World

The Pakistan Cricket Board has scheduled its T20 World Cup squad to leave for Colombo on February 2, ruling out boycott speculation. PCB sources confirmed participation, including the India clash on February 15, under ICC’s neutral venue agreement

World champion D Gukesh defeated Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus to stay in contention at the Tata Steel Masters, while Arjun Erigaisi lost to Vincent Keymer. Praggnanandhaa drew with Hans Niemann as Matthias Bluebaum continued his fine run with a win over Anish Giri

India defeated England by seven wickets in the opening match of the Mixed Disability T20I series in Greater Noida. Yogendra Bhadoria’s 94 anchored the chase of 173, giving India a 1-0 lead in the five-match historic series

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 to reach her fourth consecutive Australian Open final. She will face Elena Rybakina, who beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets, setting up a rematch of the 2023 championship clash

The European Union has formally listed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, citing Tehran’s violent suppression of nationwide protests that activists say killed over 6,000 people. The EU also sanctioned Iranian officials and organisations linked to censorship.

Pakistan has blocked access to Hyderabad-based English news website Telangana Today, citing alleged misinformation and propaganda. The move follows the publication of an analytical article titled Black Storm Rising in June 2025, which examined the Baloch Liberation Army’s insurgency and Pakistan’s internal security challenges.

The EU is set to sanction Iran’s Revolutionary Guard over its deadly crackdown on protests, aligning with U.S. measures. Economic pressure mounts as Tehran faces rioting, mass casualties, and threats of U.S. military action

Nicki Minaj publicly reaffirmed her support for President Donald Trump at a Washington, DC event, calling him “bullied” and “smeared.” She pledged $150,000–$300,000 toward Trump Accounts for fans, while Trump hailed the program as transformative policy

Vietnam and the EU upgraded ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthening trade and diplomatic relations amid U.S. tariff pressures. The move enhances market access, supports supply-chain diversification, and aligns with Vietnam’s goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2045

China executed 11 members of a Myanmar-based family crime syndicate convicted of killing 14 Chinese nationals and running scam and gambling operations worth over USD 1 billion, as Beijing intensifies its crackdown on cross-border fraud networks in Southeast Asia

  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a comprehensive strategic partnership during talks in Beijing, seeking to reset strained ties, expand trade and cooperation, and jointly address global challenges amid geopolitical uncertainty and economic pressures 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will return three illegally removed South Indian bronze sculptures to India following provenance research, while retaining one Chola-period Shiva Nataraja on a long-term loan agreed with the Indian government

The US has criticised the EU for finalising a free trade agreement with India, accusing Europe of prioritising commerce over Ukraine by refusing to penalise New Delhi for buying Russian oil amid the ongoing war.

The latest purge can have repercussions on Taiwan, which China considers its own territory and has threatened to take control of the island by force

Coercive regime change undermines global norms and risks deepening instability rather than resolving regional crises

Experts and journalists in Bangladesh warned that deteriorating law and order and organised mob violence are being fuelled by patronage from the Yunus-led interim government. They flagged shrinking media freedom, attacks on news outlets, regulatory overreach, and growing threats to journalists

An Indian-origin man, Dalip Chadha, 57, appeared in a London court charged with murdering a woman believed to be his wife at their Ilford home. Police found the victim dead after responding to an early-morning call; investigations are ongoing

President Donald Trump said a large US naval “armada,” including the USS Abraham Lincoln and warships, is heading toward the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. He stressed the move aims to deter escalation and prefers diplomacy over military action 

A man sprayed an unknown substance on US Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall. He was tackled, arrested; Omar was unharmed, continuing her speech

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said India emerged on top in the India-EU free trade agreement, gaining greater market access and mobility benefits. He noted EU’s globalization push amid US protectionism and highlighted ongoing concerns over India’s Russian oil purchases

Thirteen Russian and seven Belarusian athletes will compete as neutral individuals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after IOC invitations. Barred from national symbols, they passed neutrality checks, with Russian figure skaters emerging as the strongest medal contenders

Samsung announced a new built-in privacy display for upcoming Galaxy smartphones, likely debuting on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while also unveiling the Galaxy Z Flip 7 Olympic Edition for athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games

Elina Svitolina stunned Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 to reach her first Australian Open semifinal, extending her winning streak to 10 matches. Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz also advanced, with Alcaraz chasing a career Grand Slam and Sabalenka eyeing a third crown

World champion D Gukesh lost to Matthias Bluebaum, while Arjun Erigaisi drew with Hans Niemann in round nine of the Tata Steel Masters. Abdusattorov leads with six points, Sindarov and van Foreest trail close behind, as Indian players continue to struggle