Police are bracing for one of the largest political protests ever in Britain on Saturday, with organizers expecting up to 500,000 marching in London for Palestinian rights. Counter-protest groups are also mobilizing, prompting police to deploy 1,850 officers over concerns of serious violence between the sides. Police warn they are prepared to use force if necessary to control movements and maintain order. Officers anticipate flashpoints as splinter groups could disrupt the march and far-right activists exploit events. With emotions high over the Israel-Hamas war, the massive demonstration poses major challenges for security services aiming to prevent disorder and attacks on the protesters.

Police are investigating a fake social media video falsely portraying London Mayor Sadiq Khan prioritizing pro-Palestinian marches over Armistice Day events. The clip, circulated by far-right groups ahead of Saturday's controversial march, could inflame tensions. Concerns are high about potential violent clashes between marchers and far-right counter-protesters wanting to protect war memorials on Armistice Day. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called the pro-Palestinian march "provocative." Khan's spokesperson says the video is fabricated and police counter-terror experts are probing it. The march has already ignited a political row, with Interior Minister Suella Braverman attacking police's handling of it. The fake Khan video aims to further stoke divisions before the charged demonstrations.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has expressed "full backing" for the Metropolitan Police ahead of pro-Palestine protests in London this weekend, despite earlier accusing the force of "playing favourites" with left-wing protesters. Braverman met with Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley after her critical comments sparked a Conservative party row, with some calling for her resignation. In an apparent reversal, Braverman now says she has "full confidence" the police will handle the protests robustly. The climb-down follows pressure on PM Rishi Sunak to take action over Braverman's remarks, which she made without Number 10's approval. Sunak has been warned to tread carefully in the ongoing Braverman controversy.

Lebanon faces the looming threat of war with Israel as Hezbollah engages in a tit-for-tat conflict near their shared border. Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, credited for resolving the 2006 war, states Lebanon cannot endure another conflict amid existing crises. Siniora criticizes the international community's inaction in the face of the Gaza situation. While both Siniora and Hezbollah express anger over Gaza, they differ on solutions. Siniora urges swift international intervention, while Hezbollah sees public exasperation as leverage, hinting at the potential for a broader regional conflict.

For the first time, Israel's advanced Arrow 3 air defense system successfully intercepted an incoming missile headed toward Eilat over the Red Sea. The surface-to-surface missile was apparently fired from Yemen. The Arrow 3 interceptor missile took out the threat, marking the first operational use of the system.In recent weeks, other incoming missiles aimed at Israel were intercepted using the predecessor to the Arrow 3 system, the Arrow 2 missile. One of those interceptions targeted a Houthi ballistic missile fired from Yemen, while the other destroyed a long-range rocket launched from Gaza. Both of those threats were eliminated by the older generation Arrow 2 defense system prior to this first successful operational use of the more advanced Arrow 3. Deployed in 2017, Arrow 3 is designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. The successful maiden operational interception demonstrates the potency of Israel's tiered air defenses against threats from multiple regional adversaries.

A new UN report warns that if the war in Gaza continues another month, the poverty rate in Palestine could increase by 34%, pushing nearly 500,000 more people into poverty. Current estimates show a 20% rise in poverty and 4.2% economic decline after one month of war. The UN projects Palestine's GDP would fall 8.4% or $1.7 billion if fighting persists a second month, with 390,000 jobs already lost. Prolonging the war to three months would see poverty rise 45% and GDP fall 12.2% or $2.5 billion. Gaza's pre-war poverty rate was 61%. The UN said the war is rapidly accelerating poverty and setting development back over a decade, causing humanitarian catastrophe and long-term economic impacts.

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is facing pressure to be sacked after publishing an op-ed criticizing police handling of pro-Palestinian protests without consent from PM Rishi Sunak's office. Sunak requested changes to the piece accusing police of ignoring "pro-Palestinian mobs", but Braverman ignored them. Downing Street insisted it has confidence in her, but Sunak is probing how it was published against protocol. Some speculate Braverman is positioning for a future leadership bid by appealing to right-wingers. Her pressure on police was called improper. The unauthorized op-ed amid tensions with Sunak's office has sparked speculation about Braverman's leadership ambitions.

Pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in at The New York Times headquarters, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza while alleging media bias favoring Israel. Part of ongoing demonstrations over the conflict, thousands marched in Manhattan voicing opposition to Israel's actions. Around 5pm, a group entered the NYT lobby displaying a ceasefire banner and reading names of Palestinians killed. They distributed a mock "New York War Crimes" newspaper accusing media of whitewashing genocide in Gaza. Photos showed "Lies" painted on the Times' doors. Some protested into the evening, snarling traffic. The Times demonstration was the latest high-profile action to spotlight Gaza's death toll and media coverage of the war.

South Korea is facing surging bedbug outbreaks as travel restrictions ease post-pandemic, prompting the government to launch a major extermination campaign. Bedbugs, nearly eradicated in the 1960s, are infesting homes, trains, and buses again after a tourism rebound. Authorities are urging international travelers, especially from European hotspots like France and Britain, to thoroughly disinfect belongings to prevent spreading the pests. Concerns over bedbugs hitchhiking and spreading has led to increased vigilance. South Korea's four-week anti-bedbug drive aims to curb the crisis through preventative measures as reported cases are expected to rise further.

Former Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Akram Khan, also known as Akram Gazi, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan on Thursday. Gazi led LeT's recruitment from 2018-2020 and gave anti-India speeches. He was a key figure in the terror group for years. In October, Shahid Latif, the mastermind of 2016's Pathankot Airbase attack in India, was also killed in Pakistan. Latif handled the 4 attackers. Gazi headed LeT recruitment, identifying extremist sympathizers. Earlier in September, top LeT commander Riyaz Ahmad was gunned down in a PoK mosque. Ahmad was involved in attacks on India. (Image courtesy: India Today)