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The T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches start from February 2 in India and Sri Lanka. India will play one warm-up against South Africa, while India A will play two games. Other teams, including associate nations, will also have warm-ups. Italy debuts in the tournament. Sri Lanka and England skip warm-ups.
The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Sri Lanka got floodlights ahead of the T20 World Cup, becoming the country’s fifth day-night cricket venue. The stadium will host five matches from February 7. Upgrades include LED lighting, improved dressing rooms, VIP boxes, and facilities for officials, broadcasters, and spectators, meeting international standards.
Former Tamil Nadu CM O. Panneerselvam (OPS) said he is willing to rejoin AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) to support party unity and state welfare. OPS emphasized the decision depends on party leaders. His statement has sparked speculation about opposition realignments ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The Supreme Court questioned whether India is moving backwards as it heard a petition challenging the new UGC equity rules. Petitioners argued that the regulations discriminate against general category students. The court emphasised that the unity of India should be reflected in all educational institutions while reviewing the controversial rules.
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, where TTD officials welcomed him and escorted him for darshan. After his visit, he was presented with silk clothes and a portrait of the deity at Ranganayakula Mandapam, highlighting the cultural and spiritual exchange during his visit.
Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor held discussions with LoP Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament. The meeting, continuing for around 30 minutes, arrives amid reports of tensions within the party and Tharoor’s absence from recent meetings, sparking speculation about internal dynamics and efforts to address any differences.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha today. The annual document reviews the economy and its short-to-medium-term outlook. It projects India’s FY27 growth at 6.8%-7.2%, driven by reforms and strong fundamentals, while stressing domestic growth, buffers, and liquidity amid global uncertainty.
Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours in Baramati. Family, supporters, and top leaders, including Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Devendra Fadnavis, paid tribute. Pawar died in a plane crash along with four others. Police registered an accidental death case, and the aircraft’s black box was recovered.
BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi was elected mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation with 18 votes in a three‑cornered contest. AAP’s Yogesh Dhingra received 11 votes, and Congress’ Gurpreet Singh Gabi got seven. Voting was by show of hands, with Ramneek Singh Bedi as presiding officer. The 35‑member house includes the Chandigarh MP.
The Tamil Nadu voter registration deadline ends on January 30. Citizens can register, update details, or re-include deleted names using Form 6 or Form 8. Over 16 lakh applications have been received. The final electoral roll will be published on February 17. Voters are urged to act before the deadline to avoid missing elections.
‘Patang,’ a Telugu romantic comedy starring Pranav Kaushik, Preethi Pagadala, and Vamsi Pujit, was released as a Christmas special. Written and directed by Praneeth Prattipati, the film entertained audiences despite a modest cast. With music by Jose Jimmy and key performances from S.P. Charan, Anu Hasan, and Gautham Menon, it streams on Sun NXT tomorrow.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, attending a six-day leadership programme at Harvard, interacted with Indian students at Harvard Business School. He shared career insights, success tips, and highlighted TelanganaRising 2047. Reddy urged them to use their talent and networks to support India’s and Telangana’s growth and promote Hyderabad globally.
The Supreme Court of India has stayed a Kerala High Court decision that had invalidated provisions allowing the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board to appoint candidates to posts in the Guruvayur Devaswom and associated aided educational institutions. The stay maintains KDRB’s authority to continue recruitment pending further judicial review.
Bangladesh’s former PM Sheikh Hasina, speaking from exile in India, denounced the upcoming election, accusing authorities of sidelining her Awami League. She said denying political participation would deepen resentment in the nation. Dhaka expressed concern, calling her Delhi statements troubling ahead of the crucial polls scheduled next month.
Vinitha from Tadipatri has been selected as a sub-registrar, while her husband, Hemachandra Reddy, secured the post of excise sub-inspector in the Group-2 results. Formerly software employees in Hyderabad, the couple prepared through online classes with determination. Their success has brought immense joy to their family members.