The process of refunding ticket money to spectators affected by the chaos at Yuvabharati Stadium has officially begun. After thousands bought tickets to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi but were unable to see him due to poor crowd management and ensuing disorder, police have seized ₹22 crore from organiser Shatadru Dutta’s firm for refunds. Around 35,000 tickets were sold, raising about ₹19 crore, and damage to government property was estimated at ₹2 crore. West Bengal police assured fans their money would be returned and have started the legal and administrative steps to ensure refunds reach ticket buyers. (PC: X)

Despite a century against South Africa, Ruturaj Gaikwad was omitted from India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, sparking debate in cricket circles. Veteran Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the selection, suggesting Gaikwad deserved inclusion and that the spot went instead to Rishabh Pant due to his left-handed batting role. Ashwin argued that Gaikwad’s consistent domestic form and batting versatility make him worthy of a place, but acknowledged limited opportunities while stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma anchor the batting order. Ashwin urged patience for the young batter amid India’s fierce competition for spots. 

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Sunday, coinciding with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to China. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missiles, fired around 7:50 a.m., traveled about 900 km before landing in waters between Korea and Japan, marking Pyongyang’s first ballistic tests of the year. The launches, condemned by Seoul and Tokyo as threats to regional stability, are widely seen as a strategic message to both China and the U.S. ahead of diplomatic talks on denuclearization and ahead of North Korea’s party congress. 

US President Donald Trump has said Washington will take control of Venezuela’s oil sector after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserves but produces less than one percent of global supply. Experts say it will take years and large investment to repair damaged fields and lift output. Oil markets are well supplied, so prices are not expected to rise soon. For India, the impact is limited as refiners do not buy Venezuelan crude at present. However, if sanctions ease, Indian firms could return to the country and recover stuck investments. Analysts say any price effect would be seen only in the long term. (PC: The Indian Express)

Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur says he aims to run “10-flat” in the 100 metres in 2026 after a strong breakthrough year. The 22-year-old became India’s fastest man in 2025, clocking 10.18 seconds in the 100m and 20.32 seconds in the 200m. He also won a medal at the Asian Athletics Championships and competed at the World Championships. Kujur said he raced too often last year and plans to focus more on training this season. He targets the Senior Federation meet in May and hopes to contend for medals in the 200m and 4x100m relay at the Asian Games in September. (PC: India Today)

Bangladesh plans to formally ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing player safety concerns after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh cannot feel safe playing in India if contracted players are excluded and wants Sri Lanka as an alternative host. The move has heightened cricket and political tensions between the neighbouring countries ahead of the February tournament. (PC: Reuters)

Swiss police have identified 16 more people who died in a bar fire in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, raising the number of identified victims to 24. The youngest was a 14-year-old Swiss girl and nine of the dead were under 18. Victims were from Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Turkey and France. The blaze at Le Constellation during New Year celebrations killed at least 40 people and injured 119. Many victims suffered severe burns, slowing the identification process. Investigators suspect sparklers on bottles may have set the ceiling on fire. Bar owners are being investigated for negligence. (PC: BBC)

Bangladesh has decided not to travel to India for its T20 World Cup matches and has written to the ICC seeking to move the games to Sri Lanka, a senior government adviser said on Sunday. The team was due to play three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai from February. The move follows the BCCI order to Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL squad. A Bangladesh Cricket Board director said the board is concerned about player security. The BCB has also said it will seek a formal explanation from the BCCI and review the no-objection certificate given to the player. (PC: HT)

The aviation regulator has reminded airlines that passengers must not use power banks during flights because of safety risks from lithium batteries. The rule is not new, but airlines have started making clear boarding announcements to ensure compliance. Officials said power banks can overheat or catch fire in rare cases, which is dangerous inside an aircraft cabin. Under current guidelines, travellers may carry power banks only in hand baggage and not in checked luggage. However, charging phones or other devices with them in the air is not allowed. Airlines have asked cabin crew to watch for misuse and tell passengers to switch off devices if needed. Passengers are advised to charge gadgets before boarding or use seat power ports where available. (PC: X)

A video released by US authorities shows Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro walking inside a Drug Enforcement Administration office in New York after his capture in Caracas. He is seen in handcuffs wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and saying “Happy New Year” to people in the room. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained during a pre-dawn raid by US special forces at a military compound in the Venezuelan capital. He was first taken to a US base and later moved to a federal detention centre in Brooklyn. US officials said the operation lasted about 30 minutes. Maduro faces charges linked to drugs and weapons. (PC: NDTV)