World

World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tommy Paul 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 to reach his third consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal. The 22-year-old Spaniard, chasing a Career Grand Slam, will face Alex de Minaur or Alexander Bublik next at Melbourne Park

Novak Djokovic advanced to his 16th Australian Open quarterfinal after Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal injury. Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam, will face Lorenzo Musetti or Taylor Fritz next, having equalled Roger Federer’s 102 match wins at Melbourne Park

World Champion D Gukesh lost to Anish Giri in round 7 of Tata Steel Masters, while Arjun Erigaisi and Aravindh Chithambaram also suffered defeats. Nodirbek Abdusattorov leads with 5.5 points, as Indians struggle in the prestigious chess event

Sonali Mondal scored a brilliant hat-trick as India defeated Sri Lanka 5-2 to finish runner-up at the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship in Bangkok. Mithila Ramani and Pooja Gupta added goals, while Bangladesh claimed the overall title

BCB’s confrontational stance has exposed deep fear and frustration within Bangladesh cricket

Abhishek Sharma’s stunning 12-ball fifty and Suryakumar Yadav’s fluent 57 not out powered India to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I at Guwahati. Bishnoi and Bumrah starred with the ball as India sealed the series 3-0

China investigates top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for corruption and challenging party control, reinforcing Xi Jinping’s absolute leadership over the military and anti-graft campaign

In Minneapolis, Border Patrol fatally shot Alex Pretti, sparking protests and political backlash. Democrats demanded federal immigration officers leave Minnesota, citing excessive force. Video evidence and family accounts dispute official claims, intensifying tensions days after a previous ICE-related killing

In Narsingdi, Bangladesh, 23-year-old Hindu man Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was reportedly burned alive while sleeping in a garage, raising concerns over minority safety ahead of national elections. Police are investigating, and CCTV footage of the suspected attackers has been seized

Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo held final public viewing of panda twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before their return to China, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time in 50 years. Fans and businesses worry about emotional and economic impact

India is rebalancing crude oil imports toward Middle Eastern suppliers as Russian volumes dip due to sanctions and compliance risks. While Russian crude remains economical, refiners are prioritising supply reliability, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia regaining share in early 2026

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals in Melbourne, defeating Canada’s Victoria Mboko in straight sets. The two-time champion overcame a tighter second set, extending her remarkable tiebreak winning streak to 20 and staying on title course

A massive winter storm swept across the United States, triggering emergencies in over 20 states, grounding thousands of flights, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes and plunging temperatures far below normal across large regions

An all-round India won a truncated game of 37-overs-per-side with complete ease, stamping their authority in the competition with another big victory

The decision follows an extensive process undertaken by the ICC to address concerns raised by the BCB regarding the hosting of its scheduled matches in India

Power is increasingly overriding law, morals, and values, exposing a ‘world without rules’ — an uncomfortable truth revealed as leaders gathered in the Swiss Alps amid rising global tensions

As global uncertainty deepens and multilateral norms weaken, the EU and India are moving toward a historic free trade agreement, signalling a shift toward partnership, diversification, and cooperative global governance 

A predawn landslide in West Java, Indonesia, killed at least eight people and left 82 missing after torrential rains. Rescuers struggled through mud and debris while authorities evacuated nearby families and warned residents in landslide-prone areas to stay alert.

Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed one person and wounded 31 as Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. officials met in Abu Dhabi for peace talks. Zelenskyy says a deal is “nearly ready,” but territorial disputes remain unresolved.

At least six people were killed and several others injured after a suicide bomber struck a wedding ceremony in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack targeted the home of a local peace committee leader. Investigations are underway.

At least nine members of a family were killed after an avalanche buried their home in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Heavy snowfall disrupted life across several regions, blocking roads, cutting power and worsening extreme cold conditions.

Four adults of Indian origin, including an Indian national, were killed in a domestic shooting in Georgia. The suspect was arrested, children escaped unharmed, and the Indian Consulate in Atlanta assured full assistance to the bereaved family.

Sakshi Padekar and Shahu Mane bettered national record scores in the 10m Air Rifle events at the National Selection Trials in Delhi. Arjun Babuta won the men’s final, Sakshi the women’s, while Rahi Sarnobat claimed gold in the 25m Pistol

Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 82 and Ishan Kishan’s fiery 76 powered India to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Raipur, chasing 209 in just 15.2 overs. India now lead the five-match T20I series 2-0