A BBC investigation has uncovered allegations of sexual abuse, harassment and misogyny at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, the UK's largest military training centre for recruits under 19. Four former women recruits alleged they were sexually assaulted or harassed while aged 17, accusing fellow recruits and some staff of fostering a toxic culture. Police received 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college in the past year, while Ministry of Defence data recorded 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour since 2018. The British Army said the allegations were "extremely distressing" and pledged support for victims. (PC: NDTV)

Students of the Government Seth Anandilal Poddar Higher Secondary School for the Deaf and Mute in Jaipur staged a silent protest over poor sanitation, unsafe classrooms, water shortage and other basic issues. Using only sign language, the students demanded better facilities without raising slogans. After an official inspection confirmed their complaints, the Rajasthan Education Department removed the school principal and placed a teacher and a Class IV employee under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO). A special committee has also been formed to recommend long-term improvements, including repairs to the school building, toilets, drinking water facilities and overall campus infrastructure.  

The Centre has spent ₹74.59 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits between January and July 2026, according to data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha. Modi visited 13 countries during the period, including Israel, France, Australia and New Zealand. The highest expenditure, ₹17.46 crore, was incurred during his visit to Norway, followed by ₹11.92 crore for Israel. The MEA also said total spending on the Prime Minister's overseas bilateral visits since 2021 has reached ₹557.51 crore, with the figures excluding inflation and currency fluctuations. (PC: HT)

The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has convicted former *Tehelka* editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case involving a former junior colleague, overturning his 2021 acquittal by a trial court. Tejpal was sentenced to 10 years in prison and given two weeks to surrender. The High Court ruled that the trial court had relied on stereotypes about how a sexual assault survivor should behave. Tejpal, who has maintained his innocence, told the court he was a "victim" and said he would challenge the conviction before the Supreme Court. (PC: NDTV)

The Narendra Modi government has stepped up efforts to break the Parliament deadlock by reaching out to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the proposed FCRA Amendment Bill and the delimitation-linked Constitution Amendment Bill. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju held two meetings with Rahul Gandhi within 10 days as the Monsoon Session remains disrupted over the NEET paper leak protests, police action on students and the alleged Ram Temple donation theft. While the Centre is seeking Opposition support for key legislation, Congress has maintained that Parliament can function only after Home Minister Amit Shah addresses its demands. (PC: India Today)

Air India has named former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO, replacing Campbell Wilson, who stepped down in April. The Tata Group-owned airline said Gebremariam was unanimously selected to lead its next phase of growth after overseeing Ethiopian Airlines' expansion into Africa's largest and most profitable carrier. He takes charge as Air India faces major challenges, including a record $2.3 billion loss, reduced international operations, and the aftermath of the 2025 Ahmedabad-London crash that killed 260 people. Industry experts believe his crisis management experience could help accelerate Air India's turnaround and restore passenger confidence. (PC: BBC)

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday launched the nationwide 'Kya Bolti Public' campaign to gather people's concerns, with education as its first focus. Speaking after the party's core committee meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, Dipke said rising school, college and coaching fees have made quality education unaffordable for many families. He claimed increasing education costs are forcing parents into debt and called for reforms to reduce the financial burden. Dipke also criticised the political and judicial systems, alleging that public trust in democratic institutions has weakened in recent years. (PC: X)

Ukraine launched long-range drone attacks on 2 Russian oil refineries, targeting facilities in Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Huge black smoke was seen rising above Yaroslavl after oil storage tanks were reportedly hit by falling drone debris. The regional governor described it as the largest drone attack the area has faced, saying 93 drones were intercepted. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed it destroyed 605 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, while 3 people were reported killed. The strikes come as Ukraine continues targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russian attacks in Ukraine killed at least 10 people, officials said. (PC: BBC)

The US government has refunded about $100 billion in tariffs collected under President Donald Trump after the Supreme Court ruled that the duties imposed using emergency powers were unlawful. Court filings show the refunds account for nearly 60% of the roughly $166 billion collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The money has been returned to importers who paid the tariffs, while additional refunds remain under processing. Although the February ruling limited Trump's authority to impose broad tariffs, sector-specific duties introduced under separate laws remain in force. The administration has since pursued alternative tariff measures, prompting fresh legal challenges. (PC: X)

India has stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the return of the 11th-century Goddess Vagdevi idol from the British Museum in London. The Madhya Pradesh government requested the Centre to seek the idol's repatriation, and the Union Culture Ministry has been pursuing the matter through diplomatic and institutional channels. The issue is expected to feature prominently during the BRICS Culture Working Group and Culture Ministers' meetings in Bhopal. The white-marble idol, linked to Dhar's Bhojshala, was acquired by the British Museum in 1909. India is also pushing for stronger international cooperation to recover cultural artefacts removed during the colonial period. (PC: NDTV)