BBC World News

1. 'We have been preparing': Why the boots on the ground in Iran could be Kurdish

   Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in exile in northern Iraq tell the BBC they have plans to cross the border but deny already doing so.

2. US asked Ukraine for help fighting Iranian drones, Zelensky says

   Ukraine's president says Kyiv will only help if doing so does not deplete its own air defences.

3. Azerbaijan says Iran struck its territory, as war spills over border

   President Ilham Aliyev says drone strikes are "act of terror" as he places armed forces on high alert.

4. Britney Spears arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence

   The singer was arrested by the California Highway Patrol at around 21:30 PT (05:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

5. Ecuadorean troops find 35m-long 'narco-sub' hidden in nature reserve

   Ecuador's military says the drug-trafficking submersible was loaded with fuel and "ready to go".