KOLKATA: When 17-year-old Vedang Sharma missed out on tickets for Lionel Messi’s Kolkata appearance, he did what any diehard fan would do: kept chasing his dream. The Class XII student at Sri Sri Academy flew to Hyderabad and what followed was pure magic.Happy to get a seat on the stands of Hyderabad’s Uppal stadium, Vedang ended up donning the colours of the Messi All Stars team and shaking hands and even exchanging passes with his icon.

The Hyderabad leg of Messi’s tour — hours after the Kolkata fiasco last Saturday — was designed as a spectacle: a compact 7v7 exhibition match featuring Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy. Messi, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, did not play but remained central to the event, watching closely from the sidelines.Vedang’s entry into the stadium itself was a minor miracle. “We couldn’t get any tickets for the Kolkata event,” he said, still sounding incredulous. His father, Dilip Sharma, was travelling to Hyderabad for work on Saturday when a friend mentioned possible contacts at Uppal stadium. Vedang tagged along hoping against hope that at least one of those contacts would get him in.And in he did get. “I was so happy to get an opportunity to see Messi from a distance,” he said. “Then they took me closer. That was when it stopped feeling real.”Little did he know that it was just the beginning of a long surreal spell. As players warmed up, organisers called for volunteers to complete the Messi All Stars line-up. One player short, they turned to the wide-eyed teenager near the touchline.Vedang, who has played football since the age of five and represented his school in a national tournament, barely had time to process what was unfolding before him. “When they called me in, my legs were wobbling in excitement. I told myself — just get on the pitch, run, breathe,” the Ballygunge resident, a left winger-cum-striker, recounted to TOI.He was given a jersey, briefed and ushered into the pitch.On the field, Vedang lined up for the Messi All Stars against the team led by the Telangana CM. His team eventually lost the exhibition match but the result mattered little to him. The event gifted him some post-match moments he would cherish forever — Messi walking over after the whistle, shaking his hand, posing for photographs with him and other young players, and even joining a passing drill with the teenagers.Vedang said he and Messi exchanged at least 10 passes — brief, ordinary movements that to him felt like an entire conversation.“He and De Paul looked at me, smiled and patted my back saying ‘Vamos’ (Spanish for ‘Let’s go’). That handshake — I keep replaying it. It still feels like a dream; I am scared that I would wake up and all this would vanish,” said Vedang, whose Instagram profile is full of images and videos from the event.“My parents have always supported me — they said education comes first but also that some chances come only once,” he said.When asked if he is flexing the moment with his classmates and neighbours, the boy laughed. “They are jealous, of course. But I tell them that dreams still come true. All you need to do is not to give up.”

Venezuela is producing approximately 900,000 barrels per day (kbd) of crude oil and condensate, which makes up about 1% of the global oil supply. (AI image)

US President Donald Trump’s latest escalation in tensions and blockade of Venezuela oil tankers may have little impact on the global crude oil market, believes global real-time data and analytics provider Kpler. “The move has so far failed to provide a meaningful boost to oil prices or to overturn underlying fundamentals, largely because the market is two-tiered and even the sanctioned segment remains crowded,” says Kpler in its latest report.In 2025, Venezuela is producing approximately 900,000 barrels per day (kbd) of crude oil and condensate, which makes up about 1% of the global oil supply. Of the 765,000 barrels per day that Venezuela exports, around 76% is sent to China, specifically to independent refiners known as teapot refiners. This is because state-owned companies are avoiding these shipments due to concerns over sanctions. The United States has received about 17% of Venezuela’s exports this year, a decrease from 35% in 2024, following changes to Chevron’s license. The rest of the exports are sent to Cuba and a few other countries like Spain and Italy under previous agreements.

Trump Move On Venezuela Oil

On Tuesday, Trump announced a “blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. This move is part of America’s ongoing efforts to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government by targeting its primary revenue source.Details on how Trump plans to enforce this blockade on the sanctioned vessels remain unclear. It is also uncertain whether he will deploy the Coast Guard to intercept these ships. The Trump administration has already positioned thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, including an aircraft carrier, in the region.Trump said on Truth Social, “For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

Venezuela crude exports by destination

What Does It Mean For Global Crude Oil Market?

The increased US pressure on Venezuela might have added some geopolitical risk to Brent crude prices. However, this is unlikely to significantly change overall market sentiment, says Kpler. The reason is simple: disruptions to Venezuelan supply impact only a small group of buyers, and the global market is well-supplied to handle any potential shortages from US actions.Trump’s statement about blocking “all sanctioned oil tankers” suggests that shipments considered legitimate, such as those going to the US under Chevron’s license, might continue without disruption. This indicates that Venezuelan oil supplies to sanctioned markets could face interruptions, while shipments to the US would likely remain unaffected, points out Kpler. However, cargoes headed to China and Cuba could be hit. According to data from Kpler, Cuba imports about 28,000 barrels per day of crude oil in 2025, with roughly 35% coming from Venezuela. Most of the rest is supplied by Mexico, with Russia and Algeria each providing one shipment.If Venezuela’s supply becomes unreliable, Cuba might see immediate challenges. However, with the availability of Russian oil—despite recent US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil—Cuba could potentially look to Russia to make up for any shortfall.

Venezuelan Merey differentials against ICE Brent in China

Chinese teapot refiners are likely to feel the effects of any oil blockade due to their reliance on Venezuelan crude. However, the impact of shipment disruptions is expected to be lessened by the high volumes of Venezuelan oil currently in transit and the ample supply from Iran, Russia, and other non-sanctioned producers, says Kpler.Market sources quoted in the Kpler report indicate that prompt Venezuelan Merey cargoes are trading at about $15 below ICE Brent on a delivered China basis, even after the US seized a Venezuelan oil tanker last week. Sellers have attempted to raise prices to around $13 below ICE Brent, but the abundant Iranian supply and a sharp drop in Russian oil prices in China have kept Venezuelan prices from rising.Many Iranian heavy cargoes, such as Pars (around $12.5 below ICE Brent) and Iran Heavy (around $11.5 below ICE Brent), remain unsold, which is likely to limit any increase in Venezuelan prices in China. Both the sanctioned and non-sanctioned oil markets are experiencing a significant supply surplus, with buyers becoming less sensitive to geopolitical developments.According to Kpler data, the floating storage of Iranian, Venezuelan, and Russian crude oil has reached a combined 74 million barrels this week, the highest level since November 2022.

Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Trophy (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Today is December 18. For some, it is just another day on the way to Christmas and the New Year. For football fans, however, it is a date that will forever live in the sport’s collective memory as the night Lionel Messi completed the game.Under the bright lights of Lusail Stadium in Qatar three years back, Argentina defeated France in a final that felt less like a match and more like destiny unfolding in real time.

For Messi, it was not just a World Cup title; it was the closing chapter of a lifelong pursuit that had defined his career, his country, and an entire generation of football fans.For nearly two decades, Messi’s greatness had been measured against an absence.

A dream eluded for years

He had won everything at club level, from Champions League to multiple Ballon d’Ors, league titles and goal-scoring records that once seemed untouchable. And yet, the World Cup remained the one prize that eluded him, the yardstick by which football immortality is often judged.

Lionel Messi of Argentina’s jersey (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

In Argentina, where Diego Maradona’s shadow still loomed large, that absence was felt more sharply than anywhere else.Qatar 2022 began with doubt rather than certainty. Argentina’s shocking opening defeat to Saudi Arabia threatened to derail the campaign before it truly began. For a brief moment, old fears resurfaced: was this another World Cup destined to end in heartbreak for Messi? But what followed was a team and a captain refusing to surrender to narrative or pressure.Messi led with calm authority. He scored, he created, he inspired, and, perhaps most importantly, he believed.

One final test: Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappé

From the group stages to the knockout rounds, Argentina grew stronger with each game, feeding off Messi’s composure and clarity. Against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia, he was not just a playmaker but the emotional compass of the side, guiding younger teammates through moments of chaos and tension.Then came the final: Argentina versus France, Messi versus Kylian Mbappé, experience versus explosive youth. It was billed as a passing-of-the-torch moment, but Messi was not ready to hand anything over. He scored from the penalty spot to give Argentina the lead and later added a second, arriving in the box with perfect timing to finish off a flowing move. At 2–0, it seemed as though the dream was finally within reach.

Lionel Messi of Argentina is chased by from Kylian Mbappe of France (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Football, however, rarely allows fairy tales to unfold without resistance. In a breathtaking twist, Mbappé struck twice in the space of minutes to drag France back into the contest. Extra time followed, and Messi once again stepped up, poking the ball home to make it 3–2. Still, France refused to yield. Mbappé completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, forcing a shootout that felt almost unbearable in its tension.As penalties loomed, the weight of history hung heavy. Argentina had been here before. It was close, but not close enough. This time, though, the script was different. Emiliano Martínez produced heroics in goal, Argentine penalties were struck with conviction, and when Gonzalo Montiel converted the decisive kick, Messi dropped to his knees, overcome with emotion.

Tears, release and a moment frozen in time

Tears flowed freely.Teammates swarmed him. In that moment, the burden he had carried for so long seemed to lift. The image of Messi, draped in the black bisht as he raised the World Cup trophy, became instantly iconic.For Argentina, the victory healed old wounds. It united generations that had debated Messi’s place in the pantheon and finally allowed him to be celebrated without caveats.

Lionel Messi of Argentina (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

For Messi himself, it was redemption, validation, and closure all at once. He had not just won a World Cup; he had done so as the undisputed leader of the team, delivering when it mattered most.Two years on, the significance of that night has only grown.December 18 is no longer just a date on the football calendar. It is the day Lionel Messi stepped beyond comparison, beyond debate, and into footballing eternity; World Cup in hand, legacy complete.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most dominant player, but his success off the field is just as visible – especially when it comes to what’s parked in his garage. From rugged trucks built for harsh Buffalo winters to high-end luxury and speed machines, Allen’s car collection reflects both his personality and his journey from small-town roots to NFL superstardom.Allen’s rise in the NFL has been matched by a major financial leap. After signing a six-year, $258 million contract extension with the Bills in 2021, the quarterback gained the freedom to indulge in his love for powerful vehicles. Yet, his choices suggest balance rather than excess. Many of Allen’s cars are built for utility and durability, fitting for a quarterback who plays in one of the league’s coldest markets.

What does Josh Allen drive?

One of the cars of his garage is the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, a full-size SUV powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine. With all-wheel drive and a spacious, luxury-filled interior, it’s a practical choice for Buffalo winters while still offering premium comfort.

Allen has never hidden his appreciation for trucks, a nod to his upbringing in Firebaugh, California. His Ford F-150 Raptor, customized in an all-black finish, stands out as one of the most rugged vehicles he owns. Equipped with a powerful V8 engine and impressive ground clearance, the Raptor is built for tough terrain and poor weather, ideal for Western New York conditions.Adding to the SUV-heavy lineup is the Range Rover Sport, which blends performance, off-road ability, and luxury. With a refined interior and strong engine options, the Range Rover offers Allen a smoother, more polished driving experience without sacrificing strength.Allen’s garage also features vehicles that lean more toward style and speed. The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, known for its boxy design and elite status, brings both luxury and brute force. Its V8 engine and plush interior make it a favorite among elite athletes, and Allen is no exception.For pure American muscle, Allen owns a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. With nearly 800 horsepower under the hood, the Hellcat is the most aggressive car in his collection, designed for straight-line speed and raw performance.Rounding out the collection is Allen’s most exotic ride, the Aston Martin Vantage. Sleek, fast, and unmistakably premium, the Vantage represents Allen’s taste for high-end performance cars. Capable of accelerating from 0–60 mph in just over three seconds, it’s a clear departure from his trucks and SUVs, offering a glimpse into his appreciation for refined speed.Josh Allen’s car collection isn’t about flash alone. It mirrors his journey grounded, powerful, and versatile. Also Read: Aaron Rodgers’ dating history: Everyone the NFL star has been linked with

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested the ninth accused in connection with the Delhi Red Fort bomb blast that killed 15 people and injured several others last month. The accused, Yasir Ahmad Dar, is a resident of Shopian, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.According to the NIA, Dar was nabbed in New Delhi and placed under arrest under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (1967) and BNS 2023 in case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI. Investigations have revealed his active involvement in the conspiracy behind the car bomb explosion that shook the national capital on November 10.As per the statement issued by the NIA, “NIA investigations have revealed Yasir’s active role in the conspiracy behind the car bomb blast that rocked the national capital on 10th November. An active participant in the conspiracy, he had sworn allegiance and taken an oath for carrying out self-sacrificial operations.”“Investigations by the anti-terror agency have further shown that Yasir was in close contact with the other accused persons in the case, including Umar Un Nabi (the deceased perpetrator of the bombing) as well as Mufti Irfan,’ the statement added.Earlier this month, the NIA arrested Dr Bilal Naseer Malla of Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir, marking the eighth arrest in the case. Bilal is accused of providing logistical support to Umar Un Nabi and destroying evidence linked to the attack. Several other accused were also arrested relating to the incident. The anti-terror agency has conducted extensive searches at premises linked to multiple accused and suspects in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, including the Al Falah University complex in Faridabad. Digital devices and other incriminating materials were seized during these operations.The blast near Lal Quila metro station on November 10 has been treated as a terrorist attack under the UAPA. Investigators have linked the incident to a Jaish-e-Mohammed module involving radicalised young doctors and cross-border handlers. The NIA said it continues to work closely with central and state agencies to trace the complete conspiracy and identify all individuals involved in planning and executing the attack.

Jagatsinghpur worker returns from conflict-torn Sudan

BHUBANESWAR: When Jagatsinghpur native Adarsh Behera received a job offer in 2022 from a plastic manufacturing company in Sudan, he hoped to make life better for his seven-member family that struggled to make ends meet through farming. However, his ordeal began in April 2023 when civil war broke out in Sudan. Struggling without money and food, he was captured and jailed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Darfur-based paramilitary group, for nearly one and a half months. On Wednesday, his nightmare ended after he reached Bhubaneswar, following his rescue a day earlier.Previously employed with a plastic company in Surat (Gujarat), Behera was offered the job of a machine operator by the owner of Sukrati Plastic factory at Al Fashir in Sudan. The Sudan factory procured raw materials from the Surat-based company, and its owner liked Behera’s work. He was promised a salary of around $1,000 per month.Hailing from Kotakana, he shifted to Sudan in Nov 2022 and worked for eight months until the company was shut down after the civil war started. “Since I signed a contract of three years, our owner asked us to stay back as he expected the war to get over in two to three months. But that didn’t happen. My salary stopped, but he provided us free food and water for a year,” recalled Behera. When the situation did not improve after a year, the free food stopped, and Behera was left to fend for himself. With prices of even basic items spiralling due to the war, he survived on just bread and biscuits. Behera’s wife, Sasmita, had to sell all her jewellery to send him Rs 2 lakh in the past one year to buy bread and medicines.

“All throughout, I hid in the accommodation provided by the owner in Al Fashir, but as bombings and gunfire increased, I felt it was no longer safe to stay there,” he said. On Oct 24, he decided to find a safer spot but was captured by RSF, who suspected that he worked for the Sudanese army.Five days later, his family received a voice message informing them that he was abducted, and subsequently, a video was sent to them showing him surrounded by armed men. “They assaulted me on day 1 and kept me in a small room at Mina jail in Al Fashir. One of those armed men was kind enough to give me a mobile phone, and I could contact my family through WhatsApp for five minutes every day,” he said.RSF told him that his release could only be secured by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that works in the region. Subsequently, his family approached chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, ICRC and ministry of external affairs (MEA) to intervene. The issue was also raised in Parliament by Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai. Subsequently, the Indian embassy in Sudan and ICRC coordinated to release him from captivity on Tuesday.CM Majhi thanked the MEA and the Indian embassy for the successful mission. “The safety and well-being of every Odia, whether within the state or abroad, is the top priority of our govt. In times of crisis, we are always and forever by your side,” he wrote on X.

Google DeepMind CEo Demis Hassabis has once again warned that the present wave of AI startup valuations is unsustainable. He also raised concerns that there are chances that the tech sector is heading towards a correction. Speaking on Google DeepMind: The Podcast, Hassabis said many early-stage companies are now raising tens of billions dollars before even launching product. He believes that this trend exposes cracks in the valuation model. “Some startups basically haven’t even got going yet,” Hassabis said. “It’s sort of interesting to see how can that be sustainable. My guess is probably not, at least not in general.” This increase in speculative funding has drawn comparisons to past bubbles, such as the dot-com boom and the crypto frenzy, where companies raised massive sums on hype rather than proven business models.

Big tech vs early-stage hype

Hassabis emphasised that these seed-stage valuations with investments by established companies like Google, which he said are backed by “a lot of real business.” While Big Tech’s AI bets are supported by revenue streams and infrastructure, many startups are relying solely on investor enthusiasm.He added that AI is “overhyped in the short term” but “underappreciated in the medium to long-term,” suggesting that while the technology’s potential is profound, the current funding frenzy may not reflect sustainable growth.Reflecting on DeepMind’s own early days, Hassabis noted how technological shifts often swing from skepticism to obsession, inflating valuations quickly. “It’s almost an overreaction to the underreaction,” he said, pointing out that investor sentiment can flip dramatically once a technology gains traction.

Demis Hassabis makes his stand clear on AI scaling

Recently, Google DeepMind CEO also made his stand clear on the debate over how far AI scaling laws can take the industry.As reported by Business Insider, speaking at the Axios AI+ Summit in San Francisco, Hassabis said that scaling current systems must be pushed to the maximum, calling it a critical path towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). “The scaling of the current systems, we must push that to the maximum, because at the minimum, it will be a key component of the final AGI system. It could be the entirety of the AGI system,” Hassabis told the audience.AGI is still a theoretical form of AI which is capable of reasoning as well as humans. AGI is also the ultimate goal for leading AI companies that are driving billions in spending on infrastructure and talent. Scaling laws suggest that the more data and compute an AI model receives, the smarter it becomes.

Over a career spanning 12-1 win-loss streaks, Jake Paul has faced allegations of fixing his fights. Recently, the fighter was once again in the news for allegedly fixing his fight against Anthony Joshua. The duo will be facing each other on December 19, 2025. Deontay Wilder made claims recently about the fight being fixed. Moments after, Jake threatened to sue Wilder through legal means.While such claims have been proved wrong repeatedly, such comments keep coming in. Another major instance of such an accusation that has resurfaced was in 2023. Jake faced Tommy Fury on February 26, 2023. However, before the fight, a rumor was spread about the fight being fixed. The document was shared by Mike Perry. He was a reserve fighter for the 2023 showdown.

Jake Paul was accused of scripted fight in high octane bout against Tommy Fury

As per the leaked document, the match was supposed to be 8 rounds long. The first round, according to the leaked document, showcased both fighters having an equal stance within the ring. Following up, Tommy Fury would take control of the fight in the second round, which would make Jake Paul restless. In the third round, Jake would bounce back and catch Tommy off guard. Jake would have had an upper hand in this round. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Tommy would continue with vision problems. This is when Jake takes control of the entire round and continues to press the attack across the rest of the rounds. At the end, Paul would have been declared the winner. Dillon Danis also shared the document on his social media.However, that was not how the fight had panned out. Tommy won that fight via a split decision. Right after the document was leaked, the promoter quickly issued a statement commenting, “We can confirm it is fake.” This proves that the recent accusation of fixing the fight against Anthony Joshua is not the first time for Jake. he has faced this before.

Anthony Joshua responds to fight-fixing claims

While Jake Paul has done his part in dismissing the claims of having his fight against Anthony Joshua fixed, the latter issued a separate statement. He stated, “Yeah, nothing in the contract. What can I say? We’re not worried about what opinions there are, whether it’s Wilder, Fury, whoever. The only thing in the contract that got my attention was the money. Other than that, I don’t worry about nothing else.”With both Anthony and Jake confirming that the scripted news is fake, fans are now excited to see their favorite fighters in the ring. The bout has been scheduled for December 19, 2025, to be held at Kaseye Center in Miami, Florida.Also Read: Katie Ledecky’s $5M net worth: How an Olympic legend built a swimming empire

GHAZIABAD: A 33-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her tenants on Wednesday night after she went to collect pending rent at a housing society in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, police said. The victim, identified as Deepashikha Sharma, lived with her husband Umesh Sharma in Aura Chimera Society at Rajnagar Extension. She owned a second flat in the same society, which had been rented out. Police said Deepashikha left her home around evening to visit the rented flat and ask for overdue dues from the tenants — identified as Ajay Gupta and Aakriti Gupta. When she did not return home until late night, her domestic help grew concerned. “Her maid sensed something was wrong and went to check on the second flat,” a senior officer said. Upon entering the apartment, the maid allegedly found Deepashikha’s body stuffed inside a red suitcase hidden under a bed. She immediately alerted the police. Officials received information at Nandgram police station around 11:15pm, routed through a Police Response Vehicle (PRV). Officers arrived at the spot and took control of the apartment. The body was recovered, sealed and sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause and time of death.Police said the flat had been rented out to Ajay and Aakriti earlier this year. Both have been detained for questioning. “Based on a written complaint submitted by the victim’s family members, a case has been registered and further legal proceedings are underway,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nandgram Upasana Pandey said. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, call records and financial disputes between the two parties to determine motive, preliminary accounts suggest.The murder has shocked the gated community, where police teams continued searches and questioning of neighbours through Thursday. Forensic teams inspected the apartment and collected evidence, including the suitcase in which the body had been found. Police have not yet disclosed whether weapons were recovered from the flat or details of injuries. The investigation is ongoing.