India will spend a record amount on infrastructure and defense, the finance minister said in her national budget speech on Sunday, with plans for high-speed rail, submarines and fighter jets. New Delhi plans to spend $133 billion on infrastructure and $85 billion on defense, a respective rise of around nine and 15% compared to last year’s budget. Defense minister Rajnath Singh described the spending as “unprecedented” and said it would help equip India’s armed forces with fighter jets, drones, ships, submarines and other critical hardware. The world’s most populous country sees massive infrastructure spending as key to sustaining its high growth rate by boosting domestic manufacturing and creating millions of new jobs. “India is not content with simply being the fastest-growing economy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the budget.

Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will boycott its highly anticipated group-stage match against arch-rival India, scheduled for February 15, the Government of Pakistan announced on Sunday. “The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the statement said. The development came after a high-level meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. While Pakistan will travel to India and Sri Lanka for the multi-nation event, the boycott of the India match is expected to result in a forfeit, handing India full points for the fixture. The T20 World Cup is set to run from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka, with the Pakistan-India fixture originally slated to be played in Colombo.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman paid a solemn tribute to the late Hafiz Maulana Rezaul Karim. Dr. Rahman arrived in Sherpur at 9:00am via a private helicopter from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the city. In a poignant moment, Dr. Rahman lifted the three-year-old daughter of the late Hafiz Maulana Rezaul Karim in his arms, visibly moved by the child's innocence. Following this, Dr. Rahman, accompanied by Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists, visited the martyr's grave. The group offered prayers for the forgiveness of Maulana Rezaul Karim's soul and sought divine acceptance for his martyrdom.

KHAGRACHARI, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - People form ethnic communities including Marma, Tripura and Chakma today served the electioneering rally of the alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami here. Following his electioneering, a mass rally was organized today from the Khagrachari Gate this afternoon which ended Muktamancho of the town. The rally was led by the convener of Tripura Oikko Federation Chandrinath Tripura. The candidate of the constituency Advocate Eakub Ali Chowdhury, Marma Oikko Fedaration convener Chaithoai Marma, Lisi Tripura and Khagrachari district Jammaat Ameer Syed Abdul Momen spoke on the occasion. The speakers urged all to support Daripalla to create safe, secure and harmonious Khagrachari.

When they approached the cash register another man stepped forward and said he would pay for all the kids’ poster boards. What are these children to do when they don’t feel safe in school? They don’t feel safe voicing their disapproval on the streets knowing that someone with a differing opinion could act violently and harm them. And, if their skin is brown, they don’t even feel safe in their own homes. Shoulder to shoulder, holding hands, united.

Collage Photo -DHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldivestoday organised a commemorative programme honouring late former PrimeMinister Begum Khaleda Zia, documenting messages of condolence from Maldivianleaders, diplomats and the Bangladeshi Diaspora to preserve her enduringlegacy. As part of the initiative, the High Commission organised a commemorativeprogramme and launched a special publication and documentary titled "InMemoriam: Begum Khaleda Zia - Messages of Condolence from the DiplomaticCommunity and Bangladeshi Diaspora in the Maldives." The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed byopening remarks from Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives Md NazmulIslam. Representing the Bangladeshi diaspora, several community leaders sharedreflections on Begum Khaleda Zia's leadership and her role in shapingBangladesh's political landscape. The initiative aims to preserve the messages of condolence as a lastingtestament to Begum Khaleda Zia's legacy and the strong bonds of friendshipand people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the Maldives.

KINSHASA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo'sgovernment said in a statement on Sunday it feared "at least 200 dead" in a"massive" landslide that struck a militia-held mine in the country's east. Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 armed group has taken vast tracts ofthe DRC's resource-rich east, capturing the Rubaya mine in North Kivuprovince in April 2024 with Rwanda's help.

LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb 1, 2026 (AFP) - The Pakistani government cleared its national team on Sunday to compete in the Twenty20 World Cup starting from February 7, but stopped them from playing arch-rivals and tournament co-hosts India. "The government of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the Twenty20 World Cup, however, the Pakistan team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February against India," a Pakistan government release said.

Indonesia says it will restore access to Musk's Grok chatbotJAKARTA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesia will restore access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok after the billionaire's social media platform X promised to comply with the country's laws, a government official said on Sunday. Grok has faced a global backlash after it emerged that its image creation feature allowed users to sexualise pictures of women and children using simple text prompts. Malaysia and the Philippines followed Indonesia in temporarily blocking access to the tool, which is integrated into X, over concerns about AI-generated sexual deepfakes. Malaysia also restored access to Grok after receiving similar promises from X that included "additional preventive and security measures". Grok said in response it was restricting image generation and editing to paying subscribers.

DHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officiallylaunched the ODOMMO Bangladesh T20 Cup 2026, a domestic tournament aimed atbringing together the country's best T20 players and delivering high-intensity cricket. With Bangladesh set to miss this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup due tosecurity concerns in India, the BCB decided to organize the tournament toensure that national cricketers remain competitive and active. The board today also announced the squads of the three participating teams -Dhumketu XI, Durbar XI and Duronto XI. Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das will lead Dhumketu XI, while Najmul HossainShanto has been named captain of Durbar XI. Club House tickets are priced at Tk 500, and GrandStand tickets will be sold for Tk 1,000.

Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Women's cricket team captain NigarSultana Joty praised her team's consistent batting performance, which shebelieves was crucial to the Tigresses' dominant showing in the ICC Women'sT20 World Cup Qualifiers. As a result, they secured their spot in the 2026 ICCWomen's T20 World Cup in England and Wales this June. "The plan was always to qualify for the T20 World Cup, but we also wanted towin the tournament and stay unbeaten. With the World Cup qualification secured, Joty said the focus would now shiftto preparing for the bigger challenge ahead. "We are not just going to the T20 World Cup to participate, we want toperform well and win matches.

Photo: CollectedMELBOURNE, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Carlos Alcaraz said having Rafael Nadal watching in the crowd helped drive him to a maiden Australian Open title on Sunday and made the win "even more special". "I mean, this moment is really special, but having Rafa in the stands, it made it even more special, to be honest," said Alcaraz. I dreamt about getting an Australian Open and completing the career Grand Slam." He said he drew inspiration from a similar situation involving Nadal at the 2009 Australian Open. Before the match, 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, who retired from tennis in 2024, tipped Alcaraz to win.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan visited the grave of martyr Abu Sayeed in Rangpur on Sunday afternoon. Photo: BSSRANGPUR, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan has said that the 11-party alliance is ready to take any tough decision if any controversial Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election is attempted. If such and such an election is attempted, the 11-party alliance is ready to take any tough decision at any time.'' When such incidents are happening, we, the 11-party alliance, have been patiently observing these issues in many cases. NCP member secretary Akhter Hossen is contesting from this constituency as the nominated candidate of the 11-party alliance.

Joint forces arrest one with foreign pistol, ammo in PallabiDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - A joint force conducted a successful raid in the Pallabi area of the capital early Sunday, arresting an alleged member of an organized criminal gang along with a foreign pistol, ammunition, and a magazine. During the operation, law enforcement recovered one foreign-made pistol, one magazine, and four rounds of bullets from his possession. According to Pallabi Police Station sources, the arrest took place around 2:10am on Sunday in Taltala slum area under Pallabi Police Station. Based on this information, a joint team comprising Pallabi Police Station and other law enforcement agencies swiftly conducted a raid. During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly confessed that he had kept the pistol, bullets, and magazine to carry out various criminal activities, including robbery in the Pallabi Police Station area.

DHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - The newly recruited 3,263 doctors and dentists today joined their new jobs through the 48th Special Bangladesh Civil Service (Health) exam, officials said here today. Health ministry officials said 2,984 of the recruits joined as assistant medical surgeons and 279 as assistant dental surgeons following the exams conducted by Bangladesh Public Service Commission. "The recruitment of the large number of doctors in a short period is a groundbreaking event,” Rahman told the ceremony. “The humanitarian aspect is being taken into consideration in the process of their postings giving emphasis for appointment of married couples at the same area,” the special assistant said. Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman and Directorate General of Health Services chief Professor Dr Abu Zafar were also present at the event.