NEW DELHI: Chaos erupted at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata as Lionel Messi’s brief, controlled appearance – part of his GOAT Tour three day India leg – led to fan protests and the detention of the event organizer, who now have agreed to refund the ticket prices. In Kerala, local body elections saw the UDF displace the LDF in key urban areas, while the BJP-led NDA secured a landmark win in Thiruvananthapuram. PM Modi termed the NDA win as a watershed moment in state politics. India is engaging with Mexico over a planned 50 per cent tariff hike set to take effect in January 2026, seeking a solution that protects exporters.
Pointers
- Lionel Messi arrived in Hyderabad as the next stop of his GOAT Tour India leg.
- Chaos erupted in Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium as Messi’s brief appearance sparked anger among fans leading to protests.
- Kerala local elections shake up state politics UDF sweeps the polls, NDA scores historic win in Thiruvananthapuram while left losses ground.
- India is in discussions with Mexico over a proposed 50% tariff hike, seeking resolution to protect exporters.
- Trump dismisses his picture with Epstein as “no big deal” amid release of 95,000 images by Democrats.
Here are your top five stories of the day
Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India: Kolkata leg over, Messi arrives in Hyderabad Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata for the India leg of his GOAT Tour, drawing massive fan crowds and meeting several prominent figures, at Salt Lake Stadium, which later descended into chaos. On a three-day visit, the Argentina World Cup-winning captain virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue in Lake Town. Messi, will visit multiple cities, with his next stop being Hyderabad after concluding his Kolkata engagements.Read full story Messi’s Kolkata tour chaos: Bengal cops detains organiser; tickets to be refundedDisorder broke out at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium when thousands of fans voiced their anger after Lionel Messi made only a short, heavily restricted appearance. West Bengal police later detained the chief event organiser, as authorities assured ticket refunds and vowed stringent action over the lapses in crowd and event management. Read full story UDF sweeps polls, historic NDA win, LDF loses ground; PM Modi calls results ‘watershed moment’Kerala’s local body election results point to a major realignment, with the UDF consolidating its position and wresting control from the LDF in several prominent urban centres. The BJP-led NDA also registered significant advances, capturing the Thiruvananthapuram corporation in a landmark breakthrough for the party in the state. Read full story India in touch with Mexico over 50% tariff ‘unilateral’ move shocker India is in discussions with Mexico over a “unilateral” increase in tariffs of up to 50 per cent on a broad set of goods. New Delhi is pushing for a mutually acceptable resolution while safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, with the higher duties scheduled to come into force from January 1, 2026.Read full story Donald Trump calls resurfaced photos with Epstein ‘no big deal’US President Trump downplayed newly released photos with Jeffrey Epstein, calling them “no big deal” and noting that many people knew the convicted sex offender. House Democrats released more than 95,000 images, featuring figures like Trump, Bill Clinton, and Bill Gates, sparking scrutiny of Epstein’s network. The White House accused Democrats of using the release for political purposes.Read full story Go to Source
