As the world steps into 2026, people across continents have welcomed the New Year with fireworks, prayers, music, and quiet reflection. From Kiribati, the first place to enter the year, to India, where crowds filled Marine Drive and Connaught Place despite winter cold, streets glowed with colour and hope. Sydney paused to honour the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, while Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Seoul lit up the night sky. In Europe, swimmers braved icy waters and towns kept alive age-old customs. Each celebration, big or small, carried one shared wish for peace and better days. We thank our readers for their trust and wish every family in India and around the world a safe, healthy, and joyful New Year.

India rang in 2026 with large crowds at public spots and high security across major cities. In Delhi and Mumbai, people gathered at India Gate, Connaught Place, and Marine Drive despite cold weather. Police deployed extra staff and issued traffic advisories to manage the rush. Checkpoints were set up and action was promised against drunk driving. Gurugram and Noida also saw heavy footfall. In Rajasthan, teams inspected vehicles and enforced safety rules. Maharashtra allowed hotels and restaurants to stay open till 5 am. Hyderabad police warned drivers to take cabs after drinking. Bengaluru planned to deploy about 20,000 police personnel. (PC: HT)

Major Indian cities have announced traffic advisories and security plans for New Year’s Eve on December 31. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad will enforce road closures, diversions and vehicle restrictions at busy areas. Delhi Traffic Police has issued special rules for Connaught Place and Saket from evening till celebrations end. Mumbai will deploy over 17,000 police staff at tourist spots, with Metro Line 3 running longer hours. Bengaluru will shut parts of MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street at night. Chennai expects crowds at Marina and Elliot Beach. Hyderabad will restrict traffic around Tank Bund and Necklace Road after 11 pm. (PC: India Today)

Police in Rajasthan’s Tonk district arrested two men and seized about 150 kg of explosive material from their car on New Year’s Eve. The action followed a tip-off received by the District Special Team. The suspects were stopped in the Baroni police station area. Officers found ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks marked as urea fertiliser. Police also recovered 200 cartridges and around 1,100 metres of safety fuse wire. The car used to carry the material was seized. The accused, both from Bundi district, were allegedly taking the consignment to Tonk for supply. Police are questioning them to find the source and purpose of the material. (PC: HT)

A Ranchi court has acquitted Indrajit Rai in a major narcotics case after police said 200 kg of seized ganja was destroyed by rats. The drugs were seized in 2022 after police stopped a Bolero on a highway and arrested Rai, while two others fled. During trial, officers told the court the contraband stored at Ormanjhi police station was no longer available. A 2024 station diary entry claimed rats had eaten it. The court noted gaps in witness accounts and a broken chain of custody. It said the seizure, storage and sampling process was unreliable and gave the benefit of doubt to the accused. (PC: ai)

Food and grocery deliveries may face delays on New Year’s Eve as gig workers plan a nationwide strike on December 31. The action involves workers linked to Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart. Unions say delivery partners are being forced to work longer hours while their income keeps falling. They also cite unsafe targets, lack of social security and sudden account blocks. The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers said a flash strike on December 25 had cut services by up to 60% in some cities. Workers want fair pay, job safety and talks with the government and platforms. (PC: ai)

The death of Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura studying in Dehradun, has triggered claims of racial abuse by his family. Police say there is no evidence so far to support this. Chakma was injured in a clash on December 9 and died on December 26 during treatment. His family says the attackers used slurs such as “Chinese momo” before stabbing him. The Dehradun SSP said the fight began after the victim objected to banter at a party and that the FIR mentions no racial angle. Five of six accused are in custody. One accused is absconding. (PC: HT)

India’s next-gen Vande Bharat Sleeper train successfully reached 180 km/h during high-speed trials on the Kota–Nagda section, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared on social media, posting a video of the run under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The clip showed the train hitting around 182 km/h, and a “water test” with glasses remaining stable highlighted ride comfort and engineering precision. Designed for long-distance travel, this sleeper variant aims to combine speed, comfort, and modern amenities, and is expected to begin commercial services soon, enhancing India’s rail travel options.

Police in Assam and Tripura have arrested 11 people for alleged links with Bangladesh-based extremist groups, officials said on Tuesday. Ten were held in Assam districts including Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang, while one was caught in Tripura. The arrests followed intelligence inputs from central agencies. Police said the suspects were part of the Imam Mahmuder Kafila module, an offshoot of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh. Officials said two Bangladeshi nationals were guiding the Assam cell through encrypted online platforms. No arms were seized, but documents and digital material were recovered. Further operations are under way, police added. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met leading economists at NITI Aayog on Tuesday to discuss India’s growth strategy ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27. The meeting focused on self-reliance and long-term structural reforms. Modi said policies and budgets must align with India’s vision for 2047. He stressed the need for mission-mode reforms and global integration. Economists shared ideas to boost productivity in manufacturing and services. The talks also covered infrastructure, household savings, AI, and digital systems. Nirmala Sitharaman and senior officials were present. (PC: ANI)