Morning Digest: Artemis II makes closest approach to the moon; Trump repeats threat to Iranian infrastructure, and more

Artemis II makes closest approach to the moon; astronauts break space distance record

The four astronauts carrying out NASA’s first lunar flyby in more than half-a-century were sending back detailed observations of the Moon after traveling further from Earth than any human before.. At their nearest distance to the moon, the crew came within an estimated 4,067 miles of the lunar surface, according to calculations by NASA. From the crew’s point of view, the moon would appear roughly the size of a basketball in someone’s outstretched hand.

Poll campaigning to end in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry

Campaigning for the April 9, 2026 Assembly polls in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry ends on Tuesday. In Kerala, about 2.71 crore voters — 1.32 crore men, 1.39 crore women, and 273 transgender persons along with over 2.42 lakh overseas voters — are eligible exercise their franchise. The election will decide the fate of 890 candidates. Single-phase polling will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam and 30 seats in Puducherry.

Trump doubles down on Iran threat, says ceasefire ‘not good enough’

U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down Monday (April 6, 2026) on his threat to wreck Iran’s civilian infrastructure, warning U.S. forces could destroy every bridge and power plant in the country within four hours and that a truce proposal from international mediators was not yet enough. Five weeks into the West Asia war triggered by a joint U.S.-Israeli air assault on Tehran, the U.S. leader has demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping by midnight GMT on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), or face a newly devastating round of bombing.

Delhi HC sets aside 2021 order, says Kejriwal’s rent assurance not enforceable

The Delhi High Court on Monday observed that an assurance given by then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a press conference on March 29, 2020, that the Delhi government would pay rent for those unable to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic, was not enforceable, and that such statements cannot be enforced based on the circumstances in which they were made.

Delhi CM, L-G review steps to tackle cooking gas supply chain issues

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday met Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to review issues related to the supply of cooking gas and the government’s summer action plan, according to a post by Lok Niwas Delhi on X .Ms. Gupta shared information on close monitoring of LPG supply chains to ensure timely availability in the city, along with expansion of petroleum and natural gas infrastructure to address shortages and curb black marketing.

Serpentine lines outside tribunal centres in Bengal as deleted voters queue up to get their names back on voter lists

Massive lines were seen outside tribunal centres in at least two districts of West Bengal as electors whose names were deleted during the special intensive revision process queued up to get their names back on the voter lists ahead of the election. Fresh protests erupted in North 24 Parganas’ Basirhat area alleging wrongful deletion of names. 

Indian refiners postpone maintenance shutdowns to meet local fuel demand, government says

Indian ‌refiners have postponed maintenance shutdowns ​of their units ⁠to meet local fuel demand, a government official said ‌on Monday (April 6, 2026). Indian Oil Corporation and ‌Bharat Petroleum Corporation were among ‌the ⁠companies that had ⁠planned to shut units at some of their refineries for ​routine maintenance, Sujata ‌Sharma, Joint Secretary in the federal oil ministry said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman, Lok Sabha Speaker reject Opposition notice seeking CEC’s removal

Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have rejected a notice submitted by 193 Opposition MPs across both Houses seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. No specific reasons were cited for the rejection. The notice, submitted on March 12, was signed by 63 Rajya Sabha members and 130 Lok Sabha members.

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi hints party will get the top post soon

Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sanjay Saraogi on Monday (April 6, 2026) gave a clear indication that soon the BJP would be occupying the top post in the State. The occasion was the 47th foundation day of the party’s State headquarters, in which top leaders of the state were present, including deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who is the front-runner to succeed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar next week.

Make details of magisterial probe into Ganderbal encounter public: Omar Abdullah

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (April 6, 2026) demanded that the magisterial inquiry into the Ganderbal encounter, in which one local was killed, “be made public once completed.”  “The inquiry should proceed without wasting time. The truth and facts should come out before the public. Let the inquiry do its job, and the truth will be brought before the people,” said Mr. Abdullah.