Dec. 31, 2025, 4:01 a.m. ETThis year, I had the pleasure of trying some of York's newest restaurants, exploring old local favorites and experimenting more in the kitchen myself. From a rich, spiced curry, to a pizza that changed my mind about blue cheese (sort of), and a seriously delicious South Asian dessert −these are the dishes, drinks and sweets that made it to my favorites this year.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today conveyed India’s condolence message to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman on the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo: BNP’s verified Facebook pageDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today conveyed India’s condolence message to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman on the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, reflecting New Delhi’s respect for the veteran Bangladeshi leader. Jaishankar met Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon and formally handed over the condolence message, according to a post shared on the BNP’s verified Facebook page. Earlier, the Indian external affairs minister arrived in Dhaka on a special flight at around 11:30am to attend the funeral of the former prime minister and BNP chairperson. He was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, officials of the Indian High Commission confirmed.
The interim government facilitates an agreement with the administration of Kosovo, a nation Bangladesh does not formally recognize, on Rohingya repatriation. The public is shown one script; the world of diplomacy and high-stakes strategy is shown another. The domestic teleprompter switches off, and a different script is pulled from the podium. For the audience inside -- the domestic public -- the sun rises on a curated schedule, the streets are swept clean of major plot twists, and the weather report is always one of procedural calm. Our task in this interim period is to watch both feeds -- the domestic broadcast and the international wire services.
At 6am on December 30, 2025, the nation woke to the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, who breathed her last after a prolonged battle with numerous illnesses. Khaleda Zia’s entry into politics was born of tragedy after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman. Indeed, to remember Khaleda Zia is to remember Bangladesh and it is a disservice to her and her legacy if we confine it to party lines or electoral contests. She was the first woman in Bangladesh to prove that women could lead at the highest level, and offered hope and a voice to millions of girls and women. Khaleda Zia navigated the complexities of leading Bangladesh in a society that was caught between paying homage to its past and origin while needing to embrace modernity and the future.
Bangladesh is observing a three-day state mourning and general holiday on Wednesday over the death of BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced the decision in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday. "I humbly appeal to everyone to maintain discipline in all forms of mourning, including the Namaz-e-Janaza. "May the Almighty Allah grant us all patience, strength and the ability to remain united," said the chief adviser. As part of the state mourning programme, the national flag will be kept at half-mast for three days at all government, semi-government and autonomous offices, educational institutions, and both public and private buildings across Bangladesh, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.
Vehicular movement has remained restricted since 8am on Wednesday in several areas of Dhaka for the state funeral rites of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Traffic restrictions are in place around the College Gate intersection (Residential Model College), the IDB Bhaban intersection, and Bijoy Sarani, the ISPR said on Wednesday morning. However, pedestrian movement remained open to the public, with the authorities urging people to plan their travel accordingly. The namaz-e-janaza of Khaleda Zia is scheduled to be held at 2pm at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and Manik Mia Avenue. The three-time former prime minister breathed her last around 6am at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday while undergoing treatment.
The Home Ministry on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to prevent all gatherings at the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema Maidan, suspending Khurijer Jor scheduled for Friday to Sunday and Biswa Ijtema-2026 slated for January 22-24. The decision was taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the 13th National Parliament election and the Referendum-2026, said a notice Tuesday night signed by Deputy Secretary of Home Ministry Md Anwar Parves. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to take necessary measures to enforce the restriction and ensure compliance, it added.
Bangladesh Betar will broadcast live the Namaz-e-Janaza of Begum Khaleda Zia, three-time former prime minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), from the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban after Zohr prayers on Wednesday. According to an official press release, the Janaza will be aired live on Bangladesh Betar Dhaka-A 693 kHz, medium wave 630 kHz, FM 106.0, FM 104.0, FM 102.0, FM 92.0, FM 90.0, and FM 88.8 (traffic broadcast), as well as on the Bangladesh Betar website ([www.betar.gov.bd](http://www.betar.gov.bd)) and the mobile Bangladesh Betar app. The broadcast will also be relayed simultaneously on medium wave and all FM bands of regional Betar centres nationwide. Begum Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics and the country’s first female prime minister, passed away on Tuesday while receiving medical treatment at Evercare Hospital. The live coverage by Bangladesh Betar ensures that listeners across the country can pay their respects as the nation bids farewell to one of its most influential political leaders.
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President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post late on Monday that he had asked the interior minister to listen to "legitimate demands" of protesters. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said a dialogue mechanism would be set up and include talks with protest leaders. The Iranian rial has been falling as the economy has suffered from the impact of Western sanctions, sinking to a record low on Monday at around 1,390,000 to the U.S. dollar, according to websites monitoring open market rates. Iranian security services suppressed previous rounds of protests with violent crackdowns and widespread arrests rather than dialogue. Iran says its nuclear energy programme is entirely peaceful and that it has not tried to build a nuclear bomb.
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