Todays top 15 news across the world for 1 January 2026 covers the most important national, international, business and sports developments at the start of the New Year, from better New Year payouts for Zomato and Swiggy delivery partners and a massive government decision on Vodafone Idea’s dues to fresh export support, India’s ongoing welfare review, Russia–Ukraine updates and India Women’s dominant 5–0 T20I series victory over Sri Lanka. [web:373][web:358]
🇮🇳 Zomato & Swiggy Raise New Year Payouts to Avert Gig Workers’ Strike
Food‑delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy agreed to increase New Year’s Eve payouts for delivery partners after gig workers in several cities threatened to strike over low earnings during the year’s busiest night. Reports say the companies enhanced per‑delivery incentives and festive‑night bonuses so that riders could earn significantly more per hour, while simultaneously promising to hold structured talks with workers’ groups in early 2026 on broader concerns such as social‑security coverage, transparent pay algorithms and accident insurance. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – School Assembly News Headlines Today (January 1)
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🇮🇳 India Denies China’s Claim of Mediating India–Pakistan Truce
Official Indian sources rejected China’s recent assertion that Beijing mediated the February 2021 India–Pakistan ceasefire along the Line of Control, clarifying that the arrangement was a purely bilateral understanding between New Delhi and Islamabad. India underlined that issues with Pakistan, including border management and cross‑border terrorism, must be resolved directly between the two countries under the framework of the Simla Agreement, and that it does not endorse any third‑party mediation narrative. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – India Denies China’s Mediation Claim in Ceasefire Talks
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🇮🇳 Probe Agency Seizes ₹14‑Crore Cash, Gold and Diamonds in Delhi
An anti‑corruption probe agency in Delhi seized an estimated ₹14 crore in unaccounted assets, including suitcases filled with cash, large quantities of gold and several packets of cut diamonds, during raids connected to suspected bribery in public‑works contracts. Officials quoted in the coverage say the raids are part of a wider investigation into kickback networks, and forensic teams are now examining bank statements, property records and alleged shell companies to trace how the funds were routed and who ultimately benefited from the illegal payments. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Agency Seizes ₹14 Crore Cash, Gold & Diamonds in Delhi
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🇮🇳 Cabinet Freezes ₹87,695‑Crore Government Dues Owed by Vodafone Idea
The Union cabinet approved a significant relief package for Vodafone Idea by freezing government dues worth about ₹87,695 crore, covering spectrum and adjusted‑gross‑revenue payments for a defined period to ease the company’s liquidity crunch. NDTV’s school‑assembly bulletin notes that the move is intended to give the telco breathing space to complete its ongoing fund‑raise, expand 5G services and remain a viable third player in India’s telecom market, though analysts caution that strong tariff discipline and subscriber retention will still be critical for a sustainable turnaround. [web:358]
Source:
NDTV – School Assembly News Headlines (January 1) – Business section
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🇮🇳 Centre Announces ₹4,531‑Crore Market Access Scheme for Exporters
To help Indian exporters cope with weak global demand and tighter financial conditions, the government unveiled a ₹4,531‑crore market‑access scheme that will support participation in overseas trade fairs, branding campaigns, buyer–seller meets and export‑oriented research. The Sunday Guardian explains that the scheme will prioritise MSMEs and labour‑intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, engineering goods and processed foods, with officials hoping the support will raise India’s presence in new markets and contribute to the country’s long‑term $2‑trillion exports goal. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – New Market Access Support Scheme for Exporters
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🇮🇳 Fiscal Deficit Reaches 62.3% of FY26 Target in April–November
Finance ministry data cited in assembly explainers show that India’s fiscal deficit during April–November 2025 stood at 62.3% of the full‑year FY26 budget estimate, slightly higher than the comparable 59.2% figure for the previous year. Economists attribute the number to front‑loaded capital expenditure on infrastructure, expanded welfare outlays and uneven tax collections, but they also note that the government still appears committed to its glide path of bringing the deficit below 4.5% of GDP by FY26, provided revenues strengthen in the final quarter and disinvestment plans stay on track. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Fiscal Deficit Data in Business Round‑Up
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🇮🇳 Indian Government Welfare Review Tightens Targeting & Leakages
Policy notes on 1 January mention that the Indian government welfare review is now drilling down into district‑level data to remove duplicate and ineligible names from beneficiary lists for food ration cards, social pensions and health‑insurance schemes, while adding genuinely poor households that were previously missed. The review relies heavily on updated socio‑economic surveys and Aadhaar‑linked direct benefit transfers to reduce leakages, but officials and civil‑society groups also stress the importance of grievance‑redress mechanisms so that people wrongly excluded can quickly appeal and regain access to subsidies and cash support. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Policy & Welfare Section within Assembly Headlines
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🇮🇳 India Welcomes New Year 2026; What’s Closed and What’s Open
Hindustan Times notes that India welcomed New Year 2026 with celebrations at iconic spots such as India Gate, Marine Drive and Brigade Road, while 1 January was observed as a restricted holiday for central government offices, meaning key services like banks, stock exchanges and most public transport continued to function. Several states declared full or partial holidays for schools and local offices, so citizens were advised to check individual state notifications, but overall the day saw a mix of festive activity and regular weekday services as people returned to routine after late‑night celebrations. [web:383]
Source:
Hindustan Times – India Welcomes New Year 2026: What’s Closed, What’s Open Today
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🌍 Russia–Ukraine Conflict: Missile Strikes and Peace Talks Continue
NDTV’s January‑1 assembly bulletin reports that the Russia–Ukraine conflict remains unresolved, with fresh missile and drone attacks targeting infrastructure even as diplomats hold sporadic discussions on possible frameworks for ceasefire and security guarantees. Analysts warn that without concrete confidence‑building measures and external assurances, both sides are unlikely to make major concessions, meaning the war could drag into another year, keeping energy markets volatile and prolonging humanitarian hardships for displaced civilians across the region. [web:358]
Source:
NDTV – School Assembly News Headlines (January 1) – World section
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🌐 Global Markets Enter 2026 Cautiously Amid Rates and War Concerns
Business round‑ups say global equity and bond markets are stepping into 2026 with cautious optimism, as investors watch for potential interest‑rate cuts by major central banks while remaining alert to risks from the Russia–Ukraine war, West Asia tensions and sluggish world trade. Commentators point out that India’s relatively strong domestic demand and reform momentum give it some cushion, but they also caution that external shocks could still trigger bouts of volatility in stock indices, currencies and commodity prices during the first quarter of the year. [web:358]
Source:
NDTV – Business Highlights in January‑1 School Assembly Bulletin
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🏏 Deepti Sharma Leads India Women to Historic 5–0 T20I Sweep
In cricket, Deepti Sharma delivered a standout all‑round performance as India Women completed a rare 5–0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka in the home T20I series, a result Sunday Guardian describes as a huge confidence booster ahead of global tournaments in 2026. The off‑spinning all‑rounder consistently struck in the middle overs with the ball and contributed crucial runs with the bat, while senior batters like Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma provided explosive starts that left Sri Lanka out‑played in almost every match of the series. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Sports News Today: Deepti Sharma Helps India Women Win Series 5–0
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🏏 Shreyas Iyer Ruled Out of New Zealand ODIs Over Sudden Weight Loss
India batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand after team doctors flagged sudden and unexplained weight loss, advising him to undergo further medical tests and rest instead of travelling with the squad. School‑assembly coverage says the selectors and management do not want to risk aggravating any potential health issue, so a reserve middle‑order option has been drafted in, while fans await detailed updates from the cricket board on his recovery timeline. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Sports Column: Health Concerns Rule Shreyas Iyer Out of NZ ODIs
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🏏 Smriti Mandhana Falls Just Short of Shubman Gill’s Calendar‑Year Record
Despite a prolific 2025 where she piled up runs across formats, Smriti Mandhana narrowly missed surpassing Shubman Gill’s record for most international runs by an Indian in a calendar year, finishing only a few runs behind his tally in the final T20I against Sri Lanka. Analysts quoted in assembly round‑ups remark that while the statistical landmark eluded her, Mandhana’s consistency and match‑winning knocks have consolidated her status as a mainstay of India’s batting line‑up and an inspiration for young women cricketers across the country. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Sports Wrap: Mandhana Just Short of Gill’s Record
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🎬 Actress Denies Rumoured Relationship with Suryakumar Yadav
A Bollywood actress whose interactions with star batter Suryakumar Yadav on social media had led to intense speculation clarified in an interview that there is “nothing more than respect and friendship” between them. She explained that gossip linking them romantically is exaggerated and used the opportunity to urge fans and media outlets to respect personal boundaries and avoid spreading unverified stories about sportspersons and entertainers, especially when such rumours can distract athletes from their professional responsibilities. [web:373]
Source:
Sunday Guardian – Short Note on Suryakumar Yadav Rumours in Sports/Entertainment Section
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🧠 Thought of the Day, Word of the Day & GK Quiz for School Assembly
January‑1 school‑assembly resources suggest starting the New Year with a Thought of the Day focused on perseverance and fresh beginnings, encouraging students to set realistic goals and work towards them consistently rather than making resolutions they soon abandon. The bulletins also propose a simple English word of the day along with a short quiz drawn from the very headlines covered—such as questions on Vodafone Idea’s dues, Deepti Sharma’s 5–0 series win and the export support package—so that students build vocabulary and keep up with current affairs simultaneously during the morning assembly. [web:358][web:377]
Sources:
NDTV – Thought & Word of the Day, January 1
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Leverage Edu – How Thoughts, Words and GK Are Used in School Assemblies
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