Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid vs New Orleans Pelicans (Image via Getty)

Joel Embiid will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Atlanta Hawks on February 19, 2026. The team has ruled him out as he continues to deal with a right knee issue along with soreness in his right shin that worsened during the All-Star break.This is a setback for Philadelphia as it tries to stay in the playoff race. Without Embiid, the team loses its main presence inside on both ends of the floor. That puts more pressure on the guards and wings to handle scoring and playmaking against an Atlanta team that plays at a fast pace.

Joel Embiid’s injury status vs Atlanta Hawks and recent games missed (February 19, 2026)

Joel Embiid felt discomfort in his shin while going through his knee management routine during the break. The issue required daily treatment and further checks, which led to the decision to keep him out of this game.He had already missed the final two games before the break. This adds to his limited availability this season. He has played 31 games so far, averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. The team plans to evaluate him again before upcoming road games against New Orleans and Minnesota.

Philadelphia 76ers injury report and expected rotation (February 19, 2026)

Paul George is also unavailable. He is serving a suspension through March 25 after violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Before that, he was averaging 16 points and 5.1 rebounds.The rest of the roster is mostly available. Tyrese Maxey is expected to lead the offense. Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, and Kyle Lowry will handle backcourt and wing minutes. Andre Drummond is likely to take on a larger role in the paint. Younger players such as VJ Edgecombe, Adem Bona, and Johni Broome could also see time.

Hawks injury report and available players

Atlanta has a few minor issues in the frontcourt. Jonathan Kuminga is listed as questionable with a left knee bone bruise. N’Faly Dante is out with a knee injury.Most of the main rotation is available. Jalen Johnson has been productive with averages of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker add scoring support.

What this means for the game

Without Joel Embiid, Philadelphia loses its main rim protector and post scorer. That could be a problem against a team like Atlanta that scores often in transition. The Hawks average 18 fast-break points per game, one of the highest marks in the league.Maxey has been playing well and is averaging 28.9 points in recent games, but the overall balance of the team changes without Embiid. Philadelphia 76ers scored 116.2 points per game, while Atlanta allows 118.6, so the game could come down to shot-making and pace.Also read: Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (February 19, 2026)Both teams are near the bottom of the standings and dealing with absences. Atlanta comes in with some momentum after ending a losing streak, while Philadelphia will need to adjust again without its best player.

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V Umashankar (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Mere awareness drives or campaigns will not be enough to reduce violations of road traffic rules and road crashes; rather, the “certainty of enforcement” will have a greater deterrent impact, Union road transport secretary V Umashankar said on Thursday while sharing details of the recently notified e-challan rules. Speaking at the release of the New Delhi Road Safety Declaration at the National Road Safety Confluence held at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Umashankar questioned whether a juvenile (referring to a recent case in Delhi) did not know that he was underage and should not have been driving a car, or whether the vehicle owner who modified a tourist bus — resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people in a fire — did not know that such modifications were illegal. “Forty-five percent of fatalities involve two-wheelers or people riding two-wheelers. We find that most of these deaths occurred because the rider was not wearing a helmet. Does he not know that wearing a helmet is good for him?” he observed. Umashankar said, “Awareness is not enough — what we need is organised, district-level action, backed by certainty of enforcement and supported by strong institutions. When compliance becomes a habit and accountability becomes certain, road safety will move from intention to impact.” Mats-Ake Belin, global lead for the Decade of Action for Road Safety at the World Health Organization, said that road safety is now firmly on the global agenda, with strong political and media attention. “Our responsibility is to move beyond awareness and ensure consistent, evidence-based implementation so that no country is left behind in preventing road traffic deaths,” he added. The New Delhi Road Safety Declaration, aligned with the WHO Decade of Action for Road Safety, states that India records the highest number of road fatalities globally, with vulnerable road users — such as pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders, gig workers, and rural communities — being the most affected. Despite several initiatives, the absence of coordinated, institution-led action has limited national impact. “The declaration addresses this gap by adopting a Safe System approach, placing human life at the centre of all mobility decisions,” it said. The declaration, spearheaded by the Bharat Association of Road Safety Volunteers (BARS), an organisation comprising members from diverse fields, has set five pillars of action: strengthening road safety management through leadership at all levels; promoting open crash data, annual public reviews, dedicated funding, and enhanced enforcement; ensuring safer vehicles and fleets; promoting safer road users and improved post-crash response; and creating a safer driving environment.Participants included representatives from ministries, WHO and other multilateral agencies, civil society, academia, industry bodies, OEMs, technology innovators, and youth groups.

NAGPUR: Exactly a year after his arrest in Mali, a 42-year-old engineer from Nagpur, Nitin Gulhane, continues to languish in prison, despite securing bail 5 months ago as the Noida firm which deputed him to the West African nation is yet to pay the 3.25cr bail bond.A project manager with Noida-based Aar Ess Exim Pvt Ltd (AEEPL), Gulhane was arrested in Bamako on February 25, last year, just four days after returning to Mali to resume work. He had taken a work break as the project was halted due to rains.

According to his wife, Priyanka Gulhane, and his brother-in-law, Gaurav Choudhari, the arrest stemmed from a financial dispute between the Noida company and its African partner, Energie du Mali, over the validity of bank guarantees linked to hydropower and rural electrification projects. The family raised the matter with the ministry of external affairs and is currently camping in Delhi.Gulhane oversaw electrification of 22 villages in Djenne on behalf of the firm. Priyanka said tendering for the project was done much before he took the Mali assignment in November 2022. “My husband was neither involved nor had the decision-making authority in financial matters. His role was limited to execution of the project in line with specifications, timelines and budgets,” she said.He was taken into custody with AEEPL director Rajesh Ramachandran after a meeting convened by the Malian entity. On August 15, 2025, Gulhane was granted bail on a bond of roughly 3.25 crore — but the amount was not deposited. Ramachandran did not receive bail.Gaurav said she approached the company’s office in Noida, officials at South Block, the Indian Mission in Mali, and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, citing their shared Nagpur connection. “I made repeated requests to the AEEPL management, but no effort was made by the employer to facilitate this bail,” she said.His wife expressed concern over her husband’s health, stating, “My husband is a heart patient and suffers from diabetes and hypertension. His health deteriorated in prison due to inadequate medical care. Continued detention poses a grave threat to his life.” Priyanka, who lives in Nagpur with their 2 children, said the company paid only half his salary since the arrest and she often had to request funds for his medical treatment in Kenioroba Prison.In September, officials in the ministry’s Central and West Africa division met AEEPL managing director Rajendra Mishra. “Since that meeting, Mishra has been postponing the deadline given by the ministry and giving excuses for not arranging the bail amount. Authorities should extend diplomatic and legal support to my husband,” she said.Mishra, however, told TOI he was busy in a meeting and therefore could not offer his comments. TOI tried calling him again, but he said he would respond on Wednesday. However, he didn’t. Efforts to contact Indian embassy officials in Mali did not bear fruit, as they kept passing the responsibility to other officials.Gulhane’s wife said the entire case arose due to the company’s decisions and technical errors. The court in Mali did not hold her husband responsible and granted him bail. However, despite repeated assurances, the company failed to deposit the bail amount, she said..

Australia’s underwhelming campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has not only ended their title hopes but also ignited serious discussions about the future of some of their biggest stars. Among the names under the spotlight is the explosive all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, whose international career could be nearing its final chapter.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has openly suggested that Maxwell may not feature in the next T20 World Cup cycle, hinting that the veteran’s time in Australian colours could soon draw to a close.

Australia’s group-stage elimination in the T20 World Cup 2026 came as a shock to many, with the team failing to secure a Super 8 berth. The early exit has intensified scrutiny on the side’s senior players, particularly those who have been part of multiple World Cup campaigns.

Ricky Ponting’s candid assessment on Glenn Maxwell’s future

Speaking during the tournament coverage, Ponting did not shy away from sharing his honest view about Maxwell’s future. Ponting’s comments reflects a growing belief that Australia could be preparing for a transitional phase. Maxwell, known for his fearless strokeplay and match-winning brilliance, has been one of Australia’s most dynamic white-ball cricketers over the past decade. However, recent performances have not quite matched the lofty standards he once set.

“Glenn Maxwell, I don’t think will be there. I think it looks to me like his career is coming towards an end,” Ponting remarked.

A lean patch at the wrong time

Maxwell’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign has been modest by his standards. The 37-year-old managed just 62 runs across three matches, with starts that failed to convert into impactful scores. While flashes of his trademark innovation were visible, the finishing touch was missing.

The struggles did not begin at this tournament. Maxwell has not registered a T20 half-century since August 2025. In his last 12 T20 appearances, he has averaged just 15.55 with a strike rate of 113.82 — numbers that fall significantly short of his career benchmarks.

His selection for the World Cup squad was already under debate following a disappointing Big Bash League season, where he scored only 76 runs in eight innings. For a player renowned for turning games single-handedly, such numbers inevitably raised eyebrows.

One last appearance in Kandy?

Australia still have one final group-stage match remaining — a February 20 clash against Oman in Kandy. For Maxwell, the fixture could carry emotional weight. If Ponting’s prediction proves accurate, it may mark his final T20 World Cup appearance — or possibly even his last outing in international cricket.

Maxwell’s journey with Australia has been filled with unforgettable highs, including breathtaking centuries and match-defining cameos. His ability to dismantle bowling attacks in a matter of overs made him one of the most feared batters in the shortest format.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Rashid Khan pays heartfelt tribute to outgoing coach Jonathan Trott

NEW DELHI: India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent will be strengthened soon as the country’s third indigenous Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman (designated S4), is likely to be commissioned by April-May. “The commissioning of INS Aridhaman is expected by this summer as the submarine is currently in the final stages of sea trial,” a defence source told TOI.Last Dec, Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi had said that INS Aridhaman would be commissioned this year.INS Aridhaman, built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, will be larger (7,000 tonne) than predecessors INS Arihant and INS Arighaat (6,000 tonne), featuring enhanced capability to carry long-range K-4 missiles. INS Aridhaman will be armed with 24 K-15 Sagarika SLBMs (750 km range) and eight K-4 SLBMs (3,500 km range), which are capable of reaching most parts of Asia.Once it enters service, India will have three operational ballistic missile submarines under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) at sea for the first time, moving the country closer to achieving ‘Continuous At-Sea Deterrence’, a strategic defence policy where a nation maintains at least one SSBN on patrol 365 days a year.As a stealthy underwater platform, INS Aridhaman boosts India’s “second-strike” capability—the ability to retaliate after a nuclear attack. It is designed to carry more long-range nuclear-tipped missiles than its predecessors INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.In addition to INS Aridhaman, the Indian Navy is securing an Akula-class SSN nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia, commonly referred to as “Chakra III”, with expected delivery by 2027 or early 2028. Besides these submarine projects, India and Germany are in the final stages of negotiating a $8-10 billion Project-75(I) deal to build six advanced, conventional diesel-electric submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.The new submarine acquisitions are timely as Pakistan is acquiring eight advanced Hangor-class diesel-electric attack submarines from China under a $5 billion 2015 deal to bolster its naval capabilities.INS Aridhaman is equipped with an 83 MW pressurised water reactor and advanced sonar suites, possesses indigenous USHUS and Panchendriya sonar systems for better target detection and has improved acoustic damping with anechoic tiles to reduce noise, making it harder to detect. Once operational, it will be based at Project Varsha, a high-security facility with underground pens near Visakhapatnam.

India’s Shivam Dube celebrates his half-century (ANI Photo)

Ahmedabad: For someone who would get picked for team India only if Hardik Pandya got injured and who even was struggling to find a place in the Mumbai team for one season, Shivam Dube has come a long way. His ability to tonk the spinners for big sixes earned him a recall for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the selectors preferring him over well-known finisher Rinku Singh.

In the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings allrounder is turning out to be a ‘silent’ (not in the limelight), but violent (highly explosive) hero for India. In a tournament where India’s top order has largely struggled to get going against spinners, Dube’s impactful presence and contributions are worth their weight in gold. On Wednesday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Dube enhanced his credentials as a premier power-hitter in world cricket with a match-winning knock of 66 off just 31 balls, which included half a dozen powerfully struck sixes, against the Netherlands in India’s last league stage match of the T20 World Cup. Unlike the modern T20 specialist batter, Dube doesn’t look to improvise much. Standing still at the crease, the Mumbaikar employs his long levers, timing, and raw power to give the ball a good whack if it is pitched in his arc. Coming into this game, the 32-year-old had produced crucial cameos of 23 (off 16 balls) and 27 (off 17 balls) against Namibia and Pakistan in his previous two outings in the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the build-up to the T20 World Cup, Dube had hammered 65 off 23 balls against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Vizag last month. On Wednesday, Dube took time to get his eye in and was slightly fortunate to survive a close lbw appeal, which was reviewed by the Dutch, off off-spinner Aryan Dutt. He scored just six off 11 balls before exploding in typical fashion. “It was a little tough on the wicket, but this is the situation I love to bat and I was enjoying it, although I was under pressure for some time. The offspinner [Colin Ackermann] bowled really well to me and four dot balls, a good over from my side, but I knew that I’m going to cover up later. [Some balls] were skidding as well as keeping low. One of the balls spun as well. So, for me, it was like, yes, I can hit him, but at that time the situation demanded something else. So, I had to play at that time,” Dube said at the post-match press conference on Wednesday. Since he knows he has the ability to unleash big sixes, Dube doesn’t get fazed by a few dot balls while starting off. “Yes, obviously when you play dot balls in T20, you feel pressure. But as a player, as a batsman, I know at that time that maybe right now if I am at 2 runs in 10 balls, in the next 5 balls, if I hit two sixes, it will be covered. So that thought always stays in my mind. Yes, the wicket was gone so it is important that we build partnerships, so for that even if 2-4 balls are dot balls it is fine, but later it gets covered,” said Dube, radiating a smile after bagging the Player of the Match award. A few years back, Dube carried an unwanted reputation of being someone who would be uncomfortable against the short ball and genuine pace. However, over time, the left-hander worked on improving his weakness, turning into a better player each year. On Wednesday, he smashed three sixes off Dutch pacer Logan van Beek. Quizzed about how he climbed the learning curve and removed his drawbacks, Dube said, “When you play in those situations, you learn. So, I have become a little smart in that situation. I know, yes, this bowler can come to me on this ball, or a fast bowler can bowl short or slower balls – I’ve worked on those things. And now I’m getting better. Game awareness is important and it has gotten better from my side,” Dube said. “When I [first] came to CSK [Chennai Super Kings], there was something I was struggling with. It was important to come back strong, because I know I can dominate. I worked really hard on the short ball. I knew it’s not going to be easy [to make the changes], but I had to give it extra time and play extra balls. That’s what I did.” “I know all the bowlers, they’re going to [try and] block me as well,” Dube said. “They’ll not bowl me yorkers or length balls. They’re going to come short. They’re going to bowl me slower balls. So I prepared myself, so I was waiting for that. When I came today, it was not that I can take the strike rate high [immediately], but at some time there was something I thought, this is the time I can go now. I knew today was my day.” Until the 2024 T20 World Cup, Dube’s strike rate against pace in T20Is was 134, but now it’s gone up to 172. Aware that pacers are going to aim to give him some ‘chin music’, Dube is ready for the challenge. “I know all the bowlers, they’re going to [try and] block me as well,” Dube said. “They’ll not bowl me yorkers or length balls. They’re going to come short. They’re going to bowl me slower balls. So I prepared myself, so I was waiting for that. When I came today, it was not that I can take the strike rate high [immediately], but at some time there was something I thought, this is the time I can go now. I knew today was my day,” Dube said. Beaming when told that this was his maiden T20 World Cup fifty, Dube chose to bat for some of his hyped-up teammates as well. “It’s about who has the day,” Dube said, striking a philosophical tone. “I think in our team all of us are match-winners, anyone can hit big sixes on any day, and I felt today is the day, so I need to be a little smart, push myself, stay till the end, but I also need to regain my strength as well. That’s what I did. That’s why I’m a power hitter,” Dube said. Besides his batting, Dube’s bowling – thanks to many useful sessions with bowling coach and former South African pacer Morne Morkel – has also improved significantly. After his heroics with the bat, he took two for 35 in three overs on Wednesday night. Reflecting the team’s confidence in his seam bowling, skipper Suryakumar Yadav turned to Dube when the Netherlands needed 28 in the final over. The Dutch got 10, and Dube took a wicket.