Lionel Messi’s India visit moved into Day 2 as the Argentine superstar, along with teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, headed to Mumbai following a memorable fan engagement in Hyderabad. The tour comes after a dramatic Day 1, marked by crowd mismanagement and chaos during Messi’s brief appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. In contrast, the Hyderabad event saw smooth organisation and warm fan interactions, earning praise from supporters. Mumbai is set to host the next major engagement, with authorities tightening security and crowd-control measures to avoid a repeat of earlier disruptions. (PC: HT)

Delhi and the National Capital Region woke up to hazardous air quality as the Air Quality Index (AQI) surged into the ‘severe’ category, with readings above 400 across multiple monitoring stations and some areas nearing 500. Thick toxic smog and dense fog reduced visibility and worsened health risks, especially for vulnerable groups. Authorities invoked Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures, including strict curbs under Stage IV, to curb pollution and recommended work-from-home and hybrid learning for students. The smog persists due to stagnant weather and trapped pollutants, prompting health advisories. 

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated GOAT Tour stop at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata descended into chaos as thousands of fans who paid premium ticket prices were unable to see him properly amid overcrowding and poor crowd management. Fans vandalised seats, threw bottles and stormed the pitch in frustration, forcing security to cut short his stadium appearance. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly apologised to Messi and supporters, called the mismanagement “shocking” and ordered a detailed inquiry. The event organiser was detained, and authorities promised refunds to disappointed ticket-holders amid political backlash and criticism. 

A mass shooting occurred on December 13, 2025, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during the second day of final exams, when a gunman opened fire near the Barus & Holley Engineering building. Authorities confirmed two people were killed and eight others critically injured and taken to hospital. Students and staff were ordered to shelter in place as police searched the campus. Initial reports of a suspect in custody were later retracted; the shooter, described as a male dressed in black, remains at large. The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating.   

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma arrived in Mumbai on Saturday evening after Kohli returned from London. The couple was seen at the airport, where Kohli waved at cameras while Anushka walked straight to their car. Soon after, fans began to speculate about a possible meeting between Kohli and Lionel Messi. Messi is in India for his GOAT India Tour and is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Sunday. He will take part in a charity fashion event and other activities. With both stars in the city, fans are hoping for a rare crossover moment in Mumbai.

Delhi-NCR came under the strictest pollution curbs on Saturday after air quality slipped into the severe+ category. Authorities imposed Stage-IV of the Graded Action Response Plan across the region. The Air Quality Index rose from 431 in the afternoon to 441 by evening. Under GRAP-IV, all construction and demolition work has been banned. Stone crushers and mining activities have been shut. Offices will work at 50 per cent capacity, with the rest working from home. Schools up to Class 5 will run in hybrid mode. Restrictions were also placed on older petrol and diesel vehicles across the NCR.

Lionel Messi met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on Saturday. The event was part of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi presented a signed jersey to Rahul Gandhi and thanked fans for their love. On the field, he played a light football session with CM Reddy before meeting Gandhi. Fans also enjoyed Messi interacting with children and watching a 7v7 exhibition match. The Hyderabad event was smooth and peaceful, unlike the earlier chaos in Kolkata. The tour moves to Mumbai on Sunday, with a charity match and fashion event, followed by New Delhi to meet PM Modi. (PC: X)

Lionel Messi visited Hyderabad on Saturday as part of his G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025. He was joined by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The trio met fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Messi watched a 7v7 exhibition match and later played short rondos with children. Fans cheered as Messi, Suarez and De Paul showed their skills. The players also took photos and spoke to fans. Messi was handed a trophy as a token of appreciation. The event was peaceful, unlike the earlier chaos in Kolkata. Fans left happy and excited for upcoming stops in Mumbai and New Delhi.

More than one million households in Ukraine are without electricity after overnight Russian strikes targeted energy and industrial sites. At least five people were injured, and fires are being extinguished, officials said. The attacks hit Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions, with weapons including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant temporarily lost all offsite power but is now reconnected. The strikes come as US envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to meet Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin to discuss a peace plan. Russia’s intensified attacks raise concerns as winter approaches, while Ukraine seeks international support and funding. (PC: BBC)

Jemima Goldsmith, ex-wife of jailed former Pakistani PM Imran Khan, has appealed to Elon Musk, saying, “You promised free speech, not speech but no one hears it.” She claims her posts on X about Khan’s detention, solitary confinement, and lack of access for their sons have been secretly suppressed, with visibility dropping nearly 97% in 2025 despite millions of followers. Khan has been held since August 2023 following convictions after his removal from office. Protests continue outside Adiala Jail over his treatment, and international observers and journalists like Piers Morgan have criticised the suppression and called for action. (PC: India Today)