Bangladesh cricketers are pleading to "save cricket" after the Bangladesh Cricket Board reinstated controversial director M Najmul Islam as finance head, just days after suspending him. Players had gone on strike during the Bangladesh Premier League demanding Islam's dismissal following provocative comments during the ICC-BCB impasse over refusing to play in India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Islam had called batting legend Tamim Iqbal an "agent" of India and stated players didn't deserve compensation for the tournament withdrawal, which cost approximately INR 300 crore. Despite a show-cause notice and player protests, the BCB's disciplinary department cleared Islam after reviewing his response. A sense of helplessness now grips Bangladesh cricketers. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump extended Republic Day greetings to India, highlighting the "historic bond" between the two nations as the world's oldest and largest democracies. On India's 77th Republic Day, Trump congratulated the government and people of India on behalf of Americans. US Ambassador Sergio Gor attended the Republic Day Parade for the first time, calling US-made aircraft flying in Indian skies a "powerful symbol" of growing strategic partnership. However, bilateral relations have faced challenges over the past year due to Trump's tariffs on Indian imports and threats of increased duties on Russian oil purchases. India has called these tariffs unjustified, vowing to protect its interests and economic security.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, marking a significant reset in bilateral relations after tensions under predecessor Justin Trudeau. The visit will likely produce multiple agreements spanning uranium supply (a 10-year deal worth C$2.8 billion), oil and gas, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are set to begin in March, with completion anticipated within a year. This push comes as Carney prioritizes diversifying Canada's trade beyond the United States amid global uncertainty and Trump's tariff threats. India's National Security Advisor will visit Ottawa next month, while Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are expected to travel to Canada soon. (PC: X/@narendramodi)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a successful India makes the world “stable, prosperous and secure.” She made the remark during India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. She attended the parade with European Council President António Costa.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a privilege to host the EU leaders. He said their visit showed the growing strength of India–EU ties.   Von der Leyen is on a three-day visit to India. Talks are expected to conclude the long-pending India–European Union free trade agreement. She earlier called it a “historic” deal at the World Economic Forum. 

Storm Chandra is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and snow across the UK on Tuesday, the Met Office said. Amber warnings have been issued for parts of southwest England and Northern Ireland. Flooding and travel disruption are likely.   Chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said the UK faces a “complex spell of weather” as the storm moves in. “Heavy rain will fall on already saturated ground, increasing the risk of flooding,” he warned.   Winds could reach 75mph along some coasts. Snow is forecast on higher ground in northern England and Scotland, with up to 20cm possible. The Met Office warned of power cuts, transport delays and communities being cut off. (PC: PA)

Israel said it has recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The body was identified as Master Sgt Ran Gvili, who was abducted on October 7, 2023. The military had been searching for him since the ceasefire with Hamas began in October.   Under the truce, all hostages were to be returned within 72 hours. Others were handed over earlier, but Gvili’s body had not been located. Israel had delayed further steps until he was found.   The Israel Defense Forces said Gvili died in battle on October 7. With his return, Israel said all Gaza hostages are now accounted for. The move allows talks to advance to the next phase of the peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. (PC: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS)

The United Arab Emirates has backed out of a plan to operate Islamabad International Airport after its president’s surprise visit to India. Pakistani media said the UAE lost interest in the project and did not name a local partner. Talks on the deal had been underway since August 2025.   The move comes as India-UAE ties continue to grow. During the visit, the UAE president approved the release of 900 Indian prisoners. This was seen as a goodwill gesture.   India and the UAE also agreed to deepen defence cooperation. A new defence framework is now planned. Observers say the decision reflects shifting regional ties and a decline in confidence in Pakistan’s infrastructure and governance. (PC: AFP)

India and the European Union have concluded talks on their Free Trade Agreement. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the deal is balanced and forward-looking. Legal checks of the final text are now underway. The aim is to complete the process and sign the pact at an early date.   The agreement is expected to boost trade and investment between India and the EU. Officials said the deal could be signed later this year and may come into force early next year.   European leaders visited New Delhi for the Republic Day parade and the India-EU Summit. The government said this reflects growing ties between India and the EU. (PC: PMO)

The Indian Air Force released a video on Republic Day showing fighter jets carrying weapons used in the 2019 Balakot strike and Operation Sindoor. The footage was shown as India marked its 77th Republic Day. For the first time, the IAF displayed fully loaded aircraft with operational weapons. These included Meteor air-to-air missiles on Rafale and LCA Tejas jets, and the same missile configuration used by Mirage 2000 aircraft in 2019. The video also showed Astra missiles on Sukhoi-30MKI jets and upgraded Jaguars. BrahMos cruise missiles, Hammer bombs, and Rampage air-to-surface missiles were also seen. The IAF rarely releases such weapon footage. (PC: NDTV)

Indian-origin households are the wealthiest among ethnic groups in the UK, while Pakistani households remain among the poorest, according to a study by the London School of Economics. The report shows median wealth for Indian households rose by more than £93,000 over the past decade. It increased from about £113,000 in 2012–14 to nearly £206,000 in 2021–23. Pakistani households saw much lower wealth levels and weaker growth during the same period. The study also found Indian households were most likely to earn high weekly incomes above £1,000 and £2,000. Pakistani households had a higher share in low income groups. The findings are based on official UK household survey data. (PC: X)