BENGALURU: She clutched her hand, almost literally clinging on to dear life. “Please don’t go anywhere,” was all she managed to say, but those few words were enough to convey her ordeal midair on a Goa-New Delhi flight Saturday afternoon. Thereon, Dr Anjali Nimbalkar didn’t move an inch until the aircraft made a priority landing in Delhi and the severely ill passenger, an American, was evacuated to hospital.A gripping mid-air medical emergency ended in a life being saved – thanks to some quick intervention by this Bengaluru doctor-turned-politician who was on board. Around 1.15 pm, barely 10 minutes after the IndiGo flight took off from Goa, the 34-year-old woman, identified as Jenny from California, complained of uneasiness and shivers before collapsing. She was seated in the 16th row, along with her sister. The duo were travelling to Delhi to attend a wedding.However, even before a call for a doctor could be made over the passenger address system, Dr Nimbalkar – a medical professional and former Congress MLA from Khanapur assembly constituency in Karnataka’s Belagavi district – got off her seat and rushed to help.Upon examination, she found the passenger unconscious, pale and severely dehydrated, with clenched fists and symptoms suggestive of a seizure. The doctor quickly gathered the passenger’s medical history from her sister and initiated basic resuscitative measures, managing to revive her. Dr Nimbalkar then administered oral electrolyte solution that the passenger herself was carrying, as she had suffered a stomach infection the day before.With the situation apparently under control, Dr Nimbalkar returned to her seat. However, about 30 minutes later, the doctor was urgently summoned to attend to the same passenger, who had collapsed for a second time and looked critical.Meanwhile, the captain was informed by the cabin crew about the medical emergency on hand and a priority landing was arranged in New Delhi.

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to suicide.Young actor and State Award winner Akhil Vishwanath (30) was found dead at his home.Akhil was best known for his performance in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s film ‘Chola’, where he played the lead role of the lover. He had also acted in films including ‘Operation Java’. According to Manorama Online reports, Akhil was found hanging inside his house. His mother, Geetha, discovered him while she was getting ready to leave for work.Akhil was working as a mechanic at a mobile phone shop in Kottali, though he had reportedly stopped going to work for some time. His father, Vishwanathan of Chunkal Chencherivalappil, is currently undergoing treatment after sustaining serious injuries in a bike accident.

Journey from child artist to ‘Chola’

Akhil Vishwanath’s association with cinema began at a young age. While he was a student, he won the State Government Award for Best Child Artist for his performance in the telefilm ‘Mangandi’, in which he acted alongside his brother Arun. Both brothers received the award in the same year.He later gained wider attention through ‘Chola’, directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, which won the State Film Award in 2019.

Industry reacts with shock

The news of Akhil’s death was first shared by film worker Manoj Kumar, who wrote, “What have you done, Akhil?”Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s condolence note read, “The news that Akhil has committed suicide is heartbreaking. He came into cinema from a life filled with severe hardships. Just one film like Chola was enough for him to firmly establish himself as an actor in Malayalam cinema. That did not happen. When that film was sidelined, the future hopes of many people who proved their talent through that film, including that young man, were pushed into darkness. I still cannot believe that Akhil committed suicide. I understand that he was recently preparing to act in an upcoming OTT film.”

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

The director further wrote, “I feel deeply sad, Akhil. I do not know what caused this untimely death. But those who turned the future of people like you, including yourself, into darkness also share responsibility for it. May your soul rest in peace. May your loving smile touch me again someday.”‘Chola’ actor Joju George expressed his grief, saying, “Rest In Peace Akhil .”DISCLAIMER:If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or mental illness, please seek professional help immediately from a doctor, mental health expert, or NGO. Helplines are also available.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is fueling anticipation, with expert cricket commentator Aakash Chopra offering his insights on the international players who are poised to attract the highest bids. Chopra’s predictions are based on the current landscape of T20 cricket, factoring in the crucial elements of supply, demand, and the specific gaps in franchise rosters. His bold forecasts highlight a market that is particularly hungry for elite all-rounders and match-winning specialists.

Aakash Chopra names the 5 most expensive overseas players in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction

The top-tier IPL 2026 mini-auction picks

In a video on his Instagram account, Aakash Chopra is unequivocal about the player who will headline the bidding war, placing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green at the top. Chopra is convinced Green is peerless in the auction, making a powerful statement on his potential value:

“Cameron Green will be number 1, there is nobody around him. Whatever the final price may be, he will only get the maximum cap of Rs 18 crore, but it could be a tremendous bidding war. KKR will be there and CSK will be there and there will be another team that will jump in before CSK, it could actually go up to Rs 25 to 28 crore for him.” Chopra said.

Following Green, Chopra predicts high demand for England’s Jonny Bairstow at number two, citing his recent form and versatility: “I have placed Jonny Bairstow at number 2. He has scored a lot of runs and also played a few matches for Mumbai Indians last season. Many teams can bid for him. KKR needs a wicketkeeper-batsman and DC needs an explosive batsman in the top order, so I think there will be a lot of interest in him.” Chopra added.

Also READ: Will Ricky Ponting miss the IPL 2026 auction? Here’s what we know about Punjab Kings’ head coach availability

High-value specialists and recency bias

For the third most expensive slot, Chopra selects the explosive English all-rounder, Liam Livingstone. His reasoning is purely market-driven, emphasizing the scarcity of high-impact finishers:

“Liam Livingstone has not performed well, his performance has not been up to the mark, be it for Punjab or RCB, but now everything depends on supply and demand, there is no explosive middle-order player in the auction, even Maxi (Maxwell) is not there now. So, I think Livingstone will make money this time too.”

In the lower half of his top five, Chopra places a collection of high-value specialists and all-rounders. At the fourth spot, he names the spin-bowling all-rounders Michael Bracewell (New Zealand) and Cooper Connolly (Australia), with a specific call-out to a franchise:

“There should be a lot of interest in Michael Bracewell, but unfortunately there isn’t. CSK, you need an offie (off-spinner), he bats well too. So CSK should consider him. Ricky Ponting now has an overseas slot vacant, so Connolly could be an option there.”

Finally, for the fifth position, Chopra lists three players, South Africa’s David Miller and Anrich Nortje, and Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, predicting a massive price increase for the South Africans due to immediate performance:

“The South Africa series is currently underway, so there will be some recency bias. I have placed Matheesha Pathirana, David Miller, and Anrich Norkhia at number 5. If Nortje  and Miller perform well against India, they will earn a lot of money.” Chopra concluded.

Also READ: After facing IPL 2026 auction ban, Harry Brook to receive a handsome contract fee from Sunrisers Leeds

Mumbai: It’s 1 pm at the Goethe-Institut in Mumbai, and students of the German language course begin filing into their classroom. In this small group of around 15, there is a doctor, a chef, a neuroscientist, a chemical engineer and an IT professional — all united by a single goal: to one day live, study or work in Germany.A Chef’s German DreamAmong them is Yogesh Naik, a chef who has worked in the Middle East and in Mumbai. He dreams of moving to the ‘global centre of continental cuisine’, as he terms it. His journey is being made possible by a new “Opportunity Card” visa introduced in 2024 under recent reforms to the German Skilled Immigration Act. It allows skilled workers to enter Germany and look for employment while simultaneously working up to 20 hours a week. “For me, this is a no-loss proposition as it comes with no large or consequential investment,” Naik says.The Long Road for DoctorsMayur Sonavane, his classmate, is an MBBS graduate who wants to specialise in diagnostic radiology. His road is longer and more demanding. Medicine is a regulated profession in Germany, which means his Indian MBBS degree is not automatically recognised. He must qualify at high-proficiency language levels — up to C2 — and pass a German medical-language examination along with further assessments before he can work with patients. “In many cases, especially for third-country degrees, the MBBS must pass a medical knowledge examination and sometimes a complete supervised practice before receiving full licence by a relevant professional authority, for example, the state medical board,” says Remco Rehberg, Managing Director at ProfOrg, a Germany-based global mobility service provider. According to data from the Federal Institute for Vocational and Educational Training, the occupation with the most applications for recognition is nursing, followed by doctors and then engineers.Why Students InvestFor Sonavane, however, the effort is worth it: “Another big reason I want to go is the cost-friendly, quality education. Any private medical college fee in India will cross Rs 1 crore, while in Germany, all postgraduate courses in state universities don’t have tuition fees. You only end up paying for room and board,” he says.There are others with similar dreams. A young man hopes to pursue a master’s in neuroscience with a focus on autoimmune diseases. And a young woman, fresh out of her 12th standard exams, wants to “flee the nest” and experience a university education in a new country, in a new culture. Together, they are investing a year and upwards of a lakh rupees to move from beginner-level German to advanced proficiency, all in the hope of unlocking life and opportunity in Europe’s largest economy.Germany’s foreign student numbers have jumped from about 2.1 lakh in 2013–14 to nearly 3.8 lakh in 2023–24, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Indians now form the largest cohort at 49,000 — roughly 13% of all international students — edging ahead of China at around 11%.Rehberg explains that from 2024, students from ‘third countries’ (including India) may work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days per calendar year; or up to 20 hours per week, year-round. On completion of their studies, they also get time to transition to a career. “Non-EU graduates of a German university can extend their residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job related to their degree,” An added flexibility is offered, “During these 18 months, they may work in any job, not only in their field of study. Once they find a suitable qualified job, they can switch to a work-based residence title such as EU Blue Card or skilled worker residence permit,” Rehberg added.Language Barriers at the Starting LineIt is not always a smooth ride. Even before dealing with immigration forms or workplace rules, many Indians find that German language requirements block the first step.Nearly two years after Maharashtra signed an MoU with the state of Baden-Württemberg to send 10,000 skilled workers, not a single candidate has gone abroad. Despite ₹5 crore spent on publicity and 32,000 registrations, none cleared even the minimum A2 German test required for the programme.Germany follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to assess proficiency. The scale begins at A1 (absolute beginner) and A2 (basic user), progresses to B1 and B2 — the most common requirements for students and workers — and then to C1 and C2, which represent advanced mastery. B1 is typically needed for vocational training programmes (Ausbildung) and professions like electricians, bakers and other skilled trades. B2 is generally expected in the healthcare sector, where communication accuracy can directly affect patient care. C1/C2 levels are required where near-native fluency is necessary, such as academic or specialist professional roles. On paper, some sectors appear more flexible: many IT jobs and several English-medium university programmes do not mandate German at the entry stage.But daily life tells a different story — part-time jobs, internships, renting a home, even a routine bank or grocery visit all require moderate German. “We recommend students and workers aim for at least B2 so they can manage daily tasks and civic life,” says Mukta Gadkari, who heads the German language programme at Goethe-Institut Mumbai. Without that, she warns, integration becomes slow, stressful and isolating.Social Integration and ExperiencesConcerns about social integration also weigh heavy. A study by the German Institute of Labour Market and Occupational Research found that 2.6 million people — roughly a quarter of the country’s foreign-born population — cited racism as a reason for considering leaving Germany.What many Indians read as unfriendliness in Germany is often just cultural difference, says Mukta Gadkari. “We are ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and shower guests with attention, so Indians abroad may find locals cold. But Germans are simply more measured and avoid personal questions.” That distance, she adds, can leave newcomers feeling isolated, especially early on and before their language skills improve. Yet experiences vary widely. Chintan Joshi, another classmate who has already completed his master’s and is currently learning German as a professional requirement for his IT job, said: “I did my post-graduation from Technical University Dresden, the former which is notorious as the founding centre of the far-right AfD party, yet I faced absolutely no discrimination or problems there, while I was viciously verbally abused and insulted in Berlin, which is quite diverse.”Labour shortage driving immigration policyGermany’s push for skilled migrants is driven by severe and widening labour shortages, especially in healthcare and elder care as its population ages. “Germany has broad and persistent skill shortages,” says Rehberg, noting acute gaps in nursing, elderly care and key medical specialties. IT is similarly strained: by 2024, non-Germans made up about 15% of the ICT workforce ( nearly 1.65 lakh specialists), a figure that has more than tripled since 2014. Shortages also stretch across trades, logistics, hospitality and childcare, where some 1.25 lakh positions are vacant. “In all of these sectors, immigration is no longer ‘nice to have’; it is structurally necessary,” Rehberg states. Well, Indians are looking with interest at meeting some of this demand.

Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia criticised VIP culture at Lionel Messi‘s Kolkata event, where genuine fans were unable to see the football star due to unwanted VIP presence. The GOAT Tour’s Kolkata leg on Saturday turned chaotic at Salt Lake Stadium when fans who purchased expensive tickets began throwing bottles and trying to break gates after Messi departed early. Fans expressed anger through vandalism, blaming poor event management and VIPs for monopolising Messi’s time.

“I think it’s very unfortunate. I think the organisers did their best, but sometimes it gets out of control, especially VIP culture – it becomes very difficult even to the organisers to stop a lot of VIPs who are not supposed to be there as well, I think they entered and crowded. The genuine fans did not really get to see Messi. So, I think that was where the fans were very upset,” Bhaichung Bhutia told ANI.Bhutia emphasised Messi’s massive following in Kolkata and across India, suggesting the need to prevent unwanted VIP presence at such events.“Hopefully, I think these kinds of mistakes don’t happen…I heard 80,000 people came in to see Messi. Knowing that Messi is worshipped in Kolkata and in India, when they get disappointed paying such a high-price and coming from such faraway places, I think it’s very disappointing. I think the Govt has taken some steps and action…My only suggestion is that I think in future this has to be really well-organised and at the same time, lot of unwanted VIPs surrounding should be avoided,” Bhutia added.West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas announced a government investigation into the incident.Governor Ananda Bose confirmed the event organiser’s arrest, stating, “The organiser has been arrested, and an investigation has been done…”Additional Director General Law and Order Jawed Shamim assured that the situation was under control.“There is normalcy now. The second part is the investigation; the FIR has been lodged, and the chief organiser has been arrested… I’m telling you, they (organisers) are promising that they will return (ticket fee to fans). We will see how it can be done,” Jawed Shamim told reporters.

NEW DELHI: Air India has offered to explore operating 275 additional flights this month in wake of the government-ordered 10% capacity cut for IndiGo. The Tata Group airline has asked aviation ministry, which is likely to finalise the route curtailment over the weekend itself, for a long-term plan so that it acts accordingly, reports Saurabh Sinha. “There are about 1,900 IndiGo routes of which we are cutting at least 10%. A final decision will be taken by Sunday or Monday. Some of these routes will be given to Air India, AI Express and Akasa. We can’t allow people to suffer in peak travel season. Also, this is a way to check a single airline’s domination,” said a senior govt official. SpiceJet may also operate some extra flights.Sources said AI sought clarity from the government about how long the current situation would play out. “In the short term, we are exploring operating 275 extra fights this month on routes that bear the maximum brunt (of IndiGo cuts). Whenever possible, we operate our widebody Boeing 777 between Delhi and Mumbai. We want to know how long this (IndiGo cuts) will continue so that accordingly we can act. The short-term addition is coming from the spare capacity we had in our existing system,” said sources. Other airlines have seen a major jump in aircraft occupancy after the IndiGo fiasco.Meanwhile, IndiGo operated over 2,050 flights for the second day running Saturday “as per the revised, scaled down schedule.” An IndiGo statement said, “…We have informed all our airport partners to publish the new flight schedules of the adjusted network on terminal screens to avoid any confusion. With over 3.2 lakh customers choosing to fly with us daily, we are grateful for the confidence they continue to place in us.” Aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha has majorly upped the scale of Air Sewa, the government’s complaint redress forum, so that issues of affected IndiGo passengers can be addressed quickly.Officials probing the IndiGo fiasco said the airline had denied pilot shortage. “Probe is on. What we have observed so far is a mix of several things like not having a buffer in pilot numbers to meet any sudden increased requirement; a bravado by the airline that it can ‘manage’ the situation created by the new crew duty rules (which have now been put in abeyance for IndiGo A320 pilots till Feb 10) and a breakdown in management-pilot relations,” they said.

NW DELHI: Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated stop in Kolkata during the G.O.A.T. Tour of India 2025 descended into disorder on Saturday, as poor crowd management and security lapses overshadowed what was meant to be a landmark event for Indian football fans. Thousands packed the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) hoping to see the Argentine great, only to leave frustrated and disappointed.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Messi’s appearance at the stadium was fleeting. Surrounded by a dense security ring and a large entourage, the World Cup winner was unable to complete his planned lap of honour as the crowd surged uncontrollably.

What was scheduled to be a nearly two-hour programme — including interactions with prominent personalities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — was cut short to under 30 minutes, prompting visible anger in the stands.As tensions rose, bottles were thrown and chairs damaged, exposing serious gaps in crowd control at one of the country’s biggest sporting venues.

Lionel Messi GOAT tour of India: What led to the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium?

Many ticket-holders, including those who paid premium prices, complained that they failed to see Messi at all — either in person or on the stadium’s big screens — despite waiting for hours. The presence of politicians and dignitaries occupying key areas further limited visibility, adding to the sense of exclusion among fans.Outside the stadium, disgruntled supporters told the media that Messi had remained on the field only briefly before being escorted away for safety reasons.The chaos stood in sharp contrast to the earlier mood in the city. Earlier in the day, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70-foot iron statue of himself at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, depicting him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy — a moment that drew widespread admiration.However, the scenes at Salt Lake Stadium ultimately cast a shadow over Kolkata’s hosting of the global icon, raising serious questions about event planning and security as Messi’s India tour moves ahead.

The 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL 15) will run from 14 December 2025 to 25 January 2026, featuring eight franchises, 40 league matches and a four-game playoff series across 11 iconic Australian venues. Hobart Hurricanes enter as defending champions after claiming their maiden title in the previous season, adding extra intrigue to a campaign already stacked with international stars such as Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner.​

BBL 2025-26: Format

Organized by Cricket Australia, BBL 15 sticks to the familiar Twenty20 template with a league phase followed by Qualifier, Knockout, Challenger and Final, mirroring recent seasons. The tournament retains eight core teams – Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars – with a total of 44 matches, including playoffs.​

Each side plays a compact round-robin slate amounting to 40 league fixtures before the top four advance to the finals. The 1st and 2nd placed teams meet in the Qualifier on 20 January, while 3rd and 4th contest the Knockout on 21 January; the Qualifier winner moves straight into the Final, and the loser gets a second chance in the Challenger on 23 January against the Knockout winner, with the champion decided in the Final on 25 January 2026.

BBL 2025-26: Fixtures

Also READ: BBL|15: Check out the full list of Pakistan and Bangladesh players playing in the Big Bash League

BBL 2025-26: Squads

Adelaide Strikers: Matthew Short (c), Alex Carey, Hassan Ali, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Mackenzie Harvey, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood

Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja (c), Colin Munro, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson

Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (c), Tim David, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald, Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain, Rehan Ahmed, Mac Wright, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake

Melbourne Renegades: Will Sutherland (c), Tim Seifert, Adam Zampa, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Hassan Khan, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan, Tom Rogers

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Mark Steketee, Scott Boland, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Liam Hatcher, Hamish McKenzie

Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (c), Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Sam Fanning, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne, Mahli Beardman

Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (c), Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Todd Murphy, Kane Richardson, Jordan Silk, Lachlan Shaw, Josh Philippe, Hayden Kerr, Sam Curran

Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Sam Billings, Lockie Ferguson, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Cameron Bancroft, Wes Agar, Ollie Davies, Shadab Khan, Matthew Gilkes, Tanveer Sangha, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Andrews, Ravichandran Ashwin, Blake Nikitaras

Also READ: From Shaheen Afridi to Sam Curran: Full list of overseas players selected in the BBL|15 draft