Iran’s judiciary has said protester Erfan Soltani was not sentenced to death, state media reported on Thursday. The statement came after Soltani’s family said they were earlier told his execution had been postponed. Soltani, 26, worked at a clothing shop and was arrested last week after taking part in protests in north-west Tehran. Rights groups had said he was the first protester to receive a death sentence during the current unrest. Iranian authorities did not explain why reports about the sentence had changed. The update came as Iran announced the reopening of its airspace after days of disruption caused by the nationwide security situation. (PC: The Guardian)

India is preparing to sign a free trade deal with the European Union later this month that will exclude agriculture, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. She told EU lawmakers the pact would be finalised “without agriculture”, calling it a major step for trade ties. Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are due to visit India on January 27 to sign the agreement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deal is set to cut tariffs on selected goods, including high duties on European wine and spirits. It will be the EU’s biggest trade pact and India’s 19th agreement. (PC: India Today)

An IndiGo flight bound for Delhi crossed Iranian airspace just minutes before Tehran closed its skies early Thursday, flight data showed. The aircraft passed over Iran around 2.35 am, while the closure began at about 3 am. The move forced airlines to divert or cancel several services on key east-west routes. IndiGo’s Baku–Delhi flight later turned back to Azerbaijan as it could not overfly Iran. Air India cancelled early morning flights to New York and Newark and rerouted others. SpiceJet and foreign carriers also issued advisories. Iran reopened its airspace after more than four hours, but delays continued. (PC: NDTV)

An Iran-based rights group has claimed that more than 3,400 people have died during nationwide protests that began in December after the currency crash and rising prices. Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, said at least 3,428 deaths have been recorded so far. It cited sources in Iran’s health system and said the real number may be higher. The group also reported cases where injured protesters were allegedly killed on the streets and inside medical centres. Iranian authorities have not confirmed the figures. At the same time, Iran briefly closed its airspace, and the United States has moved some staff from regional bases amid growing tensions. (PC: X)

Four astronauts from the International Space Station have returned to Earth about a month ahead of schedule after a crew member fell ill, Nasa said. The Dragon Endeavour capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. The crew includes Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They had reached the station on 1 August and were due to stay for six and a half months. A planned spacewalk last week was cancelled before Nasa revealed the medical issue. The agency has not shared details but said the affected crew member is stable and receiving care. 

India and France have broadly agreed on terms to buy 114 Rafale F4* fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, with the contract expected in 2026 or early 2027. The deal is valued at about ₹3.25 lakh crore. Eighteen aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the rest will be built in India in phases with up to 60% local content. The final assembly line will come up at Dassault’s Nagpur unit. Existing IAF Rafales will be upgraded to the F4 standard, with an option for future F5 upgrades. Deliveries may start around 2030. (PC: The Print)

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has summoned Captain Varun Anand in the probe into the Air India 171 crash, Air India told him. Anand is related to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command who died in the accident. The Federation of Indian Pilots has sent a legal notice to the bureau, saying it has not explained why Anand was called. The body said he had no role in the flight, planning, or site work and is not a witness or expert. It also cited ICAO rules against summoning family members. Anand has offered to join the process through video call. (PC: NDTV)

The Indian Army is using the Aeroarc-made Multi-Utility Legged Equipment, or MULE, as a robotic support partner in difficult terrain. The four-legged robot is designed to walk across snow, sand and shallow water. It can climb steps, carry supplies and reduce risk to troops in dangerous zones. The system can be fitted with cameras and sensors to help in watch duties and in detecting explosive threats. Around 100 units have been supplied by Delhi-based firm Aeroarc and have been shown at public events and field trials. The robot is built to work in extreme heat and cold and can also move in groups with other MULE units. 

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard the Enforcement Directorate plea on alleged interference in its raids at political consultancy I-PAC in West Bengal. The ED sought suspension of state DGP Rajeev Kumar and alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior police officers blocked searches and took documents. Appearing for Banerjee, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the agency waited two years and raided the office close to elections. He claimed the premises held sensitive poll data and that no material was seized. The ED denied wrongdoing and said the chief minister committed theft. The court said it will hear all sides. (PC: India Today)

Denmark said there is a “fundamental disagreement” with the United States over Greenland after talks in Washington on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was frank but constructive. He said President Donald Trump is pushing to take control of Greenland, which Denmark and Greenland oppose. The three sides agreed to set up a high-level working group to discuss future ties. Denmark and Greenland said they are open to more US military bases on the island. Trump later repeated that the US needs Greenland for national security. (PC: BBC)