. *_The Hindu Morning Digest: January 20, 2026_* *India and Poland spar over over Pakistan and Russia* India and Poland sparred over their respective regional rivals as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Polish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski aired their differences over Pakistan and Russia on Monday (January 19, 2026) as the two Ministers met for talks in New Delhi. *Include digital currency link on BRICS agenda: RBI to government* Reserve ‌Bank of India has proposed that BRICS countries link their official digital currencies to make cross-border trade and tourism payments ​easier, two sources said, which could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar as geopolitical tensions rise. The Reserve ‌Bank of India (RBI) has recommended to the government that a proposal connecting the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) be included ​on the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit, the sources said. *Military aircraft to arrive in Greenland for ‘long-planned’ activities: U.S.-Canadian command* North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at a U.S. military base in Greenland for “long-planned” activities, the organisation said on Monday (January 19, 2026). The announcement from NORAD, a joint U.S.-Canada military organisation for aerospace monitoring and defence, came amid rising tensions over President Donald Trump’s demand for U.S. control of the autonomous Danish territory. *Blast at Chinese restaurant in Afghanistan’s Kabul kills 7, injures dozens more* A blast at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday (January 19, 2026) killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims. *Karur stampede case: TVK chief Vijay grilled for six hours by CBI* Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay was questioned for six hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday (January 19, 2026) for the second round of questioning in connection with the probe into the Karur stampede tragedy in Tamil Nadu. *Supreme Court flags ‘stress and strain’ caused by SIR to people of West Bengal* The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) criticised the Election Commission for the “stress and strain” caused, through its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, to the ordinary people of the State of West Bengal, where 1.36 crore people, almost 20% of the population, have received notices from the poll body to explain “logical discrepancies” in their names and family backgrounds. *Airfare surges during festivals ‘exploitative’, says Supreme Court* The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) said that unpredictable fluctuations in airfares were “exploitative” and flagged the exorbitant surge in ticket prices during festivals and peak travel periods. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking binding regulatory guidelines to curb erratic airfare pricing and ancillary charges levied by private airlines. *Valentino Garavani, fashion designer to jet set, dies aged 93 in Rome* Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns — often in his trademark shade of “Valentino red” — were fashion show staples for nearly half a century, has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced on Monday (January 19, 2026). He was 93. *SC questions Delhi government over ‘hurried’ rollout of new law regulating private school fees* The Supreme Court on Monday (January 19, 2026) questioned the Delhi government over the “hurried” implementation of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, which seeks to regulate the fixation of fees by private schools in the national capital. *WPL-4: Gautami, bowlers ensure RCB becomes first team to seal playoffs spot* Before Monday’s (January 19, 2026) fixture in the Women’s Premier League, Gautami Naik was a largely unknown commodity in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s star-studded batting unit. That is likely to change after the 27-year-old’s 55-ball 73 — the middle-order batter’s maiden half-century in her first season — powered the former champion to a 61-run victory against Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium. It extended RCB’s streak this season to five wins in as many matches, and also made it the first team to cement a playoff berth. *Iran to consider lifting internet ban; state TV hacked* Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few ‍days, a senior Parliament member said on Monday (January 19, 2026), after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush ​protests in the worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Published - January 20, 2026 07:30 am IST ***** #📰ଆଜିର ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅପଡେଟ💻