Sancharee Mukhopadhyay

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

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.

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.

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.

With the LDF's victory in Kerala, the race for Chief Minister heats up. A leaked list, shared by the BJP, suggests K C Venugopal might be favored by a majority of Congress MLAs. However, one MLA claims his preference was omitted, raising questions about the consultation process. V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are also contenders.

DMK MP Kanimozhi has requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to change parliamentary seating arrangements, moving DMK MPs away from Congress. This follows the end of their two-decade alliance in Tamil Nadu after the recent poll results. The DMK accused Congress of betrayal for supporting another party to form the government, warning of widespread electoral consequences.