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Israeli former hostage Romi Gonen said in a interview that 4 Hamas militants sexually assaulted her during 15 months of captivity in Gaza. Released in Jan 2025, she described repeated assaults and threats. Hamas denied the allegations. Other released Israeli captives have also reported sexual abuse during captivity. She was abducted from the Nova festival.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said cricket should not be linked to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, reacting to criticism of KKR picking Mustafizur Rahman. He said sports must remain separate from politics, stressing the cricketer has no role in such issues and that isolating neighbours through sporting boycotts serves no constructive purpose.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico, interrupting a press conference by President Claudia. Sirens sounded as she asked people to evacuate. The quake was felt in Guerrero and Mexico City. Officials said no serious damage occurred, though some buildings were evacuated and residents reported fear. Hospitals checked safety, and alerts woke many residents.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission has extended the deadline for municipal commissioners to publish polling station-wise voters’ lists, including duplicate names, to today, January 3. The update was issued on December 27. Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16.
The first full moon of 2026, the Wolf Supermoon, will appear larger and brighter on January 3 as it reaches perigee, roughly 362,000 km from Earth. Visible across India after sunset, it offers striking views near Jupiter. This rare celestial event, boosted by Earth’s proximity to the Sun, is best seen with the naked eye.
Ahead of the 2026 BMC polls, the BJP scored a major boost in Maharashtra as 14 candidates won unopposed. The party secured six uncontested seats in Bhiwandi, three in Dombivli, and six in Jalgaon. Along with Shinde-led Shiv Sena allies, Mahayuti claimed strong early gains, signalling growing support before civic elections.
Zoe Saldana has become the world’s highest-grossing actor, with films earning about Rs 1.58 lakh crore globally. Her success comes from major franchises like Avatar and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is the only actor to star in five films crossing $2 billion each, surpassing stars like Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr.
Megastar Chiranjeevi’s ‘Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu’ trailer launches Jan 4, ahead of the Jan 12 release, with Nayanthara leading the family entertainer directed by Anil Ravipudi. The pre-release event on Jan 7 in Hyderabad sparked rumors of Chiranjeevi’s absence, shocking fans. Producer Sahu Garapati dismissed the gossip, easing worries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned of a growing trend of white-collar terrorism, where highly-educated individuals engage in anti-national acts. He cited the November Red Fort bombers, who were doctors, stressing that education must include morality, values, and wisdom. Singh urged universities to promote ethics, holistic thinking, and solution-driven research.
Indian expats Sreevinayak Pillai and Sakthi Vinayagam won Rs 24.5 lakh each in UAE government-regulated lotteries. Pillai, from Kerala, plans to build a house, while Vinayagam, from Chennai, remains thrilled and hopes for future wins. Both had regularly purchased tickets, and their luck finally paid off, bringing joy and life-changing prizes.
The BCB announced a six-match limited-overs series against India: three ODIs and three T20Is, starting September 1. India arrives August 28. Political uncertainty in Bangladesh casts doubt over the tour, which was postponed last year due to scheduling issues. Fans await confirmation amid tense circumstances and hopes of a smooth series.
The govt introduced two new components of the Export Promotion Mission to simplify and reduce credit access costs for exporters. This follows the Commerce Ministry’s recent market access scheme guidelines under the EPM. With these launches, three of the 11 schemes announced in Budget 2025 and approved by the Cabinet in November are now operational.
The Chhattisgarh High Court granted bail to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former CM Bhupesh Baghel, in two cases linked to the alleged ₹200 crore liquor scam. The Enforcement Directorate and Chhattisgarh ACB/EOW had arrested him in July and September 2025, respectively. He remains under investigation in both corruption and money laundering probes.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR revoked Stage-3 GRAP curbs following a significant improvement in air quality. Delhi’s AQI dropped from 380 yesterday to 236 today, showing a positive trend and cleaner skies for residents. Officials confirmed all restrictions under GRAP 3 are lifted immediately across the NCR region.
Delhi airport cancelled 66 flights on Friday due to dense fog and low visibility. Of these, 32 were arrivals and 34 departures. DGCA’s winter fog window runs from December 10 to February 10. Airlines must use CAT-IIIB-compliant aircraft and trained pilots, allowing planes to land safely even in heavy fog conditions.