West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly apologised to Lionel Messi and his fans after chaos erupted at Salt Lake Stadium. Fans, unable to see Messi during his brief appearance, vandalised stadium property and broke security protocols. Banerjee said she was shocked by the mismanagement and ordered an inquiry committee led by a retired judge to investigate and fix responsibility. Many spectators paid high ticket prices but could not meet the football star. The BJP criticised the Trinamool Congress, calling it a “huge disgrace” and demanding the resignation of the state sports minister. The event ended prematurely amid disorder.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings as heavy rain and flooding hit parts of the UK. An amber warning is in effect in Cumbria from Sunday 6am to Monday 6pm, with over 200mm of rain possible. Dumfries, Galloway, and the Scottish borders also face amber alerts. Yellow warnings cover western Scotland, Northern Ireland, western Wales, and northwest England. Fast-flowing rivers and deep floodwater pose a danger to life, officials said. Residents are urged to follow local advice, avoid driving through floodwater, and stay updated. Southern England will remain mostly dry with frost and fog in some areas. (PC: Sky News)

Kolkata stadium descended into chaos during Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour visit on Saturday. Messi left after just 10 minutes due to mismanagement, leaving fans who paid high ticket prices disappointed. Spectators vandalised stadium property in protest. BJP blamed the Trinamool Congress for the disorder, calling it an insult to Bengal and demanding resignations and refunds. TMC said the event was organised by a private company and apologised for the incident. Videos of the unrest circulated online. The visit, including the unveiling of a 70-foot Messi statue, ended prematurely, cutting short planned engagements with Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries. (PC: India Today)

A deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa killed 25 people. Survivors are struggling with trauma and loss. Kristina, a dancer at the club, has barely slept, lost 5 kg, and stays at home, her husband said. Another survivor, Bhavna Joshi, lost her husband and three sisters in the fire. Witnesses said the fire spread quickly and became uncontrollable. Goa Police have recorded over 60 statements and continue investigating. The club owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, have been booked for culpable homicide and are detained in Thailand as India seeks their return. (PC: HT)

Hyderabad welcomed football legend Lionel Messi on Saturday as part of the GOAT India Tour 2025. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy greeted Messi warmly at Shamshabad Airport. Rahul Gandhi also arrived to join the event. Messi and Revanth Reddy are set to play a friendly exhibition match, drawing huge excitement among fans. Messi first visited Falaknuma Palace for a meet-and-greet with 100 guests. Later, he headed to Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal for a packed schedule, including penalty shootouts, interactions with young footballers, stadium parade, and the GOAT Cup presentation. Fans across Telangana celebrated his visit. 

The organiser of Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event was arrested after massive chaos at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. Fans paid high ticket prices but failed to see the football star properly. Heavy security and poor planning led to anger inside the stadium. Chairs and bottles were thrown, forcing police and the Rapid Action Force to step in. Messi stayed for about 20 minutes before being taken away for safety. An FIR was filed against organiser Satadru Dutta for mismanagement. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to Messi and fans and ordered a probe into the incident. (PC: X)

A California jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $40 million to two women in a baby powder cancer case. The jury said the company failed to warn users about risks linked to talc products. Monica Kent received $18 million, while Deborah Schultz and her husband were awarded $22 million. Both women said long-term use of the powder caused ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson said it will appeal the verdict. The company maintains its products are safe. The ruling comes as J&J faces tens of thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States.

US lawmakers have released new photos from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, showing several powerful figures. The images include US President Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince Andrew, and former US President Bill Clinton. The photos were shared by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers said the images do not prove wrongdoing. The release is part of a wider probe into Epstein’s links with influential people. The White House called the move a political attack on Trump. The Justice Department is expected to release all Epstein-related files by December 19, following pressure for greater transparency. (PC: BBC)

Lionel Messi left Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium within ten minutes after chaos during a fan event. Supporters paid high prices but could not see him clearly. Poor crowd control caused anger and unrest. Former player Lalkamal Bhowmick said Messi asked his team, “What is happening?” Organisers failed to manage the event. Sourav Ganguly requested, “It would be nice if you stayed a little longer.” Messi’s team refused to continue. Police struggled and RAF was deployed. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later said, “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi and all fans.” (PC: X)

The BJP-led NDA has created history in Kerala by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in the local body elections. The victory ends the Left Democratic Front’s 45-year control over the civic body. The NDA won 50 of the 101 wards, emerging as the single largest group. The LDF slipped to second place, while the Congress-led UDF finished third. The NDA also won Tripunithura Municipality and retained Palakkad Municipality. These results mark a major political shift in Kerala’s urban centres. The outcome is expected to influence strategies ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. (PC: India Today)