Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks that allegedly killed 45 soldiers belonging to the internationally recognised Yemeni government forces. According to the Houthis, the operations targeted multiple frontline positions, intensifying fighting despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities. The Yemeni government has not independently confirmed the casualty figures, and the claims remain unverified. The renewed violence underscores the fragile security situation in Yemen, where years of conflict have caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The latest clashes raise concerns over further escalation and could complicate regional and international efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire. (PC: EPA)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a dark, tinted-window vehicle at a secret Tehran location, where he allegedly could not see him and later questioned whether the voice he heard was Khamenei's, according to Iran International. The report said the brief meeting, secured after repeated requests and resignation threats, ended without a handshake before Pezeshkian was asked to leave. However, Pezeshkian had earlier described a separate May meeting as cordial and lasting two-and-a-half hours. The report also highlighted his difficulty communicating with Khamenei, alleged policy rifts, denied follow-up meeting requests, and Khamenei's continued absence from public view for five months. (PC: NDTV)

Rail services across large parts of the UK were thrown into chaos on Wednesday after an electrical failure at a railway communications centre disrupted operations. National Rail said the outage affected routes across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and north-west England, forcing widespread cancellations, delays of up to 60 minutes, and train rescheduling. The disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day as engineers work to restore normal operations. Passengers have been advised to check the latest travel information before starting their journeys and allow extra time. The incident adds to ongoing concerns over the resilience of Britain's rail infrastructure during peak travel periods. (PC: iStock)

Panic erupted aboard a Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi after a passenger allegedly smashed an emergency exit window panel and tried to open the emergency exit door mid-air. The incident occurred between 9.30 pm and 11 pm on flight OD 231. The accused, 36-year-old Jamsheer Athanikkal from Kerala's Palakkad district, reportedly threatened passengers and cabin crew before being restrained by fellow travellers. Police said there was no apparent provocation, and he later told investigators he acted because he "felt like it." After the aircraft landed safely at Kochi airport, Batik Air's security team lodged a complaint, leading to Jamsheer's arrest. (PC: The Indian Express)

Nigerian security forces have rescued more than 300 people abducted by militants in what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described as the country's largest single-day hostage recovery operation. The intelligence-led mission, carried out by the military, police, and counter-terrorism units, took place in the forests of Kainji Lake National Park. Those rescued included victims kidnapped during earlier attacks in Kwara and Niger states. The freed hostages are receiving medical treatment before reuniting with their families. The operation marks a significant success in Nigeria's ongoing fight against militant violence and widespread kidnapping. (PC: AP)

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)

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)

Rukhsar Ahmed, a former Pakistani state minister facing rape and child trafficking allegations in the UK, has won an election in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) while on police bail. According to The Guardian, Ahmed was arrested in July 2024 by Greater Manchester Police over allegations linked to historic child sexual abuse cases in Manchester. He reportedly missed a UK bail appointment last month, claiming he was too ill to travel, but was seen campaigning in Mirpur during the PoK polls. Ahmed, affiliated with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's PML-N, is expected to report to UK police within the next 6 weeks. (PC: The Daily Star)

Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv this year overnight, firing 28 ballistic and hypersonic missiles along with 115 drones. Ukraine's air force said it failed to intercept any of the missiles, citing a critical shortage of air-defence interceptors. The strikes killed at least 17 people and injured 44, with multiple sites across the capital hit. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to speed up deliveries of anti-ballistic missile systems, saying delays were costing civilian lives. Russia claimed it targeted military logistics hubs and drone facilities in Kyiv, while reports suggested some strikes may have involved cluster-munition-equipped Iskander-M ballistic missiles. (PC: The Telegraph)