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)

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has alleged that Bangladesh is "becoming another Pakistan" and warned that the development poses a security concern for India. Speaking ahead of Hasina's first public address since her ouster, Joy claimed Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other foreign intelligence agencies have been given free rein to operate in Bangladesh. He also questioned the reported death toll from the July-August 2024 protests, citing discrepancies between casualty figures released by the United Nations and those presented by the previous Muhammad Yunus-led administration. Bangladesh's current authorities have not publicly responded to Joy's allegations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged that communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has become "very difficult" amid the ongoing war, while insisting Khamenei's leadership remains a vital source of strength for the country. In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Pezeshkian said he had nonetheless held productive meetings with the supreme leader and praised his "kindness and very sound logic." Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli strike earlier this year, has largely remained out of public view since assuming office, fuelling speculation over his role and accessibility during the conflict. (PC: News18)

Sheikh Hasina has said she will return to Bangladesh in December despite the risk of imprisonment or death, insisting her decision is driven by the country's future rather than a desire for power. Addressing journalists virtually on Wednesday, the former prime minister said she wanted to stand with the people after they had "suffered a lot." She described the July-August 2024 unrest as an organised campaign for regime change, not a peaceful student movement. Hasina also alleged widespread political persecution, attacks on minorities and journalists, and attempts to erase Bangladesh's Liberation War legacy. India clarified it had no role in or endorsement of her virtual address. (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan has introduced new rules requiring foreign journalists to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) before reporting from most parts of the country. The rules apply to international print, TV and digital media. Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are exempt from the requirement. The move comes as Pakistan faces criticism over its crackdown on protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where reports say at least 90 civilians have died since June. Human rights groups have raised concerns about media restrictions and the use of force. India also criticised Pakistan, calling the recent local elections in PoK a "complete farce."

A petrol bomb was thrown at former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan's ancestral home in Magura on Wednesday night. The house was also vandalised. The attack happened hours after Shakib appeared virtually with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference in New Delhi. During the event, Hasina said, "I will go back to Bangladesh," adding that she was ready to face jail or even death. Hasina has been living in India since August 2024 after leaving Bangladesh following the fall of her government. The motive behind the attack on Shakib's house was not immediately known.