Khaleda Zia laid to rest as thousands of mourners bid farewell to BNP patriarch

Delhi recorded its coldest December day in six years on Wednesday, ending 2025 on a biting note as the maximum temperature plunged to 14.2 degrees Celsius. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that the last time the city recorded a lower maximum temperature was on December 31 in 2019, when the day's maximum had dipped to 9.4 degrees Celsius.

Koksar, Zanskar, Sumdho and few other isolated places in Lahaul and Spiti, and the higher areas of Kullu district, including Rohtang pass, experienced a mild spell of snowfall on Wednesday, with tourists and residents fervently sharing its videos over social media.

About 50,000 of the total two lakh gig workers in Hyderabad participated in the strike called on Wednesday by the unions demanding better payouts and improved working conditions, TGPWU president Shaik Salauddin claimed.

Students from the Northeast on Wednesday staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar here demanding justice for Tripura student Anjel Chakma, who died of a stab injury in Dehradun recently. Hundreds of students from the Northeast participated in the protest organised under the banner of Northeast Students' Society of Delhi University (NESSDU) and other organisations, demanding a thorough investigation into Chakma's killing.

Senior IAS officer Anu Garg on Wednesday evening took charge as first woman chief secretary of Odisha. Garg took charge from outgoing chief secretary Manoj Ahuja, who retired from service on Wednesday. She was also the first woman development commissioner (DC) of the state, appointed in March 2023.

A biting cold swept through the capital on Wednesday, with similar conditions likely to prevail on New Year's Day, while a spell of rain, which could be the season's first, is expected later in the night or on January 1. The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 6.4 degrees Celsius, about 0.4 degrees Celsius below normal.

Tens of thousands of mourners from across Bangladesh converged to pay their final respects to three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Hundreds of thousands of people on Wednesday bid an emotional farewell to former prime minister and BNP patriarch Khaleda Zia as she was laid to rest near the parliament building amid tight security. Zia, the three-time prime minister and a towering political figure, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

Wrapping up his tightly-packed 48-hour visit of West Bengal which was focused on sharpening the BJP's strategies for the upcoming state elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid his obeisance at the Thanthania Kali Temple in central Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon before leaving for the airport for his departure to Delhi.

Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia's funeral prayers were held on Wednesday amid tight security. The funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) was held at the Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.

High-level dignitaries from South Asian countries including ministers and parliamentary speakers converged in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. According to officials at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), Nepalese Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma was among the first foreign dignitaries to reach the Bangladesh capital, landing last night. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived on Wednesday morning to “represent the government and people of India” at the rite, and shortly after his landing, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived.

Mufti Abdul Malek, khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, grew visibly emotional on Wednesday while addressing mourners ahead of former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayers. He recalled her political journey after the 1981 assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, and highlighted her role in the movement against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Television footage showed the cleric pausing mid-speech as funeral prayers were expected to begin shortly.

Mufti Abdul Malek, the khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, on Wednesday recalled former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s role in the movement against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Addressing mourners ahead of the funeral prayers, he described her as an “aposhhin deshonetri” (uncompromising national leader) and highlighted her decades-long political struggle and public life.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus arrived at the Parliament complex area in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral and burial of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Large crowds gathered for the state farewell as senior leaders, party workers and members of the public paid their last respects to the former premier.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah took to x and posted, "Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, in Dhaka, conveys the condolences of the people and the government of India as Bangladesh mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and recognises her contribution to democracy."

Conveying India’s sympathies following the death of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman during his visit to Dhaka.

J&K News Live: Sonamarg covered in thick blanket of snow

Higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, including the popular tourist spot Sonamarg has covered under a thick blanket of snow.

News Live: Republic Day rehearsals underway at India Gate even as dense fog engulfs Delhi

Several flights delayed and flight operations affected as a thick layer of fog gripped the national capital on Wednesday morning.

News Live: Dense fog blankets Delhi-NCR, red alert issued till 10 am

Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick blanket of fog with several flights delayed due to low visibility. The Met department has issued a red alert in the national capital till 10 am due to the fog.