The rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, has elected senior MLA Arup Roy as its chairperson at a special session in Kolkata. Former minister Aroop Biswas and MLAs Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh and Sabina Yasmin were named vice-chairpersons.   The faction also formed a new national working committee and announced several office-bearers, claiming a “constitutional crisis” within the party. Ritabrata Banerjee said the group would inform the Election Commission about the meeting’s decisions and added that former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would be welcome to join the new structure as its chief advisor.   The development comes amid an ongoing split in the TMC following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. (PC: HT)

Andy Burnham was sworn in as the MP for Makerfield on Monday, just hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Labour Party leader. Burnham has declared his intention to contest the leadership race and has received support from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting. After taking the oath in Parliament, Burnham was welcomed by hundreds of Labour MPs, strengthening his position as the leading candidate to succeed Starmer. The outgoing prime minister said he will remain in office until a new leader is chosen. Labour is expected to select its next leader before Parliament returns in September. (PC: BBC)

The NEET 2026 re-test has triggered a nationwide debate after several students were denied entry for arriving minutes after the 1:30 pm gate-closing deadline. Videos from Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Bengaluru and other cities showed students and parents pleading with officials after delays caused by rain, traffic, accidents and document issues. While the National Testing Agency enforced strict security measures following the paper leak controversy, many families questioned whether genuine late arrivals could have been accommodated. Supporters of the rules argued that uniform deadlines ensure fairness, while critics said students should lose time, not an entire year of preparation. (PC: India Today)

Meta has appointed CRED founder Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp, making him one of the most prominent Indian entrepreneurs to take a top leadership role at a global technology company. The announcement was made by outgoing WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart, who has led the platform since 2019. Shah will join Meta's global leadership team while remaining a shareholder in CRED. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised Shah's entrepreneurial success and leadership. Meanwhile, CRED's strategy and finance head Miten Sampat has been named interim CEO as the fintech company enters its next phase of growth. (PC: X)

A rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday announced the removal of party founder Mamata Banerjee as chief during a meeting in Kolkata. The group, which included several MLAs, councillors and former party leaders, formed a 10-member national working committee and adopted a resolution to reorganise the party. Former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim and other senior leaders were reportedly present at the meeting. The rebels said they represent the real Trinamool Congress and rejected suggestions of a split. The development marks a major escalation in the ongoing political turmoil within the party. (PC: The Indian Express)

At least 13 people, including Indian and Pakistani nationals, were killed and 66 others injured in an explosion at Qatar's Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The blast occurred while workers were restarting operations that had been disrupted by earlier war-related damage. Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi described the incident as a technical accident and said an investigation was underway. Authorities confirmed that LNG export operations remain unaffected and there is no environmental risk. The Indian Embassy in Doha expressed condolences and said it is working closely with Qatari authorities to assist those affected. (PC: India Today)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation after nearly 23 months in office, paving the way for Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade. Starmer said he would remain in office until the Labour Party selects a new leader to ensure a smooth transfer of power.   His departure follows months of growing pressure from Labour lawmakers concerned about the party’s declining popularity since its landslide election victory in July 2024. Critics pointed to economic challenges, rising living costs and leadership controversies. Labour will now begin the process of choosing a successor, with Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting among the names being discussed.  

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland return to action in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after stunning performances in their opening matches. Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria and is now one goal away from becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Mbappe netted twice against Senegal and moved closer to the World Cup scoring record, while Haaland marked his World Cup debut with two goals in Norway's win over Iraq. Argentina face Austria, France take on Iraq, and Norway meet Senegal as all three stars look to guide their teams closer to the knockout stage and add more records to their names. (PC: X)

The first round of talks between the United States and Iran ended with what mediators Qatar and Pakistan described as "encouraging progress" toward a final agreement. Both sides have agreed on a 60-day roadmap aimed at ending the conflict and reducing regional tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said significant progress had also been made on efforts to end fighting in Lebanon. The discussions included plans to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establish a joint de-confliction mechanism involving the US, Iran and Lebanon. Technical negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days. (PC: BBC)

Larry the Cat, the famous Chief Mouser of 10 Downing Street, has once again become a symbol of continuity in British politics after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned from office. Larry has lived at Downing Street since 2011 and has now outlasted six prime ministers, including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer. Originally adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to help control mice, Larry has become one of the most recognised figures at the Prime Minister’s residence. His long stay highlights a rare sense of stability amid years of political change in the United Kingdom. (PC: X)