Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan twice turned down “serious” deals for release, a top aide to PM Shehbaz Sharif said, as tensions simmer over his health crisis.Adviser to the prime minister on political affairs Rana Sanaullah disclosed during a talk show on Wednesday that “two serious attempts were made to cut a deal with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the past, but they failed.”“The first attempt was led by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and then-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Ali Amin Gandapur before November 26, 2024, and the second was made by a few people from abroad in the recent past. Imran Khan initially agreed but later backed out of the deal,” Sanaullah said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“We want a political solution to this problem, but Khan is not willing to find a way out,” he added.Sanaullah, a close aide to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) head Nawaz Sharif, further said Khan wants the incumbent government to be packed and he comes to power.The claims were immediately met with a fierce rebuttal. Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar in a post on X on Thursday called any claim of leniency “entirely false.”“There is neither any deal nor any leniency being offered to Imran Khan. Any impression of the government granting relaxation to Imran Khan is entirely false. Imran Khan is a convicted criminal,” said Tarar.Imran Khan has been offered eye treatment at Shifa Hospital in Islamabad as his family and party raised concerns about his health in prison.Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the Supreme Court last week that the 73-year-old former premier had lost 85 per cent of vision in his right eye in jail.Later, Khan’s sister Noreen Khan said, “Imran Khan is enduring unimaginable mistreatment in prison under the directives of Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir as the country is under illegitimate and un-Islamic rule.”The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since August 2023 in multiple cases.

Cricket fans will witness Western Australia face Victoria in the twenty-first match of the Australian One Day Cup 2026 at the W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth on 21^st February at 11:30 AM IST, promising an engaging contest.

Get the best WAU vs VCT Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 20^th match of the Australian One Day Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.

WAU vs VCT Match Preview:

Western Australia have delivered a mixed campaign so far, securing three victories from six matches. Moreover, they have shown competitive intent in several fixtures and managed to convert key moments into points. As a result, they currently sit in fourth place on the points table and remain within touching distance of the upper half.

Meanwhile, Victoria have faced a tougher run across the same number of games. Although they managed to win two matches, they struggled to maintain momentum and failed to close out crucial contests. Consequently, they find themselves at the bottom of the standings after six outings.

Therefore, the difference between the two teams highlights the importance of consistency. While Western Australia have capitalized on more opportunities to stay mid-table, Victoria must regroup quickly and produce stronger performances to climb out of last position.

WAU vs VCT Head-to-Head Record:

WAU vs VCT Weather & Pitch Report:

Record of chasing teams:

WAU vs VCT Playing 11s (Predicted):

Western Australia Playing 11:

1) Sam Whiteman

2) Cameron Bancroft

3) D’Arcy Short

4) Ashton Turner ©

5) Hilton Cartwright

6) Joel Curtis (WK)

7) Ashton Agar

8) Jhye Richardson

9) Lance Morris

10) Mahli Beardman

11) Corey Rocchiccioli

Victoria Playing 11:

1) Matt Short ©

2) Tom Rogers

3) Peter Handscomb

4) Sam Harper (WK)

5) Campbell Kellaway

6) Dylan Brasher

7) Fergus O’Neill

8) Mitch Perry

9) Xavier Crone

Hot Picks for WAU vs VCT Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:

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WAU vs VCT Australian One Day Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:

WAU vs VCT Dream11 Prediction Team 1:

• Keeper – Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Joel Curtis ©
• Batters – Sam Whiteman, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Fanning
• All-rounders – Will Sutherland (vc), Campbell Kellaway
• Bowlers – Sam Elliott, Brody Jackson, Aidan Esterhuizen

WAU vs VCT Dream11 Prediction Team 2:

• Keeper – Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper ©, Joel Curtis
• Batters – Hilton Cartwright, Cameron Bancroft (vc), Sam Fanning
• All-rounders – Will Sutherland, Campbell Kellaway
• Bowlers – Tom Fraser Rogers, Brody Jackson, Aidan Esterhuizen

WAU vs VCT Dream11 Prediction Today Match 21 Australian One Day Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:

WAU vs VCT Dream11 Prediction Today Match 21 Australian One Day Cup 2026 Expert Advice:

WAU vs VCT Match Winner Prediction:

As Western Australia will carry the squad edge, they will be expected to outplay their opponents and win this match.

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Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) ranked first in Maharashtra in the City E-Governance Index (CEGI)-2026 report released by Policy Research Organization (PRO) Pune, a third-party organisation that evaluated the e-governance performance of 29 municipal corporations in the state. The report assessed hundreds of criteria under three key pillars: service availability, transparency in administration and digital accessibility. Pune Municipal Corporation ranked second. NMMC secured the top position due to its citizen-oriented online services, easy digital transactions, an efficient grievance redressal system, and the consistency and up-to-dateness of information available through its website www.nmmc.gov.in and the mobile app My NMMC.On the other hand, residents have criticised that the grievance redressal system has been horrible as they experienced it ineffective while tracking the complaints. Mayor Sujata Patil, deputy mayor Dashrath Bhagat and municipal commissioner Kailas Shinde praised the IT department and congratulated citizens for the municipal corporation’s success. Shinde said, over the past year NMMC made continuous improvements in e-governance and placed special emphasis on providing fast, transparent and easy online services to citizens.The impact of service expansion through digital media, the online application process, tracking facilities and platforms developed for citizen participation reflected in the index, said an NMMC official. Navi Mumbai’s performance was analysed on three criteria: delivery of services to citizens and businesses, transparency in govt work, and ease of service delivery and level of accessibility, said Shinde. The index was determined by studying information on the municipal corporation’s website, mobile app and social media accounts from Nov 1 to Dec 31, 2025. PRO also conducted a comparative study of e-governance work done by 29 municipal corporations over the last five years. PRO chairman Tanmay Kanitkar said NMMC emerged the winner with a score of 9.11.NMMC provided online services 24×7, enabling citizens to obtain certificates, pay taxes, file complaints and track application status from home. It implemented an e-office system to move towards paperless administration, with file movements, approval processes and records handled digitally. An ERP-based system was introduced to manage departments collectively and improve coordination. Under Smart City initiatives, the municipal corporation implemented an Adaptive Traffic Management System, CCTV and AI based surveillance, a Data Analytics Dashboard and a Citizen Communication System. “Getting the first position in the state in the field of e-governance is a testament to the consistent efforts of the municipal officers and employees. Similarly, the citizens who cooperated for this also have a big role in this success. Efforts will continue to be made to make AI-based services, cyber security empowerment and the move towards complete paperless administration as well as digital services more efficient and inclusive,” said Shinde.

New Delhi: Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental, said Martin Schroeter, CEO of Kyndryl, one of the world’s largest IT infrastructure services providers. It is, he said, already reshaping how govts and enterprises operate, including in India. “It is the discussion that every customer wants us to have with them,” he said, and pointed out that India is one of the $15-billion company’s fastest growing markets today.

Kyndryl focuses on mission-critical IT systems, delivering uptime, resilience, security and interoperability across complex environments. India plays a central role in this strategy. Last year, the company announced a $2.2-billion investment plan for the country. Schroeter said progress is on track. A new AI Innovation Lab in Bengaluru will serve as a global centre of excellence for AI-powered consulting, co-creation and platform engineering. The company is also strengthening its collaboration with Indian ministries, including projects aimed at simplifying regulatory processes and making govt services easier to navigate. The company has implemented similar projects elsewhere. In one Middle Eastern govt, Kyndryl helped reimagine the process for issuing business licences. Previously, getting a licence took about 30 days and involved multiple ministries and third-party data checks. Using agentic AI, the process now takes roughly 30 minutes in most cases. That’s not just productivity, Schroeter noted, that’s changing how a govt interacts with citizens. Agents, Schroeter noted, are “relentless goal-seeking bits of code that can actually take action,” and they can be actioned without human intervention once it’s clear they are working well. In India, Kyndryl is opening a new Cyber Defence Operations Centre to detect and contain threats before they escalate. Schroeter also highlighted workforce development as a priority. Through initiatives like Cyber Rakshak, Kyndryl is expanding cybersecurity awareness and training programmes. The company now plans to extend these efforts into AI literacy – training civil servants and govt employees, and reaching 50,000 students with foundational AI education, alongside another 30,000 through community-level AI literacy initiatives.

New Delhi: For years, Europe watched its best AI researchers migrate to the US. India has faced the same challenge – a steady bleeding of top engineering and computer science talent to Silicon Valley. Reversing this flow is central to the global AI race, says Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of French startup Mistral AI. “Like Europe, India was bleeding talent to the US,” Mensch said in an interview with TOI. “The more talent you retain and create value locally, the better.” Founded in 2023 by Mensch, Guillaume Lample and Timothee Lacroix, Mistral AI was created to challenge the opaque, closed nature of “big AI” and make frontier models more accessible through open architectures. In just three years, the company has scaled rapidly – reaching a $400 million revenue run rate and targeting over $1 billion in revenue soon. As of last year, it was valued at $14 billion. But for Mensch, the AI race is not just commercial. It is structural – and geopolitical. With Europe heavily reliant on overseas digital infrastructure, particularly US hyperscalers, Mistral has chosen to build its own capabilities. “We don’t position ourselves as a sovereign alternative. We position ourselves as a global competitor in the AI race,” he said. “But tactically, to have capacity you fully control, you need infrastructure – the servers that run the technology.“ About 60% of Mistral’s business comes from Europe and 40% from the rest of the world. Some customers opt for its platform precisely because it can be deployed on their own infrastructure, reducing dependence on hyperscalers. Sovereign AI, he believes, is both a strategic and political necessity. As AI begins to run large parts of the global economy, govts and defence systems cannot risk external control. For businesses, over-dependence weakens negotiating leverage and continuity. India, with one of the world’s largest developer pools, has a similar inflection point. “We’ve brought many European researchers back to Europe. India has a unique opportunity to do the same. Universities here produce excellent AI and computer science talent. The focus should be on ensuring they innovate and build value here,” Mensch said. Mistral is currently building commercial partnerships in India, with a local technology centre a possible next step. While rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic explore IPO paths, Mensch said a listing is “down the road.” Profitability and global scale would be prerequisites. Mensch argues that much of enterprise AI adoption has stumbled because companies treated GenAI as a collection of tools rather than a platform shift. Early chatbot deployments focused on small productivity gains. “That doesn’t change the bottomline,” he said. Instead, Mistral focuses on high-ROI use cases that address major sources of business friction. At the core of its strategy is open source. “If you have access to model parameters, you can deploy wherever you want – including local infrastructure,” Mensch said. Open models also allow customisation. “Running a business should not mean over-dependence on a single service provider. I’ve said it multiple times – Europe cannot become an AI colony of the US.”

Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as the new chief executive of its gaming division, marking one of the most significant leadership changes in Xbox’s history. Sharma succeeds long-time gaming head Phil Spencer, who is retiring after nearly four decades at the company and will stay on as an adviser through the summer. Her appointment comes at a challenging moment for Microsoft Gaming, which is facing slowing revenue growth, rising costs and intense competition in the global console and content market.Sharma has been appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming and will report directly to Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chairman and chief executive. In her first comments following the announcement, Sharma said she would refocus on Xbox’s core audience while navigating a rapidly changing gaming landscape shaped by subscriptions, cloud gaming and large-scale acquisitions.

Asha Sharma’s journey to becoming Microsoft Gaming CEO

Before taking charge of Microsoft Gaming, Sharma held senior leadership roles across some of the world’s biggest technology companies. At Microsoft, she most recently worked in AI platform and product leadership, giving her direct exposure to the company’s broader push into artificial intelligence. Before that, she served as chief operating officer at Instacart and held product leadership roles at Meta. Her career has largely focused on scaling platforms, managing large teams and steering products through periods of rapid growth.Sharma is US-educated, with a business degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. While she is widely described as being of Indian origin, publicly available biographies and official company disclosures provide limited detail about her family background or roots, and she has not spoken extensively in public about her personal history. Her professional profile, however, places her firmly among a growing cohort of global tech leaders with diverse backgrounds.The leadership change comes as Microsoft Gaming faces multiple pressures. Gaming revenue has declined in recent quarters, hardware prices have risen due to cost pressures, and consumer spending remains uncertain. At the same time, Microsoft is still integrating Activision Blizzard, acquired in 2023 in a $69 billion deal that reshaped the company’s position in the gaming industry.Sharma’s background in operations, platforms and AI suggests Microsoft is betting on a leader who can balance content, technology and business discipline.

Changes across the gaming division

Alongside Sharma’s appointment, Microsoft confirmed other senior changes. Matt Booty has been promoted to chief content officer, overseeing game studios and titles, while Sarah Bond is leaving the company to pursue a new chapter. Together, the moves point to a broader reset of the Xbox leadership structure.Sharma takes over at a time when Xbox is reassessing its identity. Competition from Sony’s PlayStation remains strong, especially in console market share and exclusive games. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether Sharma prioritises hardware, subscriptions, first-party content, or deeper integration with Microsoft’s AI and cloud businesses.

A pivotal moment

Asha Sharma’s appointment marks the start of a new chapter for Microsoft Gaming. With Phil Spencer stepping back and a restructured leadership team in place, the company is signalling a willingness to rethink strategy at a time when the global games industry is under pressure. How Sharma navigates this transition will shape Xbox’s direction for years to come.

CHENNAI: For thousands of office-goers and school and college students solely dependent on electric multiple units (EMUs) for their daily commute, day one of the revised suburban train operations to facilitate Egmore station redevelopment work began with confusion. They faced risky walks along railway tracks, snail-paced trains, packed platforms, delayed services and trains queuing on the same track during peak hour due to changes on the Chennai Beach–Tambaram stretch.From Friday (Feb 20) as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Chennai Egmore railway station. The frequency of trains reduced to 164 services instead of the regular 204 services. The suburban trains shifted to platforms 5 and 6 from platforms 10 and 11. The revised schedule will be in force till April 5.

On Friday, the trains operated at a lower frequency, and the problem was compounded by delayed departures and arrivals at Egmore station, as it led to trains queuing on the same track and halting at adjacent stations such as Chennai Park, Chetpet and Nungambakkam. This forced people to get down from trains and walk on the track to reach their destination.Railway officials maintained that the issues reported on Day 1 would be corrected, but commuters complained of poor planning by the railway officials, resulting in chaotic situations at railway stations across the stretch.R Rishidharan, a college student who was going to get down at Nungambakkam, reached Egmore station promptly to catch the 7.50 am train, but was shocked to see a heavy crowd on the platform. “Though there were staffers to guide commuters to platforms 5 and 6, where the suburban trains are operated from instead of the regular platforms 11 and 12, commuters grew impatient over delayed operations. I boarded the train at 8.15 am, and I was told that it was originally scheduled to arrive at Egmore at 7.40 am. The train moved at a snail’s pace until Chetpet, and gathered pace moderately up to Nungambakkam,” he said. Rishidharan’s plight continued on his return journey as he found himself stuck in one of the three trains halted between Nungambakkam and Chetpet.Vijayan, a secretariat staffer, said he started from Vandalur at 8am as usual to get down at Chennai Fort at 9.30am, but the trains slowed after Mambalam and halted at Chetpet. “Many staffers like me were stranded for more than 1 hour at Chetpet, and we reached the office at 10.30 am, one hour late,” he said. Dharani, another commuter who boarded the suburban train at Tambaram at 8.45 am, said the train did not cross Chetpet yet. “Office-goers like me are severely affected due to this sudden change in train operations,” he said.Railway officials said that the trains arriving from Tambaram slowed down after Chetpet and operated at a speed of 15 kmph, as the trains had to traverse five tracks to enter platform 5.“The revised schedule and operations were arrived at after multiple deliberations to minimize passenger inconvenience, and MTC and CMRL were also requested to augment the services to cater to those affected by changes in suburban train operations,” said the official. “However, we are taking feedback from commuters and corrective measures will be taken,” the official added.

At 8:30 AM IST on 21^st February, New South Wales will challenge Tasmania in the twentieth match of the Australian One Day Cup 2026 at Bellerive Oval, Hobart.

Get the best TAS vs NSW Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 20^th match of the Australian One Day Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.

TAS vs NSW Match Preview:

Tasmania have taken firm control of the standings after winning five of their six matches. Moreover, they have maintained consistency across departments and converted crucial moments into victories, which has pushed them to the top of the points table. As a result, they currently hold first place and carry strong momentum heading into the next phase of the competition.

Meanwhile, New South Wales have also produced a competitive campaign, securing three wins from six outings. Additionally, they have shown resilience in tight encounters and managed to collect valuable points despite facing setbacks. Consequently, they occupy the second position on the table and remain within reach of the leaders.

Therefore, the gap between the two sides reflects efficiency rather than dominance alone. While Tasmania have capitalized more effectively on opportunities, New South Wales continue to stay in contention and will aim to close the margin with improved consistency in upcoming fixtures.

Also Read: Shoaib Malik exposes Pakistan legend’s lies without fear in the middle of T20 World Cup 2026

TAS vs NSW Head-to-Head Record:

TAS vs NSW Weather & Pitch Report:

Record of chasing teams:

TAS vs NSW Playing 11s (Predicted):

Tasmania Playing 11:

1) Jake Weatherald

2) Caleb Jewell

3) Tim Ward

4) Charlie Wakim

5) Beau Webster ©

6) Nikhil Chaudhary

7) Jake Doran (WK)

8) Mitchell Owen

9) Jackson Bird

10) Gabe Bell

11) Riley Meredith

New South Wales Playing 11:

1) Sam Konstas

2) William Salzmann

3) Kurtis Patterson ©

4) Lachlan Shaw

5) Josh Philippe (WK)

6) Jack Edwards

7) Joel Davies

8) Charlie Stobo

9) Tanveer Sangha

10) Liam Hatcher

11) Ryan Hadley

Hot Picks for TAS vs NSW Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:

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TAS vs NSW Australian One Day Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:

TAS vs NSW Dream11 Prediction Team 1:

• Keeper – Matthew Wade, Matthew Gilkes
• Batters – Kurtis Patterson (vc), Jordan Silk, Sam Konstas
• All-rounders – Moises Henriques, Beau Webster ©, Nikhil Chaudhary, Mitchell Owen
• Bowlers – Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha

TAS vs NSW Dream11 Prediction Team 2:

• Keeper – Matthew Gilkes
• Batters – Kurtis Patterson, Jordan Silk, Sam Konstas
• All-rounders – Beau Webster, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Owen ©
• Bowlers – Billy Stanlake, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha (vc)

TAS vs NSW Dream11 Prediction Today Match 20 Australian One Day Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:

TAS vs NSW Dream11 Prediction Today Match 20 Australian One Day Cup 2026 Expert Advice:

TAS vs NSW Match Winner Prediction:

With Tasmania showing stronger recent displays, they will be expected to dominate and win this match.