All flights at London's Luton Airport have been suspended after a major fire broke out in a car park building. The blaze in the newly-built Terminal 2 car park has led to partial collapse. Firefighters were called before 9pm and 10 engines are on site. 80% of one floor was impacted. Five people including firefighters were hospitalized. With emergency services still battling the fire, flight operations have been halted until 12pm Wednesday. Passengers are advised not to come to the airport as access is severely limited. The suspension highlights the massive impact of the car park fire which led parts of the building to collapse.

  A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan, near Herat, following a previous quake that killed over 2,000 people and devastated villages. The latest earthquake occurred 28 kilometers outside Herat, with significant depth. Taliban officials confirmed thousands of deaths and injuries, though specific figures were not provided. Many villages, including Naib Rafi, faced extensive destruction, leaving few survivors. Volunteers worked tirelessly on mass burials. Approximately 2,000 houses across 20 villages were destroyed, and the affected area lacks adequate medical facilities, adding to the challenges faced by the community.

The first U.S. plane carrying military equipment arrived at Israel's Nevatim Airbase. The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group also reached the Eastern Mediterranean. The IDF stated the cooperation between Israel and the US ensures regional security amid the ongoing fierce war. This comes as Israel on Tuesday said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas, while the death toll passed 3,000 in the ongoing fighting since Hamas's surprise attack. Israel's PM Netanyahu has warned the campaign to destroy Hamas was just beginning. Fears of regional war have grown amid expectations of an Israeli ground offensive into Gaza, from where Hamas launched the devastating multi-front attack. Over 1000 Israelis and 900 Gazans have been killed so far in the flare-up as per reports.

Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict's fourth day, Israeli Consul General to India, Kobbi Shoshani, emphasized the need to fight terrorism for survival. Shoshani praised the support from India and the US, stating their backing provided Israel with strength and direction for future actions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned terrorism, expressing solidarity with Israel after receiving an update from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conflict escalated with increased Israeli airstrikes in response to Hamas' attack, resulting in over 2,400 casualties on both sides. Hamas threatened to harm Israelis taken hostage if Israel targeted civilians without warnings.

In an interview with NDTV, Palestine's Ambassador to India, Abu Alhaija, urged India to intervene and resolve the Gaza Strip crisis, emphasizing India's friendship with both Israel and Palestine. He blamed Israel's actions in the West Bank for the conflict, urging Israel to end its control over occupied territories to cease attacks. While condemning civilian casualties, he sought India's help in negotiation efforts. Alhaija criticized Israel's siege on Gaza, highlighting over 133 children killed. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, defending Israel's actions, likened Hamas to ISIS, emphasizing the need for support in defeating the militant group amid escalating tensions.

Joe Biden condemned Hamas’ “acts of sheer evil” and said the US will provide military assistance including helping to restore Israel’s “Iron Dome”. Israel's Iron Dome air defense system helps defend against rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza, though some still hit populated areas. It uses radar to track incoming short-range rockets and differentiate threats to inhabited versus uninhabited zones. The system has 10 batteries across Israel, each with 3-4 launchers containing up to 20 interceptor missiles. Two Tamir missiles are fired at each threatening rocket. It is considered cost-effective as it only fires on populated area threats, not all rockets. Producing a missile battery still costs around $100 million. Iron Dome's protection was strained by thousands of Hamas rockets during their October offensive, allowing some to penetrate and hit Israeli communities. Biden said 14 American casualties have been reported so far, with more feared held captive by terrorists.

Israel has vowed to "wipe out" Hamas after claiming young boys were burned alive and beheaded, while babies were among those killed in a "massacre" at a kibbutz during Hamas's attack. The death toll has surpassed 1,000 Israelis, per officials. Brigadier General Dan Goldfus said Israel will go on offense against Hamas in Gaza to prevent this from recurring. The IDF struck over 70 targets in Gaza's Daraj Tuffah district, described as a Hamas terror hub directing many attacks. Infrastructures used by Palestinian Islamic Jihad was also hit. Satellite images show extensive destruction from airstrikes across Gaza as Israel escalates efforts to combat Hamas after its devastating surprise attack.

In one of the most gruesome details from Hamas's attack on Israel, at least 40 babies were killed according to Israel-based i24 News. Soldiers arriving expecting the worst were still met with unimaginable scenes, including beheaded babies and entire families murdered in beds. About 40 babies and young children have been taken out on gurneys so far in the aftermath. Over 900 Israelis were killed and 2,616 injured in Hamas's 'surprise attack' on October 7. Earlier, the IDF took journalists to a kibbutz where around 70 residents were slaughtered. An IDF official said it's "not a war, it's a massacre" of babies, mothers and fathers in bedrooms, comparing it to pogroms against Jews in Europe's history.

Hamas issued a new threat on Tuesday telling residents of the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon to evacuate by 5pm local time. This came as rocket sirens were sounding in Tel Aviv and across Israel amidst unrelenting rocket fire from Gaza. Over 4,500 rockets have been fired at Israel since Hamas launched major attacks on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel warned Hamas has "nowhere to hide" in Gaza as it continues heavy airstrikes, even as the UN called for a humanitarian corridor. With vital supplies cut off, Hamas' latest specific threat against an Israeli city further escalates tensions.

Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha recalled the "36 hours" she spent stranded in Israel after Hamas' surprise attack as the "most unforgettable and daunting" period of her life. She was in Israel for a film festival but got stuck amidst the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict. In an Instagram video, she said the past week, especially the last 36 hours, will be deeply imprinted in her memory as an emotional rollercoaster. Bharuccha landed back in Mumbai on Sunday after being unable to leave Israel. She described the time stranded as challenging, underscoring the harrowing experiences faced by visitors caught in conflict zones.