TODAY NEWS ON January 12, 2026

President Masoud Pezeshkian accuses U.S. and Israel of fomenting ‘riots’

Iran’s President ‌Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday (January 11, 2026) that the U.S. ⁠and Israel want to “sow chaos ⁠and disorder” in ‌Iran ‌by ordering “riots”, ‍and called ‍upon Iranians to distance themselves ⁠from “rioters and terrorists”. Nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy reached the two-week mark on Sunday (January 11, 2026), as the death toll in violence surrounding the demonstrations reached at least 116 people killed, activists said.

Iran protest deaths cross 500, says rights group; authorities call for counter-rally to ‘condemn U.S., Israel actions’

Unrest ‍in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday (January 11, 2026), as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.

Suspected Pakistan drones seen hovering over areas along LoC, IB; search ops launched in three J&K districts

Security forces picked up movement of suspected drones in several forward areas along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, officials said. All the flying objects came from the Pakistan side, and returned after hovering over Indian territory for few minutes, they said.

Trump delivers oil warning, suggesting Cuba should strike a deal with U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested ‍Cuba should strike a deal with Washington, warning that ​the island nation would no longer ‌receive oil or money from Venezuela.

PM Modi flags off phase-II stretch of Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar Metro

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off the Metro Rail from the Mahatma Mandir Metro Station in Gandhinagar, marking the inauguration of the remaining Phase-II stretch of the Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar Metro project. Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present on the occasion.

NATO talks on deterring Russian activity around Greenland ‘business as usual’, says U.K.

Britain said on Sunday that discussions with other NATO members on deterring Russian activity ‍in the Arctic were “business as usual”, after media reports the U.K. was in ​talks with its European allies about deploying a military force ‌to Greenland.

484 electors from Kolkata’s Chinese community deleted during SIR: study

The Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal has excluded 484 electors from the Chinese community across three assembly constituencies in Kolkata, according to the city-based Sabar Institute, which conducted an analysis of the voter rolls. The three assembly constituencies that were analysed by the Sabar Institute are Kasba, Entally and Chowrangee.

Centre proposes smartphone makers to give source code in security overhaul

The Centre proposes requiring smartphone makers to share source code with the government and make several software changes as ​part of a raft of security measures, prompting behind-the-scenes opposition from giants like Apple and Samsung. The ‌tech companies have countered that the package of 83 security standards, which would also include ​a requirement to alert the government to major software updates, lacks any global precedent and risks revealing proprietary details, according to four people familiar with the discussions and a Reuters review of confidential government and industry documents.

Amit Shah seeks probe by neutral agency in Sabarimala gold theft case

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (January 11, 2026) slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the gold theft at Sabarimala temple and demanded a probe by a neutral investigation agency. Addressing the newly elected BJP representatives of local bodies and inaugurating the party’s Mission 2026 programme for the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, he said those who failed to protect the properties of Sabarimala cannot safeguard the faith of the people.

Magistrate remands Rahul Mamkootathil to 14-day judicial custody

A magistrate in Pathanamthitta on Sunday (January 11, 2026) remanded Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to judicial custody after the police arrested him early morning on charges of rape and intimidation. The magistrate sent him to a sub-jail in Mavelikkara for 14 days. The Crime Branch had produced him before the magistrate holding temporary charge.

Personal interests not grounds for opposing new infrastructure: CJI on Gauhati High Court Bar Association’s stir

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant expressed surprise at the opposition by members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association to the new integrated Judicial Court Complex in Assam’s North Guwahati area, the foundation for which he laid on Sunday (January 11, 2026). He maintained that “personal vested interest should not be valid grounds” for resisting the development of new infrastructure .“The integrated Judicial Court Complex is envisaged to match aspirations of the future,” the CJI said after laying the foundation stone for the facility at Rangmahal in North Guwahati.

ED moves Supreme Court in I-PAC case, seeks fair probe into State ‘obstruction’ of its raids

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged obstruction of its raids at the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC and its co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, State officials and other individuals .The anti-money laundering agency has argued that the intervention of the Chief Minister has derailed a lawful investigation into coal smuggling. Vital evidence, both physical and electeonic, connected to the probe was removed and the raids bulldozed, amounting to a “gross obstruction of justice”. The sites of the raids descended into scenes of a “showdown” through the illegal intervention of the State machinery itself.

U.S. may lift more Venezuela sanctions soon: Bessent

U.S. ‍Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has told Reuters that additional U.S. sanctions on Venezuela could be lifted as soon as next week to facilitate ​oil sales, and that he will also meet next week with the heads of the International ‌Monetary Fund and World Bank on their re-engagement with Venezuela. Mr. Bessent said in an interview late on Friday (January 9, 2026) ​that almost $5 billion worth of Venezuela’s currently frozen IMF Special Drawing Rights monetary assets could be deployed to help rebuild the country’s economy.

After water contamination tragedy, Madhya Pradesh CM orders safe supply for all

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that ensuring the supply of safe drinking water to every citizen was the responsibility of urban local bodies and directed officials to prevent the supply of contaminated water under all circumstances. Mr. Yadav's directive came after seven persons died in Indore's Bhagirathpura area recently following a diarrhoea outbreak triggered by the consumption of contaminated water.

Mumbai civic polls: Mahayuti releases manifesto, promises 50% bus concession for women alongside new benefits

With the Maharashtra municipal corporations poll entering the final phase, Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena, and RPI) on Sunday (January 11, 2026) unveiled the manifesto for Mumbai civic body elections, promises 50% bus fare concessions for women, an interest-free loan up to ₹5 lakhs for women under the Ladki Bahin scheme. The Mahayuti also targets GenZ through its manifesto, providing internship programmes, Mumbai Digital Sakhi to train women in AI and coding courses and use AI technology to deport Bangladeshis.

Sabalenka wins Brisbane final amid frosty exchange with Kostyuk

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has captured her second consecutive Brisbane International title, and 22nd overall, with a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk on Sunday (January 11, 2026). It was the third year in a row Sabalanka appeared in the final, and the Belarusian player looked in comfortable surroundings as she closed out a 6-4, 6-3 victory in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena.

Countdown for launch of PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission begins

The 22.5 hour countdown for the launch of the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission commenced at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Sunday (January 11, 2026). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission on January 12 from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:17 a.m. According to ISRO the PSLV-C62 vehicle will carry EOS-N1 and 15 co-passenger satellites developed by startup and academia from India and abroad.

India vs NZ first ODI: Kohli, Gill excel as Men in Blue overcome a stutter to go one up

The Black Caps have repeatedly risen to the occasion, but the damage inflicted up front by Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill proved too much for the visitors on Sunday. Chasing 301 on a chilly, dew-laden evening at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, India eventually crossed the line — albeit after a stutter — to take a 1–0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Spanish Super Cup: Barcelona edges Real Madrid in heated final, Raphinha scores twice

Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona won ​the Spanish Super Cup after an intense 3-2 victory ‌over Real Madrid in Sunday’s final in Jeddah. The ​match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium turned into a thriller, with four goals packed into a breathless phase at the end of the first half.