new mutations. Despite its spread, experts believe existing vaccines will still be effective in preventing severe cases. To date, XEC has been detected in 500 samples across 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China.

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has returned to work following her cancer treatment, according to the Royal Family's official record, the Court Circular. On [date], Kate held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle, convening with her Centre for Early Childhood team and Kensington Palace staff to discuss her ongoing early childhood project. As Joint Patron of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, Kate's engagement marked her first official royal duty since completing treatment. This development signals her continued commitment to advocacy and philanthropic work, with focus on early childhood development.

A wave of pager explosions across Lebanon has resulted in at least nine fatalities and thousands of injuries. Hezbollah, the targeted militant group, has accused Israel of responsibility. According to the brand owner, the pagers were manufactured in Europe. The incidents have heightened regional tensions, with investigations currently underway. No entity has claimed responsibility. The explosions mark a significant escalation in the longstanding conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, sparking concerns of further instability. Lebanese authorities are working to determine the cause and perpetrators behind the deadly attacks.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast early Wednesday, marking its second launch in a week. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the missiles were fired from Kaechon, north of Pyongyang, at around 6:50 a.m. This comes amid escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula, following Pyongyang’s recent unveiling of a uranium enrichment facility and its pledge to strengthen its nuclear arsenal. The U.S. and its allies have also accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. The missile tests have drawn concern from both South Korea and Japan, heightening regional tensions.

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail after pleading not guilty in a federal sex-trafficking case. A New York federal judge decided to keep Combs in custody, citing concerns that he poses a "serious flight risk." The 54-year-old musician was arrested on Monday and faces serious charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Combs operated a criminal enterprise from at least 2008, using drugs and violence to coerce women into fulfilling his sexual demands. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life. Combs appeared in court wearing a black T-shirt and grey sweatpants.

Israel's Mossad allegedly planted explosives inside thousands of pagers ordered by Hezbollah months before they detonated, according to a senior Lebanese security source. The militant group had ordered 5,000 pagers, which were smuggled into Lebanon in the spring. Mossad is suspected of modifying the devices at the production level, adding up to three grams of explosives in each pager. These explosives went undetected by Hezbollah for months before they exploded. The claim, reported by Reuters, highlights Mossad's covert operations against Hezbollah and raises concerns about the security of the group's communications infrastructure.

Israel's Mossad spy agency is alleged to have planted explosives inside 5,000 Taiwan-made pagers ordered by Hezbollah five months ago, according to senior Lebanese security sources. These compromised devices, used by thousands of Hezbollah members for wireless communication, detonated simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, resulting in nine fatalities and nearly 3,000 injuries. The blasts, totaling around 100 in Syria alone, targeted Hezbollah's communication network. This reported operation highlights the escalating covert conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Mossad's alleged involvement marking a significant tactical move.  

At least 9 people, including a Hezbollah fighter’s son and a young girl, have died in Lebanon after newly acquired pagers exploded across the country, according to Health Minister Firas Abiad. The devices, ordered after Hezbollah stopped using mobile phones, heated up before detonating around 3:30 pm. Over 2,750 people have been injured, with 200 critically wounded. Hezbollah, which blames Israel for the attacks, reported that many of the casualties are fighters, including top officials’ sons. Senior Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil called it a "targeting of an entire nation.”