FirstUp: Trump’s deadline to open Hormuz, SC to hear Sabarimala review... Today’s big stories

Good morning.

You are reading Firstpost’s FirstUp edition for April 7, 2026.

US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz lapses today. Trump has shown frustration with Iran in recent days as the two countries have failed to come to terms to bring the conflict to an end.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance is on a visit to Hungary. Also, a 9-judge Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, will hear the Sabarimala review case starting today. In Georgia, voters will cast their ballots to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Let’s take a closer look at today’s biggest stories.

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Trump deadline

Trump has told the Wall Street Journal that he is giving Iran till Tuesday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The US president has warned that failure to do so will result in attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure.

"If they don’t do something by Tuesday evening, they won’t have any power plants and they won’t have any bridges standing,” Trump told the Journal.

Trump also posted on social media, without mentioning Iran or any other details: "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!" Representatives for the White House could not be immediately reached for comment on the post. In a separate post earlier on Sunday, Trump had said Iran would face infrastructure attacks if it did not open the strait by Tuesday, but gave no specific time.

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The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints, with nearly a fifth of global petroleum liquids passing through it daily. Any disruption has immediate implications for global energy markets, shipping routes, and inflation, particularly in import-dependent economies. Analysts warn that even the threat of further military action could push oil prices sharply higher and trigger volatility across financial markets.

JD Vance in Hungary

JD Vance arrives in Hungary today (April 7) for a two-day visit. Vance’s trip comes just days ahead of Hungary’s high-stakes parliamentary elections. Vance follows in the footsteps of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was dispatched by Donald Trump. The US president has ‘wholeheartedly’ endorsed Orbán’s re-election bid and has sent his lieutenant in what amounts to a show of support.

US Vice President JD Vance’s trip comes just days ahead of Hungary’s high-stakes parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has ruled Hungary for well over a decade. Orbán, who took power in 2010, is facing perhaps the most serious threat since his reign began.

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has deemed the election a “referendum” on whether Hungary continues its drift towards Eastern autocracies, or can retake its place among the democratic societies of Europe. Recent polls show Orbán’s Fidesz party trailing the opposition Tisza party, led by former government insider Magyar, though many voters remain undecided.

SC 9-judge bench to hear Sabarimala review

The nine-judge Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Surya Kant will review the apex court’s 2018 Sabarimala decision. The apex court in 2018 had lifted age restrictions on the entry of women into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.

A five-judge bench in November 2019 referred the 2018 decision to a larger bench. This decision was later upheld by a bench of nine judges in February 2020. The bench, chaired by CJI Kant, will also comprise Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, AG Masih, R Mahadevan, Prasanna B Varale, and Joymalya Bagchi.

A nine-judge Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Surya Kant will review the apex court’s 2018 Sabarimala decision. PTI

The case centres on the balance between the right to equality and the freedom of religion, particularly whether religious denominations can enforce practices that restrict entry based on gender. The 2018 verdict had sparked widespread protests across Kerala, with devotees arguing that the temple’s customs are integral to its religious identity, while others hailed the ruling as a step towards gender equality.

The larger bench is expected to examine broader constitutional questions, including the scope of essential religious practices and the extent to which courts can intervene in matters of faith. Its ruling could have far-reaching implications beyond Sabarimala, potentially affecting similar disputes involving religious traditions and individual rights across India.

Georgia election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

The race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene is on. Greene resigned from her 14th Congressional District in Georgia after a high-profile and public falling out with Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein files. The special election to replace Greene is widely seen as a test of Trump’s continuing hold over the Republican Party.

Trump has thrown his weight behind Clay Fuller, a former district attorney for four northwest Georgia counties. Meanwhile, the Democrats have put up Shawn Harris, a moderate Democrat who has sought to appeal to disillusioned Trump voters.

Georgia's 14th Congressional District is a mostly blue-collar corridor from Atlanta's suburbs north to the Tennessee border. Greene won the seat in 2020 and quickly became one of MAGA's most outspoken national figures.

The winner of the runoff will serve through the end of 2026 but must immediately campaign for the full two-year term starting January 2027, beginning with a May primary that could pit many of the same contenders against each other again.

With inputs from agencies