Morning Digest: Trump agrees to suspend attack on Iran by two weeks; Trinamool delegation to meet Election Commission today, and more

Trump agrees to suspend attack on Iran by two weeks

U.S. President Donald Trump said ‌on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) he has agreed “to ​suspend the bombing ⁠and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.” Mr. Trump said he ‌spoke to leaders in Pakistan, which has ‌been a mediator between Washington ‌and ⁠Tehran and which ⁠had sought a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war.

India issues urgent ‘stay wherever you are’ advisory for its citizens in Iran

As the West Asia crisis reaches a critical flashpoint following Washington’s ultimatum to Tehran, India on Tuesday advised its nationals in Iran to stay wherever they are for the next 48 hours. In an urgent advisory, the Indian Embassy in Iran urged Indians to remain indoors and strictly avoid military installations, power infrastructure and the upper floors of multi-storey buildings. U.S. President Donald Trump warned that a “whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran does not meet his 8 p.m. Eastern Time deadline (5.30 a.m. Indian time, Wednesday) to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trinamool delegation to meet Election Commission on April 8, 2026

A Trinamool Congress delegation will meet the Election Commission on Wednesday and raise the issue of people being “disenfranchised” due to the SIR in West Bengal, the party said. Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said they had written to the Election Commission on Monday seeking an appointment, and the reply came around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Opposition failed to provide proof, say presiding officers on CEC removal plea 

Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla rejected notices moved by the Opposition MPs seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, holding that the Opposition failed to provide proof and the allegations levelled against him do not establish a prima facie case of “misbehaviour” as required under the Constitution.

Ajit Pawar’s son faces criticism over ‘immature’ comments against Congress

Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and late Ajit Pawar, has come under severe criticism by the Congress over his comments against the national party. A day after he predicted the downfall of the Congress in Maharashtra because of the national party’s decision to contest Baramati bypoll against his mother, the Congress showed rare aggression while slamming him. 

Government doubles 5-kg LPG cylinder quota to ease supply concerns amid Hormuz tensions

The government has doubled the daily quota of market-priced 5-kg LPG cylinders for migrant workers as part of a broader push to stabilise fuel supplies amid disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Unlike the subsidised 14.2-kg cylinders that are used in household kitchens for cooking, the 5-kg bottles are priced at market rates. A 5-kg cylinder costs ₹549 in Delhi as against the ₹913 price for a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder.

Trump branded ‘crazy’ over apocalyptic Iran threats

Donald Trump is no stranger to provocative language. But his threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation and other recent menacing comments have prompted critics to question the U.S. President’s mental health. The oldest elected President in American history has ramped up his apocalyptic rhetoric as his frustration grows with Tehran’s refusal to make a deal to end the West Asia war.

Madras HC cancels bail for Thoothukudi Class XII girl murder accused in similar case

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday cancelled the bail granted to Dharmamuneeswaran, the accused in the Thoothukudi Class XII student sexual assault and murder case, in another case of a similar nature. A Division Bench of Justices N. Anand Venkatesh and K.K. Ramakrishnan withdrew the earlier order passed by a Coordinate Division Bench that granted suspension of the life sentence awarded to Dharmamuneeswaran pending appeal in the case pertaining to the sexual assault and murder of a woman in 2022 in Ettayapuram in the district.

U.S. disrupts Russian military-run DNS hijacking network, Justice Department says

The U.S. Justice Department ​said on ⁠Tuesday (April 7, 2026) it carried out a court-authorised disruption of a ‌DNS hijacking network controlled by ‌a Russian military intelligence ‌unit. The ⁠network was ⁠operated by Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the General ​Staff (GRU) Military ‌Unit 26165, the department said in a statement.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson released, Iraqi officials say

PAmerican journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week, has been released, an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday (April 7, 2026). Ms. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly