Poco M8 5G Review: Reliable Where It Counts

At a price tag of Rs. 18,999, the Poco M8 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that's more about delivering on the basics than on fancy features. It brings quite an upgrade in terms of design, a large and colourful AMOLED display, decent performance, and lasting battery life. The promise of long-term software support further adds to its appeal. The cameras, however, are anything but impressive, and the UI is burdened with bloat. But once again, these are expected compromises at this price.

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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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NASA Spots Giant Antarctic Iceberg Turning Blue as It Nears Breakup

NASA scientists are closely tracking iceberg A-23A as vivid blue meltwater pools spread across its surface, signalling rapid decay. Once covering nearly 4,000 square kilometres, the Antarctic megaberg has shrunk to about 1,180 square kilometres and is fragmenting in warmer South Atlantic waters, offering valuable insight into how rising temperatures accelerate iceberg breakup and polar ice loss.

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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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NASA’s Curiosity Rover Sends Stunning New Panorama From High on Mount Sharp on Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover has shared a new panorama from high on Mount Sharp, created from images taken across two Martian days. The colour-tinted view highlights changing light conditions and ancient boxwork formations shaped by groundwater, offering fresh insight into Mars’ past and the rover’s ongoing exploration inside Gale Crater.

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Suryavanshi Surpasses Babar Azam For World Record Ahead Of U-19 World Cup

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has made heads turn across the world with an exceptional display of power-hitting. Still three months short of his 15th birthday, Suryavanshi already has several world records to his name. Ahead of the U-19 World Cup, which starts in Zimbabwe on January 15 with a match between India and the USA, Suryavanshi's form bodes well for the team. In the recently concluded India vs South Africa U-19 ODI series, Suryavanshi slammed 127 off 74 balls in the third match. It was his third century in U-19/Youth ODIs.

Suryavanshi is the first player to score three centuries in Youth ODIs before turning 15. He broke the record held by Babar Azam, who had two tons in U-19 50-over international cricket at the age of 15 or below. In fact, they are the only two cricketers to have multiple centuries in Youth ODIs before turning 15.

In the third ODI held on Wednesday, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his opening partner Aaron George both smashed centuries to propel the team to new heights in their bilateral assignment against the Proteas. Thanks to their 227-run stand for the first wicket, the duo stitched together a historic opening partnership, signaling India's intent ahead of next week's U-19 World Cup. In the process, Suryavanshi also became the youngest captain to score a hundred in Youth ODI history, adding another world record to his name.

The 227-run stand is the highest opening stand in Youth ODIs.

Cricket may not have seen a talent as prodigious as Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who will be one of the star attractions at the U-19 World Cup.

Announcing himself as a superstar with a century on debut for India U-19 while still only 13, Suryavanshi then went on to become the youngest player to sign an IPL contract before smashing a 35-ball century-the second fastest in the league's history.

A destructive batter, he scored 262 runs in the recent U-19 Asia Cup, averaging more than 50 with a strike rate of 182, breaking the record for the quickest Youth ODI century on his way to 171 from 95 balls against the UAE.

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Angammal OTT Release Date: Know When and Where to Watch This Tamil Drama Film Online

Angammal is a Tamil drama film that explores the themes of independence, rural societal norms, and modern civilization. Streaming soon, only on SunNXT.

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Naai Sekar Streaming Now on SunNXT: Know Everything About This Tamil Comedy Drama Film

Naai Sekar is a Tamil comedy-drama film that follows a soul swap between a human and a dog. The sequences are super chaotic and packed with entertainment.

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Maduro's Nike Tracksuit Sold Out Hours After His Handcuffed Pics Go Viral

Hours after the United States launched airstrikes on Caracas, images and videos of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro - blindfolded and handcuffed - in a grey Nike tracksuit being escorted by US agents spread across social media.

The Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured on allegations of drug trafficking and are now expected to face charges in New York, according to US authorities.

A picture, shared by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social, showed Maduro aboard a US military vessel en route to the United States. The image quickly took off online, and attention zeroed in on Maduro's clothing: a gray Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit with black detailing. The outfit sold out rapidly on Nike's US website in the hours following the release of the images.

Search interest for the term “Nike Tech” surged on Google, while TikTok and Instagram were filled with memes and commentary questioning the choice of clothing during such a high-stakes arrest.

Meme of the day. #Maduro #Venezuela #Nike pic.twitter.com/sVaQD70wWp

— Harry Berries (@MrHarryBerries) January 3, 2026

That Maduro Nike Tech Fleece is now a top seller.

The reviews ???? pic.twitter.com/KIUhbvlOv8

— Da Dad (@RogueLeaderLA) January 4, 2026

Son why is Maduro in Nike Tech???? ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/Kpna0VJEx6

— ???? (@ALANFROMNYC) January 3, 2026

Maduro got captured in a Nike Tech lol. pic.twitter.com/E1ndJem2r8

— Jack Mac (@JackMac) January 3, 2026

Nicolás Maduro drip Nike Tech pic.twitter.com/BMUwIRPtpe

— DEXANFETAMINA (@dexabot) January 3, 2026

The Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit is part of the brand's premium Tech Fleece line, a range known for its lightweight, double-layered fabric designed to retain warmth without bulk. It is made using recycled polyester and finished with contrast panelling and zip detailing. Typically sold as a zip-up hoodie and matching joggers, the set is priced at around $140-$160 (approx Rs 14,500) in the US and is advertised as athleisure wear.

The tracksuit appeared in subsequent videos showing Maduro walking under escort by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents after arriving on American soil.

Following the capture of Maduro, Trump issued fresh warnings to Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, saying she could face consequences “bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate with Washington. Trump said a second US strike on Venezuela remained an option, while insisting the US needed full access to Venezuela's oil and natural resources. Rodriguez, who succeeded Maduro, called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States.

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