INS Aridhaman, nuclear-powered submarine, enters India’s naval fleet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over a brief ceremony to formally commission the country’s third nuclear submarine, INS Aridhaman (S4), which is the third in the Arihant-class of SSBNs (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear), on Friday (April 3) at Visakhapatnam. The boat, being part of the strategic weapons programme, falls under the domain of the Strategic Forces and is part of the country’s nuclear triad. As per sources in the Navy, the commissioning was not made public and was carried out quietly, but Mr. Singh dropped enough hints to acknowledge the commissioning of the vessel.

Iran military says downed second U.S. jet in Gulf

Iran shot down two U.S. military planes in separate attacks on Friday (April 4, 2026), with one service member rescued and at least one missing, in a dramatic escalation since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It was the first time U.S. aircraft had been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the U.S. has “beaten and completely decimated Iran” and was “going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast.” One fighter jet was shot down in Iran, officials said. A U.S. crew member from that plane was rescued, but a second was missing, and a U.S. military search-and-rescue operation was underway.

Earthquake tremors felt in several parts of north India

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centred in Afghanistan at a depth of 150 km has been reported late Friday (April 3, 2026). Tremors were felt in several parts of Delhi NCR, Suresh Gaddale of the National Centre for Seismology confirmed to The Hindu .The tremors, which lasted a few seconds, occurred around 9:45 p.m. and they were felt in several parts of north India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, officials said. There were no immediate reports of any damage.

Union Home Ministry revises classification of districts affected by left-wing extremism

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has re-categorised the total number of left-wing extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country replacing the earlier classification of “most affected” with “LWE affected,” “districts of concern” and “legacy and thrust districts.” While the number of districts in the LWE category remains unchanged at 38 compared to 2024–25, the classification now reflects shifts in the severity of violence reported in these areas. The red corridor has significantly contracted – from over 200 districts in 2005 to just two in 2026 – and its definition has also been revised.

White House seeks $1.5 trillion defence budget as Iran war drives costs

U.S. President Donald Trump asked lawmakers on Friday (April 3, 20276) to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments. The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40 percent in a single year — the sharpest increase since World War II — as Washington seeks to sustain military operations and rebuild depleted weapons stockpiles.

14 dead as Russia launches new daytime attacks on Ukraine

Russian strikes killed 14 people in Ukraine on Friday (April 3, 2026), officials said, as Moscow launched the latest in an increasing number of daytime barrages. Moscow has been firing aerial broadsides at Ukraine throughout its more than four-year invasion, mostly at night, but in recent weeks it has stepped up daytime attacks. The Russian military used more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles in its salvo on Friday (April 3), according to the Ukrainian air force.

Election petitions must be decided on the basis of material on record: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has observed in an order that election petitions challenging poll results must be decided by courts on the material on record. A Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath recently said it was impermissible to stall proceedings until fresh evidence, if any, was unearthed. The order was based on an appeal challenging a February 2025 Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

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”.

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.

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.”