Mumbai civic life, transport, business, culture and sport.
Walmart-backed PhonePe has received SEBI approval for its IPO, a major step toward one of India’s most-watched fintech listings. Reports said the issue is expected to be an offer-for-sale by existing shareholders, with the company preparing to file updated draft papers.
A 25-year-old Hindu man, Chanchal Bhowmik, died after a fire in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, while he slept inside a garage/shop. Police said CCTV footage shows suspicious movement near the site, prompting an investigation into whether the blaze was accidental or deliberate.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of a fresh spell of unsettled weather from January 26, driven by a western disturbance. IMD flagged heavy snowfall/rain at isolated places in parts of the western Himalayas, hailstorms and thunderstorms in hill states and adjoining plains, and gusty winds over southern coastal waters.
Bangladesh Cricket Board said it has accepted the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for next month’s T20 World Cup after refusing to travel to India over safety concerns. The board said it exhausted options and won’t pursue arbitration, adding the stance followed government advice.
In his January 25 Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged eligible young citizens to register as voters the moment they turn 18, calling it a key democratic duty. He linked the appeal to National Voters’ Day and the Republic Day focus on constitutional values.
India’s gems and jewellery sector has urged the government to cut GST and rationalise customs duties in the Union Budget 2026–27, arguing that reforms are needed to boost exports and competitiveness amid global demand uncertainty. Industry voices say predictable taxation and easier compliance could help strengthen India’s position in a major employment and export-linked sector.
After rain and gusty winds brought brief relief in parts of north India, the chill is set to return. The IMD has flagged dense to very dense fog in pockets across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, while another western disturbance from January 26 may trigger fresh rain, thunderstorms and a sharper dip in night temperatures.
The IMD has warned of dense to very dense fog and a renewed cold wave across parts of north India around January 25–26, with another western disturbance expected to add moisture and worsen the ‘damp cold’ feeling. Health experts typically advise layered clothing, avoiding early-morning exposure, and extra caution for people with asthma, COPD and heart conditions during sharp temperature drops.
DRDO has unveiled a model of a high-power microwave directed-energy system under development to defeat swarms of drones, according to defence publication Janes. The system, developed by DRDO’s MTRDC in Bengaluru, is reported to be in trials and has demonstrated the ability to disable small quadcopter-class UAVs at up to around a kilometre.
Mumbai booked their place in the Ranji Trophy knockouts with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Hyderabad in a Group D match. The win also earned them a bonus point, strengthening their position as one of the teams to watch as the premier domestic red-ball competition moves toward the business end.
A Hindu youth in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district died after a fire broke out while he was asleep inside a garage, with local police saying CCTV footage shows suspicious movement near the site. The family has alleged a planned killing and demanded immediate arrests, while investigators say they are examining whether the blaze was caused externally or by an electrical fault.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has created the post of national working president and appointed Tejashwi Yadav at a national executive meeting in Patna. The move signals a generational shift in the party’s leadership structure, while also drawing public remarks from family members amid internal tensions after the party’s 2025 Bihar election setback.