News Dabba for 08 May 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from TVK gaining support for government formation in Tamil Nadu, Suvendu Adhikari being the frontrunner for Bengal Chief Minister, to the update on the Hantavirus affected cruise ship.

Suvendu Adhikari frontrunner for Bengal Chief Minister, NDTV reports

The BJP's Suvendu Adhikari appears all but certain in the race for the chief minister's post in West Bengal, NDTV reports, waiting to succeed his political mentor Mamata Banerjee after an intense electoral face-off last month. The report says that West Bengal blindsided Banerjee's Trinamool to elect its first BJP government this week. As the focus now turns to government formation, the latest scoop from insiders, as per the report, is that the state may get two deputy chief ministers to assist Adhikari. Read the full report here.

India Today: Vijay seeks meeting with Governor at 4.30 pm as TVK secures majority 118

India Today reports that Vijay has sought an appointment with the Governor at 4.30 pm today and is expected to stake claim again after securing the backing of key opposition parties. A joint press conference by the supporting parties is also expected around the same time to formally announce their decision. With support from the Congress, VCK, CPI and CPI(M), actor-politician Vijay appears set to cross the majority mark in the fractured Tamil Nadu Assembly, the report says. TVK has 107 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, while the Congress has extended support with its five MLAs. The CPI and CPI(M), which have two MLAs each. Read the full report here.

US, Iran trade fire in Hormuz amid ceasefire tensions, Al Jazeera

Iran has accused the United States of violating their ceasefire by targeting two ships near the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas along the country’s southern coast, as tensions continue to escalate around the strategic waterway, Al Jazeera reports. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defence strikes”, while Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and said air defence systems had intercepted several drones over the area. Read the full report here.

Bombay HC raps Maharashtra government over children’s homes funding: Indian Express

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court said on Thursday that the Maharashtra government cannot “without any reasonable justification, deny or delay financial aid to” institutions catering to children in need of care and protection, when it was “extending financial assistance to poor women” through schemes including Ladki Bahin Yojana. Indian Express reports that the court directed the state government to frame an appropriate policy within six months to provide salaries to deserving NGOs that run children’s homes under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, also known as the JJ Act. The bench passed the judgment on a batch of pleas by employees of child homes run by unaided voluntary organisations or NGOs established under the Societies Registration Act and the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act. Read the full report here.

Third British national has suspected hantavirus infection, BBC reports

A third British national has suspected hantavirus in connection with an outbreak on board the cruise ship MV Hondius, BBC reports. The patient is currently on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April. The report says that two other British men have confirmed cases - one remains in a stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, while the other remains in intensive care after being flown to South Africa last month. Read the full report here.