Top news of the day: Jannik Sinner retains Australian Open title; Republic Day tableaux showcase Cheetahs from Kuno, Statue of Unity, Mahakumbh at Kartavya Path, and more

Jannik Sinner retains Australian Open title; Republic Day tableaux showcase Cheetahs from Kuno, Statue of Unity, Mahakumbh at Kartavya Path, and more and more in The Hindu’s top news of January 26, 2025.

Sannik Sinner claimed his second consecutive Australian Open championship on Sunday (January 26, 2025), never facing a single break point and using his complete game to outplay and frustrate Alexander Zverev for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory in the final. Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, is the youngest man to leave Melbourne Park with the trophy two years in a row since Jim Courier in 1992-93. Sinner rose to No. 1 last June, remaining there for every week since, and the gap between him and No. 2-ranked Zverev was pronounced as can be in Rod Laver Arena. This was the first Australian Open final between the men at No. 1 and No. 2 since 2019, when No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2 Rafael Nadal — also in straight sets.

The 76th Republic Day parade began on the Kartavya Path on Sunday (January 26, 2025) with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute. New Delhi’s Kartavya Path is graced by the presence of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto who is the chief guest on the occasion for the ceremonial parade. This January 26 carries extra significance as India’s Constitution, which came into effect on this historic day in 1950, completes 75 years. Sixteen tableaux from across States and Union territories and 15 from central Ministries, departments and organisations rolled down the ceremonial boulevard on Sunday (January 26, 2025). The nation showcased its military prowess and rich cultural heritage and displayed a symbolic confluence of “virasat” and “vikas” on Kartavya Path in New Delhi to mark the 76th Republic Day.

Dibrugarh, the British-era hub of tea, oil, and coal trade, will be Assam’s second capital and sport an Assembly complex by 2027, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday (January 26, 2025). Addressing a Republic Day programme in the eastern Assam town, about 470 km east of Guwahati, he announced similar plans for two other towns in the State — Tezpur and Silchar. “While north-central Assam’s Tezpur town will house a Raj Bhavan and emerge as the cultural capital of the State, southern Assam’s Silchar town will house a Mini Secretariat and the Chief Secretary’s office,” he said. The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) on Sunday (January 26, 2025) claimed it carried out “token” low-intensity blasts to “send a message to occupational India” on Republic Day. It claimed the improvised explosive devices were placed strategically across Assam to “not cause any harm to the people”. 

Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who unfurled the Tricolour at Srinagar on 76th Republic Day on Sunday (January 26, 2025), pitched for restoration of Statehood and constitutional protection of jobs and land for locals in the Union Territory (UT). “Statehood status of Jammu & Kashmir is the right of the people and should be granted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of the Parliament promised the people of Jammu & Kashmir on restoration of Statehood. They also promised our youth that jobs and land will not be given to outsiders,” Mr. Choudhary said.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday (January 26, 2025) said the Assembly election in Delhi was not just a contest for the national capital but the entire country. “The election pits two contrasting ideologies — one focused on welfare of the general public and the other on benefiting a select group of wealthy individuals — against each other,” he said. “This election is about deciding how taxpayers’ money should be spent. One ideology, represented by the BJP, uses public funds to waive loans worth thousands of crores for its close associates. The other, our AAP model, focuses on providing free electricity, education, health care and transport to benefit the common man,” Mr. Kejriwal said at a press conference.

The Supreme Court has said expressing disapproval for marriage does not amount to abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma made the observation while quashing a charge sheet against a woman who was accused of abetting the suicide of another woman who was allegedly in love with her son. The allegations were based on disputes between the deceased and the appellant’s son, who had refused to marry her. The appellant was accused of opposing the marriage and making disparaging remarks against the deceased. The court said even if all evidence on record, including the charge sheet and witness statements, are taken to be correct, there is not an iota of evidence against the appellant.

Four militants were arrested in separate operations in Manipur’s Imphal West and Churachandpur districts, police said on Sunday (January 26, 2025). Two active members of the proscribed PREPAK (Progressive) were arrested from Langol Type II in Imphal West district on Saturday. They were identified as Sairem Rishikumar Singh (24) and Longjam Nganthoiba Meitei alias Lamngakpa (22). “They were allegedly involved in extortions in Imphal and Thoubal,” police said. Six mobile phones, two .32 pistols along with magazines, five .32 live rounds, five extortion letters, and a four-wheeler were seized from their possession.