NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday offered a measured response to senior party leader Digvijaya Singh’s praise for the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), remarks that triggered sharp reactions within the Congress and handed the BJP a fresh line of attack.“We have a history of 140 years, and we can learn a lot from it. We can learn from ourselves, too,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.“There should be discipline in our organisation. Digvijaya Singh can speak for himself,” he added.Calling Digvijaya Singh a “friend”, Tharoor, when asked whether he had spoken to Singh since his remarks ruffled feathers within the Congress, said: “We are friends, and having a conversation is natural. The organisation must be strengthened, there is no question about it.”Tharoor’s remarks came on the party’s 140th Foundation Day, which Tharoor described as “a very important day for the party” and “a day when we look back at our remarkable history and the contribution of Congress.” On Saturday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting convened to finalise programmes to corner the government over the VB-G RAM G Act, was overshadowed by internal disquiet after Singh’s social media post praising the RSS-BJP’s organisational structure.Also read: Sharing PM Modi photo, Digvijaya Singh lauds Sangh, BJP says attack on RahulSingh had shared a 1990s photograph showing a young Narendra Modi seated on the floor while senior BJP leaders, including L K Advani, sat on chairs, calling it “very impressive” and describing PM Modi’s rise as the “strength of organisation”.At the CWC meeting, Singh reportedly criticised “over-centralisation” within Congress and pushed for decentralisation.Also read: How Cong reacted to Digvijaya Singh’s RSS praiseThe BJP seized on Singh’s comments. Spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said the BJP recognises a “gudri ke laal” like PM Modi, while Congress focuses on “Jawahar ke laal”.Singh later clarified that his remarks had been misunderstood. “I was, am and will be a trenchant critic of the RSS and Modi,” he said. He reiterated, “I am opposed to the ideology of the RSS… But I admire their organisational capacity.”Meanwhile, Congress media department chairman Pawan Khera drew a sharp line, saying, “There’s nothing to learn from the RSS. What can an organisation known for Godse teach an organisation founded by Gandhi?”

RAW TALENT Fancy a swig of raw milk? Good for your gut, and legs it seems. Head too. It’s superfood, just ask Super Haaland. He loves to visit a Cheshire farm to get his locally sourced bottles. And as you know, he rarely bottles up in front of goal – scoring 25 times in his 23 matches for City so far. For Norway, 13 goals in 5 matches including a fifer against Moldova in Sept ensured 2026 World Cup qualification. Isn’t it good/ Norwegian wood. Knock, knock!AN OVAL CUPWho is gonna take away the World Cup? Your guess is as good as ours but we are willing to bet our bottom dollar on a certain Mr. Doland… sorry, Donald Trump. This is the closest an American will perhaps ever get to the trophy, and the recent renovation at the White House suggests there will be a new Oval Office to go with it. The Club World Cup may be already there. Winners Chelsea lifted a replica – Trump wanted to steal their celebration too but Cole & Co. were too clever to let him take the limelight. Replicas are as good as it gets – the original is safe at the FIFA HQ in Zurich.

PARIS FINDS ITS MATCH Ooh la la! PSG’s success story in 2025 is one to behold — How Luis Enrique rebooted the continent’s nearly men into European champions with discipline, teamwork, tactics, belief while deleting the individualist approach. All for one and one for all, Luis’ musketeers reeled in trophy after trophy but there was one battle PSG lost, to former talisman Kylian Mbappe, in the boardroom and the courtroom. In this sabre fencing, Paris employed the slashing technique, cutting off the Frenchman’s salary that included a so-called ‘ethics bonus’. Mad in Madrid, Mbappe’s riposte was of the legal kind. After the back and forth, the court ruled that the former employers pay up unpaid wages of 60m euros. Back in Spain, Mbappe earned some Real love from the Bernabeu faithful, after scoring 59 goals in 59 games, equaling his ‘hero’ Cristiano Ronaldo’s record, the most in a calendar year. How did he celebrate it? Siuuuuu…NO FAN’S LAND The Big Leagues’ global expansion was put on hold. La Liga president Javier Tebas’ plan to ‘host’ a league match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami 7,500-km away from the shores of Spain was cancelled. The league had also chartered planes to take around 2,000 to 3,000 Villarreal fans to the US of A. In Oct, there were league-wide protests, stopping active play to express displeasure. Ultimately, Tebas had to bow down as organisers pulled out. Last week, a high-profile plan to stage a Serie A match — AC Milan vs. Como — in Perth was scrapped.DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER One of the most viral pics of 2025 was of Georgina Rodriguez’s oversized diamond engagement ring reported to be valued between $2 and 5m, the kind of flashy display that one can associate with her fiancé Cristiano Ronaldo. Off the pitch, he definitely glittered. On it, the Portuguese became the top scorer in the history of the World Cup qualifiers with 41 goals with a brace against Hungary. Hours later, in his current home Miami, Lionel Messi was not to be surpassed with his double assist for Argentina against Puerto Rico making him the supreme provider in internationals with 59, beating Neymar’s record.While their club lives in the Saudi Pro League and MLS are at the fringes of people’s interests, the legends are at the forefront of our consciousness. The kind of fanfare and chaos that followed Messi on his whirlwind India tour is proof of that. Please save the last dance for the World Cup finals.

END OF DREAMS‘How many times did we say: Just bring Jota on’ was a striking tribute to the very likeable Diogo Jota at Liverpool’s Anfield ground, after a tragic car crash in Zamora stole the lives of the Portuguese and his brother Andre Silva. Manager Slot said he was looking for Jota on the bench when the scoreline was 2-2 against Bournemouth. Salah won it that day, and the tears flowed. Since then, fortunes have taken a different turn for both Liverpool and Mo. After promising and delivering a record-equalling 20th league title in April, ‘the Egyptian king’ found himself on the sidelines, and an outburst against club and gaffer, left him on the brink of an exit as he proceeded to AFCON duty with his legacy under threat and a question mark over his return. In Spain, close on the heels of a successful Euro campaign, Lamine Yamal finds himself ostracized — from ‘wonderkid’ to ‘bad loser’, with his moves scrutinized in public by a damning jealous social media. His alleged infidelity, luxurious lifestyle, outspoken statements, athletic pubalgia have all been discussed at length. How will an 18-year-old handle this? “Let him grow, do not put him under pressure so we can enjoy a talent like this for many years,” advises a 40-year-old Ronaldo

Electricity buyers may see lower costs as the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) reviews transaction fees charged by power trading exchanges. The review is taking place alongside the regulator’s push to introduce market coupling, a long-awaited reform aimed at improving efficiency in price discovery, increasing liquidity and bringing uniformity to electricity prices across trading platforms. Over time, the combined effect of these changes is expected to reduce the overall cost of power procurement. Market coupling was approved by CERC in July this year after more than two years of discussions and is proposed to be rolled out in stages, starting with the day-ahead market (DAM) from January 2026. Once implemented, buy and sell bids from all power exchanges will be pooled together to determine a single market-clearing price, replacing the existing system under which prices differ across exchanges. An official said that the regulator has finalised a staff paper titled ‘Review of Transaction Fee charged by the Power Exchanges’ in December 2025. According to the official, who spoke to PTI on the condition of anonymity, CERC is assessing whether the current transaction fee cap of 2 paise per unit is still appropriate at a time when traded volumes have risen sharply and the market is transitioning towards a unified price discovery mechanism. Among the options being discussed is a fixed transaction fee of 1.5 paise per unit for most trading segments. Under the present framework, power exchanges generally charge close to the permitted ceiling. Another proposal under consideration is a lower fee of 1.25 paise per unit for term-ahead market (TAM) contracts, reflecting their longer tenure and comparatively lower operational intensity. India’s exchange-based power market has seen rapid growth over the past decade. Electricity traded through exchanges has increased more than 16 times since 2009-10, with total traded volumes exceeding 120 billion units in 2023-24. While the day-ahead market previously accounted for nearly all exchange-based trading, real-time, intra-day and term-ahead segments now make up an increasing share. Industry experts believe market coupling will help reduce price disparities across exchanges, improve the use of generation capacity and allow buyers to access power at more efficient rates. “Since bids are aggregated across all exchanges, prices are expected to converge and soften to some extent, benefiting distribution companies and large consumers and eventually end-users,” one expert told PTI.At present, Indian Energy Exchange dominates the segment, accounting for nearly 90% of exchange-based power trading volumes, with Power Exchange India Ltd (PXIL) and Hindustan Power Exchange Ltd (HPX) accounting for the rest. Under the approved framework, all three exchanges will act as Market Coupling Operators on a rotational basis, while Grid-India will serve as a backup and audit operator to safeguard system integrity. Officials pointed out that transaction fee structures will gain added significance once exchanges cease competing on price discovery. With transaction fees contributing more than 95% of revenues for established exchanges, any revision is expected to have a meaningful impact on the sector. The official said discussions on transaction fees are still at an early stage, and any changes will be finalised after stakeholder consultations, keeping in mind the broader objective of improving efficiency, transparency and affordability in India’s power markets.

SHIMLA: Medical services, except for emergencies, were badly hit across several government hospitals in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday after resident doctors went on an indefinite strike to protest the termination of a doctor involved in a scuffle with a patient. Patients and their attendants, particularly those who had travelled from remote areas, faced considerable hardship due to the absence of doctors, according to news agency PTI.

Shimla Hospital Assault: Doctors’ Strike Cripples OPDs, Surgeries Across Himachal Pradesh

Krishan Singh Thakur, who came to Shimla from Ani — around 125 km away — for his father’s treatment, said they had been waiting since Thursday. “There are no doctors available because of the strike, and we are facing a lot of inconvenience,” he said. Thakur added that the situation had worsened due to harsh winter conditions and the lack of accommodation amid the New Year tourist rush. He urged both the government and doctors to resolve the issue at the earliest in the interest of patients. Another attendant, Dasvi Ram, said his wife was admitted to hospital and her MRI, scheduled for Saturday, had not been conducted. “We are waiting for doctors to resume duty,” he told PTI Videos. Resident doctors at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and other government hospitals had gone on mass casual leave on Friday. The Resident Doctors’ Association later announced an indefinite strike from Saturday, stating that outpatient departments, routine services and elective surgeries would remain suspended, while emergency services would continue. The protest follows the termination of Dr Raghav Narula on Wednesday. Narula was accused of physically assaulting a patient, Arjun Singh, inside the pulmonary ward of IGMC earlier this week. A video of the incident, which surfaced on social media, shows Narula punching the patient, while Singh is seen attempting to kick the doctor. Singh, who had undergone a bronchoscopy and complained of breathlessness afterwards, alleged that the argument began when he objected to the doctor addressing him as “tu” instead of “tum”. Narula, however, claimed that Singh had initiated the confrontation by abusing him and his family. An inquiry committee later found both parties at fault, citing “misconduct, misbehaviour and acts unbecoming of a public servant” on the doctor’s part, officials said. Several medical bodies, including the Himachal Medical Officers’ Association, Shimla Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers, Shimla Private Practitioners’ Association and the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations, have backed Narula. They have demanded his reinstatement, a transparent and time-bound inquiry, and strict action against those responsible for creating chaos inside the hospital. Members of the Resident Doctors’ Association met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday. Sukhu assured action against those who allegedly threatened the doctor and said new guidelines would be introduced to ensure the safety of medical staff. Despite the assurance, the doctors went ahead with the strike, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the termination order.

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NEW DELHI: Ryan Rickelton produced a breathtaking century for MI Cape Town in the high-scoring SA20 opener against Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands on Friday night, but his efforts went in vain as the hosts went down by 15 runs in a run-fest that saw a combined 449 runs scored.Durban’s Super Giants posted a record 232/5 — the highest total in SA20 history — surpassing the previous best of 204/3 set by Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the Season 2 final at the same venue. The match featured 25 sixes and 40 boundaries, underlining the carnage with the bat.

Chasing the daunting target, Rickelton smashed 113 off 65 balls, an innings studded with 11 sixes and five fours, and came agonisingly close to pulling off a remarkable chase. One of his maximums, struck off the fourth ball of the 13th over, was caught one-handed by a spectator in the stands, earning the fan a reward of Rand 2 million (approximately INR 1.08 crore) under the SA20’s fan-catch initiative.Earlier, DSG’s all-New Zealand opening pair of Devon Conway and Kane Williamson gave the visitors a flying start, racing to 96 in 8.3 overs. Williamson made 40 off 25 balls before being dismissed by Tristan Luus, with MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan pulling off a sensational running catch at mid-off.Conway carried on to score 64 off 33 balls, while Jos Buttler (20 off 12) and Heinrich Klaasen (22 off 14) maintained the momentum. After Conway fell to Trent Boult, Aiden Markram (35 off 17) and Evan Jones (33 not out off 14) ensured DSG finished strongly.MI Cape Town’s chase revolved around Rickelton, who dominated proceedings despite early setbacks that included the dismissals of Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks. Jason Smith injected fresh hope with a blistering 41 off 14 balls, but DSG struck back in the death overs, removing Smith, Nicholas Pooran (15) and Dwaine Pretorius (5).Rickelton survived on 85 when Kwena Maphaka overstepped, allowing him to complete his second T20 hundred. However, needing 22 off the final over, DSG seamer Ethan Bosch (4/46) held his nerve, dismissing Rickelton to seal a thrilling win.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled India’s Under-19 squads for two major upcoming assignments – U19 tour of South Africa and U19 World Cup 2026. The 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named captain for the three-match ODI series in South Africa starting January 3, while regular skipper Ayush Mhatre is expected to retain the captaincy for the highly anticipated U19 World Cup, that begins on January 15. Notably, the multi-team event will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi set to lead India U19 in South Africa tour

In a move that highlights his meteoric rise, Suryavanshi will lead the Indian side during their brief preparatory tour of South Africa. At just 14 years of age, Suryavanshi becomes the youngest player to ever captain an Indian representative side at this level. The Bihar-born batter, who was recently honoured with Bal Puruskar Award, has been in blistering form. He recently became the youngest centurion in List A cricket history and ended 2025 as India’s leading run-scorer in Youth ODIs. Joining him in the leadership group for the South Africa tour is Aaron George, who will serve as vice-captain.

The South Africa tour is being viewed as a crucial preparatory phase, offering young players exposure to overseas conditions and competitive cricket ahead of the global tournament later in the month.

Also READ: England announces squad for U19 World Cup 2026, Thomas Rew to lead

Ayush Mhatre named India captain for U19 World Cup 2026

The regular leadership duo of Mhatre (captain) and Vihaan Malhotra (vice-captain) is expected to return at U19 World Cup 2026. Both players sustained wrist injuries, which forced them to skip the South Africa tour. The BCCI medical team has opted for a cautious approach, directing the pair to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehabilitation.

The U19 tournament will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals and the final in Harare. Five-time champions India have been drawn in Group B alongside New Zealand, Bangladesh and the USA. The Boys in Blue will begin their campaign against the USA on January 15 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

India’s squad for South Africa tour: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (c), Aaron George (vc), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar

India’s squad for ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.

Also READ: Australia name strong squad for U19 World Cup 2026, Oliver Peake to lead

A positive attitude might be more valuable than your resume, but there’s one trait that can instantly derail your career prospects at any level: arrogance. Sarah Walker, Cisco’s UK and Ireland managing director who spent 25 years climbing the corporate ladder at BT before joining the tech giant, has identified this as her biggest hiring red flag—and warns that resting on past achievements won’t cut it in today’s workplace.“I can’t stand arrogance. Be confident, but have a level of humility,” Walker told Fortune. While she actively seeks out candidates with positive attitudes, engagement, and energy—qualities she believes can’t be taught—excessive ego remains an instant dealbreaker regardless of experience level.

Why personality beats skills and experience in hiring process

Walker’s hiring philosophy prioritizes personality over pedigree, especially for entry-level positions. “It’s more about the person first and foremost than it is about skills or experience,” she explained. The 45-year-old executive believes that while technical abilities become increasingly important in specialist roles, someone with the right attitude and willingness to learn can still secure a position over more experienced candidates.“You don’t need to be the finished article to be promoted, but we need to know that you are in a position where within a reasonable timeframe, you’ll have invested the time to upskill and develop,” Walker added, emphasizing that growth potential matters more than current capabilities.

Humility and continuous learning essential for career growth

Walker’s anti-arrogance stance applies equally to senior positions. “You can’t rest on your laurels because you’ve done something well in the past, you need to be thinking about what’s the next great thing that you’ll do,” she stressed. “Even at my level, you have to be open to the fact that there’s lots more yet to learn and grow and adapt.”This philosophy aligns with her Cisco predecessor David Meads, who told Fortune that “EQ is at least as important as IQ” when evaluating talent, noting he sees “no difference in terms of the capability” between candidates with or without degrees.

A major natural gas pipeline explosion in northern Los Angeles County on Saturday prompted authorities to issue shelter-in-place orders and temporarily shut down a key Southern California highway, officials said.The incident occurred around 4.20 pm local time near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, close to the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, a critical route linking Southern and Northern California. The damaged pipeline is a 34-inch transmission gas line, located just east of the freeway.

Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Brian Kight said emergency crews received multiple calls reporting the gas leak. While residents described loud noises, Kight stressed that “there were no reports of any explosions from the leak and no reported injuries,” the Los Angeles Times reported.Videos shared on social media showed orange plumes rising from a hillside, which appeared to have partially collapsed, with debris clouds filling the sky.Several residents said they heard loud booms, while NBC 7 San Diego reported that people across the Santa Clarita Valley felt their homes shake. One witness described a “strong sulfur smell and a loud noise resembling a jet engine,” the outlet added.At L.A. County Fire Department Station 149, located about a mile away, Kight said he could smell gas from “20 minutes out.” The Los Angeles City Fire Department also received reports of a strong rotten egg smell from residents as far away as the north San Fernando Valley.In response, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) closed all lanes of Interstate 5 at 5.12 pm, diverting northbound traffic to State Route 126 and southbound vehicles to State Route 138. Traffic came to a near standstill for miles, leaving motorists stranded for hours, the Los Angeles Times reported.A shelter-in-place order was issued at 5.40 pm that covered much of Castaic. Authorities advised residents to close doors and windows, shut off vents, and turn off HVAC systems.By 6 pm, the gas company had shut off both sides of the ruptured line, though firefighters and a hazardous materials task force continued monitoring a residual leak. The CHP announced shortly before 9 pm that Interstate 5 had reopened.The cause of the rupture remains under investigation. While officials said it is unclear what triggered the incident, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies told CBS Los Angeles that it was possibly caused by “a mudslide.”More details awaited.