Morning Digest: At least 13 killed, many injured as train runs over passengers near Maharashtra’s Jalgaon; Jaishankar upbeat about India-U.S. ties, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on January 23, 2025

At least 13 people were killed on Wednesday (January 22, 2024) evening when they jumped down from their train following rumours of a fire and were then hit by another train speeding down the adjacent track, in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district.

Upbeat about the future of the India-U.S. ties, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) said clearly there is an interest in the new Trump Administration in taking this relationship forward. “Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is naturally treated very well,” Mr. Jaishankar told a group of Indian reporters when asked about the front row seat that he was given during the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered three First Information Reports and taken up the probe into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. The consumption of illicit arrack was first was reported on June 18, 2024 and as days passed by, the toll climbed to 68. The then Kallakurichi district SP was suspended for his failure to curb the sale of illicit arrack in his jurisdiction.

Fourteen persons died and 29 were injured in separate road accidents in two districts of Karnataka on Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday.

Ten persons were killed and 19 suffered injuries when a truck laden with vegetables and fruits overturned in Arabail ghat region near Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district on Wednesday. The victims were travelling in the truck. In the other accident, near Sindhanur of Raichur district late on Tuesday night, four persons were killed on the spot and 10 were injured when their multi-utility vehicle overturned.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine, and added that these also could be applied to “other participating countries.”

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) extended the stay on criminal defamation proceedings initiated against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for the “scorpion sitting on a Shivling” reference made in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.