Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake congratulated Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, highlighting the deep historical, cultural and economic ties between Sri Lanka and the southern Indian state. In a social media post, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu remain connected through shared history, culture, enterprise and enduring people-to-people relations built across generations. He emphasised that the future holds significant economic promise as India and Sri Lanka continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership. The Sri Lankan President also expressed his willingness to work together within the India-Sri Lanka partnership framework for greater prosperity and progress, while wishing success to Vijay and Tamil Nadu’s people.

Amid a global oil shock caused by the Middle East conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to conserve fuel, revive work-from-home practices, avoid foreign travel and pause gold purchases for weddings for one year to save foreign exchange. He also appealed for reduced edible oil use and lower dependence on imported chemical fertilisers through natural farming. Crude prices have surged from nearly USD 70 to USD 126 per barrel, raising fears of fuel price hikes in India before May 15. Oil companies reportedly face monthly losses of Rs 30,000 crore while India increases LPG production and diversifies crude imports amid mounting economic pressure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to conserve fuel, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, and reduce imports amid rising global energy prices linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. Speaking in Hyderabad, Modi advised people to use petrol, diesel, and cooking gas “with great restraint” and encouraged greater use of public transport, carpooling, electric vehicles, and work-from-home practices. He also appealed to citizens to postpone overseas vacations and reduce non-essential gold purchases to help protect India’s foreign exchange reserves. Modi said collective public participation and responsible consumption are crucial to reducing the economic impact of global instability on India’s economy. (PC: The Hindu)

The Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, has arrived near Spain’s Canary Islands under strict international health protocols. India’s embassy in Madrid confirmed that the two Indian nationals onboard are healthy and asymptomatic. The outbreak has killed three passengers and infected several others with the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread through rodents and, in rare cases, between humans. The World Health Organization and Spanish authorities are closely monitoring passengers and crew while coordinating evacuation and quarantine measures. Health experts stressed that the overall global public health risk remains low despite international concern over the outbreak. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran after Tehran formally responded to a US-backed peace proposal aimed at easing escalating Gulf tensions. Trump accused Iran of “playing games” and said the country had mocked America for decades, warning that “they will be laughing no longer.” Iran reportedly sent its response through Pakistani mediators as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal focuses on ending hostilities and reopening maritime routes while broader talks on Iran’s nuclear program continue. Despite ongoing negotiations, military tensions and threats from both sides continue to raise fears of wider regional instability. (PC: Bloomberg)

Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Indian tech professional based in California, died after battling Valley Fever, a rare fungal infection that severely damaged his lungs. Kolla reportedly developed flu-like symptoms in early April, but his condition rapidly worsened and was initially mistaken for pneumonia. Doctors later confirmed Valley Fever, caused by inhaling fungal spores found in soil across parts of the US Southwest. He spent nearly a month in intensive care on ventilator support before dying on May 5 in Walnut Creek, California. Kolla is survived by his wife and five-year-old son, while a fundraiser has been launched to support the grieving family. (PC: India Today)

Iran issued a pointed response to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt after she announced the birth of her daughter. While congratulating her, Iranian officials referenced the deaths of 168 children in a reported U.S.- and Israel-linked strike on a school in Minab during Operation Epic Fury. The Iranian Embassy in Armenia urged Leavitt to “think of the mothers” of the victims whenever she holds her child, intensifying already high tensions between Tehran and Washington. Leavitt had earlier defended U.S. actions, insisting America does not target civilians. The exchange highlights the growing war of words amid escalating conflict and humanitarian concerns in the Middle East. (PC: X)

The United States and Iran remain far from ending their ongoing conflict despite fresh diplomatic efforts to secure peace in the Gulf region. Tensions escalated near the Strait of Hormuz after reports of clashes between Iranian forces and U.S. vessels, alongside drone and missile incidents targeting Gulf states. Iran has reportedly sent a response to a U.S.-backed peace proposal through Pakistani mediators, focusing on ending hostilities and ensuring maritime security. However, disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and control of shipping routes continue to block progress. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, increased regional instability, and raised fears of broader escalation across the Middle East. (PC: Reuters)

Scientists are warning that climate change and global heating may increase human exposure to hantavirus by altering rodent habitats and boosting their populations. The concern follows a deadly outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, where several passengers were infected with the Andes strain, a rare form capable of limited human-to-human transmission. Experts say droughts followed by heavy rainfall create ideal conditions for rodents to multiply, increasing infection risks. Argentina, currently under scrutiny, reported 101 hantavirus cases and 32 deaths since July 2025. The World Health Organization stressed that the virus is not easily spread and the overall global public health risk remains low. (PC: Reuters)

Retired IAS officer Suvendu Adhikari has appointed former Election Commission special observer Subrata Gupta as his adviser, shortly after taking oath as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister. Gupta, a 1990-batch IAS officer, earlier served as the EC’s Special Roll Observer during the Special Intensive Revision process ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The appointment came just days after he was relieved from election duties. The new Bengal government also appointed IAS officer Shantanu Bala as the Chief Minister’s private secretary. The BJP recently secured a historic victory in West Bengal, winning over 200 seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state.