Artemis astronauts splash down in Pacific Ocean
The NASA spacecraft that carried four astronauts around the Moon splashed down as planned Friday (April 10, 2026) into the Pacific Ocean. The crew members -- Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman -- are to be met by recovery teams and flown to a U.S. military ship for medical evaluations.
U.S.-Iran talks expected to start today in Islamabad
Talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the West Asia conflict are expected to start on Saturday (April 11, 2026) in Islamabad. U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance would lead the U.S. 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.
Trump says U.S. will have Strait of Hormuz ‘open fairly soon’
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday (April 10, 2026) that the U.S. will have the Strait of Hormuz “open fairly soon” but did not elaborate and acknowledged that it will not be an easy step. Mr. Trump also suggested that other countries were offering help but did not identify any nation.
Over two crore names deleted as final list released in U.P. SIR exercise
Over two crore names were removed from the electoral rolls of Uttar Pradesh as the 166-day Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the State came to a close on Friday (April 10, 2026), with the release of the final list. The total deletions (2,04,45,300) represent 13.21% of the total voters in the State before the SIR process commenced in October 2025
Jaishankar to visit UAE as India steps up energy diplomacy in the Gulf
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit the United Arab Emirates on April 11 and 12, against the backdrop of the ongoing hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that have threatened India’s energy security. “We continue to reach out to countries in the Gulf region. At the direction of the Prime Minister, our Ministers are visiting Gulf countries to strengthen our energy security,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday (April 10, 2026).
Firmly oppose the targeting of civilians and infrastructure in West Asia conflict, says Jaishankar
India firmly opposes the “targeting of civilians and infrastructure” as well as the disruption of navigation due to the war in West Asia, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, inaugurating the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, which was over shadowed by the conflict and prospects for talks due to begin in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11, 2026).
BSF jawan killed in unprovoked firing in Manipur’s Ukhrul
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in “unprovoked firing by militants” in the Litan area of Manipur’s Ukhrul district, Manipur Police said on Friday (April 10, 2026). The deceased has been identified as Constable Mithun Mandal from Bhagjan Tola village, West Bengal. Police said that “search operation and area domination by security forces is under way to nab the militants behind the attack.”
Manipur CM uses highway through Kuki area after almost three years
Manipur Chief Minister has used National Highway 2, which connects Meitei-dominated Imphal and Nagaland capital Kohima through the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district, for the first time in almost three years since May 2023. On Friday (April 10, 2026), Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s convoy drove along the arterial highway to reach the Naga-dominated Senapati, the headquarters of Senapati district. The drive is considered significant given the fact that the Kuki-Zos and Meiteis have avoided venturing into each other’s territories since the ethnic conflict between the two communities broke out on May 3, 2023.
Supreme Court steps in after transwoman teacher seeks work
The Supreme Court on Friday (April 10, 2026) intervened to protect Jane Kaushik, a transwoman teacher battling for employment and acceptance in the mainstream despite multiple top court judgments and laws protecting her rights to equal opportunities and gender self-determination. Appearing before a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan, Ms. Kaushik, represented by advocates Shreya Munoth and Amritananda Chakravorty, said her employment prospects had hardly changed despite the NALSA judgment in 2014 recognising transgender persons as a ‘third gender’ and the subsequent enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and the 2020 Rules.
Vande Bharat trains carried 3.98 crore passengers in FY25-26, 36% increase over previous year
With approximately 3.98 crore passengers travelling in FY 2025–26 alone, passenger traffic on Vande Bharat Express train network has marked a year-on-year growth of nearly 34% from 2.97 crore passengers in FY 2024–25. In an official release, the Ministry of Railways has noted that since its inception, the Vande Bharat Express has served over 9.1 crore passengers through one lakh trips.