India will announce their T20 World Cup 2026 squad on Saturday, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav holding a press conference at 1:30 PM IST at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The major focus is on the opener's slot battle between Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson, with Yashasvi Jaiswal's exclusion despite superior records raising questions. Concerns surround Gill and Yadav's poor form, while wicketkeeper choices between Jitesh Sharma, Samson, and potential returnees like Rishabh Pant remain uncertain. India has maintained a settled squad since the Asia Cup, with only minor changes expected. The tournament runs February 7-March 8, with India facing USA, Namibia, Pakistan, Netherlands in group stages.(PC: Goya Hills)

Extreme fog blanketed northern India on Saturday, severely disrupting air, rail, and road transport across multiple states. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport cancelled 129 flights, 66 arrivals and 63 departures due to persistent low-visibility conditions. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Delhi, warning of dense to very dense fog. Visibility dropped to 200 metres at Safdarjung and 350 metres at Palam by 8:30 AM. Delhi's Air Quality Index stood at 376, with several areas recording severe levels above 400. The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed airlines to follow passenger facilitation norms, mandating timely updates and compensation. Dense fog also disrupted transport in Dehradun, Jammu, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.(PC: India Today)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized America's peacemaking role in global conflicts, including India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, and Sudan. Rubio credited President Donald Trump for stopping the India-Pakistan conflict, a claim Trump previously made. During a press conference, Rubio highlighted US engagement in various disputes, stating Trump prioritized being a peacemaker. He defended the administration's strict immigration policies as sovereign rights ensuring national safety, while pointing to Venezuela's drug trafficking as a major threat. Rubio stressed Hamas must be disarmed for Middle East peace and emphasized the US's unique position to mediate the Russia-Ukraine war. He stated US foreign policy aims to serve national interests, making America safer, stronger, or more prosperous.

A 25-year-old Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob in Bangladesh's Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy amid ongoing unrest following anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death. Das was beaten outside his factory workplace, hanged from a tree, and set on fire. Indian politicians including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan condemned the incident, urging the Bangladesh government to protect minorities. Exiled writer Taslima Nasreen alleged a Muslim coworker falsely accused Das to settle a trivial dispute. Bangladesh's government condemned the lynching, promising perpetrators won't be spared. The incident highlights escalating violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities, with over 2,400 documented incidents between August 2024-July 2025. (PC: X)        

Delhi faced severe disruption Friday as dense fog and hazardous air pollution gripped the capital, affecting over 700 flights with 177 cancellations. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Saturday, warning of dense to very dense fog in early morning hours. Air Quality Index reached 374 in the "very poor" category, with forecasts predicting it will breach 400 into "severe" territory over the weekend. Visibility dropped to zero at Safdarjung station at 5:30 AM. Eleven of forty monitoring stations recorded severe air quality, with Vivek Vihar worst at 434. This marks the ninth consecutive day of very poor or severe air quality despite intensified vehicular enforcement. December has already recorded three severe air days.

The United States issued a travel advisory for its citizens in Bangladesh ahead of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi's funeral on Saturday. Hadi, a spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha and leader in last year's July Uprising protests, died recently, triggering widespread unrest. Protesters demanding justice set fire to two major media offices in Dhaka on Friday. The funeral prayer is scheduled at the National Parliament Building's South Plaza at 2 PM. The US warned that peaceful gatherings could escalate into violence, urging citizens to avoid demonstrations and expect heavy traffic throughout Dhaka. Bangladesh's interim government appealed for calm against "fringe elements." Authorities banned drones near the venue and requested attendees avoid carrying bags or heavy objects during the ceremony. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Eight elephants died and one was injured after the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd crossing railway tracks in Assam's Hojai district around 2:17 AM on Saturday. The collision caused five coaches and the train's engine to derail, though no passengers were harmed. The incident occurred near Changjurai in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section under the Lumding Division of Northeast Frontier Railway. Senior railway officials rushed to the site, relocating affected passengers to vacant berths before the train resumed its journey to Guwahati around 6:15 AM. Rail traffic to Upper Assam and other northeastern regions was severely disrupted, with several trains cancelled or diverted. Forest and railway teams initiated restoration efforts immediately.

Hardik Pandya made history in India’s fifth T20I win against South Africa at Ahmedabad, becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 2000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20Is. The 32-year-old all-rounder smashed a 16-ball half-century, the second-fastest by an Indian, and scored 63 runs off 25 balls, adding a 105-run stand with Tilak Varma. Pandya is now the fifth Indian to cross 2000 runs in T20Is, joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul. He also became the third Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in the format. His feat cements him as India’s premier fast-bowling all-rounder in T20 cricket. (PC: X)

Indian-origin US diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has alleged widespread fraud in the H-1B visa programme, claiming unqualified Indian applicants exploit bribery (“rishwat”) and fake credentials to enter the US. Writing for the Centre for Immigrant Studies, she cited her experience at the US Consulate in Chennai described as the “H-1B fraud capital” where applications surged from 1 lakh annually in 2005–07 to over 40 lakhs today. Siddiqui accused corrupt HR officials, fake degree markets in Hyderabad, and insular Indian hiring networks in the US of displacing qualified American workers. She urged a pause on new H-1B issuances, stricter verification, penalties for fraud, and expanded site inspections, warning the programme has become a de-facto immigration shortcut. (PC: India Today)

Varun Chakravarthy created history in India’s 30-run T20I victory over South Africa at Ahmedabad, taking a four-wicket haul and finishing the series with 10 wickets in four matches. This marked the third time in his career he has taken double-digit wickets in a bilateral T20I series, previously 12 against South Africa (2024) and 14 against England (2025). No other Indian has achieved this even once. Globally, only New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy has managed the feat twice. Varun also became the first player to take 10 wickets in a T20I series twice against the same team (South Africa). He now holds the world no.1 T20I bowler ranking, surpassing Duffy at no.2. (PC: Times Now)