Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is set to expand his cabinet by inducting two Congress MLAs — Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan — as ministers. The move marks the Congress party’s return to the Tamil Nadu government after a gap of 59 years. Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal called it a “historic occasion” and confirmed the swearing-in ceremony. The cabinet expansion strengthens the alliance supporting Vijay’s minority government, which came to power after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with backing from Congress and several regional parties. (PC: X)

A US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report claimed that at least 42 American military aircraft were lost or damaged during the ongoing Iran war under Operation Epic Fury. The reported losses include F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, an F-35A stealth fighter, MQ-9 Reaper drones, KC-135 refuelling aircraft, an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, and special operations helicopters. Pentagon officials said repair and replacement costs have sharply increased, pushing operational expenses close to $29 billion. The CRS warned the numbers could rise further because of ongoing combat, classified data, and difficulties in confirming battlefield losses during the conflict. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would “do whatever I want him to do” regarding the escalating Iran conflict, underlining strong US-Israel coordination. Trump said he was not rushing to end the confrontation and prioritized achieving strategic goals over speed. His remarks came amid stalled US-Iran diplomatic talks, ongoing Israeli military operations, and growing fears of a wider regional war. The escalating tensions have increased concerns over Middle East stability, global oil prices, and the possibility of broader international involvement in the conflict. (PC: India Today)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India from May 23-26 for his first official trip to the country, focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, defence, energy and regional security. According to the US State Department, Rubio’s itinerary includes Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, where he will hold high-level meetings with senior Indian officials. The visit will also coincide with the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in New Delhi on May 26. Rubio is expected to join Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for discussions on major geopolitical developments, including the ongoing West Asia crisis and broader Indo-Pacific security challenges. (PC: X)

Yume, the Akita dog gifted by Japan’s Akita Prefecture to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2012, died in 2025 due to old age, the Russian presidential office confirmed. The dog would have turned 14 on April 24. Yume was presented as a gesture of gratitude for Russia’s assistance following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and was believed to have lived at Putin’s official residence. The dog became a symbol of Japan-Russia goodwill and frequently drew public attention during diplomatic interactions. In January 2025, the Kremlin had described Yume as “well, mischievous, devoted and keeping the president happy.” The revelation has renewed memories of one of diplomacy’s most recognisable animal companions. (PC: X)

A Bhopal court has rejected a plea seeking a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi in the Twisha Sharma death case, while simultaneously raising concerns over the preservation of her body. The court directed Katara Hills police to urgently gather information on advanced low-temperature preservation facilities across Madhya Pradesh and nearby metropolitan cities. Twisha’s body has remained at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary since May 13 and is currently stored at minus 4 degrees Celsius, while long-term preservation reportedly requires minus 80 degrees Celsius storage. Twisha’s family had sought a fresh autopsy alleging dowry harassment, investigative lapses and possible evidence suppression. Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team continues probing allegations against her husband and mother-in-law. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome sparked online attention after Modi offered her a packet of Parle Melody chocolates, turning the interaction into a viral moment of “toffee diplomacy.” The video, shared by Meloni on X, highlighted a lighter side of Indo-Italian engagement and drew widespread reactions across social media. Parle Products thanked Modi for “taking Parle Melody to the global stage” and called it a proud moment for the company and Indian confectionery. Melody, long considered a nostalgic favourite in India, gained unexpected international visibility through the exchange, with many users celebrating the cultural symbolism and warmth reflected in the gesture between leaders.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been invited to attend a special United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled in New York next week amid continuing international focus on Iran and rising geopolitical tensions. The invitation signals growing diplomatic attention on Tehran’s role in ongoing regional and global security discussions, particularly as negotiations and concerns surrounding Iran’s foreign policy and nuclear position continue to dominate international debate. However, Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed whether Araghchi will participate in the high-level session. The uncertainty surrounding his attendance has further fueled speculation over Iran’s diplomatic strategy and possible engagement with global powers during the upcoming UN deliberations. More details are expected in the coming days from Tehran and the UN. (PC: Times Now)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Food and Agriculture Organization’s highest honour, the Agricola Medal, during a ceremony at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Accepting the recognition, Modi dedicated the honour to India’s farmers, fishermen and 140 crore citizens, calling agriculture the “main stream” of India’s identity. FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu praised Modi’s leadership in transforming India’s agricultural landscape through farmer-centric reforms, food security programmes and welfare initiatives. The FAO highlighted India’s support for over 800 million people through food schemes, direct income support to 110 million farmers, promotion of natural farming and millets, and India’s push for digital public infrastructure during its G20 Presidency aimed at empowering developing nations.

Thousands of Indian tech workers in the US are facing mounting uncertainty after fresh layoffs at companies including Meta, Amazon and Oracle. Under H-1B visa rules, laid-off employees get only 60 days to secure a new sponsoring employer or leave the country. Many are now attempting to switch temporarily to B-2 visitor visas to extend their stay, but immigration lawyers say approvals and status-change requests are facing tighter scrutiny, more paperwork and rising denial rates. The crisis comes amid over 110,000 tech layoffs in 2026. Indians, who received nearly 284,000 approved H-1B petitions in FY25, are among the worst affected due to long green card backlogs, prompting many to explore Canada and Europe as alternative destinations. (PC: X)