Todays top 15 news across the world for 5 January 2026 covers major national, education, business, world and sports developments, including a ₹1,464‑crore interstate tax‑fraud racket, Uttar Pradesh’s first state‑level Braille library, Andhra Pradesh leading fresh investment proposals, India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games, Bangladesh’s stand on T20 World Cup venues and sharp movements in global markets after new tensions around Venezuela. [web:443][web:444][web:445]
🇮🇳 ₹1,464-Crore Interstate Fake Billing Racket Busted by Tax Authorities
NDTV’s January‑5 school‑assembly bulletin reports that tax officials have unearthed an interstate fake billing racket estimated at ₹1,464 crore, involving shell firms issuing bogus invoices to wrongfully claim input‑tax credit under GST. Investigators have identified multiple entities operating across states, arrested key suspects and started cancelling fraudulent registrations, with authorities warning that more arrests and recovery proceedings will follow as the money trail is traced through bank accounts and e‑way bills. [web:443]
Source:
NDTV – School Assembly News Headlines (January 5)
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🇮🇳 Uttar Pradesh Opens First State-Level Braille Library Section in Lucknow
Leverage Edu notes that Uttar Pradesh’s first state‑level Braille library section has been inaugurated at Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow, located on the first floor of the Swami Vivekananda Central Library. The section offers Braille books, tactile diagrams and assistive reading devices for students with visual impairments, and is expected to become a resource centre supporting inclusive education in the state’s schools and universities. [web:444]
Source:
Leverage Edu – Education News: UP’s First Braille Library Section
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🇮🇳 Telangana Board to Send Inter Exam 2026 Hall Tickets to Parents via WhatsApp
NDTV’s education section highlights that the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education will send digital hall tickets for the 2026 intermediate exams directly to parents’ WhatsApp numbers, in addition to making them available on the official portal. Officials say the move aims to reduce last‑minute confusion, ensure students always have a copy of their admit card and showcase how public‑exam systems can use popular messaging apps for smoother communication. [web:443][web:449]
Sources:
NDTV – School Assembly News Headlines (January 5) – Education;
CareerIndia – School Assembly News Headlines January 5, 2026
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🇮🇳 IIT Bombay Opens MBA 2026 Admissions; CAT-Based Selection Explained
The same NDTV bulletin notes that IIT Bombay has opened applications for its MBA 2026 batch at the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, inviting candidates with valid CAT 2025 scores to register online. Selection will be based on CAT percentile, academic record and a personal interview, and the institute emphasises that its management programme combines technology‑driven coursework with industry projects, appealing to engineers and science graduates seeking leadership roles. [web:443]
Source:
NDTV – IIT Bombay MBA 2026 Admissions Item
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🇮🇳 Andhra Pradesh Tops FY26 Investment Proposals with 25.3% Share
Leverage Edu summarises a Bank of Baroda report showing that Andhra Pradesh attracted the highest share of fresh investment proposals in FY26 so far, accounting for 25.3% of total announcements worth ₹26.6 lakh crore. Odisha and Maharashtra follow in the rankings, and analysts say the numbers reflect states’ competition to draw manufacturing, renewable‑energy and infrastructure projects, which can generate jobs if proposals translate into timely on‑ground execution. [web:444]
Source:
Leverage Edu – National Business News: Andhra Leads Investment Proposals
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🇮🇳 Amit Shah Mounts Poll Offensive in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Hindi‑language assemblies compiled by LiveHindustan and English round‑ups by Times Now report that Home Minister Amit Shah addressed rallies in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, accusing the DMK government of corruption and urging BJP workers to “oust the TMC regime” in Bengal. Shah’s twin visits are seen as part of the BJP’s early campaign push in southern and eastern states ahead of upcoming elections, with speeches focusing on law and order, welfare delivery and regional pride. [web:446][web:440]
Sources:
LiveHindustan – 5 January School Assembly Headlines in Hindi;
Times Now – School Assembly News Headlines Today (Jan 5)
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🇮🇳 Indian Government Welfare Review Looks at Credit & Women‑Entrepreneur Support
CareerIndia’s policy section notes that recent Union‑Budget discussions include a proposal to expand low‑interest credit and guarantee schemes for women, SC/ST and micro‑entrepreneurs, complementing the broader Indian government welfare review aimed at improving livelihood‑focused support. The plan envisages easier access to working‑capital loans up to ₹2 crore for small businesses over the next five years, alongside training and market‑linkage initiatives, so that welfare increasingly promotes self‑employment and enterprise rather than only cash transfers. [web:449]
Source:
CareerIndia – Policy & Budget Notes in January 5 Assembly Headlines
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🇮🇳 Octogenarian Loses ₹7 Crore in “Digital Arrest” Cyber Fraud in Hyderabad
NDTV warns readers about a disturbing cyber‑crime case in which an 80‑year‑old Hyderabad resident lost nearly ₹7 crore after fraudsters posing as police and officials held him in a so‑called “digital arrest” through continuous video calls for several days. The criminals allegedly claimed his bank accounts were linked to money‑laundering, coerced him into transferring funds “for investigation” and manipulated him psychologically, leading cyber‑crime experts to once again urge citizens never to share OTPs or transfer money based on calls from unknown individuals claiming to be authorities. [web:443]
Source:
NDTV – Business/Crime Headline: Octogenarian Duped in Digital Arrest Scam
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🏟️ Jay Shah Says India Aims to Host 2036 Olympics in Gujarat After 2030 CWG
Leverage Edu’s sports‑news section reports that BCCI secretary and ACC/ICC chairman Jay Shah said India plans to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, with Ahmedabad or a Gujarat city likely as the main host, after targeting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Speaking at an event in Surat, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for sports infrastructure and set an aspirational target of 100 medals for India, signalling an ambitious long‑term vision for hosting and competing in mega multi‑sport events. [web:444]
Source:
Leverage Edu – Sports News: India’s 2036 Olympics Ambition
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🏏 Bangladesh Likely to Avoid Playing T20 World Cup Matches in India
The same Leverage Edu bulletin notes that Bangladesh Cricket Board adviser Asif Nazrul has suggested the team will seek to avoid playing any 2026 T20 World Cup fixtures scheduled in India, citing security and political concerns, and instead prefer neutral or home venues. The statement has drawn mixed reactions, with some commentators calling it a negotiating tactic and others warning that politicising venue choices could strain cricketing ties and complicate ICC scheduling. [web:444]
Source:
Leverage Edu – Sports News: Bangladesh’s Stand on India Venues
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🛢️ US Strike in Venezuela Seen Causing Short-Term Market Volatility
Leverage Edu’s business section and Moneycontrol’s assembly explainer mention that a recent US operation in Venezuela is expected to create short‑term volatility in global oil and equity markets, though analysts see limited long‑term impact unless the situation escalates into wider supply disruptions. Indian markets are being advised to watch crude‑price movements and US macro data closely, but experts say domestic factors like earnings and Budget expectations will likely remain the dominant drivers of stock indices. [web:444][web:445]
Sources:
Leverage Edu – Business News: US Action in Venezuela;
Moneycontrol – School Assembly News Headlines, 5 January 2026
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🏭 India Manufacturing Growth Slows as December PMI Slips to 55
Business sections also flag that India’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for December fell to 55, a two‑year low though still comfortably above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction, indicating slower but continuing growth. Economists quoted in Leverage Edu and Moneycontrol say softer export orders and higher input costs weighed on the index, but strong domestic demand and government capex continue to support overall industrial activity heading into 2026. [web:444][web:445]
Sources:
Leverage Edu – Manufacturing PMI December 2025 Item;
Moneycontrol – Macro/Business Section in Assembly Headlines
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🏏 Shubman Gill Named India ODI Captain vs New Zealand
FreeJobAlert’s sports‑news summary states that Shubman Gill has been appointed captain of India’s 15‑member ODI squad for the series against New Zealand, marking his first stint as full‑time skipper in the 50‑over format. With senior players either rested or managing workloads, selectors see the series as an opportunity to test Gill’s tactical leadership and temperament, while giving more game time to fringe players as India reshapes its ODI core ahead of future ICC events. [web:435][web:449]
Sources:
FreeJobAlert – School Assembly Sports News Headlines Today 5th January 2026;
CareerIndia – Sports Section for January 5
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📊 Gold & Silver Brace for Swings on US Data and Venezuela Turmoil
NDTV’s business headlines mention that analysts expect gold and silver prices to see sharp swings next week, driven by upcoming US economic data releases and geopolitical uncertainty linked to events in Venezuela. Safe‑haven buying could push precious‑metal prices higher if risk sentiment worsens, while strong US numbers and a calmer outlook may prompt some profit‑booking, so investors are advised to be cautious with leveraged positions. [web:443]
Source:
NDTV – Gold & Silver Outlook in January‑5 Assembly Bulletin
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🧠 Thought of the Day “Thoughtful”, Word Meaning & GK for School Assembly
Leverage Edu lists “Thoughtful” as the word of the day for 5 January, defining it as “showing care or consideration for others,” and pairs it with the Thought of the Day: “A thoughtful action today can make someone’s tomorrow brighter,” encouraging students to practice small acts of kindness. The resource pack also provides five GK questions with answers based on current news—such as which authority invited ECINet suggestions and which state leads investment proposals—so that school assemblies can simultaneously build vocabulary, values and general awareness. [web:444][web:453]
Sources:
Leverage Edu – Word & Thought of the Day and GK, 5 January 2026;
Observer Voice – Today’s School Assembly News Headlines (05 January)
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