During a visit to the UK, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Iran has supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, which are expected to be deployed in Ukraine within weeks. Blinken emphasized that this development poses a threat to Europe, highlighting Iran's growing influence beyond the Middle East. He revealed that Russian personnel have been trained in Iran to operate the Fath-360 missile system. While Russia has its own missile arsenal, the Iranian supply allows Moscow to reserve its long-range missiles for distant targets. The relationship between Russia and Iran is said to involve sharing nuclear and space technology.

England and Wales have launched an emergency scheme to release 5,500 prisoners early to tackle overcrowded prisons. Over 1,700 inmates, excluding those convicted of serious violent crimes or sex offenses, were freed after serving 40% of their sentences instead of the usual 50%. With the prison population at a record 88,521, this measure aims to prevent jails from running out of space. Serious offenders and those serving life sentences remain unaffected, and all released individuals will be monitored, potentially including electronic tagging and curfews.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Hamas no longer exists as a military formation, with its capabilities severely diminished after 11 months of war. Gallant supports a hostage release agreement as part of a three-phase truce deal, viewing it as a strategic opportunity to address broader security challenges. Mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt are working towards a ceasefire, though clashes continue in Gaza and Lebanon. The war, which began on October 7, has claimed nearly 41,000 lives, creating a dire humanitarian crisis, including Gaza's first polio case in 25 years.

SpaceX has successfully launched a crew of four private astronauts on a groundbreaking mission, including a billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military pilot, and two company employees. The team will perform the first-ever private spacewalk using new spacesuits and a redesigned spacecraft. The mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center, marks the riskiest private space endeavor to date. A previous attempt was delayed due to a helium leak, but the team is now underway, paving the way for future private space exploration.

Today marks the 101th death anniversary of Sukumar Ray, a renowned Bengali poet, playwright, and fiction writer. Known for his "literary nonsense" works like "Abol Tabol" and "Ha Ja Ba Ra La", Ray is often compared to Lewis Carroll. His writings remain popular among children in West Bengal and Bangladesh. As the son of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury and father of Satyajit Ray, Sukumar Ray came from a literary lineage. He also founded the Monday Club, a weekly gathering for free thinkers. His legacy continues to inspire generations with his unique brand of literature.

A major Ukrainian drone attack across several Russian regions on Tuesday resulted in at least one death and three injuries, according to Moscow's regional governor Andrei Vorobyov. The strike, one of the largest of its kind in the ongoing conflict, damaged multiple buildings and led to the evacuation of five residential structures in the affected areas. In Ramenskoye, southeast of Moscow, drones targeted high-rise apartment blocks, causing fires. The attack also led to the temporary closure of three airports near Moscow—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—diverting 48 flights. Emergency services are managing debris from the drones, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

A man from Karnataka has ignited a heated debate online by declaring that non-Kannada speakers in Bengaluru will be treated as "outsiders". In a social media post, he asserted that the city "belongs to Kannadigas" and warned that those who don't speak or attempt to learn Kannada will face exclusion. The statement has sparked concerns about linguistic chauvinism and regionalism in India's IT hub. The post has gone viral, with many condemning the divisive language and others supporting the call to promote Kannada.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury is in critical condition and on respiratory support at AIIMS in Delhi. He was admitted last month with an acute respiratory tract infection and is now on respiratory support in the intensive care unit. A team of doctors is closely monitoring his condition, which remains critical. The CPI(M) has issued a statement updating Yechury's health status, sparking concerns among party supporters and well-wishers. Yechury's health has been a subject of concern for some time, and his current condition is being closely watched by all.

India's Paralympic contingent, comprising 84 athletes, returned home on Tuesday after winning a record 29 medals at the Paris Games. The team received a warm welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, with supporters and officials greeting them with garlands and sweets. The medal tally includes seven gold medals, a first for India. Javelin throwers Sumit Antil and Navdeep, who won gold medals, were among those honored. The team's achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian sports, with the country's largest-ever contingent making a significant impact at the international event.

Emami Ltd. has acquired The Man Company, a premium men's grooming brand, for ₹400 crores. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, an angel investor in the company, has earned a 400% return on his investment made six years ago. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in India's growing male grooming market. Khurrana's investment has paid off substantially, demonstrating his savvy business move. The deal underscores the increasing importance of the men's grooming sector in India, with Emami Ltd. expanding its presence in the market.