In Badminton, two-time Olympic medalist ace shuttler PV Sindhu will take on third-seeded Japanese Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinal of the Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur today. Earlier yesterday, she outclassed eighth seed Tomoko Miyazaki of Japan by 21-8, 21-13 in the Round of 16.

 

 

In men’s doubles, the top Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will take on the Indonesian duo M S Fikri and F Alfian in the quarterfinals today. They defeated Malaysia’s world number 17 Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap 21-18, 21-11 in the pre-quarterfinals.

 

 

Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty bowed out of the tournament after losing their respective pre-quarterfinal matches in the Men’s Singles category.

 French President Emmanuel Macron said that he would pay a visit to India next month, with New Delhi set to host the AI Impact Summit. He made the remarks while addressing the Diplomatic Corps yesterday, where he talked about the successes of French diplomacy in 2025.

 

 

The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit and is scheduled for February 19-20 in New Delhi. It will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.

 

 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, earlier during a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, had also mentioned that India would be expecting President Macron soon. The two countries are active in the international arena, they are committed to multipolarity, and their working together is important not only for the bilateral relationship but also for stabilising global politics.

 Sri Lanka is bracing for severe weather as a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify and move towards the island’s eastern coast later today.

 

The island’s Department of Meteorology said that as of 4 AM today, the system was located about 200 kilometres southeast of Batticaloa and is forecast to move northwestwards, making landfall between Pottuvil and Trincomalee by evening.

 

Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres is likely in parts of the Northern and North-Central provinces, as well as Matale, Trincomalee and Puttalam districts. Authorities have urged the public to take precautions against strong winds and lightning.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid homage to the sacred Somnath Dham, underscoring its timeless role in awakening the collective consciousness of the nation.

 

In a social media post, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Somnath Dham has inspired generations with its divine energy for centuries. He noted that energy emanating from Somnath continues to illuminate the path of faith, courage, and self-respect, and serves as a guiding light for the people of India in every era.

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that counter-terror operations targeting terrorist infrastructure and terror financing must continue in a mission mode. Chairing a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Shah asserted that all the resources will be made available to achieve the goal of a terror-free J&K at the earliest.

 

Mr Shah directed all security agencies to remain alert and continue to work in synergy to ensure that the gains achieved after the abrogation of Article 370 are sustained. The meeting was attended by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, IB Director Tapan Kumar Deka, and the chief secretary and DGP of the Union Territory.

 

Heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other senior officers were also present in the meeting. He said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to lasting peace in J&K and completely eliminating terrorism. Reiterating the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, Mr Shah said that due to sustained and coordinated efforts of the Modi government, the terror ecosystem in J&K has been crippled.

 India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, continued high-level engagements on the first day of his official visit to Sri Lanka, holding talks with the country’s political and military leadership and underlining the growing depth of bilateral defence cooperation. The visit featured discussions on regional security, professional military exchange and tangible support to the Sri Lanka Army. He is scheduled to conclude his visit tomorrow.

India’s Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi stressed the pivotal role of armed forces in nation building, calling for the integration of niche and emerging technologies into modern military operations while speaking to the faculty and student officers at Sri Lanka’s Dscsc. During his engagements in Colombo, the Indian Army Chief held discussions with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary, focusing on expanding defence cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief collaboration, and regional security. General Dwivedi also met the Army Commander and handed over military vehicles, ambulances and training simulators, reinforcing the India-Sri Lanka defence partnership.

 Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected fears of an imminent US takeover despite Trump’s repeated interest. Nielsen’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump expressed interest in Greenland, calling it strategically vital to US defence, days after a US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

 

Denmark and European allies have also warned about the serious security implications, backing Greenland’s sovereignty. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Speaking at a press conference in the Greenlandic capital Nuuk, Nielsen said the US cannot compare Greenland to Venezuela because it is a democratic country.

 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar interacted with participants of the French-Indian Young Talents Program by Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-India in Paris. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said he discussed the transformations underway in the world and the importance of India-France collaboration in that context.

The Minister also met the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol and appreciated his assessment of the global energy scenario and his support for India’s growth and development. During his visit, Dr Jaishankar will meet the French leadership in Paris and hold talks with his counterpart Jean Noel Barrot. They will discuss the progress made under the India-France Strategic Partnership and matters of global importance.

Dr Jaishankar will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors’ Conference as the Guest of Honour. In the second leg of his visit, the External Affairs Minister will visit Luxembourg, where he will hold discussions with the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel and with the senior leadership of the country. He will also interact with the members of the Indian community in Luxembourg.

 

Delhi Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank of India, bringing the national capital under the RBI’s full banking, cash management and debt framework for the first time.

In a statement, the Delhi Chief Minister’s office said that the MoU enables the RBI to function as the banker, debt manager, and financial agent of the Government of Delhi. It said that the MoU will facilitate market borrowings through State Development Loans, automatic investment of surplus cash, professional cash management, and access to low-cost liquidity facilities.

It is strictly within the framework prescribed by the central government and the RBI Act. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that this agreement marks a historic correction in Delhi’s financial governance. She described the MoU as a transformational milestone and a long-overdue reform that previous governments failed to initiate. She added that the Delhi Government has placed fiscal discipline, transparency, and long-term sustainability at the core of governance.

The Chief Minister further stated that, despite being the nation’s capital, Delhi was denied the benefits of structured RBI banking and market borrowings for years. She added that the previous governments never showed the intent or vision to adopt globally accepted norms of fiscal prudence. The MoU was signed at a meeting held at the Delhi Secretariat.

 

The Election Commission has found “serious security lapses” in the mob attacks on electoral roll observer C Murugan during his visit to the special intensive revision (SIR) hearing camps in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. The Commission has sought an action taken report from the state director general of police, Rajeev Kumar, by 5 PM tomorrow.

The EC also ordered Mr Kumar to depute a senior police officer next time to accompany any electoral roll observer/ special electoral roll observer with adequate security to ensure their safety during field visits. Its step came after Mr Murugan, an IAS officer of the 2005 batch, reported to the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, Manoj Agarwal, about the incidents he had faced at Magrahat- I, Magrahat- II and Kulpi block of Diamond Harbour sub-division on December 29.

 Leh city in Ladakh has received fresh light snowfall early this morning and ended the prevailing long spell of the dry season in the region. It has transformed the entire area, both higher and lower lying areas of the city, into a whitish winter wonderland. Fresh snowfall has delighted the people of Ladak,h as snowfall helps in restoring the melting glaciers and drying the underground water. However, snowfall caused an impact on traffic on highways, roads and flight operations during the morning hours.

 

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan today said that the National Cadet Corps has played a commendable role during Operation Sindoor. Mr Radhakrishnan said this while addressing the NCC Republic Day Parade Camp 2026 in New Delhi. 

Highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, Mr Radhakrishnan said, the operation shows the country’s resolve to protect its national honour, sovereignty and people. He said, the NCC, with its motto Unity and Discipline, has consistently nurtured generations of responsible and patriotic citizens. He said that NCC, which is the largest uniformed youth organization of the world, has evolved manifold since the time of its rise. Mr Radhakrishnan congratulated NCC cadets for their achievements in mountaineering, adventure activities, youth exchange programmes and disaster relief efforts, including their service during the Wayanad floods in Kerala. He also praised initiatives like Punitsagar Abhiyan, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Nasha Mukti Abhiyan, and Har Ghar Tiranga.

The Vice-President said, NCC is also preparing youth for emerging domains such as cyber and drone technologies, with the establishment of a Remote Pilot Training Academy. He appreciated NCC officers and instructors for their commitment to nurturing young minds and strengthening national character. The Vice-President expressed confidence that NCC cadets will remain at the forefront of nation-building and social responsibility. Mr Radhakrishnan also urged the cadets participating in the NCC Republic Day Camp-2026 to uphold discipline, patriotism and service to the nation. The Vice-President said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is moving towards Viksit Bharat-2047 and building an Atmanirbhar Bharat driven by capable and disciplined youth. 

 

Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that electronics production in the country has increased six times and exports have grown eight times in the last eleven years. In a social media post, Mr Vaishnaw said Apple shipped mobile phones worth 50 billion US dollars in 2025. He said, this progress has propelled electronics products among the top three exported items. 

 

 

The Minister said that 46 component manufacturing projects, including laptop, server, and hearable manufacturers, are making electronics manufacturing a major driver of the manufacturing economy. He said that four semiconductor plants will start commercial production this year. Mr Vaishnaw highlighted that the total number of jobs in electronics manufacturing is now 25 lakh, with many factories employing more than five thousand employees in a single location. He said that some plants employ as many as 40 thousand employees in a single location. The Minister said Bharat will become a major player in the entire electronics stack, including design, manufacturing, operating systems, applications, materials, and equipment.

 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) first indigenously designed and built pollution control vessel, Samudra Pratap in Goa today. The vessel will serve as a critical platform for enforcing marine pollution control regulations, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and safeguarding the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. As the first indigenously developed pollution control vessel with over 70 percent domestic content, it features a helicopter hangar to extend its operational reach.

 

 

At the commissioning of Samudra Pratap, the Defence Minister hailed the vessel as a symbol of the country’s collective resolve and maritime confidence. Mr. Singh emphasized that protecting marine biodiversity is a moral responsibility in the face of climate change, noting that the ship will safeguard coral reefs and coastal communities. The Minister urged the industry to aim for 90 percent indigenization in future projects.

 

 

Built by Goa Shipyard Limited, this 114-meter hybrid Pollution Control Vessel is a powerhouse of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It is designed to detect and recover oil spills, featuring advanced sweeping arms and dynamic positioning to protect the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone

 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad ahead of the IPL’s 2026 edition.

 

 

KKR had acquired the services of the 30-year-old left-armer for 9.20 crore rupees from a base price of two crore rupees after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the players’ auction last month. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has said that KKR will be allowed to name a replacement player if required. 

 

 

The pressure had been mounting on the KKR over Rahman’s participation in the upcoming IPL tournament after the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh. Rahman has featured in eight IPL editions since 2016, missing the tournament only in 2019 and 2020.

 Let us dive into India’s inflation trends for 2025. We bring you a report on movements in the Consumer Price Index and the Wholesale Price Index over the last year.

 

In 2025, India experienced a largely benign inflation environment. CPI was at 4.26 per cent in January and steadily softened over the months. By June, inflation declined to 2.1 per cent. This was well within the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4 per cent, with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 per cent.

 

The downward trend continued into the second half of the year, with headline CPI reaching historic lows of around 0.25 per cent in October. In November, inflation edged up slightly to 0.71 per cent, still reflecting broad-based price stability.

 

The RBI also revised its CPI inflation forecast for the Financial Year 2025-26 downward from 2.6 per cent to 2 per cent. Against this backdrop, the RBI cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in December. It maintained a neutral stance to balance growth and inflation.

 

Wholesale inflation also mirrored this moderation. WPI inflation eased from 2.31 per cent in January to a provisional minus 0.32 per cent in November 2025, underscoring overall softening price pressures across the economy. 

 In Chhattisgarh, two Maoists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district today.

 

According to the police, a team of the District Reserve Guard was dispatched after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists in the Basaguda area of the district.

 

The encounter took place this morning in the forest near Gaganpalli village. Intermittent firing has been continuing from both sides since morning. 

 

Nine fishermen from Mayiladuthurai were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy at Kodiakkarai today. The fishermen took to the sea yesterday in two fibre boats and stayed at sea near Kodiakkarai when the Sri Lankan Navy arrested them for trespassing into international waters. Two fibre boats were also seized by them.

 

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan today paid tributes to Veerapandiya Kattabomman on his birth anniversary. In a social media post, Mr Radhakrishnan said, Veerapandiya Kattabomman was a brave son of the soil whose courage and defiance against colonial oppression became a beacon of the country’s freedom movement.

 

Mr Radhakrishnan said Veerapandiya Kattabomman’s indomitable spirit, supreme sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to honour and self-respect continue to inspire generations, strengthening the values of patriotism and the nation’s pride.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Bhagwan Buddha, titled The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi. The Prime Minister also visited diferent sections of the Exposition related to Lord Buddha.

 

Discovered in 1898, the Piprahwa relics hold a central place in the archaeological study of early Buddhism. These are among the earliest and most historically significant relic deposits directly connected to Bhagwan Buddha. Archaeological evidence associates the Piprahwa site with ancient Kapilavastu, widely identified as the place where Bhagwan Buddha spent his early life prior to renunciation.

 

 

The Exposition brings together, for the first time, the Piprahwa relics repatriated after more than a century from Piprahwa that are preserved in the collections of the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Indian Museum, Kolkata.

 

The exposition highlights India’s deep and continuing civilizational link with the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha and reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to preserving India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. The recent repatriation of these relics has been achieved through sustained government effort, institutional cooperation and innovative public-private partnership.