Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Union Budget will break a 75-year tradition by emphasising Part B of the Budget speech as the main platform for outlining India’s economic vision and reform agenda instead of the usual Part A focus. Part B, traditionally limited to tax and technical details, will highlight both short-term priorities and long-term goals, showcasing India’s strengths in manufacturing, trade, and exports. Officials describe the approach as a “Reform Express”, with expected cross-sector reforms, customs duty rationalisation, and plans for Unified Export and Manufacturing Zones to boost competitiveness. (PC: India Today)

An explosion struck an eight-storey building in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on January 31, 2026, damaging two floors, vehicles and nearby shops. Iranian state media say rescue and firefighting teams responded and multiple people were injured and taken to hospital, while officials investigate the cause. Authorities have not confirmed what triggered the blast, and rumours of an attack on a military commander were denied by Iranian sources. The incident occurred amid broader regional tensions and follows other recent explosions reported across Iran. (PC: The Hindu)

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on January 31 dismissed references in newly released Jeffrey Epstein files that mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 2017 Israel visit as “trashy ruminations of a convicted criminal,” saying they deserve to be “dismissed with the utmost contempt.” The MEA clarified that Modi’s July 2017 Israel trip was an official diplomatic visit, rejecting any insinuations of impropriety or connection to Epstein’s criminal activities. The remark came after a fresh batch of Epstein-related documents was made public by the U.S. Justice Department. (PC: ANI)

The US Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, sparking fresh controversy due to sensational allegations involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Among draft emails attributed to Epstein are unverified claims that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) after encounters with “Russian girls” and allegedly sought antibiotics to secretly give to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. Gates’ spokesperson strongly denied the assertions, calling them “absurd and completely false.” Experts note the claims remain unsubstantiated and based on disputed draft communications within the larger tranche of records. (PC: NDTV)

Sunetra Pawar, widow of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was sworn in today as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister at a ceremony in Mumbai, becoming the first woman to hold the post. The oath was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Pawar’s elevation follows the tragic death of her husband in a plane crash days earlier. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislature elected her as leader prior to the ceremony amid emotional tributes and chants of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe.” (PC: The Hindu)

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the death of Confident Group chairman CJ Roy, found with bullet injuries in Bengaluru during ongoing Income Tax Department searches linked to his company. Initial inquiries suggest he died by suicide while questioned by officials. Roy, 57, allegedly shot himself at his office as income-tax raids continued. His brother claims the only issue he faced was related to tax scrutiny and denied any financial stress or threats. The SIT will be supervised by senior Bengaluru police officials to conduct a thorough and meticulous probe into the incident. (PC: HT)

Elena Rybakina claimed the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a dramatic final at Melbourne Park. Rybakina fought back after losing the second set and trailing 3-0 in the decider, winning five straight games and sealing victory with an ace. The fifth-seeded Kazakh earned her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam overall, avenging her 2023 final loss to Sabalenka. Sabalenka, seeking a third Melbourne crown, congratulated her opponent after the match. (PC: AP)

Suspected separatist fighters killed at least 10 Pakistani policemen in a series of coordinated attacks across Balochistan, targeting police stations and security posts. Pakistan has been battling a decades-long separatist insurgency in the resource-rich province, where armed groups frequently attack state forces, foreign nationals, and non-local residents. Authorities said the attackers used gunfire and explosives, triggering a large security operation. Transport and internet services were disrupted in several areas as forces searched for the assailants. The violence highlights ongoing security challenges in the volatile region. (PC: AFP)

Sunetra Pawar on Friday took oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, days after the death of her husband and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. She was unanimously elected leader of the NCP Legislature Party earlier in the day. The proposal was sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and cleared by the Governor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her after the oath ceremony. Sharad Pawar said he was not aware of the decision in advance and clarified he is not directly involved in reunification talks. Party sources said the move was aimed at projecting Sunetra Pawar as Ajit Pawar’s political successor. (PC: X)

Fresh documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation include an FBI report citing a “credible” confidential source who claimed US President Donald Trump was “compromised by Israel.” The report also alleged that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held outsized influence during Trump’s first term. The source raised concerns about Kushner’s business dealings, including undisclosed foreign links and Russian money flows. The report also referenced past real estate transactions involving Trump and made claims about Epstein’s legal and political networks. The US Justice Department said the material was released after review and reflects claims, not findings. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. (PC: X)