Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Saturday, 31 January- politics, crime, sports, and more – all summarized for quick reading. Get instant access to breaking news, major developments, and trending stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want news on the go.
Top news of the day
The Men's T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. A total of 20 teams will participate in this tournament, divided into four groups of five teams each. Three matches will be played each day in the group stage. India and Pakistan are in the same group, and their match will take place on February 15.
On Friday, the ICC released the official anthem for the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, "Feel the Thrill." The song was composed and sung by Indian musician and singer Anirudh Ravichander. The song aims to convey the excitement and emotions of the tournament to the audience. The anthem's music is full of passion and enthusiasm, and will boost the enthusiasm of both players and fans.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the financial year 2026–27 on 1 February.
As India has overtaken Japan to emerge as the world’s fourth-largest economy, the government now faces a range of critical economic challenges.
Against this backdrop, the 2026–27 Budget is being seen not merely as a statement of numbers, but as a roadmap that will shape the country’s economic direction in the years ahead.
Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna's blockbuster film "Dhurandhar" received a tremendous response in theaters. Released on December 5, 2025, the film has grossed hundreds of crores at the box office and received rave reviews from audiences. Following the film's success, fans have been eagerly awaiting its sequel. However, as soon as the film was released on Netflix in its OTT version on January 30, 2026, fans' hopes were dashed.
The main reason for fans' displeasure is that the Netflix version differs from the theatrical version. It was previously reported that an uncut version of the film would be released on OTT, but that did not happen. A 9-minute scene was removed, several dialogues were muted, and some rough or abusive scenes were also cut. These changes affected the fan experience, and people are expressing their displeasure on social media.
Ahead of the February 1 match between India and Pakistan in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, Indian players received a special experience. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar encouraged Team India via video call. The team's players in Zimbabwe gathered to listen and interact with Sachin. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who will turn 15 on March 27, sat in the front row and listened attentively to the Master Blaster.
During the video call, Sachin Tendulkar shared his experiences with the Under-19 team players. He offered tips on how to improve and achieve success in the game. He not only shared technical tips, but also emphasized the importance of discipline, mental focus, and maintaining a calm mind. The players also took selfies with Sachin after their conversation, making the experience even more memorable.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Chaudhary has stated that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has requested the Government of India to hand over the investigation of the murder case of a NEET student in Patna to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Security forces are continuing Operation Trashi-I against terrorists in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Launched in January 2026, the operation's primary objective is to eliminate terrorists operating in the mountainous areas of the Jammu region and weaken their network. This operation is a joint operation involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force.
On the morning of January 31, security forces encountered terrorists in the Dolgam and Chatru areas. Based on intelligence inputs, security forces sealed off the area and launched a search operation. No terrorist casualties or casualties have been officially confirmed in the encounter. The White Knight Corps stated that the operation is ongoing and the situation is being monitored.
The Magh Mela 2026, held on the banks of the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, has reached its final and most vital stage. This grand festival of spirituality and faith has broken all previous crowd records. Organized by the Uttar Pradesh government as a "mini Kumbh," this fair has attracted an unprecedented influx of devotees from India and abroad. Four major bathing festivals have been successfully concluded so far, and the number of devotees is steadily increasing for the fifth major bathing festival, Maghi Purnima.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1. High expectations are being placed on key social sectors like health and education. Experts believe that amid the changing priorities following the pandemic, increasing spending on health infrastructure, research, and public services is the need of the hour, while emphasizing quality and skill-based reforms in the education sector.
In the Economic Survey 2025-26, India's Chief Economic Advisor, V. Anantha Nageswaran, stated that gold prices will witness a historic surge in 2025. Globally, gold prices rose from $2,607 per ounce to $4,315 per ounce, while by January 26, its price was recorded at $5,101.34 per ounce. According to the survey, the weakness of the US dollar, expectations of negative real interest rates, and geopolitical risks further strengthened gold's position as a safe-haven investment.
US President Donald Trump has made a bold claim regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. He stated that negotiations to end the war between the two countries have now reached a decisive stage. However, Trump also acknowledged that the deep hatred and mutual distrust between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin remains the biggest obstacle to a peace agreement. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, "Zelensky and Putin hate each other, and that makes it extremely difficult to reach a compromise. Nevertheless, I believe we are very close to a solution."
Maharashtra politics is poised for a major shift. Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the Deputy Chief Minister, a crucial meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislative party will be held at 2 pm today in the Vidhan Bhavan. Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar is expected to be elected as the legislative party leader, paving the way for her swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister.
A crucial meeting of the League of Arab States (LAS) Foreign Ministers is being held in India on Saturday. This meeting, taking place after a gap of nearly a decade, is expected to feature intense discussions on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and regional peace. Amid the evolving political situation in the Middle East, tensions between Iran and the US, and the Gaza crisis, the conference is considered diplomatically significant.
According to official sources, the meeting will discuss the reconstruction of Gaza, as well as the ongoing regional conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, and Libya. A review of the decisions taken at the previous Arab League meeting in Bahrain in 2016 is also on the agenda. A common roadmap will be developed to strengthen economic, energy, education, culture, and media cooperation among member states.
The weather in northwest India is set to change once again. Due to active western disturbances, warnings have been issued for rain in several states and snowfall in hilly areas until February 3rd. According to the Meteorological Department, strong winds will blow during this period, which could further intensify the cold. Clouds are also expected to rain in Delhi-NCR over the weekend.
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