The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted a flight-acceptance hot test of its CE20 cryogenic engine at an uprated thrust of 220 kN (22 tonnes), marking a key step towards increasing the payload capacity of India’s LVM3 rocket. The test was carried out on September 9 at ISRO’s Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The CE20 powers the cryogenic upper stage of LVM3, also known as India’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket. ISRO said the test also demonstrated the performance of the LOX Tank Pressurisation Module planned for Gaganyaan missions. The successful test brings the upgraded C32 upper stage closer to operational use on future LVM3 missions. (PC: ISRO)

Saima Wazed, daughter of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned as the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia regional director amid fraud and forgery allegations. Wazed, who began her five-year term in 2024, was placed on unpaid administrative leave in 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission filed cases against her. The WHO also investigated allegations involving travel expenses, academic credentials and land ownership. Wazed has denied the allegations, saying a travel reimbursement issue was an administrative error and disputing the other claims. In her resignation letter, she said she had lost trust in WHO leadership and cited prolonged unpaid leave. (PC: The Indian Express)

Several US military aircraft were reportedly damaged in an Iranian missile attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, according to CBS. One A-10 Thunderbolt, known as the Warthog, was hit and lost a wing, while around eight F-15s suffered light damage but were returned to service, the report said. US forces launched more than 30 Patriot missiles during the attack. Jordan said its air defences detected 20 ballistic missiles, intercepting 18, while two struck unpopulated areas. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility, describing the attack as a response to recent US strikes on Iranian tankers. (PC: NDTV)

At least five people have died and 86 remain missing after a fire broke out on the MV June Aster ferry near Coron in the Philippines. The vessel was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the blaze erupted at 18:45 local time on Wednesday. Coastguard footage showed the ferry engulfed in flames as rescuers pulled people from the sea. Forty-three people have been rescued, with seven taken to a hospital in nearby Culion. Survivors said the fire may have started in the cargo hold, while some passengers were reportedly not wearing life jackets. The cause remains under investigation. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan’s latest military display has highlighted its growing reliance on China and Turkey for fighters, drones and air-defence systems. The Pakistan Air Force showcased Chinese J-10 and JF-17 fighters, Wing Loong II drones and the HQ-17AE air-defence system, along with Turkish Akinci drones and counter-UAV equipment. The display comes as Pakistan expands its military capabilities despite economic constraints, with analysts questioning how the acquisitions are being funded. Pakistan is also strengthening its navy with Chinese submarines and frigates. Meanwhile, India is accelerating indigenous development of armed drones, long-range missiles and air-defence systems while awaiting US MQ-9B drone deliveries. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, in their first face-to-face bilateral talks since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Xi is scheduled to visit India for the September 12-13 summit, his first trip to the country in seven years. The meeting comes as India-China ties show cautious signs of improvement after years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control. Talks could cover the border dispute, regional security, trade and investment, and measures to prevent renewed tensions. (PC: India Today)

A seafarer was killed in an incident involving the Gibraltar-flagged tanker Hercules Star while at anchorage off Dubai, charterer Peninsula said Wednesday. Peninsula confirmed one fatality but provided no details on the cause. One crew member remains missing, while a team is searching; other crew members are accounted for. Assessments from security sources suggested the vessel may have been hit by a drone. UKMTO reported a vessel listing 24 nautical miles off the UAE’s Port Rashid, indicating water ingress after an attack by an unknown projectile. Security sources said the location was close to Hercules Star. Another tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi fuel oil was struck by a drone. (PC: X)

Apple will price its folding iPhone Duo from $1,999, with the top-spec model reaching $3,199, as chief executive John Ternus unveiled the company’s biggest smartphone shake-up in nearly 20 years. The Duo folds out to a screen almost as large as an iPad Mini and is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, arriving years after rivals Samsung and Huawei entered the market. Ternus said the device would redefine foldable-phone experiences. Wider price increases were less than some analysts had feared. The annual launch at Apple Park in Cupertino is crucial because iPhones generate half of Apple’s revenue. The event was Ternus’s first major public appearance since replacing Tim Cook last week. Cook attended.

Iran reportedly used new electro-optical missiles against US warships for the first time on Wednesday, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intensified attacks on American forces in the region. The IRGC launched overnight attacks targeting US forces in Jordan and 10 American ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The missiles were reportedly fitted with electro-optical seekers using cameras and light sensors to track targets more precisely, potentially without GPS. US Central Command confirmed the attacks but said the attempts against the ships failed. Iranian missiles targeting a US base in Jordan were also intercepted. The escalation followed US strikes on five Iranian oil tankers after Iran targeted a US Navy warship, prompting Tehran’s retaliatory attacks. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump has promised that the government would grant $5,000 to every American if Republicans retain control of Congress in the upcoming November midterm elections. Trump made the pledge on Thursday while speaking at a first-of-its-kind, two-day Republican midterm convention in Dallas. The event placed Trump at the center of the Republican campaign ahead of the elections. His promise links the proposed payment directly to Republican success in retaining Congress, making the announcement a significant campaign message. The pledge was delivered as Republicans prepare for the November midterms, with Trump using the Dallas convention to rally support and place himself prominently in the party’s campaign efforts for all voters. (PC: Getty Images)