Key News Stories from January 26
Every day, numerous events occur around the world, making it impossible to keep up with all of them in the news flow. Therefore, we compile the key stories in this digest. Today, we summarize January 26.
Medical Check-up Program to Be Revised
It has been proposed to include tests for genetic predisposition to cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions in the medical check-up program. State Duma deputy Vladislav Davankov put forward this initiative.
As an example, the implementation of a comprehensive panel study to identify the most common mutations associated with predisposition to cancer is cited, writes TASS. According to the deputy, because medical check-ups do not test for predisposition to oncology, cardiovascular pathologies, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, such diagnoses are detected too late. Timely screening for these diseases will help reduce mortality, Davankov noted.
Shorter Work Day Proposed for Mothers
Working mothers with many children are proposed to have their work day reduced by one hour. As State Duma deputy Igor Antropenko noted, this will help Russian women balance motherhood and career.
«We know that with the birth of a child, a woman often loses ground »in her career« and that it is difficult to return to work after several maternity leaves. I proposed to the Ministry of Labor to find an opportunity to reduce the work day by one hour for mothers with many children, and also to find a way to incentivize organizations where such parents work,» TASS quotes the deputy as saying.
In his opinion, adopting such a decision will encourage employers «not to fear» hiring a mother who has three or more children. As Antropenko noted, support for such women should be provided at the state level.
Over 100 Missing After Ferry Sinks in the Philippines
An inter-island ferry, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, sank off the coast of the Philippines. This was reported by the Associated Press agency citing local authorities.
There were 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board. 13 people died, 106 are listed as missing, and 233 passengers were rescued.
The ferry, traveling from the port city of Zamboanga to Jolo Island (Sulu province), sank off Basilan province, approximately two kilometers from the village of Baluk-Baluk. According to preliminary information from the coast guard, technical malfunctions may have been the cause.
FAS to Gain New Powers to Control Utility Tariffs
The State Duma has passed in the first reading a bill granting the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) new powers to regulate utility service tariffs. Now, FAS will be able to forcibly set economically justified prices for heating, water, and electricity if regional authorities ignore its directives.
The initiative is a response to systemic violations identified by the service. According to Svetlana Razvorotneva, deputy head of the Duma committee on construction and utilities, in the last two years alone, 93 cases of non-compliance with FAS decisions have been recorded, writes Izvestia. Over three years, the total amount of unjustified charges to consumers reached 102 billion rubles (approximately $1.02 billion at current rates).
One of the goals of the innovations is to increase the transparency of the «boiler» method of revenue distribution in the electric power industry, which has become a source of opaque manipulations. In the deputy«s opinion, the new procedure will help combat lobbying and the »human factor,« which traditionally give the energy sector advantages over chronically underfunded water supply.
Experts note that strengthened control may lead to more fair and transparent pricing. However, the key problem of chronic underfunding and wear of utility infrastructure requires a separate solution, writes Izvestia. Many specialists predict not so much a reduction in tariffs as their equalization and increased justification.
Schumacher No Longer Bedridden
The condition of legendary German Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher has stabilized. According to information from Daily Mail, the seven-time world champion is no longer bedridden and can move with the assistance of medical personnel.
Schumacher«s condition is still monitored around the clock by a team of doctors and nurses at his home in Switzerland, reports a source from the publication. According to the latest information, he can move in a specialized wheelchair with active help from a nurse and therapist.
Paid Places to Be Reduced in Colleges and Technical Schools
The government plans to limit the number of paid places in Russian colleges and technical schools. A corresponding bill, to be developed by analogy with already existing norms for universities, may be submitted to the State Duma by the end of the spring session of 2026. The initiative aims to redirect applicants to labor market-demanded working and technical specialties.
First of all, the restrictions will affect popular paid fields where, in the authorities« opinion, there is an oversupply of personnel. Jurisprudence, economics, media, and screen arts may be hit.
According to the new mechanism, the government will have the right to approve a list of such specialties and set a maximum number of paid places for them. The Ministry of Education will distribute quotas among educational institutions, not the colleges themselves as is currently the case.
Experts point out the risks of the initiative. For many educational institutions, especially in the regions, income from fee-paying students is a critically important source of funding. Their reduction could undermine the financial stability of colleges, reports Izvestia. Moreover, some applicants may go abroad to study.
Universal Payment Code to Be Introduced in Russia from September 1
From September 1, 2026, a single standard for cashless payments will appear in Russia — the Universal Payment Code (UPC). This step, initiated by the Bank of Russia and the National Payment Card System, is designed to unite different payment methods, including cards, the Fast Payment System, and the digital ruble, into one QR code.
Instead of multiple different codes at the checkout or on receipts, one universal code will be displayed. The buyer will only need to scan it with a smartphone and choose a convenient payment method in their app, while all bonus programs will be preserved. According to Elvira Belozorova, associate professor at the Financial University, a single standard has long been overdue to free people from confusion when a QR code is tied only to a specific bank.
However, the expert sees the main risk of the innovation — the possibility of a systemic failure. Since the UPC will become a unified payment infrastructure for the entire country, its breakdown could simultaneously paralyze a huge number of operations across Russia, reports Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Technical Failure in Booking System Paralyzes Aviation Industry
Major Russian airlines — Aeroflot, Pobeda, and Nordwind — faced a large-scale technical failure that paralyzed key passenger service systems. The cause of the problems was a global malfunction in the Leonardo booking and ticket sales system, developed by Sirena-Travel.
Due to the failure, the processing, reissue, and refund of tickets were temporarily limited in all sales channels. With automation not working, manual passenger check-in for flights was organized at airports, and airlines recommended travelers arrive at terminals early and check flight status on information boards. The failures affected airports in Sochi, Krasnodar, and St. Petersburg, writes Kommersant.
To restore the booking system, which accounts for 80–90% of all bookings in Russia, an operational headquarters was created. Later, Rostec state corporation, which owns the system, reported that Leonardo«s functionality was fully restored after an internal technical problem with the provider was resolved.
Snowstorm in US Affects Over 200 Million People
A powerful snowstorm has covered most of the United States, creating a state of emergency in dozens of states. According to ABC television, more than 200 million Americans have faced the consequences of the severe weather, including freezing temperatures and blizzards.
The storm has led to large-scale disruptions in transport and utility infrastructure. Thousands of flights have been canceled across the country, and ice on roads has caused an increase in traffic accidents. Thousands of homes across the country have lost power.
As a result of extreme weather conditions, according to CNN television, at least seven people have died in various states. Authorities are mobilizing resources to deal with the consequences: in New York alone, about 2,500 utility workers are deployed to clear streets of snow.
Philippine City Mayor Survives Rocket-Propelled Grenade Attack
Sharif Aguak city mayor Ahmad Ampatuan survived an assassination attempt using a rocket-propelled grenade. This was reported by Sunstar newspaper.
It all happened when his motorcade was returning from a mosque. Attackers opened fire from an ambush. The projectile hit the armored SUV in which the mayor was traveling, but he was unharmed; two of his bodyguards were wounded.
During a special operation, three suspects in the attack were killed. For the mayor, this is at least the third assassination attempt since 2014. Ahmad Ampatuan is a key witness in the case of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, in which 58 people died, and has testified against members of his own family.
People Trapped in Bus After Accident in Krasnodar Krai
On the morning of January 26, two serious traffic accidents occurred on the roads of Krasnodar Krai due to difficult weather conditions. In both cases, the preliminary cause of the accidents was icing on the road.
Near Novorossiysk, a bus collided with a passenger car, veered into a ditch, and got stuck in snow. The doors of the vehicle were blocked, and rescuers had to break the windshield to evacuate 22 passengers and the driver. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties or injuries in this incident.
On the same day, in the Goryachy Klyuch area, 20 cars collided in a mass accident. As a result, five people — drivers and passengers — were taken to the hospital with injuries. The prosecutor«s office has launched investigations into both incidents.
Migrants in Russia May Be Banned from Changing Jobs in First Year
In Russia, a ban on changing workplaces for foreign workers who arrived on a patent may be introduced for the first 12 months. A bill was submitted to the State Duma on January 26, 2026, by a group of senators and deputies led by Leonid Slutsky.
According to the bill, migrants will be required to work for one employer for at least one year, without the right to transfer to another or work part-time elsewhere.
If the employment contract is terminated early without valid reasons, the migrant«s patent will be annulled, and they will be required to leave Russia. Valid reasons are considered to be the liquidation of the employer company, extraordinary circumstances, or non-payment of wages. In these cases, the foreign worker will have 30 days to find a new employment contract.
Man Arrested for Setting Pregnant Wife on Fire in Tuva
In Tuva, a man doused his pregnant wife with gasoline and set her on fire during an argument. The victim with serious thermal burns was hospitalized and is receiving necessary medical assistance, reports the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the region.
The incident occurred in the village of Mugur-Aksy. According to preliminary investigation information, the conflict between the spouses arose when the man was in a state of alcohol intoxication. A criminal case has been initiated against him. The court, satisfying the investigators« request, sent the suspect to a pre-trial detention center for two months.
