Top news of the day: April 3, 2026

Israel under fire as Trump warns of destroying Iranian infrastructure

Israel said on Friday (April 3, 2026) it was under attack from a new barrage of Iranian missiles, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned Washington had yet to begin “destroying what’s left” of Iran’s infrastructure. Israel’s military reported a new missile salvo from Iran on Friday (April 3, 2026), with its air defences activated to down them. Mr. Trump warned that U.S. forces have yet to begin “destroying what’s left in Iran”, as he said more of the country’s bridges and energy infrastructure were in his sights. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted that “striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender”.

Congress, BJP release candidate lists for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls

BJP, a constituent of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, on Friday (April 3, 2026) released the list of all 27 candidates for the upcoming Assembly election in the State. Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan is entering the fray from the Avanashi (Reserved) Assembly segment. BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran is entering the fray from the Sattur Assembly segment in Virudhunagar district, shifting from his home turf of Tirunelveli. Former BJP State president K. Annamalai’s name was not on the list. The Congress announced its list of candidates for 27 out of 28 T.N. Assembly constituencies allotted to it by the DMK. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislature party leader S. Rajeshkumar retained their seats in Sriperumbudhur and Killiyoor respectively. New entrant G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran, son of former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president G.K. Mani, has been given the Pennagaram seat despite severe opposition from some senior leaders.

Silenced, but not defeated: Raghav Chadha hints at blowback after removal as AAP deputy leader

A day after the AAP wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to remove MP Raghav Chadha as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Chadha said in a post on X, “Silenced, not defeated.” In a video posted along with the text on X, he said, “Whenever I got a chance to speak in the Parliament, I have raised people’s issues. Have I done any crime by raising people’s issues?” Hitting out at Mr. Chadha, the AAP said that he has been “scared” and does not speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Alleged mastermind behind Malda violence arrested

Moffakkerul Islam, the alleged mastermind behind the Malda violence where judicial officials were held hostage, was on Friday (April 3, 2026) arrested by West Bengal Police and likely to be taken into custody. Mr. Islam, a lawyer by profession and resident of Itahar, was seen making speeches outside the Block Development Office and urging the crowd not to leave the area. He had contested the 2021 Assembly polls as a candidate of AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen). K. Jayaraman, Inspector General of Police, North Bengal, told media persons on Friday that Mr. Islam was intercepted and detained while fleeing the State from Bagdogra airport. He added that 35 persons were arrested for the violence andseveral 19 cases have been started.

Pakistan’s response to any attack would be ‘swift, calibrated and decisive’: Khawaja Asif on Rajnath Singh’s remarks

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that his country’s response to any attack would be “swift, calibrated, and decisive”. Mr. Asif took to X to respond to remarks by his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, who earlier said that any “misadventure” from India’s neighbour in the prevailing situation would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” action. Earlier, Mr. Singh said that following the Pahalgam terror attack, India had destroyed the terrorist hideouts and infrastructure in Pakistan. He contended that during Operation Sindoor, Indian forces brought Pakistan to its knees within 22 minutes.

Supreme Court asks Centre if disabled cadets can be treated as ex-servicemen

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre if military cadets who become unfit due to disabilities sustained during training can be given ex-servicemen status, enabling them to avail reservation benefits in government and semi-government jobs. A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said a majority of the military cadets were below the age of 30 and would need employment. “During the course of submissions, one of the aspects that was discussed was as to whether the boarded-out cadets could also be considered as ex-servicemen or ex-military personnel for the purpose of having the benefit of reservation for such persons in various governmental and semi-government jobs and posts,” the Bench said.

Ship carrying Iranian oil shifts course midway from India to China

A U.S.-sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian crude oil has rerouted mid-voyage from its previously indicated destination of India — where it would have marked the first such shipment in nearly seven years — to China. The Aframax tanker Ping Shun, built in 2002 and sanctioned by the U.S. in 2025, is now signalling Dongying in China as its destination instead of Vadinar in Gujarat, which it had indicated earlier this week, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler.

UN lauds efforts by Indian peacekeepers in opening key corridor in South Sudan

The UN has lauded efforts by Indian peacekeepers deployed in South Sudan to re-open a critical supply route impacted by floods last year, emphasising the “vital role” played by peacekeeping missions in assisting local communities. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said amid these difficult times, there are some hopeful developments in South Sudan. “Our Peacekeeping Mission there (UNMISS) reports that in Upper Nile State, Indian peacekeepers from the Engineering Unit have successfully reopened a key section of the Malakal–Renk main supply route, which had been closed since last year’s floods,” he said at the daily press briefing.

Iran warns UN Security Council against ‘provocative action’ on Hormuz

Iran warned the UN Security Council against any “provocative action” ahead of a scheduled vote on a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz that ended up being postponed. “Any provocative action by the aggressors and their supporters, including in the UN Security Council regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, will only complicate the situation,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. He was speaking ahead of a scheduled Security Council vote on a draft resolution mandating a force to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (April 3, 2026).

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing elected President by pro-military parliament

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing won ​a parliamentary vote on Friday (April 3, 2026) to become the country’s President, formalising his ⁠grip on political power in the war-torn nation five years after he ousted an elected government. The 69-year-old general orchestrated a 2021 coup against the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi ‌and placed her under arrest, sparking widespread protests that morphed into nationwide armed resistance against the junta. The transition from top general to civilian president follows a lopsided ‌election in December and January that was won in a landslide by an army-backed ‌party ⁠and derided by critics and Western governments as a sham to perpetuate ⁠military rule behind a veneer of democracy.

French, South Korean leaders say they’ll work together on Strait of Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on Friday (April 3, 2026) to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in West Asia. Their summit in Seoul came as U.S. President Donald Trump slammed allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Mr. Macron was making his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017 as part of an Asian tour that already has taken him to Japan. At a joint televised briefing, Mr. Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the strait and de-escalate West Asia animosities, while Mr. Lee said the two affirmed “their resolve to cooperate to secure the safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Published – April 03, 2026 06:04 pm IST