Spain is set to have its first reigning queen in over 150 years when Princess Leonor succeeds her father, King Felipe VI. Leonor, 20, is next in line after her grandfather Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014. She is the elder daughter of Felipe and Queen Letizia. Spanish law requires the heir to complete military training in the army, navy and air force. Leonor began her training in 2023 and has since served on a naval ship and flown solo in a military aircraft. She will become commander-in-chief of the armed forces when she becomes queen. Her accession will make her the first queen regnant since Isabella II. (PC: X)

A construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeastern Thailand, on January 14, 2026, causing a derailment, fire and mass casualties. The Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani express was carrying around 195 passengers when the crane—part of a high-speed rail construction project—fell onto multiple carriages. At least 22–31 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured, with some sources reporting about 80 casualties as rescue operations continue. Authorities have launched an investigation into safety lapses and the cause of the crane’s collapse amid ongoing recovery efforts.

Iran’s government has publicly blamed foreign intelligence agencies, particularly those of the United States and Israel, for instigating and escalating nationwide protests that began over economic issues. President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed external forces trained “terrorists” and fomented unrest, including attacks on mosques and bazaars, shifting attention from domestic grievances to geopolitics. Tehran’s allegations come amid a severe crackdown on dissent, with heavy casualties and mass arrests reported. Analysts note these claims coincide with heightened tensions between Iran and Western adversaries, though independent verification of foreign involvement is limited. Iranian officials see external interference as part of a broader effort to destabilise the state. (PC: X)

Visa delays have raised concerns for the USA cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup in India. Three Pakistan-born players, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil, are waiting for travel clearance, a day after fast bowler Ali Khan faced a similar issue. The squad is in Sri Lanka for final preparations. Officials said the players attended visa appointments but were told the process was still under review. Sources added that no applications have been rejected and that more information has been sought by Indian authorities. The International Cricket Council said all required documents were submitted. The USA begin their campaign on February 7 in Mumbai. (PC: X)

Denmark’s world No. 2 Anders Antonsen said he skipped the India Open in Delhi due to severe air pollution. In a social media post, he said Delhi was not fit to host a badminton event in its current condition. He added that the Badminton World Federation fined him $5,000 for withdrawing. This is the third year in a row he has missed the tournament. His remarks followed comments by compatriot Mia Blichfeldt, who raised hygiene concerns about training areas, including dust and bird droppings. The Badminton Association of India said the main arena was clean and that the issues were limited to warm-up venues. (PC: India Today)

Seven Pakistani police personnel were killed after a remote-controlled bomb struck an armoured vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Monday. A video of the blast has surfaced online showing the vehicle overturned on the road. Tank deputy police chief Pervez Shah said five officers died on the spot while two later died in hospital. Those killed included a station house officer, a sub-inspector, three Elite Force members and a driver. Police said the vehicle was on routine patrol when it was targeted with an improvised explosive device. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has been linked to similar attacks in the region. Pakistan has reported a rise in assaults on police in recent months. 

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran triggered a row after remarks comparing women’s education in northern states with Tamil Nadu. Speaking at a women’s college in Chennai, he said, “In North Indian states, they ask girl children not to go for jobs and to stay inside the house and do housework.” He added that Tamil Nadu wanted its girls to study and work. Maran praised the DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin for promoting women’s education. The comments drew criticism on social media for making broad claims about northern states. The event was held to distribute laptops to final-year students under a state scheme. His remarks have since sparked political debate.

At least 22 people were killed after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving train in Thailand on Tuesday morning. The accident happened around 9am local time as the train was travelling from Bangkok to a northeastern province. Officials said the train was carrying about 195 passengers. At least 80 people were injured, including a one-year-old child. A train staff member said passengers were thrown into the air when the crane hit the carriage. Rescue teams worked for hours to pull people from the damaged coaches. The head of the State Railway of Thailand has been asked to carry out a full investigation into the cause of the crash. (PC: BBC)

Telangana Police have registered cases against 15 people, including seven village heads, over the killing of hundreds of stray dogs in Hanamkonda and Kamareddy districts. Officials say at least 500 dogs may have been poisoned in the first two weeks of January. A video from Dharmapuri shows a man injecting a dog with a toxic substance. Police have dug up over 100 carcasses in Shayampeta and sent samples for forensic tests. Investigators allege the killings were planned after election promises to create “dog-free villages”. The accused have been booked under animal cruelty laws. The state has ordered strict enforcement of animal birth control rules. (PC: India Today)

Two Indian PhD students at the University of Colorado Boulder have won a $200,000 civil rights settlement after alleging discrimination over food smells. The case began in September 2023 when Aditya Prakash was told not to heat palak paneer in a shared microwave due to its smell. Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya later sued the university, claiming bias and retaliation. They said kitchen rules targeted South Asians and that they faced repeated meetings and job loss. In September 2025, the university agreed to pay the amount and award them master’s degrees. The university denied liability but confirmed the settlement. The pair have returned to India. (PC: India Today)