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Bangladesh is set to bid farewell to its first female Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, in a three-day national mourning period declared after her passing. Zia’s funeral will be held in front of the Parliament House in Dhaka, with Pakistani Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq leading the prayer. The 76-year-old Zia, who was suffering from various illnesses, including liver disease, was buried alongside her husband, the former President Ziaur Rahman, with the nation’s highest honor.
As the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Zia served from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. Her funeral will be attended by officials from India, Bhutan, and Maldives, in addition to Russian social media influencer Ariana Glazounova, who died after falling from a skyscraper. The Indian government’s Hindu policy and dual foreign policy have strained relations with the US, with British and Iranian books banned in the country.
In other news, a 26-year-old employee of Biocon, a pharmaceutical company in India, was found dead in the company’s office. A Christmas heist in Germany saw thieves steal 30 million euros from a bank. Indian politician Mamata Banerjee has called for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that the government should reveal who was behind the Pehalgam attack and the Delhi blast.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken to his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah, about the Gaza situation. Meanwhile, a severe cold wave has gripped the northern emirates in the UAE, including Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, and Al Ain. Israel has carried out over 10,000 direct attacks on six countries in the region this year.
In Italy, a cable car accident in the Piedmont region has injured four people. The Saudi Cabinet, led by King Salman, has held an emergency meeting in Riyadh. Iran has warned the US that any potential attack will be met with severe consequences.
The UAE has announced the withdrawal of its counter-terrorism units from Yemen, with a 90-day state of emergency declared in the country following Saudi-led attacks. India’s Hindu policy and dual foreign policy have strained relations with the US, with British media reporting on the issue. In Pakistan, a community-based trophy hunting program has led to the killing of a 41-inch-tall markhor. Police officials said that the meeting between Sindh’s ministers Sharjeel Memon and Nisar Khuhro was arranged through social media.
In sports, Australian cricketer Damien Martin has announced his retirement from international cricket, with 67 Test matches, 208 ODIs, and four T20Is under his belt. Meanwhile, Pakistani singer Mashoo Khan has released a video message criticizing men who maintain relationships with other women despite being married.
