NEW DELHI: Opener Pathum Nissanka turned a challenging chase into a masterclass on Monday, smashing a blistering 100 not out off 52 balls to guide Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.The win not only secured Sri Lanka’s spot in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup but also left Australia’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Australia will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 182, Sri Lanka’s innings was anchored by Nissanka, who struck 10 fours and five sixes, and Kusal Mendis, who contributed a fluent 51 off 38 balls. The pair stitched together a 97-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping Sri Lanka comfortably ahead. Pavan Rathnayake added a quick 28 off 15 balls as the hosts raced to 184/2 in just 18 overs, maintaining a commanding run rate throughout.Australia, sent in to bat, got off to a flying start with Mitchell Marsh (54 off 27) and Travis Head (56 off 29) adding 104 runs in less than nine overs. Their power-hitting set Australia up for a total beyond 200, with boundaries and sixes flowing freely.However, Sri Lanka clawed their way back in the latter half of the innings. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha emerged as the standout bowler with figures of 3/37 in four overs, while Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage picked up crucial wickets. Australia collapsed from 104/0 to 130/4 and eventually folded for 181. Pathum Nissanka also redeemed himself in the field, taking a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Glenn Maxwell.Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Kusal Perera was caught at deep backward point, but Nissanka and Mendis ensured the chase remained under control. Even after Mendis’s dismissal by Marcus Stoinis, there was no stopping Nissanka, who carried the team over the line with 12 balls to spare.The result marks a dramatic turnaround for Sri Lanka, while Australia, who had earlier been humbled by Zimbabwe, now face a precarious path to the Super Eight. The hosts’ combination of explosive batting and clinical bowling proved too much for the Australians, highlighting Sri Lanka’s momentum and Australia’s vulnerability in the tournament.

Mumbai: Nearly 87% of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s Rs 48,072.5 crore budget for 2026-27 will be spent on infrastructure works, with Rs 4,000 crore earmarked for the new Karnala–Sai–Chirner town under the Mumbai 3.0 expansion plan. The authority on Monday presented its first surplus budget in 9 years, projecting a marginal surplus of Rs 17 lakh — a sharp turnaround from a Rs 7,468 crore deficit reported in 2024-25.With estimated receipts of Rs 48,072.5 crore and expenditure of Rs 48,072.4 crore, the outlay is 58.6% higher than the revised estimate of Rs 30,316 crore for 2025-26, while expenditure is up 53.5%.A total of Rs 42,026 crore was allocated for development projects, signalling an aggressive expansion across transport and urban infrastructure.Apart from the Rs 4,000 crore Karnala–Sai–Chirner new town, another Rs 500 crore was set aside for the Pen growth centre and Rs 100 crore for the Kharbav business park, together forming the Mumbai 3.0 decentralisation plan.MMRDA said the Rs 4,000 crore allocation to Mumbai 3.0 marked operationalisation of MMR’s next urban frontier, designed to decongest Mumbai, attract global capital, and create structured employment ecosystems aligned with NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub concept.Metro projects account for the single largest share at Rs 13,838.8 crore, including major funding for the Wadala–Kasarvadavali, Swami Samarth Nagar–Kanjurmarg, Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan, and Dahisar–Mira Bhayander corridors. Roads and elevated corridors will receive Rs 12,816.5 crore, while tunnel projects such as Thane–Borivli and Orange Gate–Marine Drive links together get Rs 5,543.5 crore. Social and civic works include Rs 731.3 crore for housing and rehabilitation, Rs 980.8 crore for water supply projects, and Rs 250 crore for climate resilience initiatives. Memorial projects account for Rs 571.5 crore.Receipts are expected to be driven mainly by borrowings of Rs 23,711 crore, land monetisation of Rs 11,177.95 crore, and urban transport fund collections of Rs 6,368.4 crore. CM Devendra Fadnavis said: “MMRDA’s first surplus budget since 2017–18 marks a defining institutional milestone. This budget reflects global investor confidence and a long-term infrastructure-led growth vision. It positions the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as a modern, investment-ready, and globally competitive urban region.” DCM and MMRDA chairman Eknath Shinde said: “With 87% allocation towards projects, this budget demonstrates focused, accountable governance.” Metropolitan commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said: “This surplus budget is the outcome of fiscal discipline, calibrated capital mobilisation, and sustained infrastructure delivery.”

Mumbai: As Mumbai gears up for the inaugural Mumbai Climate Action Week (MCW), a top United Nations environment official said there is an urgent need to scale “nature-based cooling” and climate-smart construction practices to protect cities from rising heat, flooding and climate impacts.Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at the United Nations Environment Programme, said the megacity’s low-lying position and rapidly increasing temperatures make adaptation a pressing priority. “Mumbai is a coastal megacity where sea-levels rise, flooding and extreme heat are no longer distant risks — they are already affecting people’s lives. Fortunately, there are practical, affordable solutions — many of which work with nature rather than just machines,” he said.

Krause pointed to solutions such as restoring wetlands, reconnecting rivers to parks to absorb rainwater, expanding urban tree cover and introducing rooftop gardens. Such measures, he said, are part of what experts refer to as nature-based solutions: low-cost, nature interventions that help reduce ambient heat.“Tree cover, shaded streets, reflective roofs and green spaces can lower temperatures by several degrees. These measures help not just the environment but human health and comfort, especially for vulnerable populations,” he said, adding that while such strategies can significantly mitigate heat outdoors, indoor cooling still often requires mechanical systems. He advocated pairing nature-based solutions with passive cooling in buildings, energy-efficient air conditioning and district cooling systems that minimise electricity demand and avoid peak load spikes. While passive cooling gained traction globally over the last 5 years — more than 230 cities are now exploring it as part of climate adaptation planning, Krause said.“We are working with cities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to support these measures,” he explained. “The evidence base is growing, but the promise is clear. In Europe, cities such as Paris already operate district cooling networks that circulate chilled water to buildings — a model that could even benefit Indian megacities,” he explained.On the MoU between UNEP and the Maharashtra govt under the global “BeCool” programme, a key focus, he said, is integrating passive cooling into building regulations — a shift from pilots to mandatory practice. “It’s always cheaper to build climate-smart from the outset than retrofit later,” he said. “We are working with developers and builders to integrate shading, insulation, roof orientation and better materials into designs.“Retrofit efforts in older buildings, schools and hospitals are also important, though often more costly, he added.Asked why green building practices remain pilots in many instances rather than mainstream norms, Krause pointed to a combination of awareness, capacity and finance gaps. “Pilots demonstrate what’s possible, but the market needs incentives,” he said. “Architects, engineers and builders need training — and buyers need access to affordable finance.” Krause pointed to international examples where buildings with energy-efficient design or a “green label” qualify for lower interest loans — an approach UNEP is exploring with Indian financial institutions.Highlighting that extreme heat disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable, Krause said cooling should be reframed as a matter of health and dignity.“In many Indian cities, people already experience 40–45°C heat for weeks at a time,” he said. “Cooling is not a luxury — it is essential for well-being.” Several Maharashtra cities signed up for the Beat the Heat programme, which aims to raise awareness and catalyse action focused on vulnerable populations.To ensure climate pledges translate into measurable outcomes, Krause stressed the importance of data-driven tracking. UNEP is supporting heat-mapping using satellite and ground-based tools to identify urban heat islands and prioritise interventions. “Setting baselines and clear targets — such as retrofitting a certain percentage of public buildings — allows progress to be tracked and verified,” he said.Calling the Mumbai Climate Action Week “significant”, Krause said such events help link local realities with global experience. “Climate impacts are felt most strongly at the local level,” he said. “Bringing municipal leaders, policymakers and international experts together accelerates learning and action.”

NEW DELHI: The mother of a 23-year-old man who died in a road accident in Dwarka earlier this month has posted an emotional video on social media, alleging that her son was killed by a minor who was driving an SUV recklessly while making “speed fun reels”.Sahil Dhaneshra died in the accident on February 3 near Lal Bahadur Shastri College in Dwarka. In a video message shared on Sunday, his mother appealed to the government, media and local residents to help her seek justice.“I raised my child for 23 years as a single mother. On February 3, my innocent child was blown away by a car. I am a helpless mother,” she said in the video posted on X.In a post accompanying the video, she wrote, “I lost my son Sahil Dhaneshra, a 22+ year old young and most talented boy whom I raised for 23 years alone as a single mom, was killed brutally by a Scorpio N bearing no. UP57BM3057. Driver is an unlicensed driver and his sister while making speed fun reels in Dwarka.”She urged parents to remain vigilant about road safety and appealed to the public to come forward in her support.According to Delhi Police, a fatal accident was reported at around 11.57 am on February 3. When officers reached the spot, they found an SUV, a car and a motorcycle in a damaged condition. The motorcycle rider, later identified as Sahil Dhaneshra, was found dead at the scene.Ajit Singh, who had parked his taxi on the roadside, was also injured in the incident and was taken to IGI Hospital. Police said that the final medical opinion on his medico-legal case (MLC) is awaited.A case was registered at Dwarka South Police Station under sections 281 (rash driving), 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).During the investigation, the SUV driver was identified as 17-year-old Akshatra Singh. Police said he did not possess a valid driving licence and was apprehended. The minor was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and sent to an observation home.He was granted interim bail on February 10 by the JJB on the ground that he is a Class 10 student and due to appear for his examinations, police said.All three vehicles involved in the accident have been seized and mechanically inspected. CCTV footage from the area has also been collected as part of the ongoing investigation.According to preliminary findings, the SUV allegedly collided with the motorcycle coming from the opposite direction before hitting a parked car on the roadside. Police said that the matter remains under investigation.

Facebook-parent Meta-backed artificial intelligence (AI) training company Scale AI is suing the Department of Defence. The company reportedly filed the lawsuit over what appears to be a contract dispute, with most court documents sealed and classified. The lawsuit was reportedly filed last month in the Court of Federal Claims.According to a Business Insider report, the nature of the dispute and what Scale is seeking remain unclear, as case documents are expected to include classified information at the “secret/no foreign” level. Another AI company, Enabled Intelligence, has joined as an intervenor defendant to protect its interests.Last year, Scale lost a bid for a contract worth up to $708 million from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, part of the DoD, to Enabled Intelligence. The contract, which could last up to seven years, was the agency’s largest data-training agreement and includes work with the Pentagon’s AI effort, Maven.In December 2025, Scale filed a bid protest with the Government Accountability Office against the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The protest was dismissed in January, two days before the company filed its lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims. In 2024, Scale also won a $24 million, one-year contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to work on data labelling for Maven.

What Scale AI said about the Department of Defence

In a statement to BI, a Scale spokesperson declined to comment on the DoD lawsuit, saying it “relates to a recent procurement decision.”“Scale AI stands firmly with Secretary Hegseth and the Department of War in their mission to get frontier AI capabilities into the hands of warfighters. We are committed to ensuring the procurement process reflects the high standards required for our nation’s most critical AI initiatives,” the spokesperson noted.Scale has signed several multimillion-dollar contracts with the DoD since 2020. In March, the startup announced it was working with defence tech startup Anduril and Microsoft to deploy AI agents in the US military under a DoD programme called “Thunderforge”. In August 2025, Scale announced a $99 million contract to develop AI tools for the US Army.The company is known for its data labelling service, which has helped tech giants like Google and Meta improve their AI chatbots. In exchange for a 49% share in the business, Meta invested $14.3 billion in Scale in June 2025.Scale’s former CEO, Alexandr Wang, wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump after his second inauguration, outlining five ways the president could advance AI in his first 100 days. The then-Scale exec wrote that he wanted the US government to emulate tech giants by increasing spending on data and compute and noted Scale’s work with the DoD. Wang, who left Scale to join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs as chief AI officer, also attended the president’s AI dinner at the White House in September 2025.Since Meta’s investment, Scale has laid off 200 employees (14% of its workforce), lost clients including Google and xAI, and has been battling multiple new entrants trying to poach its clients and workers.

In a tournament where the stakes are perpetually sky-high, the February 15 clash between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo felt more like a final than a Group A fixture. The 27th match of the T20 World Cup 2026 saw India continue their psychological edge over their neighbors, securing a clinical 61-run victory. Driven by Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 and a relentless bowling display that skittled Pakistan for a meagre 114, India officially punched their ticket to the Super 8s. However, for Pakistan, the “Mother of all Battles” has left behind a trail of mathematical desperation and a battered Net Run Rate (NRR).

Pakistan slides to third as their Net Run Rate takes a hit losing to India

The aftermath of the Colombo crushing has been statistically unkind to Salman Ali Agha’s men. Before the toss, Pakistan held a comfortable position, but the 61-run margin of defeat acted as a sledgehammer to their standing. They have now slipped to third place in Group A, trailing the United States on Net Run Rate.

While India sit comfortably at the summit with six points and a formidable NRR of +3.050, the real battle is brewing beneath them. USA occupies the second spot with four points and a healthy NRR of +0.787. Pakistan, also on four points, find themselves in the “red” with an NRR of -0.403. This swing is a direct result of their inability to chase India’s 175, losing wickets in clusters and failing to even reach the 120-mark. In a tournament format where every decimal point can act as a trapdoor, Pakistan’s failure to maintain a competitive margin has effectively taken the NRR tiebreaker off the table for them against the Americans.

Also WATCH: Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav lose cool at Kuldeep Yadav during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 showdown

How can Pakistan qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 round?

Despite the gloom, Pakistan still controls its own destiny, albeit by a thread. Their qualification scenario is now a binary equation: beat Namibia on February 18, or go home.

If Pakistan defeats Namibia, they will move to six points. Since the USA has already played all four of their group matches and is capped at four points, a Pakistani victory would see them leapfrog the Americans into second place regardless of the NRR deficit. However, the path is not without its ghosts. The USA is hoping for a repeat of recent upsets; if Namibia manages to shock Pakistan, the USA will qualify for the Super 8s by virtue of having more NRR (4) than a losing Pakistan (4 points, but a significantly lower NRR).

The Netherlands also remains a mathematical wildcard, though their path is nearly vertical. For the Dutch to qualify, they must not only beat India by a mammoth margin (likely exceeding 100 runs) but also hope Namibia beats Pakistan. This would create a three-way tie at four points between the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, where the Dutch would need their NRR to jump from -1.352 to above +0.787. For Pakistan, the math is simpler but the pressure is immense, win in Colombo on Wednesday, or face an early flight back to Islamabad.

Also READ: Fans celebrate Ishan Kishan’s heroics as India hammer Pakistan to secure Super 8 spot

Thane: The Thane Traffic Police carved out a seamless green corridor on Saturday to rush a donor heart to Mumbai from Thane, navigating a critical city stretch often perennially clogged due to dense traffic movement, in nearly half the stipulated time. A narrow preparatory margin gave a patient a fighting chance at life.Coincidentally, the entire exercise was carried out on Valentine’s Day, a day associated with hearts, as the Thane Traffic Police team swung into action and collectively ensured an obstruction-free path was created between Thane and Mumbai hospitals for the speedy transplant of the heart, at very short notice.

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Pankaj Shirsat, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane Traffic, said, “The request call came to us barely 30 minutes in advance. A brain-dead donor at Jupiter Hospital was cleared for organ retrieval, and the heart needed to reach Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, where a recipient awaited transplant surgery.”What followed was a tightly coordinated, clock-bound operation involving medical teams and traffic police working in rare synchrony.“The organ left Jupiter Hospital at 5:55pm, and a total distance of 35km was to be covered, of which 6km was within Thane’s congested limits — from the hospital on the Eastern Express Highway near Runwal Nagar to Anandnagar Toll Naka. We estimated 14 minutes to cross this leg, but our escorting team cleared it in just 8 minutes, ensuring the heart crossed into Mumbai without any delay,” said Shirsat, who mobilised 25 personnel across key junctions as part of the initiative.Traffic police inspector Shrikant Sonde (Kapurbaudi), along with those from Wagle Estate, Naupada, and those in the control room, coordinated diversions and held intersections with clinical precision, keeping the corridor sterile as the ambulance sped through.Inside the hospital, Dr Santosh Sorte and his team ensured the retrieval and preservation protocols were executed flawlessly, a crucial factor in time-sensitive cardiac transplants where every minute impacts viability.Reflecting on the mission, DCP Shirsat said the department received intimation from hospital authorities just 30 minutes before departure. “We moved immediately. If our intervention helps save a life, we consider it our privilege,” he said.Green corridors are not new to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, but each successful execution underscores the fragile arithmetic of organ transplantation — where minutes, not miles, determine outcomes, said police.