MANGALURU: A student who quit her undergraduate studies at University College, Hampankatta, when the hijab row broke out in 2022, has since completed her postgraduation in medical physics with a commendable CGPA of over 8.Gousiya, 24, who took a one-year break after being unable to attend her sixth-semester BSc classes, is now interning at the Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology and aims to become a radiation safety officer. She enrolled in the medical physics postgraduate programme at Mangalore University’s Mangalagangothri campus in Konaje after resuming her studies and is set to receive her degree at the March convocation.

In 2022, a controversy was triggered when Muslim students wearing hijabs were barred from attending classes in Udupi, leading to communal tensions and prompting the state govt to ban all religious attires in educational institutions. The matter later went to the Supreme Court, which issued a split verdict. Recalling the episode, Gousiya said she had completed her BSc fifth semester when the controversy erupted, and she took up the job of a schoolteacher for a year before returning to academics. “From the very beginning, my goal was to build a career in medical physics. However, I found myself at the centre of the hijab controversy and was blamed for leading others. The entire episode took a heavy mental toll on me, though it eventually made me stronger. Today, I have achieved far more academically than what I had once imagined,” she said. A resident of Kaikamba on B C Road, Gousiya said six girls from her group quit college during their fifth semester. “Four of us, including me, later secured admission at Besant Women’s College. One student discontinued her studies as her subject combination was available only at University College, while another quit the BSc course for good to take up a professional course,” she further said. None of them came from financially strong backgrounds, she added. “Those who completed their undergraduate studies are now working, while some got married.”

Legendary batter Sir Alastair Cook has publicly addressed rumors of him succeeding Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach after another Ashes loss to Australia.

Recently, former England captain Michael Atherton suggested that Cook could be a strong candidate to replace Brendon McCullum as head coach in the future. The idea quickly drew attention, forcing Cook to address the speculation publicly.

Alastair Cook Breaks Silence on England Head Coach Rumors to Replace Brendon McCullum

The legendary batter made it clear that no formal approach has been made. However, Cook did not shut the door on the idea completely, saying he would like to be involved with the England team and try to make a positive difference to English cricket at some point in his life.

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Alastair Cook was quoted as saying by TNT Sports: “The only thing I will say about it is the article needed to be 800 words, and Mike Atherton had done 600 and used the final 200 and threw something in. Look, at some stage in my life, would I like to be involved in the England cricket team? I think I would like to try and make a difference.”

Ashes Nightmare in Australia Pushes McCullum Closer to the Exit Door

Brendon McCullum is already under immense pressure, and he is highly likely to be sacked after the conclusion of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 in Australia. Ben Stokes and Co. suffered embarrassing defeats in the first three tests to lose the Urn to the Kangaroos yet again.

With England not winning the Ashes since 2015, tough calls are on the cards. Brendon McCullum has been in charge of England’s Test team since Chris Silverwood stepped down in 2022.

While the side has played an exciting brand of cricket under his leadership, England has yet to reach the ICC World Test Championship final during his time as head coach and has now lost another Ashes series to Australia.

Bazball’s failure to bring trophies has put both Stokes and McCullum under immense pressure. However, they stressed to continue with their roles, but there have been huge calls for the coach’s sacking, as he is not changing his ultra-aggressive approach despite poor results.

Read Also: Sunil Gavaskar destroys England over poor Ashes 2025-26 show: “Their bats have only edges or holes”

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has kept tight lips on the growing demands of sacking Brendon McCullum as Test head coach.

Cook Addresses the Speculation

The 41-year-old legend confirmed that the ECB has not contacted him about any coaching role so far. Cook said that he really respects Brendon McCullum and others who are already in charge and just waiting to see how things unfold in the future, hinting he is ready to take up the role if he is offered.

The Englishman signed off by saying, “I don’t know whether that is the next bit or whatever. At the moment, there are people in jobs and all that kind of stuff. And there has been zero contact. Zero in it. Let’s just see.”

Cook’s Unmatched Credentials and Potential Vision

Despite not having formal coaching experience, Alastair Cook’s credentials are unparalleled in Test cricket. As England’s all-time leading run-scorer with 12,472 runs in 161 Tests and a respected former captain, he symbolizes the red-ball pedigree and mental fortitude the role demands.

Cook also enjoyed a decent record as England captain, taking the side to 24 wins in a record 59 Test matches and becoming their joint-second most successful Test captain. He also captained England to 36 wins in ODI cricket out of 69 matches.

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has reacted to his release from the Indian Premier League (IPL) by the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).His reaction came before the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday resolved that the national team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Sunday afternoon.The matter was discussed against the backdrop of Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the IPL. BCB directors had earlier met online on Saturday night to discuss the issue.At that stage, most directors were not in favour of taking any strict step. However, following intervention from the Bangladesh government, the board reviewed its position and changed its decision.What BCB said“The Board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India,” the BCB said in an official release.“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the statement added.The BCB has also requested that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India. “In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India,” the board said.The decision followed Mustafizur Rahman’s release by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid rising diplomatic tension between India and Bangladesh.Reacting to the development, Mustafizur said, “If they release me, there’s nothing much I can do,” while speaking to BDCrictime.KKR had signed the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for Rs 9.20 crore at the players’ auction last month. His base price was Rs 2 crore, with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals also involved in the bidding.The BCCI said KKR will be allowed to name a replacement player if required for the tournament, which is scheduled to start on March 26.India and Sri Lanka are the joint hosts of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As per the schedule released so far, Bangladesh are set to play West Indies in Kolkata on February 7, the opening day of the tournament.Bangladesh’s remaining three group-stage matches are also scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai.Earlier on Sunday, the BCB announced a 15-member squad for the World Cup, naming Liton Das as captain.

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor and Northeast United FC co-owner John Abraham spoke about the situation in Indian football and called it a “shame”.Sharing a recent video in which senior footballers appealed to FIFA to intervene as the Indian Super League (ISL) remains suspended, Abraham wrote, “Shame on us… this is what we have come to.“On Friday, India’s leading footballers, including Sunil Chhetri, along with several foreign players playing in the ISL, made a joint appeal to FIFA, asking the world governing body to step in as the country’s top-tier league continues to remain on hold.With the 2025-26 ISL season yet to begin, senior national team players such as Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan spoke about the uncertainty, warning that Indian football is moving towards what they described as “permanent paralysis”.“It’s January and we should be on your screens as apart of a competitive football game in the Indian Super League,” Gurpreet said in a joint video message shared on social media.“Instead, here we are driven by fear and desperation to say aloud something which we all know,” Jhingan added.The players said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities and asked FIFA to intervene to protect the future of football in the country.“But more importantly, we are here to make a plea. Indian football governance is no longer able to fulfil its responsibilities.We are now staring at a permanent paralysis. This is the last-ditch effort to save what we can. So we are calling the FIFA to step in and do what it takes to save Indian football,” other players said.They also stressed that the appeal was not political.“We hope this message gets to the power that are in Zurich. This call is not political, it is not driven by confrontation but by necessity. It might sound like a big word but the truth is that we are facing a humanitarian, sporting and economic crisis. And of course, we need rescuing at the earliest. We just want to play football, please help us do it,” the players said.“Players, staff, owners and the fans deserve clarity, protection and more importantly, a future,” Chhetri said.The 2025-26 ISL season was put on hold in July due to uncertainty over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and the league’s former organisers, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).The agreement expired on December 8, leading to a contractual deadlock that required intervention from the Supreme Court. Under the supervision of a court-appointed committee, a tender was issued for the ISL’s commercial rights, but it did not attract any bidders.On Thursday, 13 of the 14 ISL clubs informed the AIFF that they “may be ready and willing” to participate in the delayed season if there is no participation fee and if the federation takes responsibility for organisational and operational costs of a shortened tournament.Meanwhile, the AIFF said on Saturday that the start date of the delayed ISL season will be announced next week after the Coordination Committee submitted its report.Following a meeting of its Emergency Committee, the AIFF said it will conduct the league, though clubs had raised concerns earlier.News agency PTI reported that that the AIFF may propose February 15 as the start date for the 2025-26 ISL season.“The AIFF Emergency Committee met today (January 3, 2025) to consider and acknowledge the report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. The Coordination Committee was requested to submit its report to the AIFF Secretariat by January 2, 2025, which was duly complied with,” the AIFF said in a statement.“The report was formally acknowledged by the AIFF Emergency Committee, which recommended that the league be conducted by the AIFF. Accordingly, the AIFF will conduct the league, and the date of commencement will be announced next week.”

CHENNAI: What was once seen as optional is increasingly viewed as essential: uptake of overseas travel insurance among Indian outbound travellers has nearly doubled in six years, driven by rising medical costs abroad and heightened awareness of travel disruptions in the post-pandemic era. According to Irdai’s annual report, 96.7 lakh lives were covered under 27.9 lakh overseas travel insurance policies during 2024–25. The gross premium income from the overseas travel insurance business for FY25 stood at Rs 1,267 crore.

This marks a substantial jump of 91% compared with 2018-19, when 50.5 lakh lives were covered through 25.8 lakh overseas travel insurance policies. Over the same six-year period, gross premium income from the overseas travel insurance business rose by 67.4%, from Rs 757 crore in FY19. The market share of private general insurers in overseas travel insurance gross premium also increased from 81% in FY19 to 84% in FY25. Meet Kapadia, head of travel insurance at Policybazaar, said the growth reflects a clear shift in how Indians are planning international travel. “The pandemic may have been the trigger, but the sustained rise indicates that Indian travellers are now travelling with a sharper understanding of risk. Medical treatment overseas can be five to eight times more expensive than in India, even for non-critical care. Beyond medical emergencies, recent flight disruptions have also made the financial impact of delays, missed connections and extended stays far more pronounced,” he added. Dev Karvat, founder and CEO of Asego, a global assistance and travel insurance provider, said leisure travellers form the largest segment of international travellers seeking overseas medical insurance, while business travellers, students and long-term travellers, including professionals on overseas assignments, also opt for it. “Senior citizens are an increasingly important segment, with rising outbound travel among older Indians driving demand for specialised medical coverage and dependable emergency assistance,” he added. The India Tourism Statistics report by the ministry of tourism shows that Indian outbound departures rose 14.7% from 2.7 crore in 2019 to just over 3 crore in 2024. Overseas travel insurance uptake has increased steadily despite not being universally mandatory, though it is required for certain destinations such as Schengen countries as part of visa norms. Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, said the growth in overseas travel insurance reflects the strong revival of outbound travel from India.

Danish firm Novo Nordisk expects India’s obesity therapy market to evolve rapidly, saying its recent Wegovy (injectable semaglutide) price cut could lift patient uptake five-to-seven-fold, echoing its insulin experience. This comes even as lower-priced generics loom, with a rival drugmaker, Eli Lilly & Co, also eyeing a share of one of the fastest-growing therapy segments.“Our recent price cut wasn’t about generics — it was about improving access. When we cut insulin prices in 2020 by 30%, patient uptake increased five to seven times over five years. We expect a similar impact here,” Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director at Novo Nordisk India, told TOI in an exclusive interaction. He added that uptake in semaglutide could accelerate faster, given the scale of unmet need in obesity treatment.

Analysts expect with the patent expiry of semaglutide in March in India, emerging markets and regulated markets (Brazil, Canada) could create an incremental Rs 5000-crore opportunity for generic versions (global and domestic) over the next 12-15 months. “For FY27E, we see this as a Rs 1000-2000 crore incremental revenue opportunity in India’s branded formulation space,” a Systematix analyst said. The company slashed the price of Wegovy in Nov last year by up to 37% from its launch price, aiming to gain ground in one of the world’s fastest-growing obesity treatment markets ahead of the expected entry of generics. Novo, a pioneer and a dominant market player in insulin analogues globally, introduced its obesity and diabetes therapies — Wegovy, followed by Ozempic, last year in India. Responding to a query on the impact on pricing with the generics’ entry, he said, “The market will be competitive and evolve rapidly — like AI adoption. Multiple players will enter, benefiting patients through better access and services. We aim to be the preferred partner for doctors and patients, focusing on quality, reliability, and education.” Further, in Dec 2025, US Food and Drug Administration approved oral semaglutide, expanding Novo Nordisk’s obesity treatment portfolio beyond the shot. The company plans to launch the Wegovy pill in the US this month, and will evaluate its launch (here) based on global uptake and production capacity. Shrotriya, a Novo Nordisk veteran of 25 years and India MD since 2020, said, “India has always been a priority. We were among the first to set up shared services here 20 years ago. Today, we have the largest diabetes care franchise in India, and five of our brands are among the top 100 in the country.”

Nicolas Maduro’s political life reads less like a conventional rise to power and more like a sequence of improbable turns. A bus driver who became president, a socialist who embraced mysticism, a leader who mixed revolution with ritual, and a man who spoke of destiny even as his grip on power narrowed. As he faces relentless pressure from the United States and the outside world, Maduro’s story is filled with details that are not just controversial, but genuinely strange.

1. From bus depot to palace

Before he entered national politics, Maduro worked as a bus driver in Caracas and rose through transport unions. That background became a core part of his political identity, allowing him to present himself as a man of the people even after assuming absolute power.

2. A loyalist made heir

Maduro was not Hugo Chávez’s most charismatic lieutenant, but he was his most loyal. Chávez anointed him successor shortly before his death in 2013, a decision that many inside the movement questioned but ultimately accepted.

3. The election that never stopped being disputed

Maduro’s initial victory in 2013 was razor-thin and immediately contested. Every election since has been marred by accusations of manipulation, suppression, or outright fraud, turning electoral politics into a permanent legitimacy crisis.

4. The “little bird” episode

Soon after Chávez’s death, Maduro claimed that Chávez’s spirit appeared to him in the form of a small bird. What sounded like satire to outsiders was presented seriously at home, reinforcing the quasi-mystical tone of his rule.

5. Devotion to Sai Baba

Maduro’s attachment to the Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba is one of the oddest elements of his personal life. Introduced through his wife, Cilia Flores, the devotion became public after a 2005 visit to India and later entered the symbolism of the presidency itself.

6. Mourning a foreign guru as a state act

When Sai Baba died in 2011, Maduro, then foreign minister, pushed for Venezuela to observe official mourning. Few governments have ever declared national grief for a foreign spiritual figure, making it a rare moment where private belief became state ritual.

7. Surviving a drone attack

In 2018, explosive-laden drones detonated near Maduro during a military parade in Caracas. He survived unhurt. Supporters called it proof of divine protection. Critics questioned the circumstances. Either way, it added to his aura of siege and survival.

8. Governing amid collapse

Under Maduro, Venezuela experienced one of the worst economic collapses outside wartime: hyperinflation, mass emigration, shortages and institutional decay. Yet the regime endured, relying on repression, patronage and control of the security forces.

9. A standing US bounty

The United States has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and corruption, placing a multimillion-dollar reward on information leading to his arrest. It is an extraordinary status for a sitting head of state and has shaped every aspect of his foreign policy.

10. Destiny versus reality

Maduro has repeatedly framed his survival as proof of fate, faith and historical mission. Yet even as he invokes spiritual guidance and revolutionary mythology, he remains a leader under constant threat of arrest abroad, sanctions at home, and rumours of capture or extraction that underline how precarious his position has become.

The takeaway:

Maduro’s career is packed with contradictions: material collapse alongside mystical language, revolutionary rhetoric alongside personal shrines, claims of destiny alongside international pursuit. Whether he ultimately falls to courts, coups or history, his story will remain one of the strangest chapters in modern Latin American politics.

Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh has raised questions over the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting on January 11. Ramesh questioned why Ruturaj Gaikwad was left out of the squad and also criticized the decision to include Nitish Kumar Reddy.

On Saturday, January 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squad for the home ODI series. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 105 runs off 83 balls while batting at No. 4 against South Africa in Raipur. Nitish Kumar has limited ODI experience, scoring 27 runs in just two matches and taking no wickets.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Could’ve Been Selected in the Squad – Sadagoppan Ramesh

Speaking in a video uploaded on his official Instagram account, Sadagoppan Ramesh stated that Ruturaj Gaikwad deserved a place in the squad. He added that it is not certain whether Nitish Kumar Reddy will contribute with the bat or the ball or even make the playing XI.

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“He could’ve been selected in the squad in place of someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy. Why is a fifth seam-bowling option required? Whether or not Reddy will bat or bowl is unclear. When it’s not even clear whether he will feature in the eleven, someone like Gaikwad should’ve been there in the squad,” Ramesh stated.

India Doesn’t Need a Fifth Seam-Bowling Option – Sadagoppan Ramesh

Ramesh stated that Gaikwad should have been picked regardless of Shreyas Iyer’s fitness. He said that India did not need an extra seam-bowling option for a home series. The former batter added that Gaikwad would have been a reliable option if Iyer failed a fitness test.

“India doesn’t need a fifth seam-bowling option in the original squad for a home series. Even if there is an injury in the squad, someone can be called up soon as it is a home series. What they may have thought is if Shreyas Iyer doesn’t clear the fitness test, Ruturaj Gaikwad can slot into the playing eleven. Even if Iyer is fit and plays all three matches, I feel Gaikwad was a must in the squad,” Ramesh added.

India have picked Shreyas Iyer in the squad, but his place depends on passing a fitness test. He is expected to turn out for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 6.

Selectors Rewarded Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad should… – Sadagoppan Ramesh

Sadagoppan Ramesh stated that the selectors rewarded Yashasvi Jaiswal despite Shubman Gill returning to the side. Ramesh added that Gaikwad deserved similar backing, given his strong performances for India while batting out of position.

“A friend called me discussed how well Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel are performing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but failed to make it to the Indian squad. But Ruturaj Gaikwad has missed out despite sensational performances for India. Bad luck for that guy. He should have at least been in the squad, given he scored a ton in the previous series. The way selectors rewarded Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gaikwad should have been too.”

“Okay, he scored a hundred by batting out of position and the selectors asked him to vacate the spot since the original candidate returned. Now if he goes out of form in domestic cricket and the selectors use that to keep him out of the side, it doesn’t seem justified.”

The ODI series against New Zealand will start in Vadodara on January 11. Following the ODI series, the teams will play a five-match T20I series. India will go into the contest with confidence after winning their recent series against South Africa 2-1.

Also read: Ruturaj Gaikwad turns Rohit Sharma in Vijay Hazare Trophy to reclaim ODI spot after axing