Here are the top national and international news updates for the school assembly on July 16, 2026.

TOP STORIES

India-UK trade pact comes into force

New Delhi: India and the UK on Wednesday operationalised a free trade agreement under which a host of domestic goods will enter the British market at zero duty. 

PM hails operationalisation of India-UK CETA; says it will give fresh momentum to farmers, MSMEs

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed the operationalisation of the India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Agreement on Social Security a significant moment in the bilateral ties. 

99% of exports to become duty-free with India-UK trade treaty: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the India-UK free trade agreement is set to unlock untapped potential across labour-intensive industries, offering zero-duty market access for 99 per cent of the country's exports. 

NATION

Centre approves 2 highway projects for Varanasi with Rs 25,000 cr investment

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two highway projects for Varanasi, entailing a total investment of nearly Rs 25,500 crore. 

Cabinet okays new National Investment Policy to create 10 mn tons of fresh urea capacity

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a National Investment Policy 2026 to create fresh domestic urea capacity of 10 million tonne and make India self-reliant in the most widely consumed fertiliser in the country. 

Ayodhya incident hurt faith of Ram devotees: Adityanath on donation theft issue

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple had hurt the faith of devotees, but the opposition move to defame Ayodhya and Ram Janmabhoomi was not justified.

SIR process focussed on exclusion, has played havoc with democracy: Ex CEC Quraishi

New Delhi: Former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi has hit out at the Election Commission over the ongoing SIR exercise, saying the process is focussed more on "exclusion" and has "played havoc with democracy" with free and fair elections having been "disturbed". 

Two killed in fire in building in Noida village, landlord arrested

Noida (UP): A fire broke out in a multi-storeyed building in a Noida village on Wednesday, killing two people, police said.

India-UK trade pact 'new gold standard' of trade deals: UK High Commissioner Cameron

New Delhi: The UK-India free trade agreement that came into force on Wednesday is a "new gold standard" of trade deals and it sends a message to the rest of the world that rules-based order works, British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron said.

'Govt cruel for ignoring Wangchuk's fast,' says Dipke, as activist completes day 18 of hunger strike

New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk was under round-the-clock medical supervision on Wednesday as he completed the 18th day of his hunger strike, with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke accusing the government of being "cruel" for refusing to engage in dialogue with the protesters.

'Wanted to meet fountainhead of hate discourse, complain': Ex-CEC on 2022 meeting with Bhagwat

New Delhi: Former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi, who was part of a delegation of eminent Muslims that met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2022, says the idea behind that meeting was to go to the "fountainhead of the hate discourse" that was prevailing and complain.

Country heading towards economic crisis due to Modi govt's policies: Cong

New Delhi: With the wholesale price inflation rising to 9.87 per cent in June, the Congress on Wednesday claimed that the country is steadily heading towards an economic crisis due to the Modi government's "anti-people policies".

TMC MLA Madan Mitra joins Ritabrata-led rebel camp, quits Mamata faction's organisational posts

Kolkata: Senior TMC MLA Madan Mitra on Wednesday crossed over to the rebel camp led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, dealing another political blow to former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's faction, even as the legislator asserted that he had not left the party.

No backdoor talks with BJP; INDIA bloc to discuss delimitation after introduction of bill: Sule

Mumbai: NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Wednesday dismissed speculation over meetings between her party leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying there was no political strategy behind the interactions.

Puri ready for annual Rath Yatra, Odisha administration on high alert

Puri: Three iconic wooden chariots are ready to roll on the Grand Road here in this seaside pilgrim town for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and sibling deities on Thursday, with the entire Odisha government on high alert for the smooth conduct of the mega event. 

LEGAL

Delhi HC to hear on Thursday PIL over Sonam Wangchuk's deteriorating health

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court said it will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation raising concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here.

Mathura case: SC defers hearing; talks underway between Hindu litigants

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred hearing on a plea related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura after the court was informed that Hindu parties were in talks with each other as to whose lawsuit will be the lead case in the matter. 

BUSINESS

Cabinet approves Rs 1.27 lakh crore for Semicon Mission 2.0

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared Rs 1.27 lakh crore for the second edition of India Semiconductor Mission, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. 

FOREIGN

Industry celebrates 'landmark' FTA entry into force to catalyse India-UK trade

London: Business and industry groups across India and the UK welcomed the free trade agreement (FTA) coming into force on Wednesday, which is set to unleash a flurry of tariff cuts that will catalyse bilateral trade through greater two-way movement of goods and services.

Jaishankar meets European Council president, values his role in advancing trade and technology cooperation

Brussels: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with European Council President Antonio Costa and said he valued his "guidance and warm sentiments" for advancing the trade and technology cooperation between the two sides. ****

US Senators unveil bill for 100 per cent tariffs on India, four others for buying Russian oil

Washington: A bipartisan group of US Senators unveiled a bill that seeks to impose 100 per cent tariffs on five countries, including India and China, for purchasing oil from Russia. 

(With PTI inputs)

(This article will be updated again at 9.00 pm)