PATNA: A video purportedly uploaded by a Pakistan-based man, threatening Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar over the hijab row has sent Patna police into a tizzy with cops registering a case with the cyber police station and asking Meta to block the account used to upload the video.Inspector general of police (Patna) Jitendra Rana said an email was sent to Meta to block the account and an FIR registered against the profile at the Cyber police station in Patna.“Details have been sought from Meta about the profile, which shared the video content on Instagram. Further investigation is underway to identify the uploader and people who shared it,” Rana told TOI.The Instagram user identified himself as “Shahzad Bhatti”, a Pakistan-based gangster, who released the video warning the Bihar CM of dire consequences.“Everyone must have seen what happened in Bihar…. That person still has time to apologise to that girl… Don’t say later that a warning was not given,” Bhatti said in the video.Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar said authorities immediately swung into action and the case was handed over to Patna IG for a thorough probe.Patna Cyber DSP Nitish Chandra Dharia said they have identified the Instagram ID and are investigating the threatening video message. “Further action will be taken based on our investigation,” he said.A row erupted on December 15 when the CM was distributing appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors. A video emerged, showing the CM handing a letter to Dr Nusrat Parveen, and later lowering a veil covering her face for everyone to see the achiever’s face in a gesture seen by the ruling NDA coalition as “affection shown by a father towards a daughter”.However, the incident drew criticism from opposition parties like RJD and Congress and activists elsewhere in the country.The NDA stood by Nitish, with firebrand BJP minister Giriraj Singh saying that India is not an Islamic country, and showing one’s face is not objectionable. “Doesn’t one show one’s face at the passport office and at the airport?” asked the Union minister.JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha narrated how a number of welfare schemes launched by the Nitish Kumar govt for the social, economic and educational benefit of the minority class people have proved to be milestones. “Prior to 2005, the minority class was feeling neglected, but the Nitish Kumar govt has brought it into the social mainstream,” Kushwaha said.HAM(S) patron and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said Nitish pulled the veil not with bad intention but with fatherly affection. “His intention was not bad, otherwise I, too, would have protested,” Manjhi said.

Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus announced a day of state mourning on Saturday following the death of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, Prothom Alo reported. Hadi, a youth leader of Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising, died in Singapore after succumbing to injuries from an assassination attempt, officials said on Thursday.Protesters vandalised the offices of the country’s largest daily, Prothom Alo, as anger mounted over the death of Hadi, a spokesperson for the political platform Inquilab Mancha, amid continuing unrest sparked by his killing.Bangladesh witnessed anti-India protests after hundreds, rallying under the banner “July Oikya” (July Unity), marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon, chanting anti-India slogans and demanding an end to what they called “anti-Bangladesh conspiracies,” along with the return of their former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.What we know so far

Yunus declares state mourning over ‘martyr’ Hadi’s death

In a late-night address, Yunus announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast on Saturday at all government, semi-government and autonomous offices, educational institutions, public and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad. He said special prayers would be held after Jummah prayers on Friday in mosques nationwide for the forgiveness of “martyr” Osman Hadi, with similar observances to take place at places of worship of other faiths. The chief adviser offered prayers for Osman Hadi’s soul and conveyed condolences to his wife, family members and colleagues. He also said the government would assume responsibility for the welfare of Hadi’s wife and his only child.

Protests erupt following youth leader’s death

Protests erupted in Dhaka following confirmation of the death of Inqilab Manch convener Sharif Osman Hadi, with demonstrators blocking the busy Shahbagh intersection in the capital, according to Prothom Alo. The protest began as news of Hadi’s death spread, causing major traffic disruption in the area. Chanting slogans such as “Who are you, who am I, Hadi, Hadi,” “We will all be Hadi, we will speak in the face of bullets,” and “Catch the league, go to jail,” protesters demanded justice and accountability. Hadi, a spokesperson for Inqilab Manch and a prospective independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head by assailants on Box Culvert Road in Purana Paltan on December 12. He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to a private hospital as his condition worsened. At the government’s initiative, he was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

India resumes visa centre operation in Dhaka; two facilities still shut

India resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after suspending services over heightened security concerns, even as two similar facilities elsewhere in Bangladesh were shut amid anti-India protests. The Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Khulna and Rajshahi were closed citing security risks, as demonstrators attempted to march toward the premises before being stopped by security forces.“The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” PTI quoted an IVAC official saying.

Current situation in Bangladesh ‘complex’, says parliamentary panel

A parliamentary committee on external affairs said that the recent unrests in Bangladesh were “complex and evolving”.“The committee has been informed that the current situation in Bangladesh is complex and evolving. There is uncertainty regarding the schedule of democratic elections. The political events of August 2024 have created significant instability and uncertainty with incidents of violence, attacks and intimidation of minorities, tribal communities, media groups, intellectuals, journalists, academicians, etc., becoming the norm,” it said.“Concerns have been raised about human rights issues, including restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly,” the panel said.

European Union reaffirms commitment to human rights

America seems to be staring at another rocky relationship with the European Union. In a social media post, US officials slammed the European Union for discriminating against American technology companies and threatened to penalize European tech companies in return. The post comes from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTP). For those unaware, USTR stands for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, a US government agency within the Executive Office of the President, responsible for advising the President and developing/implementing U.S. international trade policy, negotiating trade agreements, and resolving trade disputes. In the post, US officials have complained that the EU has not walked back broader regulation of company business practices while also proceeding with investigations of major American technology companies such as Google, Twitter, Apple, Amazon and Meta. The post specifically names certain European companies that it said enjoy access to the huge American market without any restrictions whatsoever. The European companies that face America ire include: Accenture, Amadeus, Capgemini, DHL, Mistral, Publicis, SAP, Siemens and Spotify.

USTR’s complete post targetting EU

USTR’s long post blamed EU of “persisted in a continuing course of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines and directives” against American companies. It singled out potential European service providers that could be targeted by name. Here’s the complete post:“The European Union and certain EU Member States have persisted in a continuing course of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines, and directives against U.S. service providers. U.S. services companies provide substantial free services to EU citizens and reliable enterprise services to EU companies, and they support millions of jobs and more than $100 billion in direct investment in Europe. The United States has raised concerns with the EU for years on these matters without meaningful engagement or basic acknowledgement of U.S. concerns.In stark contrast, EU service providers have been able to operate freely in the United States for decades, benefitting from access to our market and consumers on a level playing field. Some of the largest EU service providers that have hitherto enjoyed this expansive market access include, among others:— Accenture— Amadeus— Capgemini— DHL— Mistral— Publicis— SAP— Siemens— SpotifyIf the EU and EU Member States insist on continuing to restrict, limit, and deter the competitiveness of U.S. service providers through discriminatory means, the United States will have no choice but to begin using every tool at its disposal to counter these unreasonable measures. Should responsive measures be necessary, U. law permits the assessment of fees or restrictions on foreign services, among other actions. The United States will take a similar approach to other countries that pursue an EU-style strategy in this area.”

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi with one of the largest purses in the room, signaling a massive intent to overhaul their core for the future. Known for their calculated approach, the five-time champions made waves by aggressively pursuing a blend of high-impact international stars and expensive domestic uncapped talents. However, despite their financial muscle, the franchise faced significant scrutiny for their tactical decisions during the marquee bidding wars.

Ravichandran Ashwin offers a no-nonsense evaluation of CSK’s IPL 2026 Auction strategy

Former CSK stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin provided a blunt assessment of the franchise’s performance, particularly highlighting their failed pursuit of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin suggested that the Super Kings missed a trick by not showing enough conviction when it mattered most. He observed that while CSK participated in the bidding war that saw Green’s price soar to a record ₹25.20 crore, their efforts seemed to stem more from “necessity than intent,” indicating a lack of full commitment to the player. Ashwin noted that his own mock auction had shown Green was unlikely to exceed the ₹30 crore mark, and he felt that if Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had been forced to be more patient, CSK might have had a clearer window to secure him.

Ashwin emphasized that the Australian is a “generational talent” whose presence could have redefined the team’s middle-order balance. According to Ashwin, the price point should have been secondary to the rare skill set Green offers, and by letting him slip to a rival, CSK may have allowed one of the most significant acquisitions of the season to pass them by.

“Personally, I felt Cameron Green would have been a terrific addition to CSK, and in that sense, they may have missed a small trick. That said, this isn’t about the price point. Cameron Green is a generational talent, and for KKR, he is an outstanding acquisition,” Ashwin said.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Who is Prashant Veer? The ‘next Ravindra Jadeja’ for CSK

IPL 2026 Auction: CSK’s strategic shift toward uncapped Indian youth 

Following the disappointment of the Green saga, CSK pivoted sharply toward an aggressive youth-first policy, breaking records to secure the future of Indian cricket. The franchise stunned the auction room by spending a combined ₹28.40 crore on two uncapped players: all-rounder Prashant Veer and wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, both acquired for ₹14.20 crore each. This investment reflects a deep-seated belief in domestic scouting over the premium placed on established international names that often carry inflated price tags.

By securing Veer, a left-arm spinner and power-hitter, CSK aims to fill the tactical void left by Ravindra Jadeja, while Sharma is being groomed as a long-term successor behind the stumps. This move represents a classic CSK gamble, prioritizing value-building over star-buying, as seen in previous seasons with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Matheesha Pathirana.

While the high prices for uncapped talent raised eyebrows, the management appears confident that these generational Indian prospects will provide better long-term returns than a single expensive overseas recruit. Whether this pivot toward domestic gems can compensate for the missed trick identified by Ashwin will be the defining narrative of the Super Kings’ 2026 campaign as they look to add a sixth trophy to their cabinet.

Also READ: Who is Kartik Sharma? The ₹14.2 crore record-breaker signed by CSK

Mumbai: Barely a fortnight after World AIDS Day, when India celebrated a 49% drop in new HIV infections since 2010, data from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) points to a nagging problem: Patients dropping out of treatment.The data, acquired using the RTI Act by south Mumbai resident Chetan Kothari, showed that 20,312 HIV-positive people dropped out of treatment or were “lost to treatment” in 2024-25. The corresponding number for 2025-26 (till September 30) was 9,969. Mumbai and Maharashtra — considered a HIV/AIDS hotspot since the global epidemic began almost 40 years back — has 833 “lost to treatment” in 2025-26 (till September 30).Maharashtra is the only state to have two local AIDS control societies: Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) and Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS).While MDACS and MSACS witnessed a reduction in the dropout rate during the Covid pandemic, officials said that the rate is higher since. In 2020-21, Maharashtra registered 1,045 dropouts, and the number dropped to 1,000 in the next financial year. In 2022-23, the number increased to 1,214 and further to 1,290 and 1,450 in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively.“In Mumbai, we usually have 100-200 patients who are lost to treatment every year, but on follow-up, we realise that most of them are migrants who relocated to their hometown after a few years of treatment in Mumbai,” said a senior MDACS official.Dr Ishwar Gilada of the People’s Health Organisation said, “The dropout rate is worrisome for any health programme. More so in HIV, where the national programme has made efforts to ensure free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and tests are available for those who need it.”According to NACO, over 2.5 million people are living with HIV (PLHIV) in India. Of these, 1.8 million are on ART treatment. Patients can pick up the medicines from the designated centres once in three months and undergo viral load testing.The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system and makes the person susceptible to diseases; ART keeps the viral load in check, allowing the person to remain healthy.According to NACO data released on December 16, roughly 1% of the patients are lost to treatment every year. MDACS officials said the organisation holds special drives to check on people who have not returned for medicines or tests. “We call the person three times over three months before declaring them as ‘lost to follow’,” he said. Efforts are also made to trace the patient back to his/her state by contacting the local AIDS society.

Indian Super League trophy (ISL Photo)

NEW DELHI: The Indian Super League (ISL) clubs were on Thursday asked to submit a proposal for forming a consortium to run the 2025-26 season of the league, which is yet to begin. Representatives of all ISL clubs were invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the All India Football Federation on Saturday, on the sidelines of which the matter was discussed.“Regarding the consortium thing, the clubs have been told to submit to the ministry their proposal so that it can be discussed during the Dec 20 AGM. But there is no guarantee,” a club representative told news agency PTI.The request followed a virtual meeting on Thursday between AIFF officials, ISL club representatives and the sports ministry. The clubs were asked to submit their proposal by Friday evening.The AIFF also informed the clubs that, under its new constitution, any amendment to its provisions could be done only after the General Body of the national federation was formed according to the new constitution itself. “It could be hotchpotch also since the new National Sports Grievance Act is likely to be implemented shortly. So there can be changes under the Act also,” a source in the know of things said.Meanwhile, the Indian Women’s League, starting December 20, will be held without a sponsor after the AIFF and Capri Sports – the lone bidder in the national federation’s tender to monetise the commercial rights of the first and second divisions of the IWL for five years – could not reach an agreement. The clubs had earlier suggested forming a consortium to resolve the ongoing commercial impasse in Indian football. The AIFF said this would require deliberations and approval by its Executive Committee and the AGM. The Marketing Rights Agreement between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited, which organised the ISL for 12 seasons since its inception in 2014, ended on December 8, leaving the top-tier league without a commercial framework.

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