LIVE | JD Vance heads to Pakistan, says he believes negotiations with Iran will be positive

ISRO successfully conducts second integrated air drop test for Gaganyaan mission

Space agency ISRO has successfully conducted the second integrated air drop test (IADT-02) for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission at the space station in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. The system is essential to ensure a safe recovery of the crew module, the capsule in which astronauts sit during a human flight, during re-entry and landing.

Union minister Jitendra Singh congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully conducting the test.

"Congratulations #ISRO for the successful accomplishment of Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for #Gaganyaan, India's first Human Space flight scheduled next year. The second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) was successfully conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Station Sriharikota," Singh said in a post on X.

The IADT-02 follows the successful completion of the first IADT, which took place on August 24, 2025, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Air drop tests recreate the last leg of a spacecraft's return to Earth. An aircraft or helicopter drops the spacecraft from a height to test various systems under different scenarios. These are the deployment of the parachute system in case the mission is aborted mid-flight, system performance when one parachute fails to open and the spacecraft's orientation and safety during splashdown etc.

In the IADT-02 test, a simulated crew module, weighing about 5.7 tonnes, was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of about three kilometres and released over a designated drop zone in the sea, near the Sriharikota coast. In a statement, the ISRO said, "Ten parachutes of four types were deployed in a precise sequence during the descent of the crew module, gradually reducing the velocity for safe touchdown. Subsequently, the simulated crew module was successfully recovered in coordination with the Indian Navy."

Vance heads to Pakistan, says he believes negotiations with Iran will be positive

Talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the conflict are expected to start on Saturday in Islamabad, with the White House saying Vice President JD Vance would lead the US delegation.

Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, Vance said, “We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's gonna be positive. We'll, of course, see.”

He cited Trump in saying, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand.”

But Vance also added, “If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

Vance also said that Trump “gave us some pretty clear guidelines” on how talks should go, but didn't elaborate.

The vice president did not take questions from reporters travelling with him.

India flags civilian deaths in Lebanon amid ongoing strikes

India on Friday voiced alarm over mounting civilian deaths in Lebanon as Israeli strikes persist despite a two-week ceasefire meant to pause weeks of fighting in West Asia. Speaking in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the situation as "very disturbing", stressing India’s long-held position on regional stability and civilian safety.

"We are deeply concerned by reports of a large number of civilian casualties that have been reported in Lebanon. As a troop-contributing country to United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)--which is invested in Lebanon's peace and security--the trajectory of events is very disturbing," Jaiswal said as quoted by ANI.

He reiterated, "India has always emphasised the protection of civilians as the foremost priority. Observing international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is essential."

Jaiswal added, "Our Embassy in Lebanon remains in close touch with the Indian community regarding their safety and security, and we have around 1,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon."

Tensions remain high as disagreements over the ceasefire’s scope continue.

Starmer hits out at Trump over energy price swings

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vented frustration at the domestic fallout from global conflicts, arguing that decisions taken by leaders such as US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are driving instability felt in British homes and businesses.

In an interview with ITV’s Robert Peston, the Prime Minister pointed to volatile energy prices as the clearest example of that link, before adding: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”

The remarks come against the backdrop of sharp criticism from Trump over the UK’s refusal to commit troops to the conflict involving Iran. Starmer also used the interview to make clear his opposition to Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon, despite calls to fold the country into the April 7 ceasefire. “That should stop - that’s my strong view - and therefore, the question isn’t a technical one of whether it’s a breach of the agreement or not,” he said, in a direct challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu, as quoted by The Guardian.

A call between Starmer and Trump later on Thursday focused on restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While acknowledging gaps in Britain’s knowledge of the ceasefire, Starmer added: “Let me be really clear about it: they’re wrong.”

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Israeli strikes, Hezbollah fire strain fragile ceasefire

Israeli fighter jets launched strikes on at least two towns in Lebanon, adding strain to a ceasefire already under pressure amid wider tensions involving the United States and Iran. The bombardment came after a short pause, which followed an appeal from Donald Trump urging Benjamin Netanyahu to “scale back” operations in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned force based in Lebanon, said it had responded by firing rockets into northern Israel. The group accused Israel of breaching the US-Iran ceasefire arrangement and said it targeted Kiryat Shmona, close to the border, as well as Misgav Am in the Upper Galilee on Friday.

“This response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases,” the group said in a statement, reported NDTV.

Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones in Middle Eastern countries during Iran war

Ukrainian military personnel have shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy made his first public acknowledgement of the operations on Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced interceptor drones proven in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

“This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached among Iran, the United States and Israel this week.

Zelenskyy did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defence systems. He previously said that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

BJP brought people from outside for Assam polls as it was not confident of win: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that the BJP brought people from outside for the Assam elections as it was not confident of victory with the votes of the northeastern state's residents.

Addressing an election rally at Tentulia in North 24 Parganas district, she alleged that no agency in the country was neutral under the BJP government at the Centre as "the saffron party has bought them all".

"A trainload of 50,000 people was brought to Assam from Uttar Pradesh," she claimed.

"Even a snake can be trusted, but not the BJP," she added, as acrimony between the TMC and the BJP gained temperature ahead of the two-phase assembly polls in West Bengal.

Banerjee said 90 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The TMC chief said that as per a newspaper report, out of 90 lakh names deleted, 60 lakh are that of Hindus and 30 lakh of Muslims.

The TMC chief said that the BJP should never be trusted, claiming that in the NRC exercise in Assam, out of 19 lakh names delisted, 13 lakh were Hindus and 6 lakh were Muslims.

Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly were held in a single phase on Thursday.

'Vande Mataram' row: BJP says Cong puts vote bank politics over nation's dignity

The BJP on Friday attacked the Congress for allegedly insulting the national song, "Vande Mataram", and claimed that the opposition INDIA bloc prioritises vote bank politics over the nation's dignity.

The BJP's attack came after two Congress councillors in Indore reportedly refused to sing "Vande Mataram" during a discussion on the city municipal corporation's budget on April 8, saying that Islam did not permit it.

Hitting out at the INDIA bloc, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla termed the opposition alliance "anti-India" and accused it of placing religious considerations above the Constitution.

"Congress councillors Fauzia Sheikh Alim and Rubina Iqbal declined to participate in Vande Mataram singing during proceedings. This is not the 'INDI' alliance, it is an anti-India alliance," the BJP spokesperson said in a post on X.

"They keep Sharia above the Constitution. Congress councillors from Indore refused to sing Vande Mataram during the proceedings. But they are not alone," he added in a video message on X.

Poonawalla alleged that the Congress, from India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, has disrespected "Vande Mataram".