NEW DELHI: As the controversy over its November 20 order on the Aravali hills refuses to die down and environmentalists and citizens oppose the verdict, Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the issue and registered a case which will be taken up on Monday. The cause list put up on the Supreme Court website says suo motu civil case regarding ‘Definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issue’ will be taken up by a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices J K Maheshwari and A G Masih.The apex court, in its Nov ruling, had accepted the expert committee’s definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges in the context of mining as any landform located in the Aravali districts having an elevation of 100m or more, measured from the local relief. Aravali Range has been defined as two or more Aravali Hills, located within 500m from each other.The definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges was given by a committee comprising secretary, MoEFCC; secretaries of the department of forests of NCT, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat; a representative from Forest Survey of India, central empowered committee, Geological Survey of India and joint secretary, MoEFCC.Raising questions on SC’s ruling, environmentalists alleged that it would lead to massive mining as the activity would be allowed on hills with height less than 100m.Aravalis would lose continuity and integrity, amicus had arguedDuring the hearing of the case, senior advocate K Parameshwar, who was assisting the court as amicus, had objected to the definition and contended that all hills below 100m would be opened up for mining and as a result the Aravali Hills and Ranges would lose their continuity and integrity. “If the definition as suggested by the Committee is accepted, it would totally endanger the environment and ecology of the mountains,” he had submitted, which was also incorporated in the order.Against his submission, additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati had contended that if the definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges as suggested by the FSI (slope of 3 degree or more) is accepted, it would exclude large areas. If the definition suggested by the committee is adopted, she submitted, a larger area would be included as part of Aravali Hills and Ranges.

Raigad: Raigad police have arrested eight accused in the murder case of former Khopoli councillor Mangesh Kalokhe (45), husband of the newly elected Shiv Sena Khopoli councillor Manasi Kalokhe. The arrested accused include Manasi Kalokhe’s rival from the NCP, Urmila Devkar, who lost the Khopoli municipal council election by around 700 votes, her husband Ravindra, and their sons Dhanesh and Darshan, besides their ⁠party supporters Vishal Deshmukh, Dilip Pawar, Mahesh Dhaitadak and Sagar More, for the alleged crime.Mangesh Kalokhe had reportedly intimated Khopoli police in-charge Sachin Hire about a death threat to him by Devkar’s supporters on Dec 25, but neither an FIR nor a non-cognisable offence was registered by the local police, his relatives have alleged.Raigad police initially arrested Ravindra Devkar and son Darshan for the alleged murder conspiracy by hacking to death Mangesh Kalokhe on Friday morning, by tracing their whereabouts to Nagothane after 26 hours of search operation by eight police teams, including the local crime branch.Police teams are searching for the other identified accused, including the Raigad district NCP president Sudhakar Ghare, NCP’s local spokesperson Bharat Bhagat, activist Sachin Chavan, and Ravindra Devkar’s bouncer.Ghare has posted a video on social media saying he has no connection with the murder and that on Friday around 7am when the crime took place, he had left for the airport to catch a flight scheduled at 10 am for Ahmedabad to attend a religious function of the Jain community. He said considering that he has been made an accused in the case, he will return from Ahmedabad and cooperate with the investigation.Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde met the relatives of the deceased and assured them that he would ensure MCOCA is invoked against the accused and the case would be escalated in a fast-track court.Mangesh Kalokhe was killed by the assailants, who were lying in wait for him in a black car while he was returning home on his bike after dropping his daughter to school.

Family and friends pay tribute to Anjel Chakma at his home in Tripura

DEHRADUN: A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, who confronted a group of men hurling racial slurs at him and his younger brother, died in a Dehradun hospital on Friday after fighting for his life for over 14 days. The stabbing happened on Dec 9, minutes after Anjel Chakma said, “We are not Chinese… We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?” The six men allegedly responded with brutal violence.What began as a regular grocery run to the local market in the Selaqui area of Uttarakhand’s capital city turned into a fatal confrontation that evening. Anjel and his brother Michael, both students in Dehradun for over a year, were stopped and taunted by a group of men who allegedly referred to them in derogatory terms. When Anjel calmly stood his ground, the situation turned uglier.

‘Tragic that patriotic people of northeast are referred to as Chinese and attacked’Michael would later tell police and friends how his brother calmly but firmly corrected them. That assertion, of identity and dignity, was met with knives. “Soon after Anjel replied, they attacked him and his brother while hurling abuses,” said a friend of Anjel’s, who remained at the hospital through the two weeks that followed. “Anjel suffered serious injuries to his neck and spine. Michael is also injured and still in a serious condition.“The friend requested anonymity, but his voice carried anger and disbelief. “He was one of the calmest, friendliest people. We’re all broken by what happened.” Anjel’s body was flown to Agartala on Saturday, as Tripura erupted in anger. His family was assisted by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, chairman of Tipra Motha Party and a member of the erstwhile Tripura royal family, who had been in touch with the family since the day of the incident and had supported his medical treatment.Speaking to TOI, Debbarma said on Saturday, “It’s tragic that the patriotic people of the northeast are called Chinese and attacked. Those who hurl racist slurs forget that it is because of the brave people of the northeast that China cannot enter the country. These incidents don’t just hurt families. They divide our people. And when we are divided, we are vulnerable. We don’t want that. We want justice.”Suraj Debbarma, state president of Youth Tipra Federation, the youth wing of Tipra Motha, who helped coordinate Anjel’s last rites, said: “People from the northeast face racial slurs and xenophobic attacks in the north regularly. But when students from north Indian states come to central institutions in the northeast, they are welcomed like fellow countrymen. We lost an innocent soul in a hate crime. That’s the tragedy.“Police said the case was registered on Dec 12 on a complaint filed by Michael Chakma, 21. Five of the six accused – including two juveniles – were apprehended on Dec 14.Senior sub-inspector Jitendra Kumar of Selaqui police station said on Sunday, “Yagya Awasthi, the main accused, is suspected to have fled to Nepal… Two police teams have been dispatched to track him down and nab him, and a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced. After Anjel’s death, we added additional BNS sections – 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (committing crime with common intention).”Initially, the FIR was filed under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), and 351(3) (criminal intimidation). On Dec 14, based on doctors’ statements, sections 109 (attempt to murder) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) were added. The charges were upgraded again after Anjel’s death. In his final days, friends recalled how Anjel struggled but never regained full consciousness. Protests have begun in colleges in the northeast, demanding a national law against racial hate crimes. In Dehradun, too, student organisations are beginning to speak up.

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.

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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.