FirstUp: Next round of India-US trade talks, Trump briefing on Iran options... The news today

A lot has happened in Iran since yesterday, with a crackdown on protesters and more than 500 people already killed, while hundreds of others were injured. Today (January 13), US President Donald Trump is set to receive a high level briefing from national security officials over the situation in Iran. Meanwhile, India and the United States will hold fresh round of trade talks today.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Meanwhile, Canadian PM Mark Carney will be visiting Beijing. US Supreme Court to hear arguments over state bans of transgender athletes in girls’ sports.

The final hearing in the insurrection trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to resume. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu.

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Here is all that is taking place across the world.

Trump briefing on Iran options

President Donald Trump is scheduled to receive a formal high-level briefing from senior national security officials to discuss potential US responses to the escalating crisis in Iran. The meeting follows weeks of nationwide anti-government protests in Iran that have reportedly resulted in over 500 deaths and 10,000 arrests.

The briefing is likely to cover a range of diplomatic, technological, and military tools aimed at responding to the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protesters, including military strikes, cyber operations, internet access, sanctions, and support for protestors.

India-US trade talks

India and the US will discuss trade issues on Tuesday, stated Washington’s newly-appointed ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gor.

Trade talks between India and the US fell apart and Trump then doubled tariffs on Indian goods in August to 50 per cent, among the world’s highest rates, including a levy of 25 per cent to punish New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil. The two nations have been close to a deal on several occasions since they agreed to negotiate in February last year, India said last week.

Sanae Takaichi hosts South Korea President Lee Jae Myung

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for a high-level summit in her hometown of Nara City, Japan. This will be Lee’s first official visit to Japan since taking office in 2025 and is part of a “shuttle diplomacy” effort to stabilise and improve bilateral ties.

The leaders will hold a closed-door meeting and an expanded session, followed by a joint news conference and a working dinner. Lee’s visit to Japan comes immediately after his trip to China to meet President Xi Jinping, as Seoul attempts to balance its relationships with both major neighbours.

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Canadian PM Mark Carney to visit China

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart for an official visit to Beijing on Tuesday. This landmark trip is the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China in over eight years, signalling a major effort to thaw strained bilateral relations.

Carney is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior Chinese government and business leaders. The primary goal is to elevate engagement in trade, energy, agriculture, and international security as Carney aims to double Canada’s non-US exports over the next decade.

US SC to hear arguments over bans on transgender athletes in girls’ sports

The US Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments over the ban of transgender athletes in girls’ sports today. The arguments will take place in connection two cases, namely West Virginia v/s BPJ and Little v/s Hecox.

The West Virginia v/s BPJ Challenges a West Virginia law that imposes a categorical ban on transgender girls participating in school sports. The plaintiff, a transgender middle school student named Becky Pepper-Jackson, was previously granted an injunction allowing her to run on her school’s cross-country and track teams, a ruling upheld by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Little v/s Hecox Challenges Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” the first state law of its kind, which banned transgender collegiate athlete Lindsay Hecox from competing on her university’s track team.

Yoon Suk Yeol’s postponed final criminal trial to take place

The final hearing in the insurrection trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to resume today after being postponed from a marathon session on January 9.

The hearing on January 9 lasted nearly 15 hours, concluding just after midnight on January 10. Judge Ji Gwi-yeon postponed the session because Yoon’s defense team had not yet completed their review of documentary evidence or their final arguments. The defense argued that the volume of materials increased significantly following recent amendments to the indictment.

PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin a high-profile, three-day visit to Tamil Nadu, primarily focused on the Pongal harvest festival and infrastructure development. This visit, running through January 15, is seen as a major cultural and political outreach ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

PM Modi is expected to participate in traditional Pongal festivities alongside local farmers. This initiative aims to strengthen the BJP’s engagement with the state’s rural communities. He is also slated to attend the closing ceremony of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram, an event celebrating the historical and cultural links between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.