Viren Keshav

What began as a dream Antarctic expedition turned into a global health scare after a rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius went undetected for weeks, leaving three passengers dead and others critically ill even while nearly 150 people, including two Indian crew members, remain on the ship

Cricket legend AB de Villiers has drawn a striking parallel between England's Jacob Bethell and India's 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, predicting both left-handers will become future superstars. While Sooryavanshi is dazzling in IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, Bethell, now with RCB, is showing immense potential. De Villiers believes their natural talent, coupled with experience, will make them unstoppable.

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK party emerged as the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu, winning 108 seats. Despite this, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has paused an invitation to form the government, citing an "unestablished majority." This has triggered a constitutional showdown, with legal experts debating the governor's discretionary powers and the necessity of a floor test before an invitation.

The BJP, either on its own or in alliance, is in power in around 22 states, covering roughly 78% of India’s population. According to psephologist Sanjay Kumar, these figures reflect the party’s firm establishment of dominance in national politics

Cybersecurity giant Cloudflare is laying off over 1,100 employees globally, citing a major reorganization for the 'agentic AI era'. The company's internal AI usage has surged dramatically, prompting a rethink of its structure to enhance customer value and speed. Departing staff receive industry-leading severance packages, including pay through 2026 and extended healthcare.

Indian equity markets experienced a downturn Friday, with both Sensex and Nifty closing lower. Renewed military tensions near the Strait of Hormuz dampened investor sentiment, leading to profit-booking across various sectors. While IT stocks showed resilience, PSU banks were significantly impacted. Global markets also reflected cautious sentiment.

Police in West Bengal's border districts are intensifying searches, suspecting professional shooters from neighboring states in the assassination of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's aide, Chandranath Rath. Investigators are also exploring the involvement of local criminals who may have provided logistical support.