Activist Sonam Wangchuk said he will continue his hunger strike until student leaders protesting the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak are allowed to meet Members of Parliament or MPs visit him in hospital. In a handwritten note shared by his wife, he said, “I will continue my fast.” Wangchuk criticised the alleged police action against peaceful protesters and urged the government to let students present their demands before Parliament. He also called for accountability from the Education Minister. Wangchuk praised the students for staying peaceful despite “provocation” and appealed to the government and police to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Mediators have proposed a 10-day halt in fighting between the US and Iran and urged both sides to revive an earlier ceasefire deal. Iran confirmed that diplomatic talks through mediators were continuing despite ongoing US strikes. “The diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. On Monday, the US carried out fresh strikes in Iran's Bushehr city. Iran responded with attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait. Tehran also said it would not allow the Strait of Hormuz to be used to threaten its security. The conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war. (PC: AFP)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) submitted a memorandum to Union Minister JP Nadda during talks in New Delhi on Monday. The group made three main demands. It sought the unconditional release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide after the 2026 paper leak. Nadda said the meeting was held in a “cordial atmosphere” and urged protesters to end their sit-in. The CJP said the minister listened to its concerns with empathy and hoped the government would act on its demands.

The conflict between the US and Iran continued to grow on Monday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was in a “full-scale war” with the US. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they attacked US military targets in the region after fresh US strikes. The US also identified two soldiers killed in Jordan as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19. Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, while Kuwait also reported attacks. A ship was hit near the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices briefly rose as concerns over regional security increased. (PC: AFP)

Activist Sonam Wangchuk said he will continue his indefinite hunger strike, now on Day 23, despite the Centre's appeal to end the protest. In a post on X, Wangchuk said, “I’ll continue my fast” until student leaders are allowed to meet Members of Parliament or he is permitted to meet them in hospital. He praised the peaceful conduct of the protesters and urged the government to let students present their demands before Parliament. His statement came hours after Union Minister JP Nadda met protest representatives and requested them to end the sit-in and help restore normalcy in New Delhi.

Meta has gone on trial in the US state of Tennessee over claims that Instagram was designed to keep teenagers using the app for longer. The lawsuit says Meta ignored internal research showing possible harm to young users' mental health. It also claims features like Reels, autoplay and push notifications encouraged compulsive use. Meta denied the allegations. “We’ve spent a decade building safe, age-appropriate defaults for teens,” a company spokesperson said. The trial will first decide if Meta broke Tennessee’s consumer protection law. If found guilty, the company could face fines and be ordered to change Instagram’s features.

The Centre asked Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters to end their sit-in after Union Minister JP Nadda met CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in New Delhi. Nadda said the meeting was held in a “cordial atmosphere” after protesters sought talks. “I have requested all the protesters to end their sit-in,” he said. The CJP is demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. CJP leaders said no promise had been made yet. They added that the peaceful protest would continue until their demands were met. Police also appealed for calm and restraint.

A 13-year-old boy died after part of a fountain collapsed during Spain’s World Cup victory celebrations in Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca province. The incident happened around 12:30 am local time when several people climbed onto the Árbol Gordo fountain. Two other young people were injured. One child was taken to hospital with a possible broken leg. Emergency teams, police and firefighters reached the scene after receiving several calls. The town council said, “What was supposed to be a celebration... has turned into a tragedy.” Spain won the World Cup after beating Argentina 1-0 with Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal. (PC: EPA/Shutterstock)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Narendra Modi government after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) march in Delhi. He called Prime Minister Narendra Modi the “most anti-youth Prime Minister” and said students were punished instead of those behind the alleged paper leaks. “The hardworking youth got the punishment,” Gandhi said. He also claimed students were beaten and detained for raising valid concerns. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the police action. “They are our children,” she said, urging the government to discuss education issues and the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak in Parliament instead of using force against protesters.

Argentina faced criticism after several players turned their backs during Spain's trophy celebration following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. After receiving their silver medals, Lionel Messi and his teammates walked away instead of remaining to applaud the newly crowned champions. The moment drew attention as Spain had applauded Argentina during the medal ceremony. Argentina fans also chanted Messi's name while Spain midfielder Rodri received the Golden Ball award. Broadcaster Adrian Durham described the team's conduct as "classless," while the scenes sparked widespread debate online. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win their second FIFA World Cup title.