NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited the global context to argue in favour of modernising India’s defence sector, while calling upon the private sector to step up its act and share the gains with workers and shareholders.“Since Day 1, our govt has been clear we will do whatever it takes to support our defence forces and strengthen them. Yes, this year’s allocation is a record high, but viewing it in isolation only provides a limited perspective…As technology reshapes the world, our armed forces must be equipped with the best of Indian innovation and industry. As a nation that is playing an increasingly important role in the world, we have a duty to modernise our defence sector in line with current realities,” PM Modi told PTI in an interview.The comments come in the backdrop of an increasingly-fragile world, which is undergoing a shift in the power equations with the US and China seeking to stamp their expansionist policies, while conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia have been going on with no immediate resolution in sight. India has to contend with hostilities in the neighbourhood with cyber technology adding to challenges.The PM referred to Operation Sindoor, which showed India’s familiarisation with the tech warfare.

Trade deals part of global integration: PMThe entire nation is proud of the courage shown by our armed forces during Operation Sindoor. During the operation, one could see the benefits of the reforms we have undertaken in the last decade. Therefore, defence budgets, modernisation, etc, all these are parts of our continuous effort and need not be linked to any particular issue. Yes, the reality is that our nation has to be strong and be prepared at all times, and that is what we are doing,” PM Modi said.Asked about the recent trade agreements, the PM said that they have been part of India’s global integration with the world, which has picked pace in recent times. Asserting that the recent deals — from the UK to the EU — have been in the pipeline for years and will help Indian producers diversify their markets besides opening opportunities for service professionals.“These trade agreements are significant not merely because of tariff reductions but because of supply-chain integration and market access in advanced economies. They gradually liberalise manufacturing tariffs, deepen services integration and create new avenues for labour-intensive exports such as textiles, footwear, electronics and engineering goods. In that sense, they support structural transformation rather than simply boosting headline trade numbers. These FTAs also anchor domestic reform to external commitments. They widen export opportunities, reduce tariff disadvantages relative to competitors, and integrate Indian firms more deeply into global value chains,” the PM said. PM Modi also called on the private sector for a “decisive response” to the govt’s reforms, for which he redoubled his vow.

“Indian firms must invest more aggressively in research and development, adopt frontier technologies, deepen supply-chain capabilities and compete on quality and productivity rather than on protected margins. Incentives and tariff preferences can catalyse growth, but durable competitiveness must rest on innovation, efficiency and scale. Equally, as productivity rises, the gains must be shared fairly between workers, shareholders and owner-managers. Sustainable growth requires social legitimacy. Rising real wages, skill upgrading, and stable employment reinforce domestic demand and social cohesion, which, in turn, support long-term investment,” he said.Asked about the Budget’s emphasis on women, PM said welfare of women guided every govt decision. “…it is a matter of national pride that our finance minister, Nirmala Ji has presented the Budget nine consecutive times, which is a record and a matter of pride in itself. Several women across India feel inspired by this,” he said.While listing out several initiatives in the Budget, the PM made special reference to the announcement related to hostels. “Many girls drop out not because of a lack of talent, but because commuting long distances to labs and late study hours are difficult. This intervention directly addresses that constraint.”Further, PM Modi said the steps related to training of Allied Health Professionals, which will benefit women. “Women have always been at the centre of caregiving, but this is largely in the informal sector. By training 1.5 lakh caregivers next year and expanding institutions for Allied Health Professionals, with a target of 1 lakh trained over 5 years, we are embarking on a large-scale effort to formalise care work. This does two things: it creates dignified, certified employment for women and simultaneously strengthens India’s healthcare capacity.”

Tamil Nadu is drawing tourists in droves, and welcoming private players to scale up the sector. The state is now experimenting with the public-private partnership (PPP) model in tourism big time. In line with this, the state govt recently signed 127 MoUs worth more than `22,700 crore with private players. The investments are spread across amusement parks, adventure tourism, sports and recreation, ropeway circuits, luxury hotels and resorts. The potential has piqued global interest with Vietnam-based conglomerate Vingroup, which manufactures VinFast EVs at Tuticorin, exploring multiple locations in TN to set up amusement parks and resorts.The development comes amid industries and the finance dept coordinating with the tourism dept to promote the sector. While SIPCOT, under the industries department, is identifying locations to be developed into well-equipped tourist destinations that can be allotted to investors in hospitality, the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB), part of the finance dept, is exploring projects with tourism potential.

The govt is structuring PPP projects to engage the private sector proactively and has started off with Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), says Pooja Kulkarni, CEO, TNIDB. Glow Garden in Mamallapuram, inaugurated a week ago and a floating restaurant at Muttukadu on ECR are among the successful examples in this regard. The modeling of a PPP project involves risk-sharing between two partners in a way that balances delivery of facilities or services and risk management between the govt, authority, and PPP partner. “There are several projection mappings across India executed under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) combined with operations & maintenance (O&M) model, wherein a private sector partner merely delivers some output. But, PPP models we are executing comprises an investment component from the private partner. It gives the partner a right into the project revenues. So, the partner has the opportunity to see upsides. At the same time, the govt has an upside since much of the initial risk is being taken by the govt that includes initial investments. Continued engagement drives the private sector partner,” she says. Noting that bids have been launched for four camping sites that include Yelagiri, Jawadhu, and Kolli hills, she says, “We welcome the private sector to participate and develop them.” Steps are being taken to identify five or six heritage buildings under maintenance of Public Works Department and explore the possibility of converting them into heritage hotels involving private hospitality players. “We have started identifying the structures,” she adds.According to Kulkarni, Guidance Tamil Nadu, the govt’s nodal agency for investment promotion, is getting into tourism promotion, which now has a tourism desk. “Tourism itself has been classified as an industry,” she says.The govt’s focus is private participation in our tourism initiatives and that’s the reason for signing 127 MoUs, says Commissioner of tourism, and TTDC MD Innocent Divya. “We are looking at promoting cultural and heritage circuits and adventure tourism. Tamil Nadu Maritime Board is coming up with cruise tourism initiatives. Tourists visiting heritage sites will also explore adventure tourism. The idea is to increase number of days that a tourist visits the state. For the first time, we are engaging private sector in a big way to leverage their expertise.” Pointing out that the efforts are part of Tamil Nadu Tourism Policy 2023 that offers incentives for investors in projects that are categorised as A, B and C, she said, the profit sharing ratio will be decided on these projects.South India hotels and restaurants association (SIHRA) honorary secretary T Nataraajan said, hotels are witnessing a rise in occupancy and the number of keys should be increased to cater to this demand. “The TN govt should offer land for tourism projects on a long-term lease for 99 years at concessional rates,” he adds. Tourist arrivals to TN stood at 28.7 crore during calendar year 2023, which includes both domestic and international travellers. In 2024, this increased to 30.8 crore, wherein TN ranked second, in domestic tourist arrivals.Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT hotels & resorts observed that PPP models must be viewed from the perspective of destination-making models. “We should make destinations involving the govt, private players and the local communities. One in every 10 people globally works in tourism, hospitality or related sectors. When you put up a hotel, it creates five other ancillary streams such as arts and crafts, street food, entertainment and guides, and these offer indirect jobs. PPP in sustainable eco tourism projects can also be explored,” he says.P Asoka, president of approved tour guides association, Chennai says, Rajasthan and Goa have successfully rolled out their PPP models in hospitality and chartered flights respectively. “A foreign tourist visiting TN as part of a group stays for an average of nine days and spends $200-$250 every day that includes hotels, travel and shopping, while an overseas backpacker explores the state for one month, spending an average of $50 a day. Tourism is dominated by the private sector with nearly 90% share. Exploring PPP in a big way now will generate huge revenue and employment opportunities,” he adds.

Ishan Kishan, on Sunday (February 15), played a stunning knock with the bat to put India in the driver’s seat against Pakistan in the 27th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

While batsmen from both the teams struggled to play their shots on a sluggish and slow pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Ishan Kishan played a blinder. Even though Abhishek Sharma was out for a duck, the wicketkeeper-batsman played his usual aggressive game and smashed a whirlwind fifty to put India on the front foot.

Also Read: Shivam Dube furious at Rinku Singh after being Run Out against Pakistan

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Ishan Kishan smashed blazing fifty:

Ishan Kishan got going with a stunning six off Shaheen Afridi in the second over of the innings and did not look back after that. He played the big shots right from the start on a tough pitch and went on to hit a record 27-ball fifty. His 27-ball fifty is now also the fastest fifty in a India vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup.

He eventually scored 77 runs off just 40 balls. His impressive knock was studded with 10 fours and 3 sixes. No other Indian batter could score more than 32 runs in the innings. Thanks to Kishan’s knock, India posted a challenging total of 175/7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Mohammed Siraj’s heartwarming gesture for Ishan Kishan:

A heartwarming incident was witnessed when Kishan was receiving treatment on the field during his knock. In the 8th over of the innings, he played a reverse sweep against Shadab Khan and seemingly hurt his knee as he fell awkwardly.

While he was lying on the ground and getting treated, a beautiful moment of sportsmanship stood out thanks to Mohammed Siraj. The Indian pacer was not a part of the playing eleven for the match and walked out with the drinks while Kishan was down.

India outplay Pakistan:

Talking about the match, India completely outplayed Pakistan to extend their winning run and seal a place in the next round. The reigning champions thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs to register their third win in a row. Chasing 176 runs, Pakistan never looked in contention and were eventually all out for just 114 runs.

Hardik Pandya gave India a strong start by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over before Jasprit Bumrah sent back Saim Ayub and Salman Agha in the second over. Pakistan just could not recover from those early setbacks and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Usman Tariq of Pakistan (Getty Images)

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez believes the buzz surrounding spinner Usman Tariq could give his team a mental edge over India ahead of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday. Tariq’s unconventional bowling has sparked widespread debate, with some fans even questioning the legality of his action. Hafeez, however, framed this attention as a strategic benefit, claiming it has unsettled the Indian side. “From a cricketing perspective, the hype around Usman Tariq is already a psychological victory for us. Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or anyone else. The focus is entirely on Tariq. He’s played just one or two matches for Pakistan, yet imagine the panic he’s causing in the Indian camp. They are specifically practicing against him in their sessions,” Hafeez told Tapmad.

He added, “How often do you see this much discussion about a single player? The media, fans, and the world are thinking not just about the match result, but about what Usman Tariq might do tomorrow.” Hafeez praised Tariq’s temperament, insisting the 28-year-old has the ability to turn games on his own. He advised Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to deploy Tariq aggressively, warning that defensive use would limit his impact. “I want to see how positively Salman Agha makes decisions and how he uses Usman Tariq. If he’s used defensively, nothing will work. You need an attacking mindset. Even the sixth over can be crucial, usually bowled by your most impactful player,” Hafeez explained. “Planning around Tariq is key. If he’s used in an attacking zone, he can be very effective. I’m not saying Abrar, Nawaz, or Shadab won’t matter, but right now, all eyes are on Usman Tariq,” he concluded.

COLOMBO: It was barely five minutes after the match was over at the Premadasa Stadium on Sunday when Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were back in the middle, bowling on the practice pitches. No over-the-top celebrations, no outpouring of emotions, just a sense of another routine victory against a Pakistan team that India don’t think are their match at the moment.The 61-run win, the fourth on the bounce after their hat-trick of victories against their once arch-rivals in the Asia Cup, have now ensured a Super-8 spot for India. A lot had happened in the build-up to this game and even on Sunday, the much-anticipated handshakes between the captains didn’t happen.While the unease off the pitch persisted, India were just too much when the ball rolled. Even a few months ago, Ishan Kishan (77 off 40 balls) wasn’t even close to a spot in the Indian T20 team. But now that he is there, the 27-year old is proving that he can give his teammate Abhishek Sharma a run for his money as the best T20 opener in the world.Abhishek’s early dismissal on a slow Premadasa track could have been a big blow, but not when Ishan was in the form that he is in. The Pakistan bowlers were dealt with disdain and the cuts and sweeps that the Jharkhand boy unleashed took India to 52 runs in the first six overs, which was at least 20 over par on this track.“The pitch was not that easy. Sometimes, you just have to believe and focus on your strengths. I was just watching the ball, sticking to my strengths and making them run as much as possible,” Man of the Match Kishan said at the end of the match.After his exit, India showed smartness to reach a total of 175 against some quality spin, pushing Pakistan into taking tremendous risks right at the beginning of their chase.They were not up for it with Jasprit Bumrah (2-17) and Hardik Pandya (2-16) doing the early damage. The spinners, who bowled 18 of Pakistan’s 20 overs, came into play for India only after the pacemen had all but sealed the deal.“This is for India. We played the brand of cricket we wanted to play. We thought 175 was 15-20 runs over par — 155 would have made it a very tight game,” captain Surya Kumar Yadav said, as the thousands of touring Indian fans went home a happy lot.This story continues on page 17 in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.Jaishankar on Russia ties: Firmly wedded to strategic autonomyNew Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India remains firmly committed to strategic autonomy, even as the global energy markets evolve and partnerships shift. He was responding to a question at the Munich Security Conference whether a recent trade agreement with the US would affect New Delhi’s energy ties with Russia and if India was finding it difficult to exercise its strategic autonomy in the current circumstances.India maintains its energy policy is driven by national interests and the actual crude sourcing is done by oil companies taking into account pricing, reliability and other market conditions.“We are very much wedded to strategic autonomy because it’s a part of our history and our evolution. It’s something which is very deep, and something which cuts across the political spectrum as well,” he said.Addressing concerns over energy sourcing, the EAM described the global oil market as complex and dynamic, stressing that commercial considerations guide procurement decisions.“As for energy issues, this is a complex market today. Oil companies in India, as in Europe, as probably in other parts of the world, look at availability, look at costs, look at risks and take the decisions that they feel are in their best interest,” he noted.Jaishankar said that in a rapidly changing global environment, countries continuously reassess their calculations and partnerships.“So many things are changing, and so many of us are doing our calculations and recalculations,” he said, adding while India may not agree with all partners on every issue, dialogue and a willingness to find common ground remain important.“We would not necessarily agree on everything but I do believe that by doing that, and if there is an inclination to find common ground and overlaps, that would happen,” he said.Noting India’s independent decision-making, he said, “If the bottom line of your question is would I remain independent-minded and make my decisions? And would I make choices which sometimes may not agree with your thinking or somebody else’s thinking, yes, it can happen.”He met with G7 foreign ministers and their global counterparts at the Munich Security Conference 2026, reiterating India’s support for the UN80 agenda and underscoring New Delhi’s role in safeguarding global security.Jaishankar also stressed on India’s role in safeguarding sea lines of communication, acting as a first responder in crises, strengthening port security and contributing to resilient submarine cable infrastructure.

COLOMBO: It was barely five minutes after the match was over at the Premadasa Stadium on Sunday when Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were back in the middle, bowling on the practice pitches. No over-the-top celebrations, no outpouring of emotions, just a sense of another routine victory against a Pakistan team that India don’t think are their match at the moment.The 61-run win, the fourth on the bounce after their hat-trick of victories against their once arch-rivals in the Asia Cup, have now ensured a Super-8 spot for India. A lot had happened in the build-up to this game and even on Sunday, the much-anticipated handshakes between the captains didn’t happen.While the unease off the pitch persisted, India were just too much when the ball rolled. Even a few months ago, Ishan Kishan (77 off 40 balls) wasn’t even close to a spot in the Indian T20 team. But now that he is there, the 27-year old is proving that he can give his teammate Abhishek Sharma a run for his money as the best T20 opener in the world.Abhishek’s early dismissal on a slow Premadasa track could have been a big blow, but not when Ishan was in the form that he is in. The Pakistan bowlers were dealt with disdain and the cuts and sweeps that the Jharkhand boy unleashed took India to 52 runs in the first six overs, which was at least 20 over par on this track.“The pitch was not that easy. Sometimes, you just have to believe and focus on your strengths. I was just watching the ball, sticking to my strengths and making them run as much as possible,” Man of the Match Kishan said at the end of the match.After his exit, India showed smartness to reach a total of 175 against some quality spin, pushing Pakistan into taking tremendous risks right at the beginning of their chase.They were not up for it with Jasprit Bumrah (2-17) and Hardik Pandya (2-16) doing the early damage. The spinners, who bowled 18 of Pakistan’s 20 overs, came into play for India only after the pacemen had all but sealed the deal.“This is for India. We played the brand of cricket we wanted to play. We thought 175 was 15-20 runs over par — 155 would have made it a very tight game,” captain Surya Kumar Yadav said, as the thousands of touring Indian fans went home a happy lot.This story continues on page 17 in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.Jaishankar on Russia ties: Firmly wedded to strategic autonomyNew Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India remains firmly committed to strategic autonomy, even as the global energy markets evolve and partnerships shift. He was responding to a question at the Munich Security Conference whether a recent trade agreement with the US would affect New Delhi’s energy ties with Russia and if India was finding it difficult to exercise its strategic autonomy in the current circumstances.India maintains its energy policy is driven by national interests and the actual crude sourcing is done by oil companies taking into account pricing, reliability and other market conditions.“We are very much wedded to strategic autonomy because it’s a part of our history and our evolution. It’s something which is very deep, and something which cuts across the political spectrum as well,” he said.Addressing concerns over energy sourcing, the EAM described the global oil market as complex and dynamic, stressing that commercial considerations guide procurement decisions.“As for energy issues, this is a complex market today. Oil companies in India, as in Europe, as probably in other parts of the world, look at availability, look at costs, look at risks and take the decisions that they feel are in their best interest,” he noted.Jaishankar said that in a rapidly changing global environment, countries continuously reassess their calculations and partnerships.“So many things are changing, and so many of us are doing our calculations and recalculations,” he said, adding while India may not agree with all partners on every issue, dialogue and a willingness to find common ground remain important.“We would not necessarily agree on everything but I do believe that by doing that, and if there is an inclination to find common ground and overlaps, that would happen,” he said.Noting India’s independent decision-making, he said, “If the bottom line of your question is would I remain independent-minded and make my decisions? And would I make choices which sometimes may not agree with your thinking or somebody else’s thinking, yes, it can happen.”He met with G7 foreign ministers and their global counterparts at the Munich Security Conference 2026, reiterating India’s support for the UN80 agenda and underscoring New Delhi’s role in safeguarding global security.Jaishankar also stressed on India’s role in safeguarding sea lines of communication, acting as a first responder in crises, strengthening port security and contributing to resilient submarine cable infrastructure.

A viral video circulating online claims that Offset anonymously delivered 10,000 heart-shaped balloons to Cardi B on Valentine’s Day which has sparked speculation about a possible reunion. The video is going viral also because of Cardi B’s rumored split from Stefon Diggs following the NFL season.However, there is currently no verified evidence confirming that Offset arranged the balloon delivery.

The video shows a large Valentine’s-themed balloon setup, with social media users alleging that Offset organized the display as a romantic gesture toward his ex-wife. Some posts also reference a cryptic lyric quote shared online, interpreting it as a message directed at Cardi B.The rumors also spread because of the timing, Valentine’s Day and Cardi’s widely discussed relationship issues with Stefon Diggs. Fans are now connecting the dots, suggesting the balloons were part of a reconciliation attempt.But at this point, those claims remain unverified interpretations, not confirmed facts.Additionally, the origin of the balloon video remains unclear. Viral clips often circulate without context, and similar large-scale Valentine’s displays are commonly created for private individuals, influencers, or promotional events.Without verifiable sourcing, the claim cannot be treated as confirmed.There is no verified evidence that Offset delivered 10,000 balloons to Cardi B on Valentine’s Day. The claim appears to be based on viral speculation rather than confirmed reporting.Until either Cardi B or Offset addresses the situation directly, the reunion narrative should be treated as unconfirmed rumor, not established fact.Cardi B and Offset were married in 2017 and later divorced. They share three children. Cardi B started dating Stefon Diggs in 2025. Breakup rumors between Cardi B and Diggs surfaced following recent social media activity and post–Super Bowl attention when they both unfollowed each other on social media after the game.

Salman Ali Agha, the losing side captain on February 15th night, blames the spinners after a shameful defeat against the archrival India by 61 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Ahead of the India vs Pakistan match, the spinner of the Pakistan cricket team is considered their trump card. In reality, Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav exposed the bowling attack of Pakistan. Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh also added significant runs from their brief knocks.

Salman Ali Agha accused the spinners

Salman Ali Agha directly said that it was bad for business for their spinners. He pointed out that the spinner failed to execute in multiple moments. Agha repeatedly mentioned the execution, which they might have been unsuccessful in doing.

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“Our spinners had an off day. Execution was missing in some parts. We believe in our spinners; they’ve done well in the last six months,” the Pakistan skipper said after the match.

Against India’s 175, Pakistan wrapped up their innings for only 114 runs in 18 overs. Ahead of the match, there were many talks around the controversial spinner Usman Tariq. Tariq, in his 4-over spell, took the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav against an economy rate of 6.00. Abrar Ahmed, another experienced spinner from Pakistan, proved very costly for the team. He spent 38 runs without claiming a single wicket in 3 overs.

Batters also failed to convince

The bowlers, precisely the spinners, might have failed to execute. But most of the Pakistani batters also failed to justify their skills. The total of 114 is the proof.

“We lost too many wickets in the powerplay with the bat. In the first innings it was tacky; the ball was gripping as well. The execution was missing with the ball. Pitch played better in the second innings than it did in the first,” Agha added.

Salman Ali Agha confident about bouncing back

Wherever the India vs Pakistan match takes place, crowds gather in large numbers to see the rivalry live. On February 15, Colombo was not an exception. The full house also could have put extra pressure on the cricketers.

“In these kinds of games, the emotions are always going to be high. Have to deal with it. Have played enough games like that. Have a game in two days’ time; have to look forward to that. Need to win that game and qualify for the Super Eights. Then it’s a new tournament again,” Salman Ali Agha concluded.

Pakistan will next face Namibia on February 18 at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo at 3.00 PM IST.

Read More: Watch: Jasprit Bumrah gives Saim Ayub a death stare after dismissing him with a stunning yorker