A severe cold wave and dense fog gripped northern and eastern India as the New Year began, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing warnings across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha, disrupting travel and daily life. Dense to very dense fog reduced visibility, affecting road, rail and air services, with numerous flight cancellations and delays reported. Widespread cold day conditions are forecast to continue, while several states extended school closures due to safety concerns amid plunging temperatures and heavy fog. Authorities have urged precautions as winter chills persist. (PC: HT)

A magisterial inquiry into the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Goa, which killed 25 people on December 6, 2025, found document forgery, licence violations and illegal construction were key factors in the tragedy. The report revealed the club was built illegally on protected salt pan land and operated without a valid trade licence after March 2024, yet authorities failed to shut it down. Local officials, including the panchayat secretary, allegedly colluded with the owners, issuing licences with forged paperwork and ignoring regulatory lapses. The inquiry highlighted serious governance failures, environmental violations and systemic negligence that allowed the unsafe venue to function and endanger lives. 

A wild elephant in a national park reacted strongly upon seeing a camera installed to monitor wildlife. In a viral 28-second video shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, the elephant charges at the device and knocks it over, seemingly annoyed by the unnatural setup in its space. Kaswan joked on X that “privacy is important,” highlighting the animal’s awareness. The camera, part of a network of about 210 units used for habitat and population studies, survived the encounter and captured the footage. The clip amazed social media users, who praised the elephant’s intelligence and behavior.

As the world steps into 2026, people across continents have welcomed the New Year with fireworks, prayers, music, and quiet reflection. From Kiribati, the first place to enter the year, to India, where crowds filled Marine Drive and Connaught Place despite winter cold, streets glowed with colour and hope. Sydney paused to honour the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, while Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Seoul lit up the night sky. In Europe, swimmers braved icy waters and towns kept alive age-old customs. Each celebration, big or small, carried one shared wish for peace and better days. We thank our readers for their trust and wish every family in India and around the world a safe, healthy, and joyful New Year.

Several countries across the Asia-Pacific region welcomed 2026 with fireworks and public gatherings. India marked the New Year in dense fog and cold, with crowds at Marine Drive in Mumbai and Connaught Place in Delhi. Hill towns such as Shimla and Manali were packed with tourists. New Zealand was among the first major nations to celebrate, with about 3,500 fireworks launched from Auckland’s Sky Tower. The Chatham Islands entered the year before the mainland. Australia followed with a large show in Sydney Harbour, where a minute’s silence was held for victims of the Bondi Beach attack. Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong also rang in the New Year with traditional events.

India rang in 2026 with large crowds at public spots and high security across major cities. In Delhi and Mumbai, people gathered at India Gate, Connaught Place, and Marine Drive despite cold weather. Police deployed extra staff and issued traffic advisories to manage the rush. Checkpoints were set up and action was promised against drunk driving. Gurugram and Noida also saw heavy footfall. In Rajasthan, teams inspected vehicles and enforced safety rules. Maharashtra allowed hotels and restaurants to stay open till 5 am. Hyderabad police warned drivers to take cabs after drinking. Bengaluru planned to deploy about 20,000 police personnel. (PC: HT)

Several Asian nations welcomed 2026 with large public celebrations marked by lights, music and fireworks. In China, crowds gathered in Beijing as drums and light displays were held near major landmarks. Thailand staged a major drone and fireworks show over Bangkok’s skyline before midnight. The Philippines and Malaysia also marked the new year with street events and bright displays. Vietnam’s capital Hanoi lit up with colourful fireworks, while parts of Indonesia, including Jakarta, entered the new year with public shows. Earlier, Kiribati was the first country to reach 2026. The celebrations moved west through Asia as clocks struck midnight in each time zone. (PC: BBC)

Delhi recorded its coldest December day since 2020 as cold day conditions and dense fog covered the city on Wednesday. The maximum temperature fell to 14.2 degrees Celsius, over six degrees below normal, while the minimum settled at 6.4 degrees. Palam, Lodhi Road and Ridge stations also logged day highs near 13 degrees. Morning fog cut visibility to 50 metres at Safdarjung and Palam. The IMD said a cloudy sky with very light rain is likely on January 1 due to a system over Punjab and Haryana. Air quality stayed poor, with the AQI close to the severe range. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a condolence letter to Tarique Rahman after the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The letter was delivered by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who attended Zia’s funeral in Dhaka. In the message, Modi recalled meeting Zia in 2015 and said she made key contributions to Bangladesh and to ties with India. He added that her legacy would guide future cooperation. Zia, a three-time prime minister and leader of the BNP, died after a long illness and was buried with state honours. Rahman is a leading figure ahead of Bangladesh’s February election. (PC: X)

A strong earthquake struck off the coast near Japan’s Noda city on New Year’s Eve, the US Geological Survey said. The quake measured magnitude 6 and hit about 91 km east of Noda at a depth of 19.3 km. The epicentre was located at 40.112 degrees north and 142.889 degrees east. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The tremor came weeks after a magnitude 6.7 quake on December 12 near Iwate prefecture, when a tsunami advisory was issued. Earlier on Wednesday, a separate magnitude 3.4 quake was recorded in Tibet, Indian agencies said. (PC: HT)