News18 Afternoon Digest: India Rejects China's 'Mediation With Pak' Claim, Khaleda Zia's Funeral Today & Others

In today’s afternoon digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on India’s response to China’s claims of mediating a peace truce with Pak, Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral, EAM Jaishankar meets Zia’s son and BNP leader Tariq Rehman, and others.

India Firmly Rejects China’s ‘Mediation With Pakistan’ Claim, Says No Third Party Involved.

India has firmly rejected China’s claims of having mediated a peace truce with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, reiterating its stance that there was “no third party involved”. Read More

Jaishankar Hands Over PM Modi’s Condolence Letter To Zia’s Son Tarique Rahman

EAM S Jaishankar handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman during

his visit to Dhaka, conveying India’s sympathies following the death of his mother and former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia. Read More

Handshake And A Warm Smile: Siddaramaiah Shares Stage With Vijayan Amid Bengaluru Demolition Row

Amid the ongoing tension ober Bengaluru demolition row, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan exchanged a warm handshake and a smile as they shared a stage in Varkala, Kerala. Read More 

Gig Workers Call Nationwide Strike Today: Why Are They Protesting? Know Demands, Impact

Gig and platform worker unions have called a nationwide strike today, December 31, 2025, accusing app-based companies of “systemic exclusion from core labour entitlements”. They have demanded immediate government intervention to stop what they call widespread “exploitation” across food delivery and taxi services. Read More

25-Year-Old Woman Gang-Raped For Hours In Moving Car, Thrown On Gurgaon-Faridabad Road

A 25-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by two men inside a moving van late Monday night in Faridabad. Read More

Sarfaraz Khan On Fire! Mumbai Batter Slams 157 Runs From 75 Balls Against Arjun Tendulkar’s Goa

Sarfaraz Khan is on fire for Mumbai with the bat in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group C match against Goa. Read More

Akshaye Khanna Breached Contract, Stopped Shoot For 6 Months And Got Me Removed From Section 375: Manish Gupta

Akshaye Khanna is embroiled in controversy as Drishyam 3 producer, Kumar Mangat, has accused him of abruptly leaving the film days before shooting. Read More