After 491 days in Hamas captivity, Eli Sharabi was freed in a prisoner exchange but returned to Israel to devastating news—his wife and two daughters were killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Sharabi, unaware of their fate, had expressed joy about reuniting with them. His brother, Yossi, also died in captivity. Sharabi was among 3 hostages freed, with Israel releasing 183 Palestinian prisoners under a ceasefire deal. His family described his frail condition, saying, “The light is gone from his eyes.” The war in Gaza has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, with thousands more imprisoned.

A fire broke out at a ‘kalpvasi’ tent in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh township in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, due to a gas leak. Firefighters swiftly contained the blaze within 10 minutes, and no casualties were reported. The tent, owned by Rajendra Jaiswal and set up by Om Prakash Pandey Seva Sansthan, was completely gutted. Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma confirmed that three fire tenders were deployed. This incident follows another fire at ISKCON’s Sector 18 camp two days earlier, which destroyed 20 tents but caused no injuries. Authorities are monitoring fire safety measures at the event.

Five Thai farm workers kidnapped during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel arrived home in Bangkok after 15 months in captivity. Emotional reunions unfolded at Suvarnabhumi Airport as relatives embraced the released men. “I am truly grateful,” said Pongsak Thaenna, thanking officials for securing their freedom. The hostages had spent 10 days in an Israeli hospital before their return. The Thai government will provide financial support to ensure they do not return to Israel for work. One Thai hostage remains unaccounted for. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra thanked Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and the U.S. for their mediation efforts.

Atishi resigned as Delhi Chief Minister on Sunday after AAP’s massive defeat in the assembly elections, submitting her resignation to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, ending AAP’s decade-long rule. Atishi, who took office in September after Arvind Kejriwal stepped down over corruption allegations, retained her Kalkaji seat but saw key AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, lose. “This is not a time for celebration—this is a time to fight,” Atishi said, vowing to oppose the BJP’s rule. The Assembly was dissolved, and the BJP is set to form the next government.

US President Donald Trump revealed he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the Ukraine war, claiming Putin “wants to see people stop dying.” Trump said he instructed National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to initiate meetings, while Vice President JD Vance will meet Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Munich. Trump proposed a $500M deal for Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees. Zelenskyy expressed openness to negotiations but stressed Ukraine’s need for protection. Putin remains unwilling to engage directly with Zelenskyy. Trump reiterated that the war "never would have happened" if he was president in 2022.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 48 of 70 seats in the 2025 Delhi assembly election, drawing global media attention. Reuters called it a "landmark win," while AP described it as a "major political comeback." Spain’s El País highlighted BJP’s return after nearly 3 decades. Financial Times analyzed AAP’s decline, calling Delhi its “last stronghold.” Al Jazeera cited experts praising BJP’s electoral strategy, and BBC called it a "prestige battle" for both parties. JNU professor Nivedita Menon told Al Jazeera, “It feels like BJP will never lose again.” The Congress, contesting separately, failed to win any seats.

The BJP secured a majority in Delhi after 26 years, winning 48 of 70 assembly seats, while AAP managed 22. Congress failed to win any seats. Arvind Kejriwal lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by over 4,000 votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory, saying, “Delhi’s mandate has made it clear that there’s no space for corruption.” The BJP last held Delhi in 1998, with Sushma Swaraj’s 52-day tenure. AAP’s dominance since 2013 ended after 12 years. Analysts cite anti-corruption sentiment and strategic caste-religion outreach as key factors in BJP’s victory.

The Trump administration announced a $4 billion cut in indirect costs for biomedical research grants, capping them at 15%, down from the current 30%. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) justified the move, stating funds should prioritize direct scientific research. Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, claimed universities were misusing funds. Scientists warn the cuts will hinder research, slow medical advancements, and force lab closures. The Association of American Medical Colleges criticized the decision, while lawsuits against the cuts are expected. Critics argue it aligns with Project 2025’s conservative policy agenda.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked Congress after BJP's landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, calling its repeated losses a "double hat-trick of zeros." Congress has failed to win a single seat in the last six elections—three Assembly (2015, 2020, 2025) and three Lok Sabha (2014, 2019, 2024) polls. Speaking at BJP headquarters, Modi accused Congress of being a "parjeevi" (parasite) party that weakens its allies. BJP secured 48 of 70 seats, while AAP won 22. "The country doesn’t trust Congress anymore," he said. Congress, once dominant in Delhi, continues its electoral downfall.

The probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 striking Earth in 2032 has risen to 1 in 43, according to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. The 196-foot-wide asteroid was first discovered in December 2024. Renowned asteroid hunter David Rankin precovered it using Catalina Sky Survey data. Initially, the impact probability was 1 in 83, but the latest calculation suggests a 2.3% chance of a strike. Rankin, however, reassured that there remains a 97.7% chance of a miss. Scientists expect further observations to refine predictions, potentially lowering the risk. Experts emphasize continued monitoring but advise against panic.