Real Madrid Replace Xabi Alonso With Alvaro Arbeloa As Head Coach

Real Madrid said Monday that coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa. A day after the team lost the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, the club parted ways with the Basque coach and immediately appointed former Madrid player Arbeloa, who was coaching the reserve side. "Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end," said the Los Blancos in a statement.

In a separate statement Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso's place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old's contract.

"Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid's academy since 2020," said Los Blancos.

Alonso joined in June, replacing veteran Carlo Ancelotti, but Madrid struggled to find consistency under the Basque coach and are second in La Liga, four points behind Barca.

Los Blancos were outplayed in a 3-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Sunday by Hansi Flick's side, the 44-year-old's last at the helm.

Alonso was close to the sack towards the end of 2025 but a run of five consecutive wins kept him in his position, until the Super Cup defeat.

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Trader Pockets Over $400,000 After Betting On Maduro's Downfall

Prediction markets let people wager on anything from a basketball game to the outcome of a presidential election - and recently, the downfall of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The latter is drawing renewed scrutiny into this murky world of speculative, 24/7 transactions. Last week, an anonymous trader pocketed more than $400,000 after betting that Maduro would soon be out of office.

The bulk of the trader's bids on the platform Polymarket were made mere hours before President Donald Trump announced the surprise nighttime raid that led to Maduro's capture, fueling online suspicions of potential insider trading because of the timing of the wagers and the trader's narrow activity on the platform. Others argued that the risk of getting caught was too big, and that previous speculation about Maduro's future could have led to such transactions.

Polymarket did not respond to requests for comment.

The commercial use of prediction markets has skyrocketed in recent years, opening the door for people to wage their money on the likelihood of a growing list of future events. But despite some eye-catching windfalls, traders still lose money everyday. And in terms of government oversight in the U.S., the trades are categorized differently than traditional forms of gambling - raising questions about transparency and risk.

Here's what we know:

The scope of topics involved in prediction markets can range immensely - from escalation in geopolitical conflicts, to pop culture moments and even the fate of conspiracy theories. Recently, there's been a surge of wages on elections and sports games. But some users have also bet millions on things like a rumored - and ultimately unrealized - "secret finale" for the Netflix's "Stranger Things," whether the U.S. government will confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life and how much billionaire Elon Musk might post on social media this month.

In industry-speak, what someone buys or sells in a prediction market is called an "event contract." They're typically advertised as "yes" or "no" wagers. And the price of one fluctuates between $0 and $1, reflecting what traders are collectively willing to pay based on a 0% to 100% chance of whether they think an event will occur.

The more likely traders think an event will occur, the more expensive that contract will become. And as those odds change over time, users can cash out early to make incremental profits, or try to avoid higher losses on what they've already invested.

Proponents of prediction markets argue putting money on the line leads to better forecasts. Experts like Koleman Strumpf, an economics professor at Wake Forest University, think there's value in monitoring these platforms for potential news - pointing to prediction markets' past success with some election outcomes, including the 2024 presidential race.

Still, it's never a "crystal ball," he noted, and prediction markets can be wrong, too.

Who is behind all of the trading is also pretty murky. While the companies running the platforms collect personal information of their users in order to verify identities and payments, most people can trade under anonymous pseudonyms online - making it difficult for the public to know who is profiting off many event contracts. In theory, people investing their money may be closely following certain events, but others could just be randomly guessing.

Critics stress that the ease and speed of joining these 24/7 wagers leads to financial losses everyday, particularly harming users who may already struggle with gambling. The space also broadens possibilities for potential insider trading.

Polymarket is considered to be the largest prediction market in the world, where its users can fund event contracts through cryptocurrency, debit or credit cards and bank transfers. Its top competitor, Kalshi, operates similarly - and has laid the groundwork for event contracts on elections and sports nationwide after winning court approval just weeks before the 2024 election to let Americans put money on upcoming political races. Kalshi began to host sports trading about a year ago.

Restrictions vary by country but in the U.S., the reach of these markets has expanded rapidly over the last couple years, coinciding with shifting policies out of Washington. Former President Joe Biden was aggressive in cracking down on prediction markets. Following a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Polymarket was barred from operating in the country.

That changed under Trump late last year, when Polymarket announced it would be returning to the U.S. after receiving clearance from the commission. American-based users can now join a platform "waitlist."

The space is now crowded with other big names. Sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel both launched prediction platforms last month. Online broker Robinhood is widening its own offerings. Trump's social media site Truth Social has also promised to offer an in-platform prediction market through a partnership with Crypto.com - and one of the president's sons, Donald Trump Jr., holds advisory roles at both Polymarket and Kalshi.

"The train has left the station on these event contracts, they're not going away," said Melinda Roth, a visiting associate professor at Washington and Lee University's School of Law.

Because they're positioned as selling event contracts, prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC. That means they can avoid state-level restrictions or bans in place for traditional gambling and sports betting today.

"It's a huge loophole," said Karl Lockhart, an assistant professor of law at DePaul University who has studied this space. "You just have to comply with one set of regulations, rather than (rules from) each state around the country."

Sports betting is taking center stage. There are a handful of big states - like California and Texas, for example - where sports betting is still illegal, but people can now wager on games, athlete trades and more through event contracts.

A growing number of states and tribes are suing to stop this. And lawyers expect litigation to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, as added regulations from the Trump administration seem unlikely.

Federal law bars event contracts related to gaming as well as war, terrorism and assassinations, Roth said, which could put some prediction market trades on shaky ground, at least in the U.S. But users might still find ways to buy certain contracts while traveling abroad or connecting to different VPNs.

Whether the CFTC will take any of that on has yet to be seen. But the agency, which did not respond to request for comment, has already taken steps away from enforcement.

Despite overseeing trillions of dollars for the overall U.S. derivatives market, the CFTC is also much smaller than the Securities and Exchange Commission. And at the same time event contracts are growing rapidly on prediction market platforms, there have been additional cuts to the CFTC's workforce and a wave of leadership departures under Trump's second term. Only one of five commissioner slots operating the agency is currently filled.

Still, other lawmakers calling for a stronger crack down on potential insider trading in prediction markets - particularly following suspicion around last week's Maduro trade on Polymarket. On Friday, Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced a bill aimed at curbing government employees involvement in politically-related event contracts.

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India Suffer Massive Blow, Rishabh Pant Ruled Out Of India vs NZ Series

India have suffered a setback ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the three-match series due to a right-side strain injury. At India's optional practice session at the BCA B Ground, Pant looked organised in his batting stint, going for almost 50 minutes. But he experienced discomfort after being hit above the waist while facing a delivery from a throwdown specialist.

He immediately fell to his knees due to the immense pain, was quickly attended to by the support staff, and left the nets. "Scans and assessment by the team doctor showed that Rishabh copped a blow on the ribcage on the right side and a side strain has been detected, thus ruling him out of this ODI series against New Zealand," said sources familiar with the matter to IANS on Saturday.

Pant is now expected to rest for several days before reporting to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitation. He had come into the ODI series on the back of leading Delhi in the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) league stage in Bengaluru.

He made two half-centuries against Services and Railways, respectively, as Delhi entered the knockouts. This is the second time Pant has been laid low by injuries, after fracturing his right foot in the fourth Test against England at Manchester, before returning to action in the two-match Test series against South Africa at home in November last year.

Pant has been part of India's ODI set-up for the last two years but last played in the 50-over format during the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2024. Ahead of the ODIs against New Zealand, speculation was rife about Pant being axed, but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee retained him in the squad.

With Pant now ruled out, the Indian team management will need to identify a replacement. Dhruv Jurel and T20 World Cup-bound Ishan Kishan are the likely options due to their strong showings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

India's ODI series against New Zealand will begin at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium (BCA) in Kotambi, Vadodara, with the venue set to host its first men's international game. The second ODI will be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14, while the third and final match will take place at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 18.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Bangladesh Cricket Chief Speaks On "Alternate Indian Venue" Amid Venue Row

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul on Friday said the board is yet to receive any response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its concerns over playing at venues in India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, reiterating that the BCB's position remains unchanged. Bangladesh has expressed reluctance to tour India for the tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7, and has sought to shift its matches to co-host Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.

The BCB's apprehensions followed the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on the instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons, amid reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

"We haven't yet received any reply from the ICC. We have sent all the attachments and proofs of our concern," Bulbul told media persons here.

The BCB chief said the board has clearly conveyed its position to the global governing body and stressed that moving matches to another Indian city would not address their concerns.

"Any alternate Indian venue, at the end of the day, is an Indian venue. You all know that no unilateral decision can be taken, and we have to abide by the government's diktat. We are standing where we had been a few days back."

The BCB chief said the board would wait for the ICC's response before taking any further call. "I can't comment on what we will do if we aren't allowed to play in Sri Lanka unless the ICC sends its response," he added.

Bangladesh is scheduled to play three of its group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Bulbul also said he was unaware of reports suggesting Hyderabad and Chennai as possible replacement venues.

"I haven't heard about Hyderabad and Chennai being replacement venues. We might come to know maybe on Monday or Tuesday."

Expressing confidence in the national side, Bulbul said Bangladesh has the pedigree to perform well, particularly in sub-continental conditions. "I believe Bangladesh is a big team in world cricket. We have played the quarterfinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, we played the Champions Trophy semifinals, and in sub-continental conditions we have a good chance of doing well," he said.

Addressing the recent controversy involving former skipper Tamim Iqbal, Bulbul said a BCB director publicly calling the senior cricketer a "traitor" was an expression of personal opinion and that he had sought an explanation from the concerned official.

"It was the personal opinion of the director, and I have asked him to give clarification. Tamim has achieved so much, and he should have kept that in mind while putting his opinion in public," Bulbul said.

Reflecting on his tenure, Bulbul said the phase had been educative for the board.

"It's a learning experience for 25 board directors. It's a mix of ups and downs. But the country comes first," he added.

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Journey Cut Short By Politics, Students Say Goodbye To J&K Medical College

Barely three months into the medical college, MBBS students at Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in Jammu and Kashmir are bidding an emotional goodbye to the college. As the college lost its recognition after polarisation over admission of Muslim students, 50 aspiring doctors are finding themselves at a crossroads.

Heartbroken, students say the decision to close the college is reckless as they feel like a chapter of their lives has been suddenly torn out.

"It's beyond our comprehension. A notice is suddenly issued that your college is closing. The facilities in the college are above and beyond. How can they say that college is closed because it lacks facilities? We have been in distress and don't know what to do," said Aleena, an MBBS student.

Maanit, a student from Udhampur in Jammu, was happy to get admission in the college close to his home. But this happiness was short-lived. Miffed over the sudden closure, he says the revocation of the recognition of the college was reckless. He is now hoping for a good college to pursue his MBBS. degree.

"It's a reckless decision, a very bad decision. Now, since the decision has been taken, we must get a good college. We may not get facilities like this college place; nevertheless, we should be allotted a college," said Maanit.

Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence - a state-of-the-art hospital, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. In September last year, the National Medical Commission granted a letter of permission to start the MBBS course in the college.

On Tuesday, when NMC withdrew the Letter of Permission after citing deficiencies in the college, students say they got a shock of their lives. But outside, there were celebrations in Jammu. BJP and right-wing groups, who had launched an agitation against the admission of 42 Muslim students, termed the closure of the college a victory. They even distributed sweets and played loud music to celebrate. 

Sunil Shama, senior BJP leader and leader of the Opposition in J&K Assembly, has termed revoking recognition of Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College as historical.

"The withdrawal Letter of Permission to Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College Excellence by National Medical Commission is a historic decision," said Sharma

But inside college, students say it's only science, not religion, that defines their collective identity. Ashiya, a student from Srinagar, says she may never find a better college after the closure of Vaishno Devi Medical College.

"Wherever we will go, we will not find such facilities, such teachers. Also, it's our memories of college and camaraderie. We will not get any such thing anywhere else. Our families are worried. We never felt in college what was happening outside. So long we don't get admission in other colleges, I don't think any of us can be at ease," said Ashiya.

Students say closure of college has shuttered their dreams, even as the government has assured them a seamless relocation to other colleges; the revocation of recognition of the Mata Vaishno Devi college is a chilling reminder of how politics and polarisation can impact education.

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Pune Flat Sees Rs 20 Lakh Jump In Weeks; Stunned Buyer Shares Experience

Remember Vasooli Bhai's iconic line from the Golmaal movie series, where he jokes about property prices rising "pal-pal", every passing second? That cinematic exaggeration has found a real-life parallel in Pune's Wakad area, where resident Kunal Gandhi recently shared his experience on social media platform X. Tracking the price of a newly launched 3BHK flat over just a month, Gandhi witnessed a steep and rapid surge, reflecting the dramatic pace and shifting dynamics of the city's real estate market.

According to Gandhi's post, when he first visited the project at launch about a month ago, the quoted price for a 3BHK unit was Rs 1.80 crore. On a return visit just 15 days later, the price had already risen to Rs 1.95 crore. Most recently, he was informed that the price had reached Rs 2 crore, with developers projecting it could increase further to around Rs 2.15 crore next month.

Gandhi wrote that the pace of growth raised the question of whether India's residential market is entering a bubble or simply responding to strong demand.

The post went viral and many social media users commented on it.

Went to see a 3BHK flat in Pune on launch a month ago.

Realtor quoted looks 1.80 CR.

Went there after 15 days again. This time, the price went to 1.95 CR.

I wanted to ask further questions yesterday. Quote is now 2 CR with projected to be 2.15 CR next month.

Either…

— Kunal Gandhi (@kunalvg) January 8, 2026

Gandhi noted that the rapid price surge raised questions about whether India's residential market is heading toward a bubble or merely reflecting strong demand. His post quickly went viral, sparking a wave of reactions from social media users.

One user, whose brother works in real estate, commented that the price rise is expected and not a bubble. Another user added that while demand is definitely high in cities like Pune, such rapid price increases don't entirely make sense and that the situation varies depending on the area. A third user pointed out that although demand has always existed, access to capital was a challenge. With globalization, more Indians are earning at global standards, but this can sometimes lead to overbuilding and potentially create a bubble.

Nevertheless, rapid price increases, such as those noted in Gandhi's experience, highlight the need for continued monitoring of supply, demand and pricing trends to ensure long-term stability in India's housing market.

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'We Will Defend Greenland': Denmark Warns US Of 'Devastating' NATO War

Denmark would have to defend itself in the event of an American attack on Greenland, said Denmark Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Defence Committee Rasmus Jarlov. He acknowledged that although the Danish army would not be able to stop the US, an attack is not acceptable.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Jarlov said, "We also want to make clear that it's not acceptable to attack us militarily, and it would lead to the absurd situation and disastrous situation of a war between two NATO countries, which would be completely devastating and very, very stupid and unnecessary."

Jarlov said that there is no threat, hostility or justification for Trump to attack Greenland since the US already has access to Greenland, and the two nations have a defence agreement that allows them access to do mining. "There's absolutely no need for this, and we hope we can get it back on track and that it doesn't escalate," he explained.

#NDTVExclusive | "We Will Defend Greenland": Denmark MP Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) Warns US Of 'Devastating' NATO War@vishnundtv pic.twitter.com/MHWs84cQM8

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 9, 2026

Trump previously made an offer to buy the island in 2019, during his first presidential term, only to be told it was not for sale. After returning to office following his victory in the 2024 US Presidential Election, Trump revived his offer from his first term to purchase Greenland, which was again turned down.

Jarlov said that Greenland is not for sale and that it is not a matter of price for the nation. "We can't sell 57,000 Danish citizens to become Americans. They have made that extremely clear." 

Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an armed US attack to take Greenland could spell the end for the 76-year-old Western military alliance. 

"Certainly a military attack would be the end of NATO, because then Denmark would have to invoke the Article 5 of NATO, which is the oath that countries have to come and protect us. Then the Americans and all other countries would be obliged to come and help Denmark protect Denmark against the United States. Of course, the Americans would veto that, and then NATO would be dead," he said.

On Tuesday (local time), the White House said it was considering "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating during a briefing that the use of military force was not off the table.

Leavitt said President Trump had made it clear that "acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States" and was vital to deterring adversaries in the Arctic region.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that he plans to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials next week. He also clarified that Trump wants to buy the island and not use military force, Wall Street Journal reported. Meanwhile, Denmark has welcomed the meeting with the US officials as "dialogue that is needed". 

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