While UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation has triggered fresh political uncertainty, one familiar resident of 10 Downing Street is staying put. Larry the Cat, the long-serving "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office", is set to welcome his seventh prime minister in just over a decade. Larry has lived at Downing Street since 2011 and has become a symbol of continuity through a period of rapid political change. Having served under six prime ministers already, the popular tabby once again finds himself at the centre of attention as Britain prepares for a new leader.  

Six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday, delivering a major political setback to the former Maharashtra chief minister. The MPs joined Shinde's camp in Mumbai after days of speculation over their future.   Welcoming the leaders, Shinde described the move as the success of "Operation Tiger" and said the MPs had joined the "real Shiv Sena". The development strengthens the Shinde faction's position in Parliament and marks another significant shift in Maharashtra politics. Uddhav Thackeray's camp has criticised the defections and called meetings to discuss its response. (PC: India Today)

Lionel Messi created FIFA World Cup history by becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer during Argentina's Group J match against Austria in Dallas. The Argentine captain scored his 17th World Cup goal, moving past Germany's Miroslav Klose on the all-time list.   Messi had earlier missed a penalty but later found the net to give Argentina the lead in a closely contested encounter. The historic strike marked another milestone in the 39-year-old's remarkable career. With the match still in progress, Argentina were on course to strengthen their position in Group J as Austria continued to search for an equaliser.  

At least 15 people, most of them students, were killed after a massive fire broke out in a commercial building housing a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday. Several students were trapped inside as thick smoke spread rapidly through the building, forcing some to jump from the first floor in a desperate attempt to escape. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after an extensive operation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and ordered an investigation into the tragedy. The cause of the fire is being probed. (PC: NDTV)

Iran has agreed to allow international nuclear inspectors back into the country, according to US Vice President JD Vance, marking a major step in ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Speaking in Switzerland, Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could begin within days.   The announcement followed the first round of US-Iran talks aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said both sides had agreed on a roadmap for further negotiations. The talks also covered reopening the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining a regional ceasefire. Iran continues to insist its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes. (PC: BBC)

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)