T20 WC: ‘He needs to spend time in the middle’, says Gavaskar on Abhishek Sharma's string of ducks

IANS | February 19, 2026 10:15 PM

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India opener Abhishek Sharma has endured a difficult start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, registering his third successive duck in the team’s final group-stage fixture against the Netherlands and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes expectations may be weighing heavily on the 25-year-old, urging him to focus on building his innings rather than forcing big shots too early.

Global CEOs emphasise autonomy, mass empowerment in AI ecosystem

IANS | February 19, 2026 10:10 PM

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) CEOs of global tech companies attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026, on Thursday, emphasised the need for autonomy, infrastructure, and mass empowerment in the AI ecosystem.

Shillong Lok Sabha MP Ricky Syngkon passes away

IANS | February 19, 2026 10:02 PM

Shillong, Feb 19 (IANS) Shillong Member of Parliament Ricky A.J. Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) passed away on Thursday evening after suddenly falling ill while playing football, triggering widespread shock and grief across Meghalaya’s political spectrum.

ATP Delhi Open 2026: Nagal exits after second-round loss; Banthia–Donski advances in doubles

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:59 PM

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal bowed out of the ATP Delhi Open 2026 after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Italy’s Federico Cina in the second round at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Thursday. Meanwhile, the top-seeded doubles pairing of Siddhant Banthia and Alexander Donski progressed to the quarterfinals with a commanding win.

Sudhanshu Trivedi highlights India's global AI leadership, Oppn in 'perpetual frustration'

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:55 PM

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) Highlighting India's technological achievements, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi, on Thursday, praised the country's progress in the tech sector, while criticising the Opposition for failing to acknowledge it.

Hindi to unite India, AI to power future: Tripura CM Saha​

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:54 PM

Agartala, Feb 19 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday underlined the importance of promoting the Hindi language alongside local languages, saying it (Hindi) plays a vital role in communication and national unity. ​

‘Journey of Jan Sewa’: Himanta Biswa Sarma on 25 years in Assam Assembly ​

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:43 PM

Guwahati, Feb 19 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday reflected on completing 25 years as a legislator, calling it a deeply personal milestone marked by service, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to public welfare. ​

PCB warns Shadab over derogatory statements on former players: Report

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:40 PM

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed its displeasure to Shadab Khan over his post-match ridicule of former players, advising the all-rounder to mind his language during the ongoing World Cup, a report has claimed.

‘Jaan Meri’ celebrates 50 years of Hariharan

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:33 PM

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) Veteran playback singer Hariharan has released his new album, ‘Jaan Meri’, which marks his journey of 5 decades in ghazal mastery. The album has been penned by Farhat Shahzad.

Nepal: Parties unveil election manifestos, pledge friendly relations with neighbours

IANS | February 19, 2026 9:18 PM

Kathmandu, Feb 19 (IANS) As Nepal heads toward the March 5 General Elections, the country’s three major political forces — the Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) — on Thursday unveiled distinct yet overlapping foreign policy agendas, placing strong emphasis on friendly relations with neighbouring countries.