The provided sources offer a snapshot of significant events across India and one major international development, spanning politics, sports, public health, and global affairs. In sports, there was chaos and property damage during Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated "GOAT India Tour" debut in Kolkata, while the Indian cricket team prepared for a crucial T20I match against South Africa amid challenging cold weather conditions. India faced a domestic crisis as Delhi recorded the season’s worst air quality, prompting the invocation of strict emergency measures like banning certain vehicle types and halting construction. Politically, the Congress party strongly criticized the government’s move to rename the MGNREGA welfare scheme, accusing the administration of attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, and Kerala’s recent local body elections resulted in a political realignment as the Congress-led UDF made a major comeback. Finally, on an international note, twenty U.S. states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s order imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, arguing the charge violates federal law and harms critical sectors like healthcare.
