Rahul Gandhi during a presser in New Delhi (Picture credit: PTI)

NEW DELHI: BJP Saturday seized upon the disclosure made by Sam Pitroda, head of the overseas wing of the party and part of Nehru-Gandhi family’s inner circle, that Congress is a member of the George Soros-linked Global Progressive Alliance and that Rahul Gandhi is part of its presidium saying that it fully explains why the LoP has become the permanent spokesperson of anti-India global forces within Indian politics.At a presser, BJP s Sudhanshu Trivedi pointed to Pitroda’s remarks to a channel confirming Congress’s membership of the global conglomerate of left-leaning parties with links to the controversial billionaire hedge fund operator, and said that it has confirmed what BJP had maintained about real cause of Rahul’s frequent foreign visits.Pitroda was responding to a question about Rahulchoosing to visit Germany and skipping the passage of the legislation for substituting MNREGA. Pitroda justified Rahul’s absence by saying it was necessary because of Congress’s membership of GPA. Trivedi flagged Pitroda’s answer to say that it speaks about priorities of Congress.”If Pitroda and Congress do not care about this, then they must answer whom do they care or?”The RS MP referred to Soros’s statements against Modi govt and his mission of regime change to ask: “Rahul travels abroad, but why does he always meet anti-India organisations and anti-India individuals? Why does he never meet India-supporting institutions, India-friendly think tanks, industry leaders, parliamentarians, or thought leaders? Congress must answer this before the nation.”Trivedi said that on one hand, Rahul objected to not getting a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but during his Germany visit he shared the stage of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung an organisation declared illegal by Russia and expressed anti-India statements. Trivedi remarked that even before this, Sonia Gandhi was found to be the co-chairman of Forum for Democratic Liberties Asia Pacific, and even today, she holds that post. “This organisation was also funded by George Soros”.“When Pitroda was asked what connection the Global Progressive Alliance has with Congress, he reveals that Rahul Gandhi is a member of its presidium, and Sam Pitroda is also its member.” Trivedi said that Pitroda has claimed that it is an alliance of democracies of 110 countries. He said that a question to Sam Pitroda and senior Congress netas is: which 110 countries in the world have stable democracies?“There are 190 countries, of which 57 are Muslim-majority where none have stable democracies. Apart from this, there are 30-40 countries that have monarchies, and if these are excluded, number of democratic countries falls below 100. In such situation, question arises under the cover of democracy, what is this group of countries that appears to attack India’s foundation?” Trivedi asked.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to expand the Pakistan Super League by adding two new franchises ahead of the 2026 edition. Each of the new teams will come with a reserve price of 1.3 billion Pakistani rupees per year (approx INR 41 crore), according to the Pakistan board’s valuation for the next phase of the tournament.

The PCB has shortlisted six cities – Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit – for the two new Pakistan Super League franchises. Two of these locations will be finalized by January. The final auction for the two new teams in the T20 tournament is scheduled to take place on January 8.

Strong Interest in New PSL Franchises as PCB Reviews Bids

According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board has received strong interest in its plan to add two new teams to the Pakistan Super League. A total of 12 groups have submitted initial bid documents, including five from overseas, highlighting growing foreign interest in the league.

Your daily dose of cricket!

The PCB has not yet announced the final list of bidders. Before doing so, it will carry out financial and technical checks to ensure all interested parties meet the required standards.

Earlier this month, the PCB held PSL roadshows in London and New York to attract international investors. The board has also offered strong financial guarantees to make the new franchises more appealing as it looks to expand the league.

PCB Guarantees Rs 850 Million Annual Revenue for Each PSL Franchise

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a financial plan to support teams. Each franchise will be guaranteed at least Rs 850 million every season from the league’s central revenue pool for the next five years. If a team earns less than this amount in any season, the PCB will pay the difference.

At present, the PSL has six teams, and each pays a different annual franchise fee. Quetta Gladiators are valued at Rs 360 million, while Multan Sultans have the highest value at Rs 1.8 billion. Other teams, such as Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, and Peshawar Zalmi, fall in between these figures.

Once the league expands to eight teams, all franchises will receive an equal share from the central revenue pool. The PCB has also allowed each franchise to spend up to USD 1.4 million on players through the PSL draft. This will help teams build stronger squads and increase competition in the league.

Former Multan Sultans Owners Re-Enter PSL Franchise Bidding Process

The ownership situation around Multan Sultans has taken a new turn. According to reports, the franchise’s former owners have entered the bidding process to buy one of the two new PSL teams. They gave up control of Multan Sultans following disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Despite their return to the bidding process, there is still no clear answer on who will own Multan Sultans next season. The uncertainty has raised questions ahead of the upcoming PSL edition.

There is strong speculation that the PCB may run the Multan Sultans themselves for the next season. The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is scheduled to begin on March 26 next year, and a final decision on ownership is expected before then.

Also read: Terrifying scenes in BPL: Dhaka Capitals coach collapses before match, rushed to hospital after CPR

Mumbai: Highlighting the crucial location of a rural hospital at Mehkar, along the crash-prone spots of Samruddhi Mahamarg, a non-profit working on road safety, SaveLIFE Foundation, announced on Saturday that it strengthened the trauma stabalisation capacity of the hospital. This was achieved by handing over a comprehensive list of essential emergency care equipment to improve readiness for serious crashes. Road crash data showed that between Jan 2023 and March 2025, victims from 14 crashes on the corridor were brought to the hospital, highlighting its role in responding to such emergencies. However, due to limited emergency and trauma care resources available at the time, many patients were referred to other facilities. This led to the loss of 29 lives, along with 22 serious injuries and 5 minor injuries, sources said.Based on a data-driven assessment, the Foundation, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd, recently identified critical gaps in the hospital’s ability to provide immediate trauma care and prepared the equipment list to address these deficiencies as part of the zero fatality corridor program.“The trauma care equipment handed over included a crash cart, defibrillator with monitor, ETCO₂ monitor, airway management devices, laryngoscope, vital signs monitor, fracture splint kit, cervical collars, suction machine, stretchers, Fowler’s beds, and wheelchairs, among other essential resources. The current upgrade directly addresses these gaps, enabling the hospital to serve as a stronger first point of stabilisation for crash victims when every minute matters,” said a SaveLIFE member.“This initiative will enable the hospital to provide timely trauma stabilisation for road crash victims and other emergency cases, particularly during the critical ‘golden hour’ following a crash,” said Dr Sunita Hiwase, Medical Superintendent at the rural hospital.“To achieve zero road crash fatalities, it is essential to have a strong emergency care system along high-risk corridors that can respond quickly and effectively. By upgrading the trauma care capabilities at the hospital, we are ensuring that victims receive life-saving care closer to the crash site, thereby improving survival outcomes in the region,” said SaveLIFE Foundation CEO Piyush Tewari.It may be recalled that on March 12, 2023, six people, including four women and a minor, were killed in a car accident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Mehkar in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. Thirteen people were travelling in the “overspeeding” seven-seater car, and the seven others were taken to hospital after they sustained injuries.Later in July the same year, a private bus travelling on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district caught fire. Twenty-five people died, and eight others were injured in the accident.

Virat Kohli and Vishal Jayswal (Insta)

Virat Kohli looked set for another dominant outing while turning out for Delhi in their second Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Gujarat on Friday at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. From the moment he walked out to bat, Kohli was in full flow, playing with authority and attacking intent. At 37, he showed no signs of restraint, taking on the bowlers early and finding gaps all around the ground.

Virat Kohli and Vishal Jayswal

Kohli appeared firmly on course for a second successive hundred, but the innings ended unexpectedly. Against the run of play, Gujarat spinner Vishal Jayswal provided the breakthrough. The left arm orthodox bowler managed to draw Kohli out of his crease as the ball spun away from the outside edge. The wicketkeeper was quick to react, removing the bails and sending Kohli back after a well made 77 off 61 balls.

For a brief period, Gujarat looked in control and threatened to snatch the contest away from Delhi. However, a late collapse turned the tide, allowing Delhi to escape with the result despite the pressure applied by the Gujarat bowlers.

Vishal Jayswal gets signed ball from Virat Kohli

After the match, a warm moment unfolded between Kohli and Jayswal. The former India captain spent time with the spinner who dismissed him, signing the match ball and posing for a photograph. Jayswal later shared the image on Instagram, describing the moment as a surreal experience after growing up watching Kohli on television.The spinner also posted a video of the dismissal, capturing his emotional reaction to taking such a prized wicket. In another message, Jayswal spoke about the significance of the moment, calling it one he would cherish forever and expressing gratitude for the journey the game has given him.Kohli’s return to domestic cricket saw him feature in Delhi’s first two matches of the tournament, scoring 131 against Andhra before following it up with 77 against Gujarat. He was later seen leaving Bengaluru airport on Friday evening and is not expected to take part in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy fixtures.

Mumbai: Treatment of cancer, one of the most feared diseases that claims 2,500 lives every day across India, is emerging as the fastest growing healthcare sector in Mumbai, with annual revenues from oncology services in many five-star hospitals now surpassing that from cardiac care.Mumbai’s leading private hospitals have increased CapEx to build entire floors, wings or new buildings for cancer care. They are installing bunkers for linear accelerators costing up to Rs 25 crore each, acquiring digital PET scanners for Rs 10 crore and offering premium services such as “more precise” robot-assisted oncosurgeries, “fewer side-effects” chemotherapies and immunotherapy at over Rs 2 lakh a dose.Fuelling this growth is a chilling stat: an increase in cancer cases due to better diagnostics and/or lifestyle- and environment-related causes. With increased chances of finding cancer in early stages due to annual checkups, experts expect the numbers to rise from the present 14 lakh cases annually. In addition, “good reimbursement rates” for chemotherapy and radiation under the central govt’s Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme have created a steady revenue stream for both public and private hospitals.When Where WhyCancer care was synonymous with the govt sector until 20 years back, with private hospitals staying away from this cost-intensive sector. “But as govt centres got overcrowded and waiting list longer, the private sector stepped in,” said hospital planning and management consultant Dr Vivek Desai. Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital COO Dr Vivek Talaulikar sees the present boom as the result of a huge gap between patient demand and supply of specialised cancer beds and specialists. “At present, 25 lakh Indians are under treatment for different types of cancer. About 70% of these require multi-stage chemotherapy, and 20-25% surgery and multiple cycles of radiation therapy,” said Dr Talaulikar. In the hospital’s new Block B with 269 beds, cancer care will occupy centrestage: two floors for onco patients and dedicated operation theatres. “We had two bunkers for linear accelerators previously, and now we have added three more,” said Dr Talaulikar. Also, from having two robots till about three years back, “we today have 30 robots,” he added.In Oct, Fortis Hospital Mulund inaugurated its Cancer Institute and the Institute of GastroSciences with “cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and advanced treatment modalities”. Parel’s Gleneagles Hospital, known for its focus on transplants, has roped in pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancer surgeon Dr Shailesh Shrikhande from Tata Memorial Hospital and announced a cancer wing. “We have a licence for 245 beds, and another 43 can be added in a year’s time,” said Gleneagles CEO Dr Bipin Chevale, indicating the new beds would be mainly used for oncology. “India has an aging population, cancer is one of the possibilities,” he added. Challenges and ConcernsDr Desai said that cancer care mirrored cardiology’s boom a decade ago. “Every hospital focused on heart care then, and the city got an excess of cath labs. Such an explosion of infrastructure may not occur with cancer because it is too cost intensive,” he said. He also pointed to a looming shortage of specialised nursing staff and radiation technicians. A senior doctor from a leading hospital explained why revenues per cancer patient stay high: “Unlike, say, heart, where the person gets an angioplasty or a bypass, a cancer patient keeps coming back.“Calls for RegulationFormer Tata Memorial Centre director Dr Rajendra Badwe said, “Cancer is on the rise, and there is a need to provide treatment.” He said there also is a need for audits and checks on private hospitals offering care. “The govt needs to work out some QAQC system. If a private hospital puts out its complication rates and five-year-survival rates, there should be a mechanism to appreciate it by providing it with, say, one star. Another star could be added for innovating with treatment and yet another for research,” he said. Finally, he said, there should be a cap on prices. “In Tata Memorial, we provide medicines at 20% of MRP, but what about private hospitals?” In cancer care, a chunk of earnings comes from pharmacy.

Activists protest against bail to Sengar outside Parliament

NEW DELHI: Invoking Supreme Court‘s verdict in L K Advani case in which it was ruled that anyone who holds public office, like MPs or MLAs, would be deemed a public servant, CBI has told Supreme Court that Delhi high court erred by declaring that Kuldeep Singh Sengar, an MLA when the offence was committed, was not a public servant to be prosecuted under Pocso and granted him bail, reports Amit Anand Choudhary. A vacation bench will take up CBI’s plea Dec 29.Seeking quashing of HC’s order, CBI said when lawmakers can be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for being a public authority, then they should be deemed public servants to be prosecuted under Pocso. HC had ruled that Sengar’s case was not covered under Section 5(c), which talks about aggravated penetrative sexual assault. CBI: HC ignored MLA vested with public trust, authorityThe provision says the offence becomes severe when penetrative sexual assault is committed by specific individuals like police officers, armed forces, public servants, or staff of educational institutions/hospitals, leading to stricter penaltiesCBI said, “The HC failed to consider that a sitting MLA, by virtue of holding a constitutional office, is vested with public trust and authority over the electorate and that such position carries heightened responsibility arising from duties owed to the state and society… It has erred in law by failing to adopt a purposive interpretation that advances the object and intent of the Pocso Act…”It said HC “failed to correctly appreciate the judgment of this Hon’ble Court in the case of L K Advani v CBI wherein the accused MLA was held to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 2 (c) (viii) of Prevention of Corruption Act…”“It is submitted that the offences under Section 5(c) of the Pocso Act are of greater gravity than corruption offences by MP’s/MLA’s… The legislature has therefore provided for stringent mandatory penalties, protective procedural safeguards, and enhanced liability for persons in positions of trust or authority, reflecting the higher societal interest in protecting the vulnerable over abstract institutional harm,” the appeal said.“A comprehensive and meaningful reading of section 5(c) the Pocso Act leads to an irrefutable conclusion that it seeks to punish exploitation and sexual abuse of children from public servants, owing to use of their power, position or status be it political or otherwise,” it said.CBI said a life convict can be given the benefit of suspension of sentence only if, prima facie, the conviction appears unsustainable and there is a high chance of success in appeal. “Mere long incarceration or delay in hearing the appeal, by itself, does not automatically justify suspension in heinous offences; courts must balance individual liberty with societal interest and the gravity of the crime,” it said.

Doctors raise slogans during an indefinite strike against the termination of services of a fellow doctor at IGMC in Shimla

SHIMLA: Healthcare services, except emergency care, were disrupted across govt hospitals in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday after doctors went on indefinite strike, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Dr Raghav Nirula, who was sacked for assaulting a patient at Shimla’s Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) on Dec 22.There’s a video of Nirula brutally thrashing the patient, who is also seen kicking him while lying in bed, but RDA says Nirula’s side of the story hasn’t been considered and the termination is unjust.RDA president Dr Sohail Sharma called Nirula’s termination a “humiliation of the medical fraternity”. Doctors will not resume work until govt reverses the decision, he said. “We accept that there was misconduct, for which the doctor was suspended within six hours. However, terminating him within 48 hours based on the disciplinary committee’s report is not justified,” Dr Sharma said.Patients and their attendants visiting IGMC and Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS) at Chamiyana, in Shimla, faced hardship due to doctors’ absence. Several surgeries scheduled for Saturday had to be postponed.Health and family welfare minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) said the issue would be resolved soon. He added that he would call the doctors for discussions once the CM returned from Delhi. “I always say doctors should not let anger take over. If they had quietly met the chief minister and apologised, saying it happened in a moment of passion, perhaps the entire matter could have been resolved,” he said.The minister assured that steps were being taken to ensure patients did not face inconvenience. Emergency services would continue as usual, and reports were being compiled on doctors attending duty, he added.Jagat Ram (70), a resident of Gadakufar, in Theog tehsil of Shimla district, said his prostate surgery scheduled at AIMSS-Chamiyana on Saturday was postponed. “Doctors advised me not to eat anything after 11 pm yesterday. But this morning, I was told the surgery could not be performed until the strike ends,” he said.The directorate of medical education and research issued SOPs to ensure uninterrupted emergency healthcare services.

Pakistan on Friday summoned Britain’s deputy high commissioner Matt Cannell after a video circulated online showing a woman at a rally in the UK referring to a possible attack on Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir.The ministry of foreign affairs called in Cannell to lodge a formal protest and demanded an investigation after the woman, speaking at a rally in Bradford in northern England, mentioned the possibility of the army chief being killed in a car bombing. Pakistani officials said the remarks went beyond political expression and raised serious security concerns.

The rally was held in support of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and was attended by his supporters living in the UK. Khan was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and has been in prison for nearly two years.The Bradford protest came days after a special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency sentenced Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-II corruption case. According to Dawn, the court also imposed a fine of Pakistani Rs 16.4 million on each of them, with additional jail time possible in case of non-payment. The case relates to the alleged illegal retention and sale of state gifts received while Khan was in office.The video from the Bradford rally was initially shared on X by the UK chapter of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party before being deleted. Explaining the decision, PTI UK said in a post on X: “We have removed a video from the recent Bradford protest featuring a citizen’s metaphorical remarks regarding General Asim Munir. Although we do not believe the individual incited violence, the post was deleted in an abundance of caution to prevent potential misunderstanding and legal safeguarding of the individual and her rights.”Pakistan’s deputy interior minister Talal Chaudhry said the remarks crossed a red line. Speaking to Geo Television, he said: “While Imran Khan’s party has been inciting supporters against the military, the car bomb threat at the Bradford rally crossed all limits. It does not fall into the category of freedom of speech.”He urged the UK government to investigate the incident and take legal action if laws were violated.Responding to Pakistan’s concerns, the UK High Commission in Islamabad said in a brief statement: “Where a foreign Government believes a crime has been committed, they should provide all relevant material to their UK police liaison. Any material that appears to break UK law will be reviewed by the police and may lead to a criminal investigation.”The diplomatic move comes amid escalating tensions between Khan’s supporters and Pakistan’s powerful military. Earlier this month, army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described Khan as “mentally ill” during a press conference, after posts on Khan’s official X account referred to General Munir as “mentally unstable,” according to the Associated Press.

Former Imran Khan aide Shahzad Akbar attacked in UK

Separately, tensions escalated further after PTI said Shahzad Akbar, a former adviser to Imran Khan was attacked in the United Kingdom on Thursday.In a post on X, Akbar said he was assaulted outside his home in Cambridge by an unidentified man.“Yesterday at approximately 8:08 a.m., I was attacked at my home by an unknown assailant dressed in what appeared to be construction or waste-collection attire,” Akbar wrote. “The individual asked, ‘Are you Shahzad Akbar?’ and immediately began assaulting me. The incident occurred in the presence of my family.”Akbar said he sustained facial injuries, including bruising and a fractured nose, and was taken to a local hospital before being discharged.“The police have taken cognizance of the matter and have assured me and my family that they are actively investigating this targeted attack and will work to apprehend both the perpetrator and those behind it,” he said.He added that he could not share further details at this stage, including CCTV footage, on the advice of authorities.“I have full faith in the rule of law and in British law enforcement to carry out their duties,” Akbar said, urging the UK government to ensure the safety of dissidents.In a follow-up statement, Akbar said the attack would not silence him.“I want to make one thing absolutely clear: If my views, political comments, or even my ‘face’ is not liked by anyone, such cowardly acts will only strengthen my resolve rather than silence me,” he wrote. “Violence will not intimidate me or deter me from speaking out.”The Pakistan government has previously submitted extradition documents to British authorities seeking Akbar’s return. Akbar, a PTI member, has been accused by the state of anti-government activities.