Here are the top 5 news of the day:

Army’s phased battle array, IAF flypast and cultural diversity take centre stage at 77th Republic Day

India’s 77th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi showcased the Indian Army’s first “phased battle array,” a spectacular Indian Air Force flypast and tableaux reflecting the nation’s cultural diversity. The event highlighted democratic values, military strength and heritage, drawing top leaders and spectators. Cultural performances and defence displays underscored national unity and pride during the constitutional commemoration. Read full story

UAE scraps Islamabad airport deal days after President’s Delhi visit

Just days after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi, Abu Dhabi reportedly abandoned its planned agreement to manage Islamabad International Airport, according to Pakistani media. The Express Tribune cited sources saying the UAE lost interest and could not nominate a local partner for the project. Read full story

Bangladesh court sentences ex-police chief, 2 others to death over protest crackdown

A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced Dhaka’s fugitive former police chief and two senior officers to death for crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of six protesters during the July 2024 uprising that led to the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 handed the death penalty to former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam. Read full story

IndiGo cancels flights to four cities till Jan 28 amid Iran developments

IndiGo announced the cancellation of its flight operations to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Tashkent and Baku until January 28, citing ongoing developments in the region around Iran. In a statement, the airline said it is “vigilant to developments” and is proactively reviewing flight operations, with “passenger safety as its highest priority”. Scheduled flights for January 26–28 have been cancelled as a precautionary measure. Read full story

Shreyas Iyer to stay with India T20I team as Tilak Varma’s return delayed

Shreyas Iyer will remain with the national T20I squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand after Tilak Varma’s return was postponed due to injury management, the BCCI said. Iyer, originally set to leave the tour after the third T20I to rest, will now stay through the remaining matches to bolster the team. The move comes as India adjusts its squad plans ahead of the ongoing limited-overs fixtures. Read full story