Jason Riddle and Pamela Hemphill, convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riots, have rejected Donald Trump's pardons. Hemphill, 71, emphasized accountability, stating acceptance would propagate the false narrative of a "peaceful protest." Riddle, a Navy veteran, highlighted concerns about how pardons might affect future employment. Both expressed regret for their actions and criticized Trump’s rhetoric, which fueled the riots. Trump had pardoned 1,500 individuals after winning the 2024 election. Hemphill and Riddle’s stance underscores their commitment to acknowledging the gravity of their actions during the Capitol assault.

Lebanon's health ministry reported 22 deaths, including women and children, and 124 injuries as Israeli forces remained in southern Lebanon past the ceasefire withdrawal deadline. The ceasefire, brokered in November 2024, required the removal of Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. Lebanon accused Israeli troops of attacking civilians attempting to return to their homes. Israeli forces claimed they fired warning shots at perceived threats. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun emphasized the nation’s sovereignty, warning of further consequences. Hezbollah criticized the delayed withdrawal as a violation. The situation underscores tensions over territorial control and the fragile ceasefire agreement.

At Coldplay's Ahmedabad concert on January 25 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Chris Martin paused his performance to protect a fan from being crushed in the crowd. The gesture earned widespread applause. Later, he invited a couple holding a banner to join him on stage, performing "Everglow" in their honor. As a Republic Day tribute, Martin sang "Vande Mataram," leaving fans mesmerized. The Ahmedabad concert was part of Coldplay's Music of the Spheres India tour, which began in Mumbai on January 18. The band also acknowledged Indian icons like Shah Rukh Khan and Jasprit Bumrah during their performances.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, attending a dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, revealed his newfound Indian ancestry, jokingly attributing his love for Indian music to his "Indian DNA." His remarks amused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Subianto, the chief guest for India's 76th Republic Day, emphasized shared cultural and historical ties between India and Indonesia, noting the influence of Sanskrit in Indonesian life. Praising PM Modi’s leadership, he called his focus on poverty alleviation "inspirational" and expressed hope for stronger bilateral relations. Earlier, Subianto was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Republic Day parade.

In a bid to reduce air pollution, Bangkok has made public transport free for a week, starting Saturday. This includes buses and the Skytrain, metro, and light rail. The government hopes this will reduce private car use, a major cause of pollution. On Friday, over 350 schools were closed due to unsafe air quality. The pollution levels reached a hazardous level, with an AQI of 185. The Thai government is also taking steps to limit construction and ban crop burning. Bangkok is now ranked the seventh-most polluted city in the world.

A teenager tragically died when a tree fell on their car as Storm Herminia hit the UK. The storm brought heavy rain, gales, and snow, with winds reaching up to 80mph. Cornwall faced winds of up to 82mph, and the Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings. The storm follows the damage caused by Storm Eowyn. Technicians from England and France are working to restore power in Ireland, which has been heavily affected. Meanwhile, a roof tile crashed through a woman's new Tesla in Scotland as the storm caused widespread damage across the UK.

Jasprit Bumrah attended Coldplay's second concert in Ahmedabad on January 26, 2025, where he was warmly welcomed by the crowd. Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, dedicated a special song to Bumrah, joking about how they didn’t enjoy watching him take wickets against England. The band displayed Bumrah's signed Test jersey on stage as a tribute. Earlier, Coldplay had referenced Bumrah in their Mumbai show, and the fast bowler’s presence at the concert was a surprise for fans. Bumrah, currently sidelined with a back injury, was seen enjoying the concert with friends.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised to remove illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from Delhi and clean the Yamuna River within three years if the BJP wins the upcoming Delhi elections. At a rally in Narela, Shah criticized the AAP's governance and claimed that Delhi had worsened under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership. He pledged the development of the Yamuna riverfront, similar to the Sabarmati. Shah also labeled AAP as the “Aawaidh Aamdaniwali Party” and accused them of corruption. The Yamuna’s poor state remains a major issue in the election campaigns.

Coldplay’s Chris Martin paid tribute to India during their concert at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Republic Day. The lead singer performed a heartfelt rendition of "Vande Mataram" and "Maa Tujhe Salaam," creating an emotional moment for the audience. The crowd cheered loudly as Chris ended with, "Salute to Mother India." The concert was part of Coldplay's Music of the Spheres India tour, which began in Mumbai. The band also gave shoutouts to Shah Rukh Khan and Jasprit Bumrah and addressed India's colonial past. The event was streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar on January 26, starting at 7:45 PM.

Hammersmith Bridge, closed to vehicles since cracks were found in 2019, may remain shut for another decade, warns Labour MP Fleur Anderson. The 138-year-old bridge in southwest London needs costly repairs estimated at £250m. Anderson criticised delays under the previous Conservative government, stating repairs could have been completed if work had started earlier. She highlighted the closure's impact on bus routes and local traffic. A government taskforce will meet on 30 January to discuss progress. Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney expressed hope the Labour government will commit to funding repairs, calling the previous government’s inaction a failure.