By Md Mamun IslamRANGPUR, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - There is a notable improvement in the weather today as the maximum temperatures increased by eight to 10 degrees Celsius and the sun was visible since this morning, bringing easiness to the people of the northern region. Although the maximum temperatures have increased by an average of 10 degrees Celsius in most parts of the northern region, the minimum temperatures have remained mostly unchanged or slightly decreased in the last 24 hours ending at 3:30 pm today. Earlier, the weather deteriorated causing a chilling cold following reduction of the gap between maximum and minimum temperatures to minimum as minimum temperatures ranged between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius in the last seven days. “The maximum temperatures marked sharp rises by eight to 10 degrees Celsius and ranged between 21.5 and 23 degrees Celsius at 3 pm today, increasing the gap between the two temperatures by 10 degrees Celsius today,” he said. Following improvement of the weather situation, common people and farm- and day- laborers started normal activities everywhere, including remote char areas today.

Khaleda Zia to be laid to rest beside husband Ziaur Rahman's graveShaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave in Dhaka. After the janaza, Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to eternal rest with state honour beside Shaheed President and valiant freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman's grave around 3:30 pm. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the city. Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, BNP formed a 7-party alliance in 1983 and launched a movement against the autocratic regime of Ershad. Khaleda Zia contested five constituencies in three consecutive parliamentary elections and won in all the seats.

Dhaka, Dec. 31 -- Bangladesh is in mourning following the death of Khaleda Zia, the country's first female prime minister. A three-day state mourning period began on Wednesday, with the national flag flown at half-mast at all government, autonomous and private institutions, educational establishments, and Bangladesh missions abroad. As part of the observance, the national flag was flown at half-mast at Chandrakola Harikali Para Government Primary School in Natore Sadar Upazila, said Saddam Hossain, the school's office manager. He told bdnews24.com the flag was first hoisted to the top of the pole and then lowered to one-fourth of its height. "At the time of lowering at the end of ...To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please Contact Us

Another special assistant to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has stepped down within a week. Sayedur Rahman, who was tasked with overseeing the health ministry, has resigned this time. The former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University had been serving as a special assistant to the health ministry with the rank of a state minister since last November. Earlier, on Dec 25, another special assistant Khuda Baksh Chowdhury also resigned. Before that, the special assistant to the education ministry, Professor Aminul Islam, resigned on Mar 10.

Former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, will attend the funeral of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today, representing the Government of Pakistan. The announcement was confirmed by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar through a post on his verified X account, stating that Sadiq would represent Pakistan at the state funeral of the late Bangladeshi leader. The funeral ceremony is scheduled to be held at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka, with foreign dignitaries, political leaders, and representatives from various countries expected to attend.

Gopalganj has recorded the lowest temperature in the country so far this winter, with the mercury falling to 7.5 degrees Celsius. The temperature was recorded at 6am on Wednesday, according to Abu Sufian, acting officer at the Gopalganj Meteorological Department. He said a moderate cold wave is currently sweeping across the district. There is also the possibility of another cold wave affecting the country towards the end of the first week of January. Hospitals have begun to see patients suffering from cold-related illnesses, including respiratory problems and diarrhoea.

"We have a lack of fluidity and then lack of quality and then lack of creation of chances, and then we suffer a goal from a set-piece," said Amorim. Amorim, though, remains confident his side will end the season strongly once they have their key players back fit and available. "I think we are in one situation that you have a lot of players out in the same time. We just need to recover our players, the players from AFCON to return and then the fluidity is going to be different. "I'm really confident when we recover all the players that we are going to be a strong team, there is no doubt in my mind."

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today met with BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and formally handing over a condolence message of the Indian government. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today expressed confidence that former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia's vision and values would continue to guide the development of Bangladesh-India relations. "On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he wrote in the post. After handing over the formal condolence message, Jaishankar attended the funeral of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as the representative of the Indian government.

KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine said Tuesday there was no "plausible" evidence it launched a drone attack on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's residences, accusing Moscow of peddling falsehoods to manipulate talks on ending the war. The Kremlin said Tuesday it considered the alleged drone attack on Putin's secluded residence in the Novgorod region to be a "terrorist act" and a "personal attack against Putin". - European leaders rally around Ukraine -European leaders rallied around Ukraine following Moscow's allegation. The longtime Russian leader's residences are shrouded in secrecy in Russia -- as is much of his private life. Putin had been increasingly using the residence since the Ukraine war began, as it is more secluded and better protected by air defence installations, according to an investigation by RFE/RL.

Millions of people today joined namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Millions of people from across Bangladesh attended the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. "I am Tarique Rahman, elder son of late Begum Khaleda Zia . Scenes of deep sorrow were visible as thousands wept openly, holding national flags, party banners and portraits of Begum Zia. She is survived by her elder son Tarique Rahman, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.

The new season gets under way on Friday with the mixed-teams United Cup in Perth and Sydney, headlined by women's world number two Iga Swiatek and men's world number three Alexander Zverev. But he is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, losing to Novak Djokovic in the last eight in 2025. -Djokovic begins what could be his last year on tour at the Adelaide International starting on January 12, still chasing an elusive record 25th major crown and 11th Australian Open title. Since his last Slam title, in 2023 at the US Open, Alcaraz or Sinner have shared all eight majors. Sabalenka heads into the new season as undoubted world number one, having collected a second US Open title while also winning events at Brisbane, Madrid and Miami.

GENEVA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The outgoing United Nations refugee chief fears an increasingly fragmented world is fuelling global conflicts and crises, and inflaming hostility towards people desperately fleeing for safety. - 'Very painful' -Grandi acknowledged it was "very painful" to be leaving when his agency is going through a profound crisis. The deep cuts have forced the agency to reduce aid and shutter services -- at a time when global displacement is surging. "What worries me most is this 'my country first' rhetoric," he said, stressing: "It's not just Washington -- it's global". "When that slogan is applied to international challenges, it is weak."

HONG KONG, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some tracking Wall Street losses as investors eased towards the New Year break. Trading remained thin in the holiday-shortened week, though precious metals appeared to steady after seeing a sharp pullback from recent record highs. Markets in Hong Kong and Australia edged lower while Shanghai and Taipei saw small morning gains in what has been a strong year for worldwide markets. Still, US indices remained on track for solid gains over 2025 as a whole, and markets in Asia similarly enjoyed a healthy year. Both gold and silver climbed to records in the past week, though decreased in recent days.

Regional temperature records broken across the world in 2025PARIS, France, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Central Asia, the Sahel region and northern Europe experienced their hottest year on record in 2025, according to AFP analysis based on data from the European Copernicus programme. Here is what the detailed analysis revealed for 2025, during which 120 monthly temperature records were broken in more than 70 countries. - Records shattered in C.Asia –Every country in Central Asia broke its annual temperature records. Monthly temperature records have been broken every month since May, with the exception of November. - Up to 1.5C hotter in the Sahel –Temperature records were beaten in several countries in the Sahel and west Africa.

Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq today handed over Islamabad's condolence message to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Photo: BNP Media CellDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq today handed over Islamabad's condolence message to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman on the death of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, reflecting Pakistan's deep respect for Bangladesh's late uncompromising leader. Sadiq met Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon and formally conveyed the condolence message, according to a post shared on the BNP's verified Facebook page. He was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) by the Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan High Commission's Press Counsellor in Dhaka Fasih Ullah Khan told BSS. The flight carrying Sardar Ayaz Sadiq landed at the Dhaka airport at around 11:50am, HSIA spokesperson Flight Lieutenant Masud said.