The Hindu Morning Digest: January 15, 2026

Iran protests: Trump claims killing ‘has stopped’ even as Tehran signals executions ahead

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) that he’s been told “on good authority” that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has indicated fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters. Mr. Trump did not specify where he had received that information but only described it as “very important sources on the other side.”

U.S. to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance

The State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States. The statement did not identify which countries would be affected by the pause, but President Donald Trump’s administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa.

BSF, ITBP and NIA get new chiefs

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Wednesday approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to appoint Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) as the chief of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The ACC also approved the appointment of 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, Praveen Kumar, who is at present working as DG, ITBP, to the post of Director General, Border Security Force (BSF).

Jana Nayagan row: Supreme Court to hear producer’s appeal today

A Division Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Dipankar Datta, will on January 15 hear an appeal filed by the production house of Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan against an order of stay passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court over the certification of the film.

Kuki-Zo Council reiterate demand for Union Territory

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has reiterated the demand for a Union Territory for Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur. Insisting that it would be difficult for the Kuki-Zos to coexist with the non-tribal Meiteis, the KZC, the apex body of the community, also warned against resettling the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) belonging to the Meitei community in the “buffer zone” or close to Kuki-Zo areas.

Denmark, Greenland talks with Vance and Rubio fail to alter U.S. position

Denmark’s top diplomat said on Wednesday he failed to change the mind of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on his threats to seize Greenland after flying to the White House for talks. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory of Copenhagen, met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in what they hoped would clear up “misunderstandings” after Trump’s bellicose language toward the NATO ally.

Indian envoy dismisses Canada’s allegations in 2023 on killing of Sikh separatist leader

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh K. Patnaik has dismissed Canada’s old allegations linking New Delhi to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, asserting that the case is against four individuals and not against the government of India. Mr. Patnaik also pointed out how the investigation into the Air India bombing has still not yielded anything and not a single person has been convicted of it, despite New Delhi talking about terrorism in Canada for the last 40 years.

FBI searches journalist’s home over alleged Pentagon leak

The FBI on Wednesday searched the home of a Washington Post journalist who has written about U.S. federal job cuts, in a move the newspaper described as “highly unusual and aggressive.”

India vs NZ 2nd ODI: Mitchell magic on display as New Zealand levels series

K.L. Rahul ended his 26-month drought for an ODI hundred. But Daryl Mitchell not only overhauled Rahul’s tally (an unbeaten 112) but also earned vital support from Will Young at the other end. The duo set up a convincing seven-wicket win for New Zealand against India in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium that kept the three-match series alive heading into Sunday’s decider.

29 Maharashtra civic bodies go to polls on January 15; Mumbai is big prize

More than 3.48 crore voters will cast their ballots on Thursday (January 15, 2026) in elections to 29 municipal corporations, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in Maharashtra, choosing 2,869 corporators from among 15,908 candidates, following an intense, high-pitched campaign by all six major political parties in the State.