Snake expert Durgesh Patidar said he had never seen so many cobras in one spot. He rescued around 60 and released them in a forest, though more snakes may still be inside

Shukla’s family said re-entry to Earth is the most dangerous part of the mission but the astronaut’s confidence had given them the belief that all would end well

The US Department of Defence has acquired a 15 per cent stake in MP Materials, America’s only operational rare earth mine, to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains.