The Hindu Morning Digest: January 10, 2026

MEA reiterates commitment to ‘balanced’ India-U.S. trade deal; says Lutnick’s claim ‘not accurate’

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (January 9, 2026) reiterated India’s commitment to a “balanced” trade pact with the United States and said the latest remarks made by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were not “accurate”. Mr. Lutnick had earlier said that the India-U.S. trade deal did not happen because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call U.S. President Trump to wrap up the final stages of the trade deal.

Taliban diplomat to take charge of Afghan embassy in New Delhi

Nearly five years after the Taliban wrested control of Kabul, the first Taliban-appointed diplomat arrived in India to take charge of the Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi, sources confirmed to The Hindu. Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior official in the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arrived in Delhi and is expected to take over as the charge, they said.

U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor arrives in India

U.S. ambassador-designate Sergio Gor arrived India on Friday (January 9, 2026) amid an estrangement in ties over trade between the two countries. “Great to be back in India! Incredible opportunities ahead for our two nations!” Mr. Gor, who takes charge on January 12, 2026, wrote in a post X.

Budget session from January 28; Union Budget on February 1

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, 2026, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday (January 9, 2026).

Mamata hits the streets, defends disrupting raids

Hitting the streets to protest the Enforcement Directorate’s raids of the I-PAC office and its founder’s home, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (January 9, 2026) justified her decision to intervene during the raids by saying that attempts were being made to steal her party’s internal strategy.

All candidates to undergo face authentication at exam venue, says UPSC

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said on Friday (January 9, 2026) that all candidates appearing in the examinations conducted by the Commission “will undergo face authentication at the venue”.

Varanasi ‘Tent City’, inaugurated by PM, violated environmental norms: NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that a ‘Tent City’ set up on the riverbed of the Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in 2023 was established and operated in “violation” of environmental laws, as per a recent order by the tribunal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the project on January 13, 2023. 

Evict SASTRA University from 31.37 acres of government land, says Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State government to evict Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), a deemed university based in Thanjavur, from 31.37 acres of government land in its occupation for nearly 40 years.

‘Jana Nayagan’ release row: Madras HC stays order to grant censor certificate to Vijay-starrer

It was a slip between the cup and the lip for actor Vijay’s much-anticipated last movie Jana Nayagan as a single judge of the Madras High Court, on Friday (January 9, 2026), directed Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue U/A 16+ certificate forthwith, but the first Division Bench of the court that heard an appeal stayed the order within a few hours of its pronouncement.

Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT indicts Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru

The High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has charged Sabarimala senior Tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru with criminal complicity and conspiracy in the “dishonest misappropriation” of the temple’s gold-plated religious artefacts in 2019. 

Trade unions call for general strike on Feb. 12, threaten indefinite strike if Labour Codes are not repealed

A national convention of workers, convened by ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) in Delhi on Friday (January 9, 2026), has given a call for a general strike on February 12 against the Union government’s decision to implement the four Labour Codes.

Trump indicates Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado might give him her Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with U.S. President Donald Trump, and the President indicated she might give him her award when they meet. Mr. Trump will meet Ms. Machado in Washington next week, he said on Thursday (January 8).

U.S. Commerce Department drops plan to impose restrictions on Chinese-made drones

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday (January 9, 2026) it has ‌withdrawn a plan to impose restrictions on Chinese drones to address national ​security concerns after an earlier crackdown on passenger cars and trucks.

Tarique Rahman appointed as chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party 

Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman on Friday (January 9, 2026) was appointed as the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), days after the demise of his mother and party chairperson Khaleda Zia following a prolonged illness.

WPL Season 4: De Klerk pulls off a heist for RCB in opening match against MI

Nadine de Klerk, known for her late pyrotechnics which lifted South Africa to the summit clash of the Women’s ODI World Cup, pulled off a thrilling three-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in the 2026 Women’s Premier League season opener on Friday.