New Delhi | May 25, 2026
Fuel prices in India surged for the fourth time in just 10 days on Monday, with petrol and diesel rising by an average of ₹2.80 per litre across the country. The increase brings the total hike since the resumption of fuel rate revisions on May 15 to nearly ₹7.5 per litre, following a prolonged freeze. The latest revision reflects global crude oil market fluctuations and domestic policy adjustments.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump signalled a cautious approach to negotiations with Iran, urging American negotiators not to rush into a deal amid growing anticipation and criticism. “The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal as time is on our side.” His remarks come as world leaders closely watch the ongoing talks aimed at resolving regional conflicts in West Asia.
In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in the Falta Assembly seat re-poll on Sunday, winning by a margin of 1,09,021 votes. BJP candidate Debangshu Panda defeated his nearest rival, Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Sambhu Nath Kurmi, who polled 40,645 votes. Congress candidate Abdur Razzak Molla received 10,084 votes, while Trinamool Congress’s Jahangir Khan, who withdrew from the contest, still managed 7,783 votes. The re-poll was necessitated following irregularities in the initial election.
In Madhya Pradesh, the final rites of model and actor Twisha Sharma were performed in Bhopal on Sunday, 12 days after her death. A second autopsy was conducted by an expert panel from AIIMS New Delhi earlier in the day. Her brother, Major Harshit Sharma, performed the last rites at Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat as family members, relatives, and local residents paid tearful tributes. Her mother remained inconsolable throughout the proceedings.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) secured judicial custody of Shubham Khairnar, an accused in the NEET paper leak case, until June 6. Special Judge Ruchi Aggarwal Asrani granted the CBI’s plea, stating that Khairnar and others were “actively” involved in leaking NEET-UG 2026 examination questions prior to the exam. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities pursuing multiple leads in the high-profile case.
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking a probe into the alleged activities of the “Cockroach Janta Party,” a digital-political formation accused of commercial exploitation and trademark appropriation of courtroom remarks. The petition also highlights concerns over the monetised circulation of oral remarks made during legal proceedings.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, emphasized that the United States maintains “tactical” relations with several countries without compromising its strategic partnership with India. Speaking at Hyderabad House, Rubio underscored the importance of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and accused Iran of blocking the Strait of Hormuz while supporting proxy terror groups.
The Editors Guild of India (EGI) criticized the Indian government for its treatment of the media during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Norway and the Netherlands. In a statement, the EGI termed the exchanges between foreign journalists and Indian officials as “embarrassing” and called upon the government to stop treating the media as an “adversary.” The guild also highlighted the “regrettable fact” that PM Modi has not held a single open press conference since assuming office in 2014.
In a significant security development, the Assam Rifles apprehended a key member of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), an insurgent group active in Manipur’s Churachandpur district. The accused is wanted in connection with the abduction and murder of two Meitei students in July 2023. The case had sparked widespread protests after photos of the victims’ bodies surfaced on social media in September 2023, leading to injuries among scores of protesters, predominantly students.
In a public health emergency, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that suspected Ebola cases have now exceeded 900, with 119 suspected deaths. The outbreak, centred in Ituri province, has seen a rapid rise in cases, with the Congolese Ministry of Communication confirming 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected fatalities in an update shared on X on Sunday.
In Bahrain, a court sentenced nine individuals to life imprisonment and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what authorities described as “hostile and terrorist acts” against the kingdom. The verdict follows a prolonged investigation into alleged espionage and subversive activities.
