Top news of the day: Israel under fire as Trump warns of destroying Iranian infrastructure; BJP, Congress release candidate lists for T.N. Assembly polls, and more

Israel under fire as Trump warns of destroying Iranian infrastructure; BJP, Congress release candidate lists for T.N. Assembly polls, and more in The Hindu’s top news of April 3, 2026.

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”.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.