LIVE | Israel strikes Lebanon, Hezbollah retaliates as ceasefire wavers

Will let my work talk: Raghav Chadha in Instagram post amid rift with AAP

Sidelined AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday shared on Instagram a video titled "Voice Raised Price Paid", a compilation of clips of him raising various issues in Parliament, amid his ongoing rift with his party.

"With due respect, to those who are questioning my parliamentary performance, I will let my work do the talking," he said in the post.

The AAP on April 2 removed Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and has accused him of shying away from raising his voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR".

A combative Chadha has dismissed the party's allegations as "lies" and said that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not to create ruckus.

Since his removal as the AAP's deputy leader in the Upper House, Chadha has shared several videos and posts on social media, making it clear that he will not take his demotion lying down.

Asian stocks mostly higher; oil gains ahead of planned US-Iran peace talks

Asian stocks were mostly up Friday tracking Wall Street gains while oil prices also rose on the fragile Iran war ceasefire and ahead of Iran-US peace talks in Pakistan.

South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.8 per cent to 5,879.71. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was up 1.6 per cent to 56,789.58. Shares of Fast Retailing, parent of Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, surged more than 10 per cent after the group raised profit expectations for the year.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.7 per cent to 25,919.12, while the Shanghai Composite index was 0.6 per cent higher at 3,991.14. China on Friday reported that its consumer price index – a main inflation gauge – was up 1 per cent in March compared with a year ago, lower than what analysts had expected and down from the 1.3 per cent increase in February.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.4 per cent. Taiwan's Taiex rose 1.3 per cent, while India's Sensex gained 0.7 per cent.

Talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan's capital Islamabad for a possible permanent ceasefire agreement in the Iran war are expected to take place starting Saturday, with US Vice President JD Vance leading the delegation for the United States.

But ahead of the talks, deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday raised questions whether the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war is still intact, while the Islamic Republic maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz, which is largely closed despite demands from the US to reopen the waterway critical for global oil and gas transport.

US MQ-4C surveillance drone disappears over Strait of Hormuz after emergency alert

A US Navy surveillance drone, MQ-4C, disappeared over the Strait of Hormuz on Friday shortly after declaring an in-flight emergency alert.

According to reports, the drone had completed roughly a three-hour surveillance of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and appeared to be returning to its base at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. It took a slight turn towards Iran when it sent code 7700 (for general emergency) and started descending. The uncrewed aircraft was tracked rapidly losing altitude before it disappeared.

It is not clear whether the drone crashed or was shot down. The disappearance of the drone comes two days after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, with Iran agreeing to reopen Hormuz for shipping traffic.

The MQ-4C Triton is US' most expensive aircraft, worth over $200 million. Unlike traditional aircraft, the Triton provides long-hour strategic surveillance over chokepoints. It is engineered for persistent, large-scale maritime surveillance, frequently serving as the high-altitude eyes for P-8A Poseidon patrol planes. The drones have been positioned for the US Central Command area over the Gulf region.

West Asia talks: No official word on arrival of US, Iran delegates in Pakistan

 Uncertainty shrouded the US-Iran dialogue, as there was no official word about the arrival of delegates on Friday, the day set for the start of talks between the two warring sides, even as Pakistan waived visa requirements for journalists and officials attending talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had stated that the two countries would hold talks in Islamabad on April 10. He had tagged presidents of the United States and Iran and other officials in his statement on X.

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amir Moghadam in a statement confirmed that a 10-member Iran delegation would arrive in Islamabad.

“Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,” he said on X on Thursday.

Hours later, he deleted the statement amidst the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, which was subjected to aerial attacks by Israel, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Iran’s president also, in a tweet, cast doubts over the process of talks if Israel continued its policy of attacks on Lebanon.

Officials have not provided any timeline for the arrival of delegates due to security reasons, adding to the mystery as the day of the dialogue has arrived, but not the parties involved in the conflict. Despite uncertainty, Pakistan was geared up to host the two sides.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, on Friday, announced "Visa on Arrival" for delegates and journalists travelling to Pakistan for talks.

"Pakistan welcomes all delegates including journalists from participating nations, traveling in relation to Islamabad Talks 2026. To this end, all airlines are requested to permit boarding to all such individuals without Visa. Immigration authorities in Pakistan will issue them Visa on Arrival," Dar posted on social media Friday morning.

A thick security blanket covered the capital, Islamabad, which was on ‘red alert’ ahead of talks.

Stock markets rebound in early trade on buying in banking counters

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Friday, driven by a rally in bank stocks and a positive trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 630.08 points to 77,261.73 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 203.6 points to 23,978.70.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Axis Bank, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance were the major gainers.

Sun Pharma, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra and Titan were the laggards.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.20 per cent up at USD 96.11 per barrel.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading higher.

US markets ended in positive territory on Thursday. "Strength in US markets, where the Dow extended its rally, along with broadly positive Asian markets, reflects continued optimism around the fragile US–Iran ceasefire. While global sentiment has improved, it is still highly event-driven.

"Any shift in geopolitical developments can quickly alter risk appetite, especially through its impact on crude oil prices. This keeps the upside constructive but not fully stable," Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.

Pakistan Defence Minister’s Israel remarks spark sharp response from Netanyahu, Sa’ar

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday referred to Israel as “evil” and a “curse for humanity” over its military actions in Lebanon amid a US-Iran ceasefire framework, drawing a strong response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a post on X that was later deleted, Asif alleged that while “peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon.”

“Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated,” he wrote.

“I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell,” Asif added.

Following backlash from Israel, Asif removed the post, further intensifying diplomatic tensions ahead of the Islamabad talks.

Reacting strongly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Pakistani defence minister’s remarks as “outrageous.”

“This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace,” his office said in a post on X.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also criticised the comments, marking a rare direct exchange between the two sides, which do not have formal diplomatic relations.

Sa’ar condemned what he called “blatant antisemitic blood libels” and said describing Israel as a “cancerous” state effectively amounts to calling for its destruction. He added that Israel would “defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction,” highlighting the seriousness with which the remarks were viewed in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu authorises direct talks with Lebanon ‘as soon as possible’ in boost to ceasefire efforts

In a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbours.

The two countries have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Netanyahu later stressed that there was no ceasefire between them.

In a video statement, he said Israel will keep striking Hezbollah until security is restored in northern Israel.

There was no immediate response from Lebanese authorities. But Israel-Lebanon negotiations were expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a US official and a person familiar with the plans who both spoke on condition of anonymity.

The prospect of talks appeared to bolster the tentative ceasefire in the Iran war that has staggered under the weight of Israel's bombardment of Beirut, Tehran's continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether planned peace talks can find common ground.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was “very optimistic” about the prospects of reaching a peace deal, saying Iranian leaders are more amenable in private conversations than in their public statements.

Netanyahu's announcement came amid disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and a day after Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes that resulted in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began on February 28.

Trump says Iran doing ‘very poor job’ of allowing oil through Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump appears to be casting doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire that has halted the Iran war.

“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on his social media site Thursday evening.

“That is not the agreement we have!” The post came after Trump posted earlier that “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait – They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” The White House supports reopening the strait as part of the ceasefire deal, but says that Trump opposes Iran's military, which continues to control the waterway, from seeking to raise revenue by charging tolls on passing ships.

Earlier, in a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbours.

The two countries have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Netanyahu later stressed that there was no ceasefire between them.

In a video statement, he said Israel will keep striking Hezbollah until security is restored in northern Israel.

Israel denounces Pak Defence Minister Khwaja Asif for 'outrageous' comments

In a strong denouncement of “outrageous” remarks made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Israel has raised doubts about his country’s role as a “neutral arbiter”.

“Pakistan Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X. “This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace,” the PMO said Thursday evening.

Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend.

However, Asif, in a social media post, called Israel “evil” and a “curse for humanity”, giving a call “to get rid of European Jews”. He also claimed that as “peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon”. “Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated,” he said.

“I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell,” he added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned Asif’s comments, saying, “These blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace.” “Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction,” Sa’ar said.

Kuwait claims attack by Iran, its proxies; Saudi Arabia says vital pipeline damaged

Kuwait has accused Iran and its proxies of launching drone attacks targeting it on Thursday despite the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, as Saudi Arabia said recent attacks damaged a key pipeline in the kingdom.

The statement from Kuwait's foreign ministry, carried by the state-run KUNA news agency, put new pressure on the ceasefire ahead of planned talks on Saturday between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.

Kuwait's foreign ministry said the drone attacks “targeted some vital Kuwaiti facilities" Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's state-run Saudi Press Agency, quoting an anonymous official, acknowledged a recent attack in the war that damaged its crucial East-West pipeline.

That pipeline carries oil out to the Red Sea and avoids the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran maintains a chokehold on despite the pause in the fighting.