Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will lead India’s delegation at the upcoming BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brasília on May 26, where he is expected to underscore the country’s unwavering dedication to cultural diplomacy, heritage preservation, and global cultural cooperation. The summit, hosted under Brazil’s current BRICS presidency, will bring together cultural representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to advance multilateral collaboration in the arts, heritage, and creative sectors.

A startling medical case in China has reignited debate over the country’s extreme sun-avoidance culture, after a 48-year-old woman suffered a bone fracture merely by turning over in bed. Doctors traced the cause to severe vitamin D deficiency stemming from lifelong avoidance of sunlight. Her story has become a cautionary tale in a nation where cosmetic ideals often promote rigorous sun protection.

As Kerala braces for the onset of monsoon—a season that typically sees a spike in mosquito-borne illnesses—the state health department has ramped up preventive efforts to combat the rising threat of dengue. With over 2,450 cases and eight fatalities already reported in 2025, authorities have introduced a mobile awareness van to educate the public on eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.

National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), India’s premier depository, reported strong financial performance in the March 2025 quarter, registering a 4.77% increase in consolidated net profit and a near 10% rise in total income. The firm’s profitability jump underscores its financial resilience as it prepares for an initial public offering (IPO). NSDL, which facilitates the dematerialization and transfer of securities, has revised its IPO size and is moving toward regulatory compliance with ownership norms set by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Maharashtra, one of India’s agricultural powerhouses, is bracing for a notable decline in soybean cultivation this year, with the sown area projected to shrink by 200,000 hectares. The drop is rooted in a combination of depressed market prices, erratic rainfall, delayed procurement, and volatile policy decisions on imports. While soybean has long been regarded as a profitable Kharif crop, especially in regions like Marathwada, recent experiences have left farmers disillusioned.

In a landmark accomplishment for India’s insurance sector, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has secured a Guinness World Record for the highest number of life insurance policies sold within a 24-hour period. On January 20, 2025—an internal campaign dubbed ‘Mad Million Day’—LIC’s vast agency network issued 5,88,107 policies nationwide, showcasing an unmatched level of operational coordination and agent productivity.

Arsenal Women scripted a historic triumph in Lisbon by defeating reigning champions Barcelona 1-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, ending an 18-year wait for Europe’s most prestigious club title. Substitute Stina Blackstenius scored the decisive goal in the 75th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Beth Mead. The win marks Arsenal’s second European crown, making them the only English women’s club to achieve this feat.

Veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has addressed the controversy stemming from revelations in his wife Puja Pujara’s memoir, Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife – A Very Unusual Memoir. The book, which recounts a tense moment involving a leaked phone conversation that hinted at internal efforts to sideline Pujara from the national squad, stirred speculation and media frenzy. In a recent interview, Pujara downplayed the incident, choosing dignity over disclosure.

In a commanding performance that marked a historic milestone for Indian motorsport, Kush Maini clinched his second Formula 2 win—and his first on the revered streets of Monte Carlo—driving for DAMS Lucas Oil. Maini fended off relentless pressure from fellow Alpine Academy driver Gabriele Minì of PREMA Racing, with Luke Browning of Hitech TGR inheriting third place following a penalty for Campos Racing’s Arvid Lindblad. The win places Maini in elite company and signals his growing prominence in the F2 paddock, while reshaping the leaderboard in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.

President Donald Trump’s initiative to mandate Apple manufacture iPhones domestically by threatening a 25% tariff on imported devices confronts significant legal and economic obstacles. Experts highlight that advanced automation technology necessary to relocate complex iPhone assembly processes to the U.S. remains unavailable. The legal authority to impose company-specific tariffs is uncertain, and enforcing such measures risks unintended consequences, including increased costs for consumers and disruption of global supply chains.