The Hindu Morning Digest: January 12, 2026

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.

As German Chancellor Merz lands in Gujarat, activists demand that Modi ask for Ariha’s return

Accusing the German government of violating the human rights and cultural rights of five-year-old Ariha Shah, who was seized from her parents on allegations of abuse four years ago, activists demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take up the matter with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz when they meet on Monday (January 12, 2026). Despite several pleas from New Delhi, the German government has not agreed to India’s request that Ms. Shah, an Indian citizen, be allowed to return to India and to be brought up in foster care here.

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.

Mehbooba Mufti takes exception to NSA Ajit Doval’s ‘revenge for history’ remark

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday took exception to the remarks made by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, in which he used the term “revenge”. “It is deeply unfortunate that a high-ranking officer like Mr. Doval, whose duty is to guard the nation against internal and external nefarious designs, has chosen to join a communal ideology of hate and normalise violence against Muslims.

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.

Won’t let BJP and Adani take away Mumbai, say Thackeray cousins

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirma Sena leader Raj Thackeray on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of pursuing divisive politics and systematically “isolating” Mumbai’s Marathi Manoos. They also accused the national party of facilitating land grab to benefit Adani Group and conspiring to “separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and bring it closer to Gujarat”. 

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.

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.