India received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the newly launched “Board of Peace,” an initiative aimed at overseeing peace and reconstruction efforts, particularly for Gaza. However, New Delhi did not join the launch at the World Economic Forum in Davos and has yet to decide on participation, instead watching developments closely. Officials are concerned the board’s broad mandate could undermine established multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. India’s absence stood out as Pakistan and other countries signed on, and New Delhi’s decision reflects careful diplomatic calculation amid geopolitical sensitivities. (PC: Reuters)

Over 500 people gathered at Parliament Square in London on January 21, 2026, demanding international action against the alleged persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Despite cold and rainy weather, participants from diverse backgrounds joined the protest organised by the Bangladesh Hindu Association (BHA) with support from INSIGHT UK and other groups. Protesters highlighted long-standing discrimination, violence and killings of minorities. The demonstration attracted wide media coverage and strong online engagement, amplifying the issue globally. Organisers said the protest marked a renewed push to raise awareness and demand justice for affected communities. (PC: X)

Ryan Coogler’s supernatural drama Sinners has become the first film in Oscars history to receive 16 nominations, breaking the long-standing record of 14 held by classics like Titanic and La La Land. The film, starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, earned nods in major categories including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor and Actress, as well as many technical awards. It has grossed around $368 million worldwide and is widely acclaimed for its storytelling, performances and production. One Battle After Another follows with 13 nominations. The 98th Academy Awards take place March 15, 2026.

At least 22 people in Indore’s Mhow area fell ill after consuming contaminated drinking water, prompting hospitalisation and medical monitoring. Nine were admitted, while others receive treatment at home as authorities survey affected neighbourhoods. This new wave comes weeks after a larger waterborne disease crisis linked to contaminated pipelines in Bhagirathpura that earlier killed at least 15 people and hospitalised many more amid diarrhoea and vomiting outbreaks. The local administration, led by District Collector Shivam Verma, deployed health teams and began a rapid response to contain further spread. A high-level probe into the causes and accountability is underway. (PC: PTI)

Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI” and 2024 Nobel Prize co-winner, has sounded a grave warning about artificial intelligence, cautioning that humanity’s failure to invest in safeguards could prove catastrophic. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Hinton expressed deep regret over the dangers posed by the very technology he helped pioneer. “It makes me very sad that I put my life into developing this stuff and that it’s now extremely dangerous and people aren’t taking the dangers seriously enough,” he said. Hinton stressed that the greatest mistake would be neglecting research on how humans can coexist safely with increasingly intelligent machines. (PC: X)

Retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, 60, has said she would love to go to the moon but will leave that opportunity to the next generation. Speaking during her visit to India after retiring on December 27, 2025, Williams emphasized the importance of youth pursuing careers in space, highlighting opportunities in exploration and collaboration. She expressed hope for stronger India-U.S. partnerships in space missions, praising ISRO’s progress and international cooperation. Reflecting on her 27-year career, including three ISS missions and nine spacewalks, Williams said her experiences were unique and culturally enriching. She now plans to spend more time with family and visit India often. (PC: X)

Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed Thursday it will not play T20 World Cup matches in India, risking expulsion from the tournament despite ICC's ultimatum. This follows the ICC's Wednesday rejection of Bangladesh's request to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka, dismissing security concerns. Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul stated "we will not bow down" and cited the BCCI's withdrawal of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL due to extremist threats. Bangladesh is scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. The ICC will likely replace Bangladesh with Scotland. BCB Vice-President Animul Islam Bulbul said they'll continue trying to change ICC's decision, though such reversal appears unlikely as the February 7 tournament approaches. (PC: AP)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar paid tribute to Saina Nehwal following her retirement announcement, praising her for carrying "Indian badminton to the world stage." Nehwal confirmed her retirement on Monday after being out of competitive action for two years due to severe knee degeneration that made training impossible. Tendulkar highlighted that her greatest achievement was "inspiring young athletes across the country to believe global success is possible." The shuttler revealed her knee couldn't sustain the eight-to-nine-hour training required for world-class competition, swelling after just one-to-two hours. Her career was significantly impacted by a 2016 Olympics knee injury, though she won 2017 World Championships bronze and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the first Russia-US-Ukraine trilateral meeting at the technical level will be held January 23-24 in the United Arab Emirates. Speaking at Davos after meeting US President Donald Trump, Zelensky said "it's better than not having any dialogue" and hoped it would help end the war. He indicated Ukrainian officials met with Trump's team Thursday, who will then meet with Russian representatives. Zelensky emphasized "Russians should be ready for compromises," adding "everyone should be ready, not just Ukraine." He also stated Europe relies too heavily on US security and needs its own armed forces, questioning what happens if America doesn't help defend the continent. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Thursday, reviewing the "strong momentum" in the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership and expressing anticipation for welcoming him to India soon. Preparations are underway for President Lula's state visit to India in February 2026, considered a key bilateral milestone as both nations face steep tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The leaders previously discussed "imposition of unilateral tariffs" and recalled their goal of increasing bilateral trade to over $20 billion by 2030. Since 2023, Modi and Lula have met four times. Current bilateral trade reportedly surpasses $15 billion. Both nations collaborate through G20, BRICS, WTO, and the G4 grouping.