NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||02/01/2026.

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||02/01/2026.

FRIDAY|| VOL—IV/2026/JANUARY

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।

पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥

“Knowledge gives humility; from humility comes worthiness;

From worthiness one attains wealth; from wealth arises righteousness;

And from righteousness comes happiness.”

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

Assam has become the first state in India to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission, taking a proactive step ahead of the scheduled expiry of the 7th Pay Commission on 01 January 2026.

SIR in Bengal:Hearings began at 3,234 centers across the state, with around 32 lakh unmapped voters, those unable to establish linkage with the 2002 electoral roll, being called in the first phase.

Shankh Airlines is set to begin flights in January with three Airbus planes. The airline will connect Lucknow to Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities. Flights to destinations across Uttar Pradesh are also planned. The company aims to make air travel affordable for middle-class passengers and first-time flyers. International operations are anticipated in 2028 or 2029.

India has imposed an excise duty on cigarettes in a range of 2,050-8,500 rupees ($22.8-$94.5) per thousand sticks based on the length of the products, effective February 1, the finance ministry said.

For the first time, the Indian Army’s animal contingent will march on Kartavya Path during the Republic Day parade in 2026, showcasing the vital role animals play in military operations across some of the country’s most challenging terrains.

India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of their nuclear installations and facilities on 1 January 2026, marking the 35th consecutive annual exchange under a longstanding bilateral agreement.

Guyana has extended a formal invitation to Indian companies to participate in its upcoming oil blocks auction scheduled for 2026, marking a significant step in diversifying its burgeoning energy sector.

India and Bangladesh have begun talks on renewing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, set to expire in Dec 2026 - 30 years after it was signed.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) has come into effect granting all Indian exports a duty-free access in the Australian market. Under the agreement, 100 percent of Indian tariff lines will get duty-free access benefiting key sectors like gems and jewelry, textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, food products, engineering goods, medical devices and automobiles.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

China’s Xi hails nation’s technological progress and renews pledge to take back Taiwan.

Russia made the formal diplomatic request as Trump also seeks to broker a peace ⁠deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Venezuela frees 88 more prisoners detained after post-election protests. The New Year’s Day release follows the government’s announcement that it released 99 people on December 26, which would bring a total of 187 people released in two ​weeks.

'Marriage Not Enough For Green Card': US Immigration Attorney Warns Couples.  According to immigration attorney Brad Bernstein of Spar & Bernstein, marriage-based Green Card applications are facing heightened scrutiny under the current Trump administration.

NASA's largest library at the Goddard Space Flight Center will close permanently on Jan 2 under the Trump administration's reorganization plans.

Saudi authorities executed 356 people in 2025, according to an AFP tally, setting a new record for the number of inmates put to death in the kingdom in a single year.

Bulgaria joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its official currency on New Year’s Day, becoming the 21st member of the euro area. To ensure a smooth transition, the Bulgarian lev will remain in circulation alongside the euro throughout January. From February 1, the euro will become the country’s sole legal tender.

Bangladesh’s big question: Will Khaleda Zia’s son build on her legacy?

Khaleda's death marks the end of an era. But will it be the start of a new one under Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman?

 Iran on edge as several killed in protests against Ayatollah over ailing economy. The country is witnessing its largest protests in three years over soaring inflation, sparking violence across several regions. Deaths were reported in Lordegan, Kuhdasht, and Isfahan, reflecting the spread of the unrest since shopkeepers began demonstrating over the government's handling of a currency slide and rapidly rising prices.

MISHAPS: -

Switzerland bar fire updates: About 40 people killed; 115 injured at Swiss Alpine bar, say police. Sixteen Italians missing after Swiss blaze, says Italian Foreign Minister Antonio ​Tajani; Swiss police said the explosion took place in a bar called "Le Constellation". A young man at the scene said people smashed windows to escape the fire, some gravely injured, reported BFMTV.

In Pakistan, at least 14 passengers were killed and 16 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a van in Punjab province.

WILD LIFE:

The Indian Supreme Court Mandates Strict New Guidelines For Tiger Conservation And Safari Tourism: The Supreme Court of India has issued a comprehensive set of directives aimed at refining the protocols governing tiger tourism. This judicial intervention is designed to fortify wildlife conservation efforts across the nation by ensuring a more rigorous balance between human recreational activities and the protection of fragile ecosystems.

GAMES & SPORTS: -

Indian men’s cricket will play their first international match of 2026 on January 11 when they take on New Zealand in the first ODI of a three-match series at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The BCCI selectors are set to announce India’s squad for the first home series of calendar year 2026 on January 3, and there are high chances of multiple players making a comeback into the 50-over side. Shubman, and Shamy are best placed.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi  congratulated  Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi on social media for winning the bronze medal at the World Blitz Championships in Doha, saying the achievement reflected India’s rapid strides in chess.

Eighteen-year-old Kaamya Karthikeyan has scripted history by becoming the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole. Her feat marks another milestone in a remarkable mountaineering and polar exploration journey that has already placed her among India’s most accomplished young adventurers.

DAS KAPITAL:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said 98.41 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation have been returned. The RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation on 19 May  2023.

Indian Share Market: -

*BSE SENSEX*85,188.60 −32.00 (0.038%)

*NIFTY*26,146.55 +16.95 (0.065%)

 BULLIONS:

*GOLD* : ₹ 13,700/ 01gm (24 krt)

*SILVER* : ₹ 238,000/KG

Currency Exchange Rates:

*Euro* : ₹ 106/- *USD*  ₹ 91/- * China ¥* : ₹ 13/-

 

 

THE END.