News digest for 18 may, 2026

National News & Politics

• Kerala gets a new Chief Minister  –  V D Satheesan  of the Congress will take oath as  Kerala's CM today  at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the  UDF's return to power after a decade  – a fresh start for God's Own Country.

• 20‑member cabinet to take oath  – Alongside Satheesan, veteran leaders  Ramesh Chennithala  and  K Muraleedharan  will be sworn in, while  Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan  has been appointed as the  Speaker of the Assembly  – experience meets new energy.

• India‑EU strategic ties deepen  – European Commission President  Ursula von der Leyen  called the proposed India‑EU Free Trade Agreement the  "mother of all deals"  and announced upcoming  joint EU‑India naval exercises  to counter maritime and cyber threats – a big step forward.

• Markets open cautious  – Indian stock markets, including the  Sensex and Nifty 50 , opened on a cautious note today following Friday's profit‑booking and persistent weakness in the  Indian rupee  – investors playing safe.

• Pharma stocks in the spotlight  – Market analysts predict  pharmaceutical stocks  will attract significant investor interest today, thanks to their defensive earnings profile amid ongoing global macroeconomic uncertainty – a classic safe‑haven play.

🌍 Global Affairs & Security

• Drone strike hits UAE nuclear plant  – A drone strike caused a  fire at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi . The UAE government stated it has the  full right to respond  to what it called a "terrorist attack" – tensions escalating fast.

• Saudi intercepts three drones  – Simultaneously,  Saudi Arabia  reported intercepting three drones that entered from Iraqi airspace, warning it will take strict operational measures to defend its sovereignty – the region on edge.

• Brent crude jumps past 111∗∗–InresponsetotheescalatingMiddleEasttensionsandtheUAEdronestrike,∗∗Brentcrudefuturessurgedpast111∗∗–InresponsetotheescalatingMiddleEasttensionsandtheUAEdronestrike,∗∗Brentcrudefuturessurgedpast111 per barrel  – reviving fears of global supply chain disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

• Global market selloff intensifies  – Global equities took a major hit as rising  US inflation data  forced investors to reprice reality. Rate cuts are now largely off the table, pushing  US 10‑year yields over 4.6%  – a rough day for markets.

• CDC escalates Ebola response  – The  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  has formally escalated its response to the  Bundibugyo Ebola virus  outbreak in the DRC and Uganda following the WHO's global emergency declaration – stepping up the fight.

• US military jets collide mid‑air  – Two  E/A‑18G Growler jets  collided during the  Gunfighter Skies Air Show in Idaho  – fortunately,  all four crew members successfully ejected and survived  the crash. A miracle at the show.

• UK political crisis deepens  – The British Labour Party is facing a severe leadership crisis surrounding  Prime Minister Keir Starmer , prompting renewed debate over whether the UK should unwind its estrangement from the European Union – Brexit ghosts returning.

• Myanmar's Suu Kyi: family pleads for release  – The son of ousted Myanmar leader  Aung San Suu Kyi  made an emotional public plea for her immediate release, stating the family does not even know if she is still alive – a heartbreaking cry from exile.

🏏 Sports: IPL 2026 & Tennis

• Match 63 tonight – CSK vs. SRH at Chepauk  – The  Chennai Super Kings (CSK)  will clash with the  Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)  at the  M. A. Chidambaram Stadium  in Chennai at  7:30 PM IST  – a classic showdown.

• Playoff stakes high for CSK  – The "Yellow Brigade" currently sits in  sixth place  and is desperate for a win to keep playoff hopes alive, while  SRH sits comfortably in third  – pressure on the home crowd.

• Toss could decide the game  – Historically this season, chasing teams have won  four out of six matches at Chepauk  – making the toss crucial for setting the match tempo.

• Chennai weather threatens play  – A cyclonic circulation active over northeast Tamil Nadu has brought  high humidity (up to 80%)  and a significant threat of  evening rain showers  – could be a dampener for cricket fans.

• Sinner makes tennis history  – World No. 1  Jannik Sinner  won the  Italian Open  by defeating Casper Ruud, officially joining  Novak Djokovic  as the only players in history to win  all nine ATP Masters 1000 events  – a legendary achievement.