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Pakistan Cricket Board has supported Bangladesh’s refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India over security concerns, offering to host all their games. The ICC will decide on Bangladesh’s participation, while the BCB insists on moving matches to Sri Lanka. Pakistan has not publicly commented but backs Bangladesh’s request privately.
China is hesitant to join US President Trump’s proposed Gaza “Board of Peace,” insisting it will participate only if the initiative is UN-backed. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized China’s commitment to multilateralism, upholding the UN-led international order, and rejecting any move that undermines international law.
Colors TV’s reality show The 50 premieres February 1, featuring celebrities, digital stars, and reality veterans. Confirmed contestants include Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Ridhi Dogra, Monalisa, Divya Agarwal, and others. Hosted by Farah Khan, the show allows viewers to bet on favourites and win prize money. More participants will be revealed soon.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said a “pure” electoral roll is vital for democracy, citing Bihar’s flawless Special Intensive Revision (SIR) with no complaints or repolls. Phase II of SIR is ongoing in multiple states to remove illegal migrants. Nearly 100 delegates from 70 countries are attending India’s IICDEM-2026 on election management.
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudheer, who had directed FIRs against police for shooting a Muslim man during 2024 Sambhal violence, was abruptly transferred to Sultanpur. Lawyers protested the move. The clashes erupted during the ASI survey of Shahi Jama Masjid, leaving five dead, dozens injured, and Alam critically wounded by police gunfire.
Telangana unveiled its “Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy 2026-30” at Davos, aiming to attract $25 billion and create 500,000 jobs by 2030. The policy offers incentives like tax and land cost reimbursements. The state plans 10 pharma villages to boost innovation, expand its life sciences sector, and become a top global hub.
Former Bollywood actress Rimi Sen, known for films like Dhoom and Golmaal, has transitioned to a real estate career in Dubai. She praised the city’s business-friendly environment, disciplined market, and inclusive society, contrasting it with India’s complex regulations. Rimi has successfully established herself in Dubai’s competitive property sector.
Brand Finance 2026 released its list of the world’s strongest IT services brands, with Accenture securing the top spot. Five Indian companies made the top ten: Infosys third, TCS fourth, HCL Tech seventh, Tech Mahindra ninth, and Wipro tenth. IBM, Capgemini, and Cognizant also featured among the leading global IT brands.
A flawed e-KYC question in Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin scheme wrongly flagged 24 lakh women as government employees, halting their monthly Rs 1,500 aid. The Women and Child Welfare Department deployed 1 lakh anganwadi workers for physical verification. The error arose from confusing phrasing, affecting millions despite ongoing misuse checks.
Director Ram Gopal Varma addressed renewed scrutiny over his past comments on the authorship of the Oscar-winning song ‘Jai Ho.’ A resurfaced video suggested he credited singer Sukhwinder Singh instead of composer AR Rahman. On X, Varma clarified he respects Rahman, calling him a great composer and kind person, hoping to end negativity.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell overtook Kohli to become the top ODI batter after back-to-back centuries against India. Kohli slipped to second with 795 points. Ibrahim Zadran moved to third. Mitchell’s performances helped New Zealand win the series, while other players, including Glenn Phillips and Bracewell, climbed the batting and bowling rankings.
Warning that illegal mining causes irreversible damage, the Supreme Court said it will form an expert committee to examine mining issues in the Aravalli region. The panel will work under court supervision. The court stressed zero tolerance for unauthorised mining, extended its abeyance on the Aravalli definition, and sought experts to resolve ambiguities.
Anup Jalota sparked controversy by suggesting AR Rahman “convert back to Hinduism” if he feels sidelined in Bollywood. Jalota reacted to Rahman’s BBC interview, where the composer cited industry power shifts and possible communal bias. Rahman later clarified he never intended to hurt sentiments, stressing music, unity and India’s multicultural spirit.
Indian markets closed lower for the third straight session on January 21, 2026, amid rising geopolitical tensions. Sensex fell 271 points to 81,909, while Nifty ended at 25,158. Banking, chemicals and consumer durables dragged indices. Metals and oil & gas stocks gained. Midcap and smallcap indices also declined.
Netizens are comparing actor Naveen Polishetty with Tamil star Pradeep Ranganathan. Though he has done only a few films, Naveen has delivered back-to-back box office hits. Starting with ‘Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya’ (25 cr), followed by ‘Jathi Ratnalu’ (75 cr) and ‘Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty’ (50 cr), his latest film, ‘Anaganaga Oka Raju’ (₹100 cr).