English-language national news, explainers and fact checks.
A Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district was found burnt to death after a fire broke out in a garage where he was sleeping. Police say CCTV footage shows a person moving around the area, and investigators are examining whether the blaze was accidental or triggered by an external factor.
ISRO chairman V. Narayanan said India’s human spaceflight programme Gaganyaan remains unaffected by a deviation reported during a recent PSLV mission stage. He also reiterated India’s broader roadmap, including preparatory work for a national space station planned to begin in 2028 with a completion target of 2035.
The Centre announced the Padma Awards for 2026 on 25 January, approving 131 honours across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The list mixes nationally known figures and grassroots contributors, with multiple posthumous recognitions and several awardees from diverse professional and social backgrounds.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have remained net sellers in Indian equities, with outflows crossing ₹22,500 crore in January so far. Analysts attribute the pressure to a mix of global factors such as higher US bond yields and a stronger dollar, alongside domestic valuation and sentiment concerns.
Delhi’s air quality improved sharply after rain and gusty winds, with the city recording its cleanest air in about three months. However, forecasting systems warn the AQI could deteriorate again soon as winds slow and fog returns—keeping health concerns for vulnerable groups in focus.
A former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary has criticised the decision to pull out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, calling it avoidable and damaging. The remarks highlight internal disagreement in Bangladesh cricket amid a wider row over participation and approvals.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has been appointed the party’s national working president in the presence of Lalu Prasad Yadav, in a move seen as formalising a leadership transition. The announcement has also triggered sharp reactions, including a public statement by his sister Rohini Acharya alleging a ‘conspiracy’.
Walmart-backed PhonePe received SEBI approval for an IPO, but must still file updated draft papers, setting up one of India’s biggest fintech listings amid strong UPI scale and investor exits via an offer-for-sale structure.
The ICC confirmed Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the men’s T20 World Cup in India after Bangladesh refused to travel, with the ICC rejecting a request to shift matches to Sri Lanka amid claimed safety concerns.
In his January 25, 2026 Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged eligible youth to register as voters, framing participation as central to strengthening democracy and a constitutional duty.
Police in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi investigated the death of 25-year-old Chanchal Bhowmik after he was burnt to death while sleeping in a garage, with CCTV footage raising suspicion that the blaze may not have been accidental.
A packed news day in India and the neighbourhood: the Padma Awards 2026 names surfaced, the IMD flagged an active western disturbance from January 26, and a cricket flashpoint emerged after Bangladesh’s withdrawal from a major ICC tournament in India.