West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep shock and distress over the chaotic mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit

KOLKATA: ‘I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi,’ West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said after thousands of fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the football icon were left disappointed, sparking chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.In a post on X, Banerjee said “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident. I am constituting an enquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional chief secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members,” she wrote.

“The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. Once again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to all sports lovers,” she added further.

What triggered the chaos

Thousands of fans at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium were left frustrated on Saturday after Argentine football star Lionel Messi cut short his appearance at a ticketed event, sparking scenes of chaos.Videos circulating on social media showed spectators breaking barricades, throwing bottles and chairs, and venting their anger inside the stadium. Many fans said they could not get a proper view of Messi despite paying between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 for entry.“The minimum price of the ticket was 5 thousand, and why were the VVIPs around Messi? We couldn’t even see him… Why weren’t the police taking action? Everyone was furious. We want the refund,” one frustrated fan said. Another described the event as an “absolute disgrace,” claiming Messi did not take a full lap of the stadium as expected.

THANE: In a year-long crackdown, the Thane City Traffic Branch recovered 15 stolen vehicles worth nearly ₹1 crore, including a luxury Audi car and an expensive Harley-Davidson motorcycle.The traffic officer said the operation was carried out between January 1 and December 9, 2025, during routine traffic inspections. All seized vehicles and arrested suspects were handed over to the respective police stations, officials said.The Thane Police Commissionerate covers Thane, Dombivli, Kalyan, Vitthalwadi, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Badlapur, and Bhiwandi. Across this jurisdiction, 18 traffic units operate under 35 police stations. These teams regularly conduct checks to enforce traffic rules and curb violations. During inspections this year, our traffic personnel detected 15 stolen vehicles, including one Audi, one Harley-Davidson, ten two-wheelers, and four autorickshaws, said a police officer.The traffic police said it was on November 13, 2025, that traffic personnel in Ulhasnagar intercepted a high-end Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Traffic Constable Vishnu Shinde and Warden Naresh Dalvi were regulating traffic near Jawahar Hotel when they noticed three youths riding a motorcycle without a number plate toward Forward Line Chowk.When asked to halt, the trio rammed the vehicle into the constable and fled toward Ambernath. Using the chassis number, the police traced the registration details and owner. The motorcycle, valued at around ₹3.5 lakh, was found to belong to Kunal Keni of Mulund. The vehicle has since been handed over to the Navghar police station.“During traffic regulation, our personnel also verify vehicle documents. These checks often feel inconvenient or troublesome to motorists. However, every rider must carry a helmet, valid licence, and all relevant vehicle papers to avoid difficulties during inspections,” said Pankaj Shirsat, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane Traffic Department.

India has relaxed visa norms for China the two countries take steps to mend relations strained by the eastern Ladakh border standoff in 2020. In its latest push, India will now make entry easier for Chinese professionals visiting for short-term.According to sources cited by PTI, Chinese nationals coming to India for limited durations will no longer need to apply for long-validity employment or “E” visas. Instead, they will be eligible for business visas meant for shorter stays, a shift aimed at cutting down approval timelines. All applications for business visa will be processed within three to four weeks. However, as norms for professionals ease, other applicants will have to pass existing security screening.While the revised norms are applicable across nationalities, Chinese professionals are expected to gain the most from the change. The move is expected to ease travel for Chinese technical experts required by Indian companies that rely on Chinese machinery and equipment. Over the past few months, both countries have taken steps focused on people-to-people engagement. India restarted the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in July, while direct flights between the two countries resumed in October. Other agreed measures include facilitating visas, resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and marking 75 years of diplomatic relations. High-level diplomatic engagement has also accompanied these moves. Back in August, PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement to address current challenges and seek a “fair” resolution to the border dispute. During their interaction in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, the two leaders also committed to boosting trade and investment to help stabilise global commerce. The momentum continued ahead of PM Modi’s China visit, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi travelled to New Delhi. The visit resulted in the announcement of several confidence-building measures aimed at a “stable, cooperative and forward-looking” relationship, including maintaining peace along the frontier, reopening border trade and encouraging investment flows.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday questioned the Centre’s reported decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), arguing that the exercise would lead to unnecessary expenditure of government resources without delivering any clear benefit.Her remarks came a day after the Union cabinet approved a Bill to rename the scheme and increase the number of guaranteed workdays. According to these sources, MGNREGA will be renamed the ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna’, with the annual work guarantee raised from 100 days to 125 days.

Also read: Union Cabinet approves renaming MGNREGA as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rojgar YojnaSpeaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said she could not understand the rationale behind changing the name of a flagship rural employment programme enacted in 2005. “I can’t understand what mentality is behind this. First, this is Mahatma Gandhi’s name, and when it is changed, the government’s resources are spent on it again. From offices to stationery, everything has to be renamed, so this is a big, costly process. So what’s the benefit of doing this unnecessarily? I can’t understand,” she said, as quoted by ANI.MGNREGA, also known as NREGA, is one of India’s largest social welfare schemes, aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas. It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above and residing in a rural area can apply, with employment to be provided within 15 days. Wages are deposited directly into bank or post office accounts, with equal pay for men and women, and the scheme covers the entire country except fully urban districts.The proposed renaming has also drawn criticism from other opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the move as a “distraction” and accused the Centre of trying to divert public attention. “Because of the frustration, such decisions are being made. This is another way to distract attention,” she said, adding that those who know history “will always respect the Gandhi family for their contributions”.Chaturvedi also welcomed Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for a parliamentary discussion on air pollution, arguing that urgent issues affecting public health were being sidelined. Rahul Gandhi earlier urged all parties to work together to address what he described as a crisis destroying children’s futures, saying, “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air… This is not an ideological issue.”

Google has announced Disco, an experimental browser that automatically generates custom web applications from your browsing activity. The launch represents a direct challenge to the growing field of AI browsers, particularly OpenAI‘s ChatGPT Atlas, which was positioned as a Chrome competitor despite running on Chromium—the open-source technology Google created and maintains. While competitors have focused on integrating chatbots into traditional browsing experiences, Google’s approach with Disco attempts to fundamentally reimagine what a browser does when AI sits at its core.The launch comes weeks after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman positioned Atlas as a challenger to Chrome’s market dominance, claiming that OpenAI’s Atlas would end Chrome’s “17-year monopoly.” But while Atlas essentially wraps ChatGPT around a conventional browser, Google’s approach rethinks how browsers could function with AI at their core.

Google’s future of web browsers include building apps instead of answering questions

Disco’s defining feature is GenTabs, powered by Gemini 3, which analyzes your open tabs and creates interactive applications tailored to whatever you’re doing. Researching vacation destinations generates a trip planner with maps and itineraries. Studying complex topics produces visualization tools and learning aids. Planning meals creates recipe organizers with shopping lists.The system differs markedly from competitors like ChatGPT Atlas, Perplexity’s Comet, and Microsoft Edge with Copilot, which primarily add AI chat sidebars to traditional browsing. Atlas offers context-aware right-click menus and can perform tasks like booking reservations through an agent mode, but fundamentally operates as a conventional browser with AI assistance bolted on. Comet and Edge follow similar patterns—integrating their respective AI models into familiar browsing interfaces rather than reimagining how browsers work. GenTabs, by contrast, treats AI-generated applications as first-class browser elements rather than supplementary features.Users can refine these generated apps through natural language commands, and all content links back to source material. Early testers are using GenTabs for project planning, research synthesis, and educational tasks that typically require managing dozens of tabs simultaneously.

Strategic timing in browser wars

Google is accepting waitlist signups for macOS users only, positioning Disco as a “discovery vehicle” for testing concepts that may eventually reach Chrome or other products. The company acknowledges limitations in this early phase.The competitive dynamics are notable. OpenAI, Perplexity, and Microsoft are all building AI browsers on Chromium—the open-source foundation Google created and maintains. This approach limits how deeply AI can reshape the browsing experience, constraining innovation to features layered atop architecture designed for pre-AI web navigation.Whether GenTabs represents genuinely superior innovation or simply a different approach remains to be seen. Google Labs has a history of launching experimental projects that never reach wider audiences. What’s clear is that the browser wars are intensifying, with multiple companies betting heavily on AI integration as the next competitive battleground. Google’s ownership of Chromium gives it structural advantages, but translating experimental features into products users actually adopt is a different challenge entirely.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is currently facing an unprecedented challenge with a notable number of veteran overseas superstars electing to bypass the bidding process entirely. This unexpected exodus includes high-profile, long-time IPL participants such as Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis all of whom have chosen to register for the rival Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to a direct clash in tournament schedules. This shift has prompted former England cricketer David Willey to offer a candid explanation for this choice, framing the decision as a pragmatic trade-off.

David Willey uncovers the real reason why veteran overseas stars are moving from IPL to PSL

Former England international Willey, who has experience playing for both Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), precisely identified the key motivational factor driving veteran players to favor the PSL over the IPL, which he confirmed is a search for guaranteed match participation. Willey emphasized that the IPL’s rigid restriction of only four overseas players in the starting eleven creates a substantial risk of high-profile players spending the entire season on the bench, making the PSL’s offering of more consistent playing time far more appealing to seasoned professionals who prioritize on-field activity. Willey offered a clear, direct quote on the individual nature of this decision:

“I think it’s very individual. You may never quite know how the IPL auction will pan out. I think there’s a little bit more certainty and security with the PSL for players. And, you know, depending on individual circumstances, people might feel like they’ve got more chance of actually playing in the PSL rather than just sitting on the sidelines for 10-11 weeks, which can be a defining factor for people.” Willey was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

This sentiment directly addresses the reality that even top-tier overseas bowlers, such as Nathan Ellis, were often confined to the sidelines, featuring in only one match during the entire IPL 2025 season. The auction’s inherent unpredictability and high competition among younger, currently in-form players further increase the risk of older or recently struggling stars going unsold,  historical precedent set by legends like Chris Gayle in the 2011 auction. Therefore, the security of a guaranteed playing contract and a defined role in the PSL is increasingly viewed as a more valuable commodity than the potential, yet uncertain, larger paycheck from the highly competitive IPL auction.

Also READ: Has India-Pakistan rivalry lost spark? Tickets for the T20I World Cup 2026 ‘biggest clash’ begin at THIS price

Willey’s dual presence in both IPL and PSL 

Willey, the English bowling all-rounder, has maintained a dual presence in the world of franchise cricket, representing multiple teams in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) throughout his career. In the IPL, Willey has notably played for the CSK, where he first debuted in 2018, and the RCB, where he featured in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, later also being associated with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Across his entire IPL career spanning 11 matches, Willey has scored 53 runs with a highest score of 20 against KKR in 2023, while his bowling performance has yielded 6 wickets overall, with a best figure of 2/16. Conversely, his presence in the PSL has been marked by stints with teams including Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans and most recently opted out of the IPL 2025 auction to play in the PSL 2025 season.

Also READ: No Cameron Green! CSK drops big hint regarding Top 3 potential targets for IPL 2026 mini-auction

Lionel Messi, visiting India as part of his GOAT Tour India 2025, was forced to cut short his lap of honour. (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata witnessed an unprecedented mix of chaos and celebration as football superstar Lionel Messi made his much-anticipated appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Argentine legend, visiting India as part of his GOAT Tour India 2025, was forced to cut short his lap of honour after an overwhelming crowd led to bottles being thrown by frustrated fans. Unable to catch a glimpse of the superstar, some spectators resorted to vandalising banners and seats, while others booed officials and politicians, highlighting serious security challenges amid the frenzy.

Despite the tumult at the stadium, Messi’s day also featured moments of admiration and excitement. Earlier, he virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot statue at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, South Dum Dum. The iron statue, depicting Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, was constructed in just 40 days as a tribute to his incredible achievements on the field. West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose confirmed, “We have talked to his manager, and today we will talk to Messi… He gave his consent for the statue and they are also happy…” Bose added that Messi and his team were delighted with the installation.The arrival of Messi in Kolkata early on Saturday morning drew massive crowds across key city locations, with fans eager to catch even a fleeting glimpse of the football icon. The excitement reflected Messi’s immense popularity in India, particularly in West Bengal, and underscored the global appeal of the World Cup-winning captain.Watch the video hereWatch the video hereThis visit marks Messi’s first trip to India since 2011. During his previous visit, he had played a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium, where Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, leaving an indelible memory for fans. After 14 years, the legendary footballer’s return has sparked immense enthusiasm, with fans preparing elaborate celebrations to welcome him.While the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium underscored the challenges of managing such large gatherings, the day also celebrated Messi’s legacy and his deep connection with Indian football fans. Between the unveiling of his monumental statue and the excitement at the stadium, Kolkata truly witnessed a historic occasion in honour of one of football’s greatest icons.

Once an 11-year-old Virat Kohli fan dreaming out loud, Aryan Sharma has turned promise into reality and now 18, he’s been named in Australia’s U19 World Cup squad. (Special Arrangement)

NEW DELHI: Raman Sharma vividly remembers Christmas of 2018, when his 11-year-old son Aryan spent the entire day making a placard for his idol, Virat Kohli, ahead of the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).The placard read: “Virat, you’re my inspiration. Watch me play for Australia in 2025.”

Aryan Sharma manifested it, and now, seven years later, he is among the 15 players named in Australia’s squad for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. Australia are placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“He loves Virat Kohli. He adores Virat. Like millions of kids, Virat has inspired Aryan as well,” Raman Sharma tells TimesofIndia.com from Melbourne.

Aryan Sharma once held a placard saying, ‘Watch me play for Australia in 2025,’ has turned his childhood promise into reality.

“I have the placard on my work desk. After he got picked for Australia U-19 against India recently, where Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) and Ayush (Mhatre) were also playing, I told Ari, ‘You predicted that you would play for Australia in 2025 and here you are,'” says an emotional father.“You (can) call it manifestation or his bold prediction. But we were super thrilled. The coincidence was so lovely.”The icing on the cake for the Sharma family was that the Kohli-led India won the MCG Test by 137 runs, and Aryan got to see his inspiration in full flow during his 82 in the first innings, while putting together a 170-run stand with centurion Cheteshwar Pujara.

Aryan Sharma named in Australia’s squad for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6

“We managed to get the autographs of Jasprit Bumrah, who was sensational throughout the Test, and Mohammed Shami,” recollects Sharma Sr..There’s another coincidence in Aryan’s life. The 2005-born teenager fell in love with cricket in 2011, the year MS Dhoni-led India lifted the ODI World Cup.“I never played any professional cricket. Yes, I did play when I was young like any Indian teenager. Aryan developed his love when he was six. I still remember gifting him his first cricket bat,” says Raman.Aryan never looked back.“When he was 8, he was playing in the U11s. At 10, he was playing U14. He always played with kids older than his age. It helped his cricket as well,” says Raman.With Aryan taking giant strides in cricket, the Sharma family — Raman and his wife Shruti — had their own fair share of challenges to cope with.Raman, who hails from Garhshankar in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, moved to Australia in 2005. Moving to an alien country was not easy for Raman, who is a migration consultant and runs his own firm. “It was challenging. I was the first one to come to Australia from my family. So you’ve got to adapt quickly. Life itself is challenging,” says Raman. He adds, “I got married in 2007. We have three beautiful children. Like any family, we also went through our own ups and downs.“

Aryan Sharma in action

“It’s the journey of an entire family. I remember Aryan having lunch and dinner in the car. We had to go to the country town where he used to train, then to school, and again back to training. He used to change clothes in the car.“In all this my partner also stood firm. We have two daughters, both younger than Aryan. My wife was looking after them. I was doing my meetings in my car,” shares Raman.“It was quite challenging. Sometimes you get fined when you park your car beyond the parking limit. Our life revolved around his cricket,” he adds.Amidst all this, the one thing Raman misses the most is not being able to go to India regularly.“I did not travel to India for years. In Australia, the competitive cricket starts in January during the holidays. We were unable to travel to India since Ari was playing cricket. I didn’t go back for seven years,” he says.But in April 2024, it was cricket that brought Raman back to his homeland. Aryan’s childhood coach, Bagheshwar Bist, who has played Ranji Trophy for Haryana and is now settled in Melbourne, decided to take Aryan and a couple of other youngsters to India.

Aryan Sharma is an all-rounder

“We went to Chandigarh. We played at the iconic Sector 16 Stadium. We went to Zirakpur to play matches,” reminisces Raman.However, the hot North India weather in April took a toll on Aryan and his friends, and Raman thought they had made a big mistake. “It was so hot that I thought, ‘what have I done?’ But kudos to these boys, they never gave up. They made the most of the experience and returned better cricketers,” he says.Raman has nothing but gratitude for Cricket Victoria, Bagheshwar Bist, and all the coaches who have worked with Aryan so far.

“I want to thank Cricket Victoria, who identified his talent. I want to thank Mr. Bist, who worked tirelessly with his son. They made our life so easy. They have been so supportive,” says Raman.Raman, who knows a thing or two about life and the challenges it throws, has just one piece of advice for his son: “Keep your head down. Make sure you say hello to everyone. Stay humble.”

Delhi plunged back into ‘severe’ air quality on Saturday, triggering Stage III restrictions across the NCR

NEW DELHI: Delhi slipped back into the ‘severe’ air quality zone as pollution levels surged on Saturday, prompting authorities to reimpose Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR).According to an official press update, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which stood at 349 at 4 pm on Friday, rose sharply through the night and was recorded at 401 by 10 am on Saturday due to slow wind speeds, a stable atmosphere and unfavourable meteorological conditions, leading to poor dispersion of pollutants.In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said its GRAP sub-committee had decided to invoke all measures under Stage III (‘Severe’ AQI: 401–450) with immediate effect across the NCR. These steps will be in addition to the curbs already in place under Stages I and II. Pollution control boards and enforcement agencies have also been directed to intensify preventive action to check further deterioration.A thick blanket of smog shrouded the capital on Saturday morning, reducing visibility and worsening discomfort.What’s banned under GRAP 3:

What’s allowed / exempted under GRAP 3:

Wazirpur recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 445, followed by Vivek Vihar (444), Jahangirpuri (442), Anand Vihar (439) and Ashok Vihar and Rohini (437 each). Other severely polluted areas included Narela (432), Pratapganj (431), Mundka (430) and Bawana, ITO and Nehru Nagar (429 each). AQI readings also crossed 420 in Chandni Chowk, Punjabi Bagh, Siri Fort and Sonia Vihar, while Burari Crossing, RK Puram, North Campus and Okhla Phase II remained deep in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range.Under CPCB norms, an AQI between 401 and 500 is classified as ‘severe’, posing serious health risks and warranting emergency control measures.Poor air quality was not limited to Delhi alone. Several parts of Uttar Pradesh also woke up to dense smog on Saturday. Noida Sector 125 and Sector 116 reported ‘severe’ air with AQI readings of 448 each. Lucknow fared slightly better with an AQI of 242 (‘poor’), while Kanpur and Prayagraj recorded ‘moderate’ levels and Moradabad remained in the ‘poor’ category. Thick fog and smog reduced visibility in cities such as Bulandshahr, Ayodhya and Mainpuri, where residents were seen lighting bonfires to cope with the cold and haze.