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.

A report citing US officials claimed Israel secretly established a military base in Iraq’s western desert to support air operations against Iran during the recent regional conflict. The covert installation allegedly housed Israeli special forces, logistics units and search-and-rescue teams for downed pilots. According to reports, Iraqi authorities were unaware of the base until local troops reportedly approached the area after suspicious activity was spotted by a shepherd. Israeli airstrikes were then allegedly launched to prevent exposure of the site, killing one Iraqi soldier and injuring others. The revelations have intensified scrutiny over covert regional military operations and escalating tensions involving Iran, Israel and Iraq. (PC: AFP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption and avoid buying gold for weddings for one year as India faces pressure from the global oil crisis triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict. Speaking in Secunderabad, Modi suggested reviving work-from-home practices, online meetings and virtual conferences to save petrol and diesel. He said excessive gold imports also strain India’s foreign exchange reserves during economic uncertainty. The Prime Minister described fuel conservation as a national responsibility and warned that global supply disruptions and rising crude prices could impact India’s economy if the crisis continues. (PC: India Today)

Several Naga civil society organisations in Manipur have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for direct intervention against alleged armed Kuki groups, accusing them of aiding “external aggression” and destabilising hill districts. The bodies claimed militant activities near the India-Myanmar border were threatening indigenous Naga communities and worsening ethnic tensions in the conflict-hit state. They demanded stricter enforcement against armed groups, better border security, and protection for civilians. The appeal also raised concerns over alleged bias and operational gaps in security measures. The developments highlight continuing unrest in Manipur, where ethnic violence and political instability have persisted since 2023. (PC: ANI)

Fresh speculation over C. Joseph Vijay joining the INDIA bloc emerged after his warm public interaction with Rahul Gandhi during the Tamil Nadu swearing-in ceremony. Vijay repeatedly stressed “secular” and “social justice” themes in his first speech as Chief Minister, echoing Congress messaging. Reports said Congress backed TVK after breaking ties with the DMK, deepening cracks within the INDIA alliance. While no formal alliance announcement has been made, Congress leaders have openly praised Vijay’s rise and described TVK as ideologically aligned with secular politics. The developments have triggered debate over a possible national opposition realignment ahead of future elections. (PC: PTI)

Passengers aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius began evacuating in Tenerife after a deadly hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected several others. The ship, carrying passengers from over 20 countries, was quarantined following confirmed cases linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can rarely spread between humans. Spanish authorities launched a tightly controlled evacuation with health screenings, quarantine measures, and special repatriation flights. The WHO and European health agencies said the overall public risk remains low, though all passengers are being treated as high-risk contacts. Investigators are still tracing the outbreak’s origin, believed to be linked to infected rodents in Argentina. (PC: AP)

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin strongly rejected Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s claim that the previous DMK government left the state financially burdened with ₹10 lakh crore debt. Responding to Vijay’s first speech after taking office, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s debt remains “well within permissible limits” and insisted that the state treasury is not empty. He urged the new government not to “deceive people” and reminded Vijay that welfare schemes were successfully implemented despite challenges like Covid-19 and floods. Vijay, meanwhile, promised transparent governance and announced a white paper on the state’s finances for 2021–2026. (PC: The Times of India)

Actor-turned-politician Vijay inducted a diverse mix of leaders into his first Tamil Nadu cabinet, including a former IRS officer, doctors, a national-level basketball player and young first-time MLAs. The cabinet marks a major political shift in the state after decades of DMK and AIADMK dominance.   Among the prominent faces are 29-year-old S Keerthana, who became the youngest minister, former basketball player Aadhav Arjuna, and ex-IRS officer Dr KG Arunraj. Vijay’s first ministerial list included only TVK leaders, with no Congress representative inducted. (PC: India Today)

The investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has expanded to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as police track digital and vehicle-related clues. Investigators traced a UPI payment made from the silver Nissan Micra used in the attack at a toll plaza near Kolkata.   Police suspect the killers had prior information about Rath’s seating position inside the SUV and executed the shooting in under a minute near Madhyamgram on May 7. Officials believe at least eight people, including sharpshooters and local associates, were involved in the planned killing. (PC: HT)