Indian medicine, public health, wellbeing and evidence explainers.
Indian medicine, public health, wellbeing and evidence explainers.
Health
IMD has forecast a new spell of rain and snowfall from January 26 as a fresh Western Disturbance moves over northwest India. Several regions may see thunderstorms, gusty winds and fog, with travel disruptions possible and cold conditions expected to persist around the Republic Day weekend.
Sports
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s five-game winning run in the Women’s Premier League ended after Delhi Capitals chased down a season-low target. RCB’s early strikes with the ball weren’t enough to defend 109, as Delhi recovered from a shaky start to seal the win.
Business
Vodafone Idea has amended an agreement with Vodafone Group to recover about ₹5,836 crore linked to legacy contingent liabilities from the 2017 merger. The structure includes cash releases and an arrangement involving earmarked shares, offering the telco a financial lifeline as it manages long-running legacy exposures.
Tech
DRDO has unveiled a model of a high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon under development for counter-drone roles, with the project led by Bengaluru-based MTRDC. The system is intended to disrupt or disable unmanned aerial systems, especially in swarm scenarios, and is undergoing trials and testing.
World
A 25-year-old Hindu man in Bangladesh died after being burnt while he was asleep, with officials saying the circumstances remain under investigation. The incident has drawn attention in India and in the region amid concerns over safety of minorities and demands for clarity on what led to the fire.
Politics
India’s Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path is set to feature a major showcase of indigenous and frontline defence platforms, including BrahMos and Akash missile systems and the Arjun main battle tank. Reports also indicate debut appearances by newly raised formations and a battle-array style presentation aimed at underlining operational readiness and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Health
Covid-19 cases have increased in parts of India, including Maharashtra and Delhi, prompting the Union Health Ministry to ask states to strengthen vigilance while advising the public to follow basic precautions without panic. Delhi reported fresh cases with no deaths and no hospitalisations, indicating infections remained largely mild.
Sports
The ICC T20 Cricket World Cup trophy will be displayed at Nirman School in Ahmedabad on January 28, with students from the school and other invited schools set to view it in scheduled slots. The visit is part of pre-tournament outreach ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled for February–March, and is the trophy’s second outing to the city.
Tech
Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Bolna raised $6.3 million in a seed round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Y Combinator and other investors, as per reports. The company is building a self-serve platform for multilingual voice agents and plans to use the money to expand engineering and deployment while strengthening enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Latest
A light earthquake measuring 3.6 struck Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday afternoon, with tremors felt locally but no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Seismology officials said the quake was shallow and shared key coordinates and depth details via an official update.
Business
India’s private sector activity improved in January, with a flash composite index rising from December’s 11-month low amid faster growth in new orders and output, according to a private survey. Business sentiment firmed up, hiring resumed, and input costs increased at the quickest pace in four months.
World
A 25-year-old Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi died after a fire broke out while he was sleeping inside a garage, with police saying CCTV footage has prompted scrutiny of whether the blaze was accidental or caused deliberately. Investigators are examining surveillance clips and have not announced any arrests so far.