News Dabba for 12 January 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from temperature drop in North India, new US Ambassador to India, to unrest in Iran.

North India freezes as Delhi hits 3.2°C, frost blankets plains: India Today

North India woke up to biting cold on Monday as large parts of the region slipped into severe cold wave conditions, India Today reports, with Delhi recording its lowest minimum temperature of the season at 3.2 degrees Celsius and frost spreading across the plains from Haryana to Rajasthan and Punjab. The chill was sharper on the outskirts of the National Capital Region. Haryana’s Gurgaon recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 0.6 degrees Celsius, while near sub-zero conditions were witnessed in surrounding areas. Weather readings taken between 5 am and 7.30 am showed ground frost, with temperatures in parts of Gurgaon dipping to minus 1 degree Celsius on January 12, 2026. Read the full report here.

Sergio Gor takes charge as US Ambassador to India, Indian Express

Describing the India-US ties as the most “consequential global partnership of this century”, the new United States ambassador Sergio Gor said Monday that trade negotiators from both sides will talk on Tuesday, and India will be invited to join the Pax Silica, the US-led coalition on the critical minerals supply chain, Indian Express reports. Gor, who arrived late Friday night, took charge as the US Ambassador to India on Monday. The report says that Pax Silica is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain, from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, development, and logistics. Read the full report here.

Thailand’s liberal opposition tops polls as election looms: The Straits Times

Thailand’s progressive opposition People’s Party and its leader are most favoured among voters for February’s general election, two surveys showed as per The Straits times, underlining the stiff challenge facing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s bid to stay in power. Thailand’s February 8 election could usher in a new round of turmoil in Thailand, and will be a showdown between the anti-establishment People’s Party, Anutin’s conservative Bhumjaithai and the former ruling party Pheu Thai, with bitter histories of betrayal that could complicate efforts to form a government. The People’s Party was backed by 34.2 per cent of respondents in a January 6 to 9 poll by Suan Dusit released on Sunday. Read the full report here.

Air India flight diverted to Jaipur due to medical emergency, NDTV reports

NDTV reports that an Air India flight from the national capital to Vijayawada was diverted to Jaipur due to a medical emergency on Monday morning. The report quotes its source saying that an elderly passenger became unwell onboard the flight AI2517 following which the flight was diverted to Jaipur where the passenger was deboarded and taken to hospital. Details about the number of passengers in the flight could not be ascertained, it adds. There was no official comment from Air India. Read the full report here.

Tehran says unrest ‘stoked and fueled’ by foreign elements, Al Jazeera reports

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araqchi said US ​President ‌Donald Trump’s warning against Tehran of military action should ‌protests turn ‌bloody motivated “terrorists” ⁠to target protesters and security forces ‌in order to invite foreign intervention. Al Jazeera reports that Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in Iran, warning he has “very strong options” as the US military studies the situation while his administration is in contact with Iranian opposition leaders. Iran’s government declared three days of national mourning for the “martyrs” killed in two weeks of protests, including members of security forces. Read the full report here.