Indian authorities have ordered two British tourists to leave the country after they allegedly placed stickers supporting Palestine in various locations in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The couple, identified as Louis Gabriel D. and his wife Anushi Emma Kristin, were staying in Pushkar on tourist visas when intelligence officials received reports on January 21 that they were distributing 'Free Palestine' stickers. Following verification through CCTV footage and local sources, police questioned the pair and determined that their actions violated visa conditions.

Officials stated that engaging in political or ideological activities while on a tourist visa constitutes a clear breach of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. As a result, the couple’s visas were canceled and a formal 'Leave India Notice' was issued. District police later removed the stickers from public areas with assistance from local authorities.

Authorities reiterated that any political, protest-related, or ideological activities are strictly prohibited for foreign nationals visiting India on tourist visas.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil and instead buy from the United States and Venezuela. Trump made the statement Monday night after announcing a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods. Following a phone call with Modi, Trump said the new agreement would lower U.S. tariffs on Indian products from 25 percent to 18 percent, while India pledged to remove tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. goods.

According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, the discussion also covered the Russia–Ukraine war. He said the deal would lift the additional 25 percent penalty imposed on India for buying Russian oil. As part of the agreement, India will purchase over 500 billion dollars’ worth of U.S. products, including energy, technology, agricultural goods, and coal. Trump described the deal as beneficial for both trade and global stability.

Modi expressed satisfaction on social media platform X, thanking Trump for lowering tariffs and emphasizing that cooperation between the two largest democracies benefits ordinary people. The agreement follows months of trade tension after the U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods last August.

Indian Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor has criticized the decision to exclude Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling it disrespectful and politically motivated. He said India bears partial responsibility for the ongoing unrest surrounding the T20 World Cup and warned against mixing politics with sports.

Tharoor described the exclusion as unfortunate and said its impact is being felt across world cricket. Mustafizur had been bought at a high price by Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later removed him, triggering the crisis. In response, Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the World Cup citing security concerns and demanded a venue change. The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the request, replacing Bangladesh with Scotland, prompting Pakistan to boycott its match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh.

Tharoor urged the ICC to treat the situation as a warning and create a platform for urgent dialogue, emphasizing that cricket should unite people rather than divide them.

India and several Arab countries have jointly called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state. The appeal was made on Saturday in New Delhi during the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting, held after a ten-year gap, was attended by top Arab diplomats and the Secretary-General of the Arab League. The outcome was formalized in the 'Delhi Declaration'.

According to the declaration, the participating nations reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative. It called for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, living peacefully alongside Israel, and expressed support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

The declaration also welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached at the 2025 Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and urged all parties to adhere to its terms. It further emphasized the need to ensure adequate, sustainable, and unhindered humanitarian and relief access throughout the region.

A sudden earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck large parts of Jammu and Kashmir early Monday morning. According to preliminary data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the tremor occurred at 5:35 a.m. The National Center for Seismology reported that the epicenter was located in Budgam district, about 10 kilometers below the surface, at coordinates 33.9°N and 74.76°E.

The quake was felt across several nearby areas, including Charar-i-Sharif, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Shopian. Many residents, awakened by the shaking, rushed outdoors in fear. Around the same time, a mild earthquake was also recorded in India’s Andaman region.

As of the latest reports, no casualties or property damage have been reported from the affected areas.

India’s new fiscal year budget has increased grant assistance to Bangladesh by 74 percent, allocating 600 million rupees for the 2027 financial year. According to The Hindu Business Line, citing India’s central budget documents, this marks a significant rise from the revised figure of 344.8 million rupees in the previous year. The report noted that despite domestic discussions about anti-India sentiment, New Delhi expanded its allocation to Dhaka.

The budget also shows India halting all grants to Iran’s Chabahar Port, which previously received 4 billion rupees, reportedly due to U.S. sanctions pressure. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s grant rose by 50 percent to 1.5 billion rupees, and Bhutan remains the largest recipient with a total of 22.88 billion rupees. In contrast, allocations for Nepal, the Maldives, and Mauritius were reduced, with Mauritius facing the steepest cut of about 33 percent.

Overall, India proposed 87.92 billion rupees in total foreign grants and loans, down 27 percent from the previous year’s revised figure, signaling a strategic and financial restructuring of its foreign aid program.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed that India’s support for Palestine will continue. He made the statement on Saturday in New Delhi during a meeting with Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Varsen Agabekian Shahin, held on the sidelines of the second India-Arab foreign ministers’ meeting. According to The Hindu, Modi reiterated India’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and welcomed ongoing peace efforts, including the Gaza peace plan.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi highlighted the deep and historical ties between India and the Arab world, which have long inspired and strengthened bilateral relations. He also outlined a roadmap for future India-Arab partnerships, emphasizing commitments to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, energy, technology, healthcare, and other priority sectors for the mutual benefit of both sides.

The meeting underscored India’s intention to maintain balanced engagement with Arab nations while supporting peace initiatives in the Middle East.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new batch of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The newly disclosed materials reportedly include a reference to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting political and diplomatic debate in India. The Indian government has strongly denied the claim, calling it baseless and defamatory. According to NDTV, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the so-called 'Epstein files' mention an email referring to Modi and his 2017 visit to Israel, but all other assertions are completely rejectable.

The release comes as part of the ongoing U.S. investigation into Epstein’s crimes and connections with influential figures. The documents were made public under the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act,' which mandates disclosure of government-held information about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest batch includes over three million documents, more than two thousand videos, and 180,000 photos.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has demanded Modi’s explanation, claiming the files contain statements suggesting Modi’s consultation and participation in a cultural event in Israel. He warned that such issues could affect India’s national reputation.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would complete border fencing within 45 days if it forms the government in West Bengal after the 2026 state assembly election. Speaking at a workers’ conference in Bagdogra, Siliguri, on Saturday, Shah predicted a BJP victory and called 2026 a “year of change.” He pledged to build a “Sonar Bangla” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Shah accused the current Trinamool Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of obstructing land allocation for border fencing despite a High Court directive. He said that after the election results in April, the BJP’s nominated chief minister would take charge and expedite pending projects. Shah also claimed that a BJP government would stop illegal infiltration and identify and expel infiltrators.

He further criticized Trinamool officials for not cooperating with the Election Commission’s voter list revision and promised BJP’s full support for a clean voter roll. Shah also pledged land rights for tea workers in North Bengal, similar to measures taken in Assam.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed serious concern over India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games following Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. According to a report by The Guardian, the IOC views the growing political tension between India and Bangladesh over cricket as a potential threat to the Olympic movement’s principle of political neutrality. The controversy began after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was allegedly unfairly excluded from the IPL, prompting the Bangladesh Cricket Board to request venue changes for its World Cup matches, which the ICC rejected.

The ICC’s decision and its perceived alignment with Indian interests have drawn scrutiny, especially given the close ties between ICC leadership and Indian cricket authorities. The IOC, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward political interference in sports, has reportedly warned that continued boycotts or political disputes could jeopardize India’s Olympic hosting ambitions. India’s confirmed hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding its 2036 Olympic bid, where Qatar remains a strong competitor.

The IOC has also reminded India that visible efforts to improve relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan will be essential to sustain its Olympic aspirations.

India concluded their five-match T20 series against New Zealand with a 46-run victory in the final match. The game, played on February 1, 2026, saw Ishan Kishan score a century and Arshdeep Singh claim five wickets, helping India secure the series 4-1. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 271 for five, with Kishan making 103, Suryakumar Yadav contributing 63, and Hardik Pandya adding 42 runs.

In reply, New Zealand’s Finn Allen led the chase with an impressive 80 but fell short of a century as his team was bowled out for 225. Arshdeep Singh’s five-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting New Zealand’s batting lineup. The result capped a dominant series performance by India, who had already clinched the series before the final match.

The win reinforced India’s strong form in T20 cricket, ending the series on a high note and demonstrating depth in both batting and bowling departments.

Indian state police in Odisha have deported three elderly siblings to Bangladesh after detaining them in late November 2025. The family of 63-year-old Muntaz Khan, his 59-year-old brother Insan Khan, and their 70-year-old sister Amina Bibi were informed on 24 December that the trio had been sent across the border. Police said the siblings were identified as Bangladeshi nationals following verification and were handed over to Bangladesh authorities through West Bengal’s Nadia district border post.

The deportation came weeks after the family alleged that the three had gone missing following their detention from Garapur village in Kendrapara district. Odisha police had earlier detained 12 family members on suspicion of being Bangladeshi citizens, releasing nine after nine days. Officials claimed the three deported individuals admitted to being Bangladeshi, while West Bengal police denied receiving any verification request from Odisha. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ May directive requires a 30-day period for citizenship verification before deportation.

Odisha police justified the action by citing allegations that Muntaz Khan’s father migrated from Bangladesh in the 1970s, though the family’s citizenship status remains disputed.

An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition government, Member of Parliament L. S. K. Devarayalu, on Friday proposed a bill to ban social media use for children under 16. The proposal, titled the Social Media (Age Limit and Online Safety) Bill, seeks to prohibit minors from creating, using, or maintaining social media accounts, with platforms required to deactivate such accounts and verify user ages. The initiative comes amid global discussions on youth safety and mental health, particularly in major markets for platforms like Meta, YouTube, and X.

Devarayalu argued that Indian children are not only addicted to social media but that Indian user data is being exploited by foreign platforms to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems, with strategic and economic benefits flowing abroad. India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market with 750 million devices and one billion internet users, currently has no minimum age limit for social media use.

The bill, introduced as a private member’s bill, is not government-sponsored but could influence parliamentary debate. Similar restrictions have been adopted or studied in countries such as Australia, France, Britain, Denmark, and Greece.

India has conferred its 2026 Padma Awards on 133 distinguished individuals in the fields of art, literature, and social service. Among them, only five recipients are from the Muslim community, whose contributions have been described as remarkable yet numerically limited. The list includes South Indian film icon Mammootty, who received the Padma Bhushan, and artists such as Rajasthan’s Gaffaruddin Mewati Yogi and Gujarat’s Haji Bhai Kasam Bhai, who were honored with the Padma Shri for preserving regional art and culture.

The report highlights that despite Muslims comprising around 15 percent of India’s population, their representation among awardees remains minimal. This imbalance raises questions about inclusivity in national recognition, especially amid broader social tensions and reports of violence against minorities. The article argues that national honors should reflect the country’s diversity and inclusive spirit.

It further suggests that the limited Muslim representation may indicate institutional indifference and calls for a more equitable approach to recognizing talent across communities to strengthen social cohesion and public trust in state institutions.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that 'Miya Muslims' should vote in Bangladesh instead of Assam, adding that Muslims should be harassed so they leave the state. He stated that his government is openly against the 'Miya Muslims' and instructed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to file large numbers of Form 7 objections against suspected foreign nationals during the ongoing voter list revision. According to Sarma, BJP workers have already submitted around 500,000 such forms.

The remarks have triggered strong criticism from opposition parties. Assam Congress leaders have written to India’s Chief Justice protesting the directive to file mass objections, calling it an attempt to target a specific community and interfere in the electoral process. A public interest litigation has also been filed in the Gauhati High Court seeking judicial intervention. Opposition groups including Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, and CPI(M) have jointly submitted a memorandum to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.

The controversy comes ahead of Assam’s upcoming assembly elections, with voter list revisions underway as part of pre-election procedures.