World

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, recalling her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and India-Bangladesh relations

Mali and Burkina Faso have barred US citizens in retaliation to President Donald Trump’s expanded travel ban on their nationals. The move underscores rising tensions between Washington and West Africa’s military-led governments amid ongoing security challenges and diplomatic rifts

Salman Khan’s ‘Battle of Galwan’ teaser, depicting the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, went viral with 60 million views but drew criticism from China. Indian authorities defended cinematic freedom, noting films have historically portrayed military conflicts as artistic expression

Moscow announced Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile has entered active service, with deployments in Belarus, as Ukraine peace talks stall. Vladimir Putin framed the move as strength, warning NATO and claiming battlefield advances amid fragile, uncertain negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow

Bangladesh announced three days of state mourning and a one-day holiday for Khaleda Zia’s funeral. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus urged citizens to maintain discipline during the Namaz-e-Janaza, honoring the former three-time prime minister and BNP chief who passed away at 80

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his 2026 New Year message in Hindi for the first time, urging global leaders to prioritise development over military spending. He warned of rising conflicts, humanitarian crises and soaring defence budgets, calling for peace and poverty reduction

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced seven days of official mourning following the death of its chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The programme includes black flags, prayer gatherings, Quran recitations and condolence books across party offices nationwide

Bangladesh’s former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia died early Tuesday at age 80 after prolonged illness. She passed away at a Dhaka hospital while undergoing treatment, despite efforts by local and foreign medical specialists

India aim to complete a 5-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka in the final women’s T20I at Thiruvananthapuram. Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh have starred, while debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed with four wickets in the series

The ICC Match Referee has rated the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch for the fourth Ashes Test as unsatisfactory, citing imbalance between bat and ball. England defeated Australia in two days, raising concerns over pitch quality ahead of future Boxing Day Tests

Bhutan spinner Sonam Yeshey made history by taking 8 wickets for 7 runs in a T20I against Myanmar, becoming the first bowler ever to claim eight wickets in a men’s T20 International match

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Cambodian and Thai counterparts in Yunnan to mediate a border dispute. The talks followed a fresh ceasefire, aiming to stabilize the region and strengthen China’s role as a regional diplomatic mediator

A fire at a retirement home in Manado, Indonesia, killed 16 elderly residents and injured 15. Firefighters took over two hours to control the blaze, while authorities are investigating the cause, with an electrical fault suspected initially

At least 13 people were killed and 98 injured after the Interoceanic passenger train derailed from a bridge near Nizanda in southern Mexico. Authorities launched rescue operations and ordered an investigation into the cause of the deadly accident

Pakistani security forces killed four terrorists during a raid in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the ISPR said. A security report noted 2025 as Pakistan’s deadliest year, with rising terror violence claiming over 2,100 lives, including security personnel and civilians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump indicated major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, saying a peace plan is nearly finalised, though continued fighting and unresolved security guarantees underline the fragility of negotiations

At least 13 people were killed and 98 injured after Mexico’s Interoceanic Train derailed near Nizanda, halting a key Pacific-Gulf rail corridor as authorities rushed officials, rescue teams and assistance to victims’ families nationwide response

A brutal knife attack in Richelieu, Commewijne district, near Suriname’s capital Paramaribo, left nine people dead, including five children. The suspect, who killed four of his own children and neighbours, was injured while resisting police and is recovering in hospital. Another child and adult remain critically injured.

Liverpool beat Wolves 2‑1 to stay in the Premier League’s top five, while Kevin Schade’s hat‑trick powered Brentford past Bournemouth. Fulham edged West Ham 1‑0, and Burnley held Everton goalless in a busy day of action

Pakistan kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput has been banned indefinitely by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation for representing an Indian team in a private tournament in Bahrain without an NOC. Rajput apologised, claiming he was misled, but the federation upheld disciplinary action

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma’s record 162‑run stand powered India to their highest women’s T20I total of 221/2, before Vaishnavi Sharma’s 2/24 sealed a 30‑run win over Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram. India now lead the five‑match series 4‑0

India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championships in Doha. Carlsen clinched his sixth men’s title, while Goryachkina won the women’s crown after a tie‑break against Zhu Jiner

Hyderabad’s Aaron George has been selected for India’s under‑19 World Cup squad to play in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The young batter, known for his consistency, hopes to break into the senior team, drawing inspiration from AB de Villiers

Tarique Rahman, the son of former Bangladesh premier Khaleda Zia, who returned to the country recently after 17 years in exile, is expected to emerge as a top contender in the crucial electoral battle scheduled early next year.