India and Poland spar over over Pakistan and Russia

India and Poland sparred over their respective regional rivals as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Polish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski aired their differences over Pakistan and Russia on Monday (January 19, 2026) as the two Ministers met for talks in New Delhi.

Include digital currency link on BRICS agenda: RBI to government

Reserve ‌Bank of India has proposed that BRICS countries link their official digital currencies to make cross-border trade and tourism payments ​easier, two sources said, which could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar as geopolitical tensions rise. The Reserve ‌Bank of India (RBI) has recommended to the government that a proposal connecting the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) be included ​on the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit, the sources said.

Military aircraft to arrive in Greenland for ‘long-planned’ activities: U.S.-Canadian command

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at a U.S. military base in Greenland for “long-planned” activities, the organisation said on Monday (January 19, 2026). The announcement from NORAD, a joint U.S.-Canada military organisation for aerospace monitoring and defence, came amid rising tensions over President Donald Trump’s demand for U.S. control of the autonomous Danish territory.

Blast at Chinese restaurant in Afghanistan’s Kabul kills 7, injures dozens more

A blast at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday (January 19, 2026) killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims.

Supreme Court flags ‘stress and strain’ caused by SIR to people of West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) criticised the Election Commission for the “stress and strain” caused, through its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, to the ordinary people of the State of West Bengal, where 1.36 crore people, almost 20% of the population, have received notices from the poll body to explain “logical discrepancies” in their names and family backgrounds.

Airfare surges during festivals ‘exploitative’, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) said that unpredictable fluctuations in airfares were “exploitative” and flagged the exorbitant surge in ticket prices during festivals and peak travel periods. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking binding regulatory guidelines to curb erratic airfare pricing and ancillary charges levied by private airlines.

Valentino Garavani, fashion designer to jet set, dies aged 93 in Rome

Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns — often in his trademark shade of “Valentino red” — were fashion show staples for nearly half a century, has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced on Monday (January 19, 2026). He was 93.

SC questions Delhi government over ‘hurried’ rollout of new law regulating private school fees

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) questioned the Delhi government over the “hurried” implementation of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, which seeks to regulate the fixation of fees by private schools in the national capital.

Iran to consider lifting internet ban; state TV hacked

Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few ‍days, a senior Parliament member said on Monday (January 19, 2026), after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush ​protests in the worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Supreme Court directs ECI to display names with discrepancies

The Supreme Court bench ruled that the names of persons involved in discrepancies may be displayed in Gram Panchayat and block offices, as well as ward offices in the city. Persons likely to be affected should submit their documents through their authorised representatives. This can include a BLA. There should be an authorisation letter signed or thumb-marked.

Search operations resume to hunt down terrorists in Kishtwar

After a night-long halt, security forces resumed their search operation on Monday (January 19, 2026) to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said. The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday (January 18, 2026), leading to a gunfight that left eight soldiers injured, primarily due to splinter injuries caused by a sudden grenade attack from the hiding terrorists.

Rahul Gandhi skips court appearance in defamation case, next hearing on February 20

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi did not appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday (January 19, 2026) in connection with a defamation case against him, following which the court fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing, a case lawyer said.

Violence, greed, desire, and anger are triggers for modern litigation in India: Justice Datta

Violence, greed, desire and anger have become the four triggers of modern litigation in India, Justice Dipankar Datta orally observed in the Supreme Court during the hearing of a land deal case on Monday. “Hinsa (violence), lobha (greed), kama (desire) and krodha (anger) are the triggers for litigation now,” Justice Datta said in the courtroom.

IMF upgrades India’s 2025-26 growth to 7.3% from earlier estimate of 6.6%

The International Monetary Fund has revised upwards its estimate of India’s GDP growth in the current financial year 2025-26 to 7.3% from its earlier prediction of 6.6%. This upward revision, the IMF said in its January 2026 World Economic Outlook update released on Monday (January 19, 2026), was primarily a reflection of stronger-than-expected growth in the third quarter, and “strong momentum” in the fourth quarter.

High-speed trains collide after one derails in southern Spain, killing at least 39

A high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train on Sunday (January 18, 2026) in southern Spain, killing at least 39 people and injuring dozens more, officials said. The evening train between Malaga and Madrid went off the rails near Cordoba and slammed into a train coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to rail operator Adif.

British PM Starmer calls for calm discussion on Greenland after Trump tariff threat

British Prime ‍Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday ​(January 19, 2026) that calm discussion between ‌allies was needed on Greenland ​to ensure that historic alliances could endure, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened allies with tariffs to secure the territory.

‘Not right’ for Iran to attend Davos summit after deadly protests: organisers

Iran’s Foreign Minister will not be attending the Davos summit in Switzerland this week, the organisers said on Monday (January 19, 2026), stressing it would not be “right” after the recent deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran. Abbas Araghchi had been scheduled to speak on Tuesday (January 20) during the annual gathering of the global elite at the upscale Swiss ski resort town.