NEW DELHI: Pakistan star Babar Azam continued his poor run in the T20 World Cup, and his latest flop against England sparked a wave of memes on social media. Batting first against England at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Babar scored 25 runs off 24 balls before getting bowled by Jamie Overton while trying to play a big shot.

His slow innings added to criticism over his form and strike rate in the tournament. And it also became the reason for using him as a meme template on social media platforms.Pakistan managed 164/9 in 20 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring with 63. England’s bowlers, including Overton, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, and Adil Rashid, kept things tight and picked up key wickets.Earlier, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson had explained Babar’s role in the team, saying he was brought back to provide stability in the middle order rather than fast scoring in the powerplay.“I think he’s well aware that his strike rate in the powerplay in (T20) World Cups is less than 100. So clearly, that’s not a role that we think we need here. We think he’s a fine player through the middle, if required, particularly if we’re in a little bit of trouble. Or, as we saw against the USA, once he gets himself set, he can increase his strike rate at that point. So, we brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup. We wanted some batsmanship through the middle, and he certainly brings that for us,” he said ahead of Pakistan’s opening Super 8 match against New Zealand. Despite this, fans mocked Babar’s struggles online, turning his latest dismissal into a meme trend as his nightmarish World Cup campaign continued.

D Gukesh and Vladimir Kramnik (Photos by agencies)

World chess champion D Gukesh has spoken out strongly against cheating allegations that have been floating around the chess world, especially those made by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Ahead of the Prague International Chess Festival, the 19-year-old made it clear that while he is completely against cheating, he does not agree with how accusations are being made publicly without proof.

“Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair play or unethical play. I have never done that, and I really hope nobody does that, and it’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately. About Kramnik exactly, I think what he has been doing is obviously, I’m not supportive of that,” the 19-year-old added in pre-tournament press conference. Gukesh said that in recent years, players and fans have become overly suspicious, turning cheating into a bigger issue than it really is.“Many people has been paranoid for last couple of years. I think people are making bigger problem that it actually is,” he added.He added that Kramnik’s repeated allegations are harmful to the sport and called for a calmer atmosphere.“And yeah, specifically about Kramnik’s allegations, I don’t support most of it. And I think there should be more harmony and peace in chess.”The controversy comes amid growing criticism of Kramnik, who has accused several players of cheating online without providing solid evidence.Many top names in chess, including Viswanathan Anand and FIDE officials, have spoken out against this trend, echoing Gukesh’s call for unity and fairness in the game.Gukesh is heading into the Prague International Chess Festival looking to bounce back after mixed results at the World Cup and Tata Steel Masters. Seeded second, he will face tough competition from players like Vincent Keymer and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Despite not being at his best recently, Gukesh is currently India’s highest-ranked player.

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BENGALURU: India’s next-generation Fastag system may not require a physical tag at all. Vehicles could be identified through roadside cameras, their type and number detected in real time, and tolls deducted automatically without a windshield sticker, Pramod Varma, a key architect of India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI), said on Tuesday.Speaking at the ConvoZen Conversational AI Summit in Bengaluru, Varma said such computer vision-led systems represent the next layer of India’s digital evolution, where artificial intelligence is embedded directly into public infrastructure and operates at the edge. The proposed system, he said, would process thousands of vehicles passing through highways each minute, detecting and charging them instantly.The broader shift, he argued, is from building digital identity to enabling “digital agency.” Over the past decade, India formalised nearly a billion people into the economy through platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker and account aggregators. Citing global studies, Varma said India achieved in seven to eight years what might otherwise have taken five decades.“The last decade formalised a billion people. The next decade must meet their aspirations,” he said, outlining a move toward livelihood, skilling and income-generating transactions powered by AI.A key barrier now is interface complexity. While about 550-600 million Indians actively use digital systems, a large share of the adult population still struggles with forms and text-heavy interfaces. Conversational AI, particularly voice systems that allow broken, code-mixed language, could lower that barrier.Varma pointed to a demonstration under the India Energy Stack, where a farmer seeking to increase income could state that goal, after which an AI system analysed pricing, structured an energy trade contract and executed payments through UPI. “The real breakthrough is complexity reduction,” he said.He also cautioned that AI-driven fraud and deepfake attacks make “proof of personhood” and cryptographically verifiable digital trust essential in the AI era, adding that identity frameworks will need to extend to digital agents and machines.

India’s digital public infrastructure is transforming the way citizens interact with the state, the economy, and each other. From governance and finance to identity verification, these systems operate at population scale, reshaping expectations around access, trust, and authentication. For the media industry, this is more than a technological shift, it is a redefinition of the role of news organisations within the ecosystem of digital citizenship.Digital infrastructure increasingly functions as public architecture, determining who can access information and how quickly. Newsrooms must navigate this landscape carefully, understanding that technology now shapes reach, availability, and audience engagement. Authentication and verification systems are establishing new norms for credibility, positioning aligned newsrooms to maintain audience trust in a world of information overload and misinformation.While these systems can broaden reach, they also carry risks of exclusion. Uneven connectivity, literacy gaps, and digital access can deepen divides if not accounted for. Media strategies that prioritise inclusion can ensure these systems expand opportunity rather than widen gaps.Against this backdrop, DNPA Conclave 2026 emerges as a pivotal forum for shaping the future of Indian journalism. To be held in New Delhi on February 26 under the theme “The New World Order of News: Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” the conclave will bring together policymakers, media leaders, and industry experts to examine the intersections of news, governance, and digital innovation.Through curated panels and expert-led sessions, the conclave will spotlight emerging trends, shared challenges, and strategic pathways for India’s digital news ecosystem. It will explore how news organisations can thrive in a landscape defined by large-scale public technology, trust-by-design systems, and inclusion imperatives.India’s scale and ambition have captured global attention. International observers view the country as a laboratory for integrating technology and public interest. For media organisations, this adds responsibility and opportunity. They operate under a global spotlight, translating public infrastructure into trusted news for millions. When technology becomes civic architecture, media becomes a stakeholder and not just a user. Engaging with this transformation is essential for credibility, relevance, and sustainable growth.Some years test resilience. Others test clarity. 2026 demands both but rewards only the latter. This is the year when industry leaders must decide what they stand for, how they operate, and whom they serve. It is the year the rules of the next media era will be written decisively.The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) represents leading digital media organisations across India. Committed to strengthening credible journalism, upholding ethical standards, and enabling sustainable growth, DNPA Conclave 2026 will be the stage where these defining questions are debated, directions are charted, and the future of Indian journalism takes shape.

BHOPAL: Acting on complaints filed by two women—a 21-year-old from Chhattisgarh and a 30-year-old Bhopal-based woman—Bag Sewania police on Sunday registered two separate FIRs on charges of rape and forced religious conversion against around half a dozen accused, including two women who are sisters, under relevant sections of the BNS and the MP Freedom of Religion Act. According to police, the accused woman and her gang befriended a needy woman and a young girl on the pretext of providing employment. They offered support, gained their trust, and then allegedly presented them before her brother and lover for sexual exploitation. The survivors were later allegedly pressured to convert. The gang allegedly forced them to read religious books and pressured them to marry Muslim youths. The survivors somehow managed to escape from their clutches. When they later came into contact with each other, the two approached Bag Sewania police station and lodged complaints exposing the entire racket. Police registered a case against the alleged mastermind Razia (name changed); her live-in partner Chandan Yadav, who allegedly converted; her brother Bilal; Yasir; sister Ayesha (name changed); and another associate. So far, police have arrested Razia, Ayesha, and Chandan. On Monday, they were produced before a court and taken on remand. According to Bag Sewania police, Razia Khan is the kingpin of the gang. She worked at a spa centre and was in a relationship with Chandan Yadav. In her complaint, the 30-year-old survivor stated that she is divorced and a mother of two children. She used to work at a catering agency and came into contact with Razia in 2024 at Ashima Mall. Razia allegedly offered her a babysitting job at her house with a salary of Rs 10,000 per month. The survivor accepted the offer and later began living with Razia and her partner Chandan at their residence. During this period, Chandan allegedly mixed an intoxicant in her tea and raped her. Later, Razia allegedly presented her to a friend from Jehangirabad and then took her to Ahmedabad, where she was allegedly sexually exploited by her brother Yasir. Razia and Chandan also allegedly pressured her to convert and discussed arranging her remarriage to a Muslim man. The survivor managed to escape from their clutches in February 2025. A similar complaint was filed by a 21-year-old beautician from Chhattisgarh. She stated that she met Razia’s sister-in-law Riya (name changed) at a friend’s birthday party. At the time, she was unaware that Riya had converted. Riya allegedly introduced her to Razia at Ashima Mall on the promise of a better job. Through Razia, she came into contact with Chandan, who allegedly forced physical relations with her. Subsequently, Razia’s brother Bilal and later Yasir in Ahmedabad allegedly sexually exploited her. When the survivor complained to her friend Riya, she came to know that Riya herself had married Razia’s brother Haider and changed her name. Riya allegedly told her that nothing happens and that she too had converted from Hinduism to Islam. Razia and Chandan allegedly harassed the survivor severely, took her to parties in revealing clothes, and pressured her to marry a Muslim man. They also allegedly asked her to adopt their religion, telling her: “Men in our community are good; they do not beat women or drink alcohol. You should adopt our religion and marry one of our men.” Bag Sewania SHO Amit Soni said that two separate cases of rape and forced religious conversion were registered based on the complaints of the two women. Three accused have been arrested so far, and efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects.

The Indian cricket team find themselves at a critical juncture in the T20 World Cup 2026 following a bruising 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener. As the squad touched down in Chennai for a must-win encounter against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the spotlight shifted from the scoreboard to a viral moment on the team bus. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was captured in an intense, animated discussion with struggling opener Abhishek Sharma, signalling a high-stakes intervention for the World No. 1 T20I batter. With India’s semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, the message from the “Gambhir school of coaching” appeared loud and clear: performance is no longer negotiable.

Gautam Gambhir’s animated chat with Abhishek Sharma before do-or-die Super 8 encounter against Zimbabwe

The viral footage from Chennai airport shows a stern Gambhir engaged in a deep one-on-one with Abhishek, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate eventually joining the huddle. The body language was unmistakable; Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense approach, seemed to be dissecting technical flaws and tactical lapses with the young left-hander.

This bus-stop masterclass comes at a time when calls for Abhishek’s omission are growing louder, with fans and critics suggesting Sanju Samson as a viable replacement at the top of the order. While Ten Doeschate hinted in a press conference that the coaching staff has a job to pull things right, the sight of Gambhir’s animated gestures suggests the management is still leaning toward backing their primary opener, provided he can implement immediate changes. In a tournament where India’s net run rate has plummeted to -3.800, the coaching staff is clearly working overtime to ignite the explosive strokeplay that saw Abhishek dominate the format just last year.

Here’s the video:

🚨Gautam Gambhir having a serious discussion with Abhishek Sharma on the team bus after arriving in Chennai for the next match against Zimbabwe.

Guess what they are discussing.👀 pic.twitter.com/dpGj1TTJM3

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 23, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Sunil Gavaskar slams star India batter following humiliating defeat against South Africa

The slump of the World No. 1 T20I batter in T20 World Cup 2026

For a player who entered the tournament as the top-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek’s campaign has been nothing short of a nightmare. His struggles began with three consecutive ducks during the group stages, leaving the Indian top order exposed early in almost every outing. There was a glimmer of hope in the Super 8 opener against South Africa in Ahmedabad, where he managed to find his first runs of the tournament. However, after a promising start of 15 off 12 balls, he gifted his wicket to Marco Jansen in the fifth over, failing to convert the start into the substantial knock India desperately needed.

Abhishek’s total tally of just 15 runs across four matches has placed immense pressure on Suryakumar Yadav and the middle order. Despite the batter’s public stance that he refuses to change his aggressive mindset, the consistency of his failures has turned the upcoming match against a resurgent Zimbabwe into a do-or-die scenario for his place in the XI. As India prepare for the spinning tracks of Chepauk, the question remains: will Gambhir’s stern words be the catalyst for a comeback, or is time running out for the young opener?

Also READ: Not Virat Kohli! Google CEO Sundar Pichai names his cricketing idol

NEW DELHI: In a sweeping crackdown on air pollution, the Maharashtra government has issued stop-work notices to more than 1,000 construction sites across Mumbai, with nearly 88 per cent of active projects facing action for violating environmental norms, Environment Minister Pankaja Munde informed the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.Presenting data from October 2025 to January 2026 under the ongoing “clean air” initiative, Munde said 1,047 stop-work notices and 1,981 show-cause notices were served to errant sites as authorities tightened enforcement against dust and pollution violations.Of the 2,224 active construction projects in the city, 1,952 — about 88 per cent — have installed low-cost air quality sensors, while the remaining faced strict penalties.On January 16 alone, 678 projects were ordered to halt operations for failing to comply with mandatory sensor installation norms, underscoring the government’s push for technology-driven monitoring of pollution sources.“We are following a strict escalation matrix for violators. Construction projects failing to adhere to dust-mitigation guidelines are first given a formal intimation, followed by a show-cause notice, and then a stop-work order if they remain non-compliant,” Munde said in a written reply on AQI levels.The minister asserted that Mumbai’s air quality has largely remained within the ‘satisfactory’ (51–100) and ‘moderate’ (101–200) categories. Refuting allegations of a public health crisis, she cited reports from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), which recorded no adverse health impacts among vulnerable groups such as children and senior citizens during the fluctuation in air quality.As part of intensified enforcement, the BMC’s 25 ward-level flying squads have been targeting illegal debris transport, collecting over Rs 1.21 lakh in fines during the four months.To tackle the city’s persistent dust problem, authorities have also deployed 126 water tankers and 25 misting machines, washing over 14,408 kilometres of roads.

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