The Supreme Court of India sharply criticised top West Bengal officials over their response to the Malda incident, where judicial officers were allegedly held hostage for nine hours. The Chief Justice of India rebuked the Chief Secretary and DGP for being unreachable during the crisis, calling it a failure of administration and policing. Justice Bagchi stressed officials cannot remain inaccessible to the judiciary. The court ordered a written apology and termed the situation evidence of bureaucratic chaos. It directed full cooperation with judicial authorities and sought accountability, noting the incident was “instigated” and not spontaneous, with arrests already made. (PC: India Today)

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned that strikes near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant pose a serious nuclear safety risk and must stop immediately. The 1,000-megawatt facility has reportedly been targeted four times since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began, with the latest strike reported on Saturday. Grossi cautioned that attacks near an operational nuclear plant could trigger a severe radiological accident, endangering people and the environment beyond Iran’s borders. He stressed that nuclear facilities and their surrounding areas should never be targeted under any circumstances. (PC: CGTN)

Amid escalating tensions, Iran announced it has drafted a diplomatic response to US-mediated proposals, rejecting a reported “15-point plan” as illogical and overly ambitious. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran’s demands reflect its “interests” and “red lines” and will be revealed later. Iran accused the United States of targeting its nuclear programme, alleging the Isfahan operation was a failed “uranium theft plot.” Tehran dismissed claims of weakness and opposed any temporary ceasefire, calling it a prelude to renewed conflict. Instead, it demands a complete end to hostilities and guarantees against recurrence, while accusing Washington of sidelining diplomacy.

During the Artemis II journey, astronauts will face a 40-minute communication blackout as their Orion spacecraft passes behind the Moon, blocking signals with Earth. This moment of isolation echoes past missions like Apollo 11, when Michael Collins experienced similar solitude. While mission control awaits anxiously, teams track the spacecraft’s position. Astronauts will use the time for lunar observation and reflection. Experts highlight the need for continuous communication systems, with initiatives like Moonlight programme aiming to prevent future blackouts as lunar exploration expands toward sustained human presence. (PC: NASA)

Amid escalating US-Iran tensions, UAE diplomat Anwar Gargash stressed that access to the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed in any ceasefire deal, calling it a global economic necessity handling 20% of world energy flows. He warned against agreements that fail to address Iran’s nuclear programme, missiles, and drones, cautioning such gaps could worsen regional instability. Supporting US-led efforts to secure shipping routes, the UAE emphasized de-escalation but not at the cost of unresolved threats. Meanwhile, tensions intensified as Donald Trump threatened Iran, which responded with warnings of global energy disruption and regional instability.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani to review escalating military developments and their global security implications. Both sides emphasized peaceful conflict resolution and the urgent need to ensure freedom of navigation in critical maritime routes. The situation has directly impacted shipping, with 16 Indian-flagged vessels reportedly stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit chokepoint. The developments underline growing risks to international trade, energy supplies, and regional stability amid intensifying geopolitical uncertainty.

A major security breach occurred at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on April 6 when a masked man crashed a Uttar Pradesh-registered car through Gate No. 2, triggering high alert. The driver moved toward Speaker Vijender Gupta’s office, placed a flower bouquet near the porch, and fled. Despite CRPF deployment at the VIP gate, the less-secured entry was breached. Police, bomb disposal, and dog squads conducted thorough checks, finding no explosives. CCTV footage is being analyzed, and Special CP Ravindra Yadav supervised the probe. Authorities apprehended three individuals, including the driver, and recovered the vehicle, treating the incident as a serious security breach. (PC: Times Now)

The Artemis II astronauts entered the Moon’s gravitational sphere early Monday, advancing toward a record-breaking distance from Earth. Flying aboard the Orion spacecraft, the crew is set to reach about 252,757 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record by 4,102 miles. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will fly around the Moon’s far side, experiencing communication blackouts. The mission, a key step in Artemis program, aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028 and build a sustained presence for future Mars exploration. (PC: Reuters)

A security scare unfolded at the Delhi Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on Monday afternoon when a masked man drove a Tata Sierra with a Uttar Pradesh registration, crashing through Gate No. 2 around 2 pm and breaching the high-security complex. Delhi Police arrested the accused and recovered the vehicle. The driver approached Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta’s office, placed a bouquet near the porch, and fled. CRPF personnel were present, and no explosives were found in the bouquet. Authorities launched a search, scanning CCTV footage to determine motive. The incident, following recent bomb threats during the budget session, has raised serious security concerns and is being treated as a potential breach.

Bangladesh has started an emergency vaccination drive after a fast-spreading measles outbreak is suspected to have killed over 100 people, mostly children, since mid-March. Health officials reported more than 7,500 suspected cases, with over 900 confirmed. The surge is far higher than 2025 totals. Officials said many infected children are below nine months, the age for routine vaccines. “Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” said a Unicef representative, warning young children are at serious risk. Authorities linked the outbreak to gaps in immunisation, delayed campaigns since 2020, and vaccine shortages tied to procurement and political disruption. (PC: BBC)