Feb 25 News Live: Iranians worry over American military buildup
Catch all the important news updates from India and across the world
Here is the top, trending news of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 25 Feb 2026 8:53 AM IST
Aaditya targets Maharashtra govt as Bajaj Auto chief warns of EV policy 'failure'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has seized on Bajaj Auto MD and CEO Rajiv Bajaj's critical comments about the Maharashtra government's electric vehicle (EV) policy, and blamed the BJP government for its "collapse". Bajaj, in an interview with a news channel, has warned of a possible "failure" of the state government's EV policy.
Former Maharashtra minister Thackeray, in a post on X on Tuesday, claimed the BJP-led government allowed a once "active and dynamic" EV policy to collapse. "The EV policy 2021 (brought in by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government) was active and dynamic giving a boost to the entire sector. Businesses, customers, everyone in the EV business considered our policy to be the best in India," he wrote. "Unfortunately, with a change in govt, the BJP's entire focus changed and now we see that a policy that showed success in its initial years, has been made to collapse by the BJP regime," he charged.In the interview, responding to a question on whether states were uniform in disbursing EV subsidies, Bajaj said delays were not uncommon, but dues were eventually cleared. But the situation was different in Maharashtra, he said. "In my 35 years, I have never witnessed anything that I could call a policy failure of government. But I think it is about to happen, with the Maharashtra government's EV policy," Bajaj said, claiming that the subsidies for EVs, which were disbursed until April 2023, have slowed dramatically. He added that most, if not all, of the industry was affected by these delays. - 25 Feb 2026 8:50 AM IST
Surrender of 4 top Maoists in Telangana turning point against extremism: Chhattisgarh police
The surrender of Maoists' politburo member Devuji alias Thippiri Tirupati and three other senior operatives in Telangana marks a watershed moment in the fight against Left Wing Extremism (LWE), a senior Chhattisgarh police official has said. The gradual weakening of the Maoist leadership structure points toward the organisation's eventual collapse and the end of decades-long bloodshed, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj Pattilingam, said on Tuesday. The four senior Maoist cadres - Devuji (62), central committee member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram (76), Telangana state committee secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar, and Dandakaranya special zonal committee member Ganganna - were key figures in the top hierarchy of the banned CPI (Maoist) and spent several decades underground, he said. "Their surrender marks a watershed moment in the fight against Left Wing Extremism," the police official said.
Their decision to renounce violence and armed struggle reflects a decisive shift in ground realities and a clear acknowledgement that the space for violence is shrinking, while the scope for peace and development continues to expand, he said. "When cadres of such seniority step away after three to four decades underground, it underscores a growing realisation within the ranks that the path of extremism has reached its limits," he said, adding that today's development is both "symbolic and consequential". "It sends a strong signal to the remaining cadres that the movement no longer holds the authority or conviction it once projected. At the same time, it strengthens public confidence that lasting peace is not a distant goal but an emerging reality," he pointed out.The IGP said Bastar, a region that has endured years of violence and disruption, is now poised to accelerate its journey toward lasting stability.He appealed to the remaining cadres to recognise the changing circumstances and return to the mainstream. "The era of violence is drawing to a close, and the future lies in peace, progress and the aspirations of the local communities," Pattilingam highlighted.According to officials, 532 Maoists have been neutralised, 2,704 ultras have surrendered and 2,004 arrested over the past two years in Chhattisgarh. - 25 Feb 2026 8:43 AM IST
Hope PM Modi mentions genocide in Gaza while addressing Knesset: Priyanka
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday (February 25) hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would mention the genocide in Gaza while addressing the Israeli Parliament and demand justice for them. The Congress MP from Wayanad said India must continue to show the light of truth, peace and justice to the world. Her remarks came ahead of Modi's departure for Israel on a two-day visit, during which he is set to hold talks with the top leadership there and address the Knesset (Israeli parliament). In a post on X, Gandhi said, "I hope that the Hon Prime Minister @narendramodi ji mentions the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza while addressing the Knesset on his upcoming trip to Israel and demands justice for them." She asserted, "India has stood for what is right throughout our history as an independent nation, we must continue to show the light of truth, peace and justice to the world."
Modi's visit begins on Wednesday to shore up bilateral defence and trade cooperation between the two countries. It will be Modi's second visit to Israel in nine years. The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during Modi's first visit to that country in July 2017. The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the government has abandoned the Palestinians and said the prime minister was going to Israel despite that country's attacks on civilians in Gaza continue "mercilessly".
- 25 Feb 2026 7:06 AM IST
US embassy to offer its first consular services at an Israeli settlement in West Bank
The US embassy in Jerusalem plans to offer consular services for the first time at an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
A statement posted Wednesday to the US embassy's account on the social platform X said consular officers “will be providing routine passport services” to US citizens Friday in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. The embassy said a similar outreach service is planned in the coming months in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, calling the services part of its “efforts to reach all Americans.” The US embassy has previously provided consular services in Ramallah and other Palestinian cities in the West Bank.
The move continues a shift in policy under US President Donald Trump's administration, which has been far friendlier to Israeli settlements in the West Bank than past US presidents.
“We welcome the historic decision by the US embassy in Jerusalem to extend consular services to American citizens in Judea and Samaria,” Israel's Foreign Ministry said on X.
There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials.
- 25 Feb 2026 6:42 AM IST
Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears
As the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East, Iranians are warily awaiting the next round of talks with the US in Geneva this week — negotiations that many see as a last chance for their ruling theocracy to strike a deal with US President Donald Trump.
Some say the situation feels hopeless. Battered by decades of sanctions, heightened by Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers, Iranians also just suffered through the bloodiest crackdown on dissent in the country's modern history. In January, security forces killed thousands of people and detained tens of thousands more.
Still, Iran heads into the Thursday talks “with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal—in the shortest possible time,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Tuesday on X.
As Iranians await the outcome of the Geneva negotiations, many fear the outbreak of a war that could surpass Iran's bloody 1980s conflict with Iraq.
That conflict sparked a patriotic response from Iranian volunteers. But now the prospects of a war with the U.S. have riven a population that includes hardline supporters of the theocracy and those who feel Iran is splitting at the seams.
“Every morning when I get up, my brain is full of chaos,” said Sepideh Bafarani, a 29-year-old woman who works in a women's clothing store. “It's a possible war ... and an ongoing bad economic situation.” Rasool Razzaghi, a 54-year-old resident in the capital, Tehran, shared similar concerns ahead of the talks.
“I predict that if both sides really mean what they are saying, a war will start," he said. AP
