Editorial priority on December 31 centered on 'funeral diplomacy' in Dhaka following the death of Khaleda Zia. Morning headlines focused on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s arrival to hand-deliver Prime Minister Modi’s condolence letter to Tarique Rahman. By midday, editors shifted focus to a significant informal meeting between Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly, marking the first high-level contact since India’s 'Operation Sindoor.' Simultaneously, a strong nationalist editorial line emerged as the Ministry of External Affairs formally rejected claims by China and the Trump administration that they had mediated the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire, with officials asserting a strictly bilateral resolution. Domestically, editors highlighted a nationwide gig worker strike against '10-minute delivery' models and the successful salvo launch of 'Pralay' missiles by the DRDO. As evening approached, coverage pivoted to New Year transitions, balancing reports of dense fog and flight cancellations in Delhi with global celebration footage from Auckland and Sydney.