British Army medics parachuted onto the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to assist a British national with suspected hantavirus linked to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The man, who lives on the island, developed symptoms weeks after leaving the vessel and is currently stable in isolation. The UK military also air-dropped oxygen supplies after stocks on the island reached critical levels. Six hantavirus cases have been confirmed so far, including two Britons receiving treatment in South Africa and the Netherlands. Authorities said the risk to the wider public remains very low. (PC: BBC)

S Keerthana, the 29-year-old first-time MLA from Sivakasi, has become the youngest minister in actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu. Born in Virudhunagar district, Keerthana studied in a Tamil-medium government school before completing higher studies in Mathematics and Statistics.   Before joining active politics, she worked as a political consultant and digital campaign strategist with organisations like IPAC and Showtime Consulting. She was involved in campaigns for leaders including M. K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee and N. Chandrababu Naidu.   Keerthana, who speaks five languages, won the Sivakasi seat by defeating Congress candidate Ashokan G by 11,670 votes in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. (PC: X)

A silent shift among Left supporters played a major role in the BJP’s historic victory in West Bengal’s 2026 Assembly elections. Many CPI(M) supporters backed the BJP to defeat Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, despite ideological differences. The strategy, summed up by the phrase “Ebar Ram, pore Bam” (This time BJP, next time Left), reflected frustration with alleged political violence and the weakening of the Left in Bengal. Several Left workers said the BJP appeared to be the only force capable of unseating the TMC. Analysts said anti-incumbency, security deployment and the Left’s organisational decline also contributed to the BJP’s sweeping win. (PC: India Today)

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said, “I represent Hindus, Christians and Muslims,” while declaring the start of a “real secular and social justice” era in the state. Vijay took oath on Sunday, leading the first non-DMK and non-AIADMK government in nearly 70 years. Opposition parties had criticised him during the campaign and labelled him a “leader of Christians.” Vijay, whose father is Christian and mother Hindu, visited temples, mosques and churches during campaigning. He was also seen wearing a sacred Hindu kalava thread during the oath-taking ceremony in Chennai. (PC: X)

Indian model Bhavitha Mandava sparked widespread debate after her understated debut at the 2026 Met Gala in a minimalist Chanel outfit that appeared simple but featured carefully crafted silk muslin designed to resemble denim. While some praised the look as a subtle challenge to the Met Gala’s extravagant fashion culture, others felt it failed to match the event’s scale. The discussion quickly expanded into a broader conversation about Indian representation on global platforms. Mandava, a former NYU architecture student from Hyderabad, rose rapidly in fashion after being discovered in a New York subway station in 2024 and is now associated with major luxury brands. (PC: BBC)

DMK chief M. K. Stalin congratulated newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday while also offering advice on governance and finances. Referring to Vijay’s remark that the previous government had emptied the treasury, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s debt remained within permitted limits and urged him not to “deceive people.” “I believe you’ll learn nuances soon,” Stalin said, defending his government’s welfare measures during Covid-19, floods and alleged neglect from the BJP-led Centre. Vijay took oath after securing support from Congress, Left parties, VCK and IUML to cross the majority mark. (PC: HT)

Two gelatin sticks were recovered near an ashram close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event venue on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Sunday, triggering a major security scare ahead of his visit. The explosives were found nearly 3 km from the main venue during routine security checks near Kagalipura, police said. Bomb disposal and forensic teams rushed to the spot after the recovery, while security agencies sealed the area. Police have detained a suspect and launched an intensive investigation to determine whether the gelatin sticks were linked to quarrying activity or part of a larger conspiracy during the Prime Minister’s Karnataka visit. (PC: India Today)

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary under US President Donald Trump, received congratulations from Iran after announcing the birth of her daughter on social media. However, Iran’s embassy in Armenia also referred to children allegedly killed in a strike on a school in Minab during the Iran-US-Israel conflict. Sharing Leavitt’s post, the embassy urged her to remember the mothers of the children killed in the attack. The remarks came as tensions continue between Tehran and Washington over ceasefire talks and regional security in West Asia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing his first public leadership challenge after Labour MP Catherine West openly questioned his future as party leader. The remarks have triggered intense discussions within the Labour Party following recent political setbacks and dissatisfaction among MPs. While West reportedly has support from around 10 MPs, a formal challenge would require backing from 81 Labour lawmakers. Discussions within the party have also centred around Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as a possible future contender. Downing Street has so far dismissed concerns and said Starmer plans to lead Labour into the next election.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is backing senior party leader K. C. Venugopal for the Kerala chief minister’s post, sources said, triggering intense discussions within the party after the UDF’s massive election victory. Rahul Gandhi reportedly held a separate meeting with Venugopal before senior Congress leaders met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. Sources said Congress leader V. D. Satheesan opposed Venugopal’s candidature and raised concerns over factional politics. The Congress leadership is now trying to build consensus as the party balances central leadership preferences with local support in Kerala. (PC: NDTV)