Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is reportedly considering a mass resignation of all 107 MLAs if either the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is invited to form the government amid the ongoing Tamil Nadu political deadlock. Sources said the move reflects mounting frustration within TVK as negotiations remain stalled despite the party emerging as the single largest force with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, still short of the majority mark. The development follows reports that the DMK initiated backchannel discussions with the AIADMK to prevent TVK from taking power after the closely contested Assembly elections. (PC: PTI)

US President Donald Trump claimed three American Navy destroyers successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz “under fire” from Iranian forces without sustaining damage, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump said missiles targeting the vessels were intercepted, drones were destroyed midair, and Iranian attack boats were eliminated. In a strongly worded Truth Social post, he warned Iran of harsher retaliation if a deal was not signed quickly, calling the country “not normal” and its leaders “lunatics”. Iran accused the US of initiating the confrontation and said it retaliated against American naval assets. The latest exchange has raised fears over the fragile ceasefire established after weeks of conflict.

West Bengal Police said vehicles with fake number plates were used in the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near Kolkata airport days after the Assembly election results. Investigators believe the attack was a planned ambush involving multiple bike-borne assailants armed with sophisticated weapons. Police recovered a seized bike with erased chassis details and traced one fake registration number to a North Bengal resident unrelated to the crime. The CID has taken over the high-profile investigation amid rising political tensions between the BJP and Trinamool Congress, with both parties accusing each other over escalating post-poll violence in the state. (PC: The Hindu)

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has reportedly warned that all 107 of its MLAs may resign if the rival DMK and AIADMK join hands to form the next Tamil Nadu government. The warning comes amid intense political uncertainty after TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats but fell short of the majority mark. Sources said Vijay’s camp views any DMK-AIADMK alliance as a betrayal of the public mandate for political change. Congress has already extended conditional support to TVK, while negotiations with smaller parties continue. The Governor has reportedly asked Vijay to prove support from at least 118 MLAs before staking claim. (PC: PTI)

India remained the world’s largest recipient of remittances in 2024, receiving over $137 billion from overseas Indians, according to the UN-backed International Organization for Migration’s World Migration Report 2026. India became the only country to cross the $100 billion mark, far ahead of Mexico, the Philippines and France. The report highlighted the growing economic contribution of the Indian diaspora and noted strong remittance growth across South Asia. Since 2010, India’s remittance inflows have steadily surged from $53 billion to nearly $138 billion. The UN also said India is working to convert “brain drain” into “brain gain” through diaspora engagement and innovation initiatives. (PC: Reuters)

West Bengal Governor RN Ravi dissolved the state assembly on May 7 after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to resign following the Trinamool Congress’s crushing defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP secured over 200 seats, while Mamata alleged the mandate was “looted” and questioned the election process. The Governor issued the dissolution order under Article 174 of the Constitution as the assembly’s five-year term expired. The political standoff triggered debates over constitutional procedures, caretaker governance, and possible legal challenges. The BJP has demanded her immediate removal, while the Trinamool Congress plans to challenge the election outcome in court. (PC: NDTV)

India on Thursday said repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals remains a “core issue” in ties with Bangladesh, responding to Dhaka’s concerns over alleged migrant “push-ins” along the Assam and West Bengal border. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh to cooperate in expediting the return of at least 2,862 identified illegal immigrants. Bangladesh recently placed border guards on alert and warned of action if migrants are forcibly sent through unguarded border stretches. While Dhaka raised concerns following political developments in eastern India, New Delhi did not address reported differences between the Centre and state governments on handling illegal migration. The issue has emerged as a major diplomatic and border-security concern between Delhi and Dhaka.

India on Thursday rejected allegations in a Canadian intelligence report accusing New Delhi of foreign interference, calling the claims “baseless imputations.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India respects sovereignty and does not interfere in other nations’ internal affairs. He urged such concerns to be handled institutionally rather than through politicised public narratives. Simultaneously, India highlighted that the same CSIS report acknowledged the threat posed by Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups. The report noted extremist elements misuse democratic freedoms in Canada to promote separatism, radicalisation and violent activities. New Delhi reiterated concerns over threats to diplomats, vandalism of religious sites and pro-Khalistan activities, while maintaining that Ottawa has failed to adequately act against extremist networks operating from Canadian soil.

With no party securing a clear majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member House. With Congress support, the alliance has risen to 112 MLAs, though one of Vijay’s two winning constituencies will eventually have to be vacated, leaving it short of the 118 needed to form government. Amid political uncertainty, Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar twice this week and staked claim to power. However, Raj Bhavan said TVK still lacks the numbers required to independently form the government. Sources said the Governor asked the party to prove support before invitation was considered. (PC: X)

The World Health Organization has dismissed comparisons between the recent Hantavirus outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that the situation remains contained and manageable. Concern rose after eight cases, including three deaths, were linked to an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said hantavirus is a well-known virus that has existed for years and differs significantly from COVID-19. WHO officials believe the outbreak will remain limited if public health measures, international cooperation and contact tracing continue effectively, while maintaining that the overall public health risk remains low. (PC: Reuters)