Israel strikes heart of Beirut, killing six Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes against Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. Israel said it conducted a precise air strike on Beirut. Reuters witnesses reported hearing a massive blast, and a security source said it targeted a building in central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood close to parliament, the nearest Israeli strikes have come to Lebanon's seat of government. At least six people were killed and seven wounded, Lebanese health officials…

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Drones now capable of missions that used to be assigned exclusively to planes — Putin Modern-day drones can perform missions that only combat planes used to be able to take on, Russian President Vladimir Putin said as he met with college students majoring in drone technology. The president held the meeting at the Rudnevo industrial park, where Moscow-based colleges hold professional training for students studying how to assemble and operate drones. The students told Putin about their inventions and skills. "Modern unmanned aerial vehicles are gradually but fundamentally changing the principles of military operations," Putin said. "They can…