India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate refused to shield his players after India’s comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the second ODI, stating the match exposed glaring flaws in the team’s bowling attack. He pointed out ineffective bowling, particularly from the spinners, and stressed that India failed collectively rather than as individuals. New Zealand chased the target comfortably, losing only three wickets, with India’s bowlers struggling to build pressure. Pacers Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed one. Daryl Mitchell’s composed knock earned him the Player of the Match award. (PC: NDTV)

The U.S. State Department has announced it will pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, and Russia, starting January 21, 2026, as part of a broader immigration crackdown. The decision targets nations whose migrants are deemed more likely to rely on public assistance, with visas halted until new screening procedures are reviewed to prevent perceived welfare dependency by new immigrants. The freeze affects family, employment, and diversity visas but non-immigrant visas like tourist and student visas remain largely unaffected. The suspension could delay plans for thousands of prospective immigrants. 

Air India has announced that its international flights that typically overfly Iranian airspace will now use alternative routes following the closure of Iran’s skies amid rising regional tensions, potentially leading to delays for affected services. The airline posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the changes are necessary due to the evolving situation and the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority. In some cases where rerouting isn’t feasible, flights may be cancelled, and passengers are advised to check flight status before departure. The disruption stems from Iran’s airspace shutdown, which has impacted several airlines globally. (PC: India Today)

NASA and SpaceX have carried out the first medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS), bringing four astronauts home early due to an undisclosed health issue affecting one crew member. The SpaceX Crew-11 team — Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov — undocked from the ISS on Jan. 14 and is set to splash down off the California coast on Jan. 15. NASA has not disclosed details of the medical condition, citing privacy, but confirmed the astronaut is stable. The mission was cut short from its original schedule to allow full medical evaluation on Earth. (PC: NASA)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer drew Parliament's laughter and groans with a crude joke comparing Conservative leadership changes to the Kama Sutra during Prime Minister's Questions. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Starmer's policy reversal on digital identity checks, which shifted from mandatory to optional despite previous commitments. Badenoch questioned the government's ability to govern, citing Health Secretary Wes Streeting's recent call to "get it right first time." Starmer defended the shift while attacking Conservatives over frequent leadership changes, dubbing them the "Ikea shadow cabinet." The exchange expanded to inheritance tax affecting farmers and party defections, with neither side claiming victory though the digital ID reversal increased pressure on Starmer. (PC: AP)

Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police claimed in a confidential report that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang operates "on behalf of the Indian government," despite being designated a terrorist organization. The three-page RCMP intelligence review, obtained by Global News, mentions alleged Indian government ties six times while tracking the gang's expanding Canadian footprint. The report describes Bishnoi's organization as involved in extortion, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and assassinations motivated by "greed" rather than political or religious reasons. Indian Ambassador Dinesh Patnaik countered by highlighting Canada's 40-year inaction on terrorism despite India's warnings, questioning how these elements entered Canada initially. The allegations emerge as India-Canada relations tentatively recover. (PC: Reuters)

Two Indian PhD students at University of Colorado Boulder won a $200,000 (₹1.8 crore) civil rights settlement after facing discrimination over cooking Indian food. Aditya Prakash, 34, was confronted in September 2023 about palak paneer's "pungent smell" while heating lunch in a departmental microwave. His partner, Urmi Bhattacheryya, 35, supported him and was subsequently fired from her teaching assistant position without explanation. The university withheld their master's degrees and created a hostile environment. Their lawsuit argued the reaction to cultural food manifested "systemic bias" against international students. In September 2025, the university settled, paying $200,000 and conferring degrees, though barring future enrollment or employment. (PC: Instagram)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received a call from Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussing the evolving situation amid massive anti-government protests in Iran. India has issued a fresh advisory urging all nationals including students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists to leave Iran immediately and avoid non-essential travel. Protests erupted in late December after the rial plunged to record lows, spreading across all 31 provinces with rights groups reporting over 2,500 deaths during the crackdown. The US has begun withdrawing personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as precaution, while Trump threatens intervention. Iran warned regional countries hosting American forces about possible retaliation if Washington strikes. (PC: PTI)

Pakistan signed an agreement with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's crypto business, to develop cross-border digital payment systems using USD1 stablecoin. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and WLF co-founder Zachary Witkoff signed the deal in Islamabad, marking one of World Liberty's first public country partnerships. The agreement involves integrating WLF's stablecoin into Pakistan's regulated digital payments structure through collaboration with the central bank. This follows multiple meetings between Pakistani officials and Trump in 2024, drawing criticism from US officials including former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who accused the White House of prioritizing Trump family business interests over traditional US-India ties. The deal comes amid warming US-Pakistan relations. (PC: X/Ali Farid Khwaja)

India’s traditionally built stitched sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya has successfully concluded its historic 18-day voyage from **Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman, docking at Port Sultan Qaboos with celebratory greetings and a water salute. The vessel, inspired by 5th-century Indian ship designs from Ajanta Cave paintings, was constructed using ancient stitched-plank techniques, showcasing India’s rich maritime heritage and craftsmanship. Skipper Commander Vikas Sheoran led a 16-member crew, with Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal sharing progress updates on social media. The journey symbolises cultural exchange, nautical skill, and strengthening ties between India and Oman.