Delhi's toxic smog caused major travel disruptions on Monday, with 100 flights cancelled and over 300 delayed at Delhi Airport as visibility plummeted. The Air Quality Index hit 456 at 6 AM, the season's second-worst after Sunday's 461. Over 90 trains were delayed six to seven hours due to low visibility. The IMD issued an orange alert for dense fog, while areas like Akshardham recorded AQI of 493. Airlines urged passengers to allow extra travel time due to slower road traffic. CAQM invoked Stage IV GRAP measures, banning construction activities and mandating 50% work-from-home in offices, with schools conducting hybrid classes.

India and the European Union are finalizing their Free Trade Agreement, scheduled for signing on January 27 during an India-EU summit coinciding with Republic Day celebrations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend as chief guests on January 26. Of 23 negotiating chapters, 11 are closed, with ongoing discussions on car and steel market access, services, investment, and technical trade barriers. India's bilateral goods trade with the EU stands at $136 billion, making it Delhi's third-largest trading partner. Originally launched in 2007 and stalled in 2013, negotiations resumed in June 2022 with strong political commitment from both sides.(PC: Epthinktank)

Ranveer Singh's spy thriller Dhurandhar has crossed ₹500 crore worldwide in just 10 days, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film earned ₹59 crore net on its second Sunday, closing the weekend at ₹144.50 crore, a 40% increase from its opening weekend. With ₹351.75 crore net domestically and over $12 million overseas, its global haul stands at ₹530 crore. The film has surpassed lifetime collections of Coolie (₹518 crore), Dunki (₹470 crore), War (₹449 crore), and Pushpa: The Rise (₹365 crore). Co-starring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal, it's poised for the ₹600-crore mark.(PC: IMDb)

Lionel Messi couldn't contain his laughter as Mumbai schoolgirls showcased impressive footwork against Luis Suarez during his India GOAT tour at Wankhede Stadium on December 14. In a viral video, the girls from a local football team stunned Suarez by deftly passing the ball around him, with one player executing a nutmeg kicking the ball through his legs. Suarez appeared momentarily bewildered by their speed and skill, while Messi grinned widely from the sidelines. The Instagram video, captioned "Suarez shocked, girl rocked," sparked social media reactions, with one user joking, "I think he bit her," referencing Suarez's infamous 2014 World Cup biting incident.

Lionel Messi created a viral moment at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium by gifting his Argentina jersey to Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, drawing massive cheers. During his India G.O.A.T tour stop, Messi exchanged gifts with cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, presenting him a replica football from Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory while receiving Tendulkar's 2011 World Cup-winning jersey. The gesture toward Chhetri, India's greatest footballer, particularly resonated with fans. Messi's tour, which started chaotically in Kolkata with poor management and vandalism, improved through Hyderabad before the successful Mumbai event. His tour concludes December 15 in Delhi, featuring meetings with PM Modi and Virat Kohli.

Dramatic video footage from Bondi Beach shows a heroic bystander tackling and disarming one of the gunmen during the mass shooting that killed 16 people. The clip captures the chaotic moment as the man wrestles a rifle from the attacker's hands and attempts to turn the weapon on him while others flee. Additional footage shows a second shooter firing from an elevated walkway as beachgoers scatter. The attack occurred during "Chanukah by the Sea," a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday evening around 6:40 PM. Nearly 40 people were injured, including two police officers. One gunman was killed; the second suspect remains in custody.

Lionel Messi's Kolkata visit turned chaotic after serious security lapses at Salt Lake Stadium forced his exit within 22 minutes. A Times of India report reveals Messi felt a "serious threat" when selfie-seeking police officers and VIP pass holders swarmed him, with one autograph-seeker's pen scratching his body. Politicians and organizers, given liberal VIP access, clutched Messi's hand for selfies while he tried greeting the 60,000-strong crowd. When a woman rushed for an autograph triggering a crush, his manager said "vida" (life in Spanish), signaling danger. Organizer Satadru Dutta is now in custody for mismanagement. Furious fans caused Rs 2.5 crore in vandalism damages.

Two Punjabi youths were shot dead in a targeted attack in southeast Edmonton, Canada, early Friday morning, according to police who confirmed the killings were not random. The victims were identified as Gurdeep Singh, 27, from Bareh village, and Ranveer Singh, 18, from Uddat Saidewala village near Budhlada in Punjab's Mansa district. Both were reportedly traveling to attend a friend's birthday party when they were fired upon. The incident has triggered grief in their home villages in Punjab and raised concerns among the Punjabi diaspora community in Canada. Families in Mansa district are mourning the loss as investigations continue.(PC: The Indian Express)

Lionel Messi arrives in Delhi today at 10:45 AM for a high-profile visit featuring unprecedented security and exclusive engagements. The World Cup champion will stay at The Leela Palace's Presidential Suites, costing up to Rs 7 lakh per night, with an entire floor reserved. Corporate VIPs are reportedly paying up to Rs 1 crore for closed-door meet-and-greet access. Messi's itinerary includes meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Justice of India, and Indian sporting legends including Rohit Sharma, Sumit Antil, and Nikhat Zareen. He'll conduct a football clinic at Arun Jaitley Stadium and attend an Adidas event at Purana Qila before departing at 8 PM.

Australian police confirmed the Bondi Beach terror attack death toll has risen to 16, identifying the two gunmen as Pakistani father-son duo Naveed Akram, 50, and Sajid Akram, 24. The elder Akram was killed by police, while his son remains hospitalized in critical condition. The attack targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration called "Chanukah by the Sea" on Sunday evening, wounding at least 40 people including two officers. Authorities recovered six firearms and an improvised explosive device. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed no additional suspects are being sought and that the deceased was a licensed firearms holder. The attack has been declared a terrorist incident, with investigations continuing alongside Commonwealth agencies.