NEW DELHI: Former captain Kumar Sangakkara did not hide his anguish after Sri Lanka crashed out of the T20 World Cup, admitting there was “a lot of hurt all round” and warning that the nation risks falling behind if urgent changes are not made. Sri Lanka’s campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion with a heavy 61-run defeat to New Zealand in Colombo, leaving fans stunned and the cricket fraternity searching for answers.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Taking to social media after the elimination, Sangakkara captured the emotional devastation gripping the country and the dressing room.

“There is a lot of hurt all round. The fans are devastated, disappointed, and angry. The players are hurting badly too. I have been in similar dressing rooms. It’s not easy,” he wrote. He reminded players of the responsibility that comes with national duty, adding, “This responsibility comes with the turf. It’s a burden and a great privilege to represent your country and your people.”Sri Lanka’s exit was particularly painful as it came at home, where hopes were high of a deep run. After reducing New Zealand to 84/6, the hosts lost control as Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie revived the innings before their batting collapsed under pressure during the chase. The defeat sealed consecutive Super Eight losses and ended their semifinal hopes.However, Sangakkara stressed that the problems run deeper than one defeat. In a strongly worded warning, he said Sri Lanka must evolve with the changing demands of modern cricket. “There is a lot of work to be done at all levels to course correct. We can’t do the same things over and over and expect different results when the cricket world around us has evolved so quickly,” he wrote.His most striking line reflected his biggest fear for the future. “We haven’t adapted, and the danger is irrelevance.”

India’s digital news ecosystem is at a critical juncture, as technology, artificial intelligence, regulatory frameworks, and audience expectations converge to reshape the future of journalism. At the DNPA Conclave 2026, leaders from media, technology, and policy discussed how credibility, verified content, and India’s expanding digital public infrastructure are redefining the responsibilities and opportunities for news organisations.Technology can strengthen journalism by amplifying credible and responsible reporting, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said, stressing the need to prioritise authenticated information in an era of rapid digital change.“If you create the right kind of content, technology will help you amplify the right kind of message.”He highlighted the public responsibility of publishers to ensure verified and curated information receives precedence over unverified material circulating online.“There’s a social duty, and there’s a social necessity of creating authenticated content. Any content which is authenticated and curated clearly needs to have priority and more privilege than any other content which is just randomly put up there.”The conclave also underscored the convergence of pressures on Indian media. Artificial intelligence adoption, regulatory recalibration, advertiser scrutiny, and audience mistrust are unfolding simultaneously, compressing change and reducing the space for trial-and-error strategies. Publishers are now facing structural decisions that will determine long-term direction rather than short-term growth, particularly in a diverse market marked by linguistic variety, uneven connectivity, and massive youth participation.Adding perspective on India’s digital foundations, Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, spoke during a fireside chat on The Evolving Telecom & Digital Infrastructure Landscape, highlighting how telecom and digital systems are transforming access to information and connectivity.Vineet Nayar, founder-chairman of Sampark Foundation and former CEO of HCL Technologies, addressed The Architecture of India’s Digital Identity, explaining how India’s public digital infrastructure—spanning governance, finance, and identity—is reshaping citizen expectations around access, authentication, and trust. For media organisations, this signals that credibility, inclusion, and accessibility are no longer optional—they are central to their role.India’s digital public infrastructure positions technology as civic architecture, placing media at the heart of a broader ecosystem of digital citizenship. Globally, India is being observed as a model for integrating technology, governance, and public interest, with media serving as both a participant and a stakeholder in this transformation.The conclave, held under the theme “Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” brought together leaders to explore how trust, innovation, AI, regulation, and sustainable growth will shape the next phase of India’s news industry.

The sale of ethanol blended petrol has been made compulsory effective April 1, 2026. The government has made it mandatory to market petrol blended with ethanol at levels of up to 20% and with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. This mandate is applicable across all states and Union Territories of India.In a notification issued on February 17, the oil ministry has said that oil marketing companies must supply ethanol-mixed motor spirit (petrol) containing ethanol up to 20%, in accordance with specifications set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, and meeting the requirement of a minimum RON of 95 across the country.The Centre may, however, permit exemptions under exceptional circumstances for certain areas and for limited durations, a PTI report said.After India achieved 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol in June 2022 – five months ahead of schedule — the government brought forward the target for 20% blending to 2025-26 instead of 2030. At present, most fuel stations across the country supply E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol.The oil ministry estimates that since 2014-15, replacing a portion of petrol with ethanol has resulted in foreign exchange savings of over Rs 1.40 lakh crore.

What is ethanol-blended E20 petrol?

Concerns about mileage & what government has said

Industry officials said that the majority of vehicles produced in India between 2023 and 2025 are engineered to operate on E20 fuel, and significant technical problems are not anticipated.However, older vehicles could experience a modest decline in fuel efficiency of around 3-7%. There may also be some deterioration in rubber and plastic components over time.Last year, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas moved to dismiss concerns of damage to vehicles due to E20 petrol.A life-cycle emissions assessment conducted by NITI Aayog found that ethanol derived from sugarcane and maize results in greenhouse gas emissions that are approximately 65% and 50% lower, respectively, than those associated with petrol.Issues relating to vehicle performance and fuel efficiency had already been anticipated by the government as early as 2020, and these concerns were examined in detail by an inter-ministerial committee of NITI Aayog. The evaluation was supported by technical studies conducted by IOCL, ARAI and SIAM.Use of E20 fuel has been found to provide improved acceleration and smoother driving performance, while also reducing carbon emissions by roughly 30 per cent compared with E10 fuel, the government said. Ethanol’s naturally higher octane rating — about 108.5 compared with petrol’s 84.4 — makes ethanol-blended fuels particularly suitable for engines requiring higher octane levels, especially modern high-compression engines. Vehicles calibrated for E20 fuel tend to offer better acceleration, which is especially beneficial under urban driving conditions. In addition, ethanol’s higher heat of vaporisation lowers temperatures in the intake manifold, increasing the density of the air-fuel mixture and enhancing volumetric efficiency, the government had said.

NEW DELHI: MILAN 2026, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy, concluded on February 25 with a closing ceremony held onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Visakhapatnam.The ceremony was attended by naval officers from participating countries and presided over by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. The exercise was conducted in the Bay of Bengal and involved ships, submarines and aircraft from multiple countries.

A total of 42 ships and submarines and 29 aircraft participated in the exercise, including 18 warships from foreign navies. Maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany and the United States also took part.“Held under the theme ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration’, MILAN 2026 witnessed participation on an unprecedented scale, comprising 42 ships and submarines and, 29 aircraft. These also included 18 ships from the participating Friendly Foreign Countries,” the ministry of defence said in a statement.The exercise began with a harbour phase that included bilateral engagements, subject matter expert exchanges and an international maritime seminar.Professional interactions were accompanied by cultural activities, cross-deck visits and outstation visits by participating personnel.Technological demonstrations and interactions among young naval officers were also held. “Technological demonstrations and the MILAN of Young Officers (MOYO) interaction facilitated the exchange of best practices, while friendly sports fixtures enabled informal interaction,” the statement read.This was followed by the sea phase, which included “high-intensity operational drills” such as integrated air defence exercises, anti-submarine warfare operations and maritime interdiction drills.Surface strike coordination exercises, communication drills and cross-deck flying operations were also conducted.Live firing exercises involving naval guns and anti-air weapons were carried out during the operational phase.Participating navies also conducted tactical manoeuvres at sea as part of coordinated operational drills.During the closing ceremony onboard INS Vikrant, officers from participating ships reviewed the conduct of the exercise.According to the official statement, the exercise focused on operational coordination and maritime cooperation among participating navies.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Tardeo–Nagpada–Mumbai Central flyover through video conferencing, marking the reopening of a crucial east-west corridor in south Mumbai.The flyover replaces a 130-year-old British-era bridge near Mumbai Central that had been declared unsafe and later demolished. With the new structure now operational, authorities expect smoother traffic flow and relief from congestion that had affected commuters for nearly two years.Officials said the flyover will significantly reduce pressure on key roads including Jehangir Boman Behram Road (formerly Bellasis Road), Dr Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Marg at Grant Road, Pathe Bapurao Marg and the Mahalaxmi station bridge.Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde was present alongside Fadnavis during the virtual inauguration.The 333-metre-long flyover includes 138.39 metres on the eastern side, 157.39 metres on the western side and 36.90 metres within railway limits. It has a 7-metre-wide carriageway along with wide footpaths on both sides to ensure pedestrian safety.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) completed the project in 15 months and six days —four months ahead of the scheduled deadline. According to civic officials, the deadline set in the tender still had four months remaining.While railway authorities carried out work over the tracks, the BMC handled major construction activities such as girder bracing, deck sheet installation, slab casting and the building of approach roads.Civic officials said close coordination between the BMC’s bridges department, railway authorities, the local ward office and traffic police helped fast-track the project.The construction process involved several hurdles, including relocation of BEST utility lines, demolition of obstructing structures with alternate arrangements for occupants, removal of a housing society boundary wall and resolving a case in the high court.Authorities confirmed that load testing, structural stability checks, safety certification and a no-objection certificate from railway authorities have been completed. The flyover is now open for public use.

A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a mission flight in the early hours of Wednesday, killing the pilot. Footage of the initial moments of the crash on the highway in Balıkesir shows the aircraft descending shortly after takeoff.The aircraft, assigned to the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir, crashed around 00:50 (local time). Radio and radar contact were lost shortly after takeoff, and search-and-rescue teams later confirmed the crash and located the wreckage, as cited by the Express UK.“One of our F-16 aircraft belonging to the squadron of the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base Command crashed during a mission flight around 00:50, and one of our pilots has been martyred. I pray to God for mercy on our martyr and extend my condolences to his family. May our beloved nation be strong,” Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said through a post on X. Justice minister Akın Gürlek said the Balıkesir Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the crash.In a post on X, Gürlek said: “An F-16 aircraft belonging to the squadron of the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir crashed during a mission flight, and one of our heroic pilots has been martyred. The Balıkesir Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into the incident, and our prosecutor, deputy prosecutor, and two prosecutors have gone to the crash site. I pray to God for mercy on our martyr and extend my condolences to his grieving family and loved ones. I wish patience and fortitude to the Turkish Armed Forces. May our beloved nation be strong.”The cause of the crash is under investigation, with no immediate information on possible technical failures or other contributing factors.The Istanbul–Izmir Motorway spans 426 kilometres, including 384 kilometres of motorway and 42 kilometres of connecting roads.The full route was opened to traffic on August 4, 2019, following the phased completion of its sections.

The Ranji Trophy Final 2026 at Hubballi took a dramatic turn on Day 3 as Karnataka’s pace spearhead, Prasidh Krishna, delivered a masterclass in persistence and skill. While the match had been dominated by a marathon batting performance from Jammu & Kashmir, the morning session belonged to Krishna, whose relentless spells finally broke the back of the J&K lower order. However, the talking point of the morning wasn’t just Krishna’s clinical fifer, but the incredibly unusual fashion in which Auqib Nabi lost his wicket, a moment that left commentators and fans alike in a state of disbelief.

Strange dismissal sees Auqib Nabi head back to pavilion in Ranji Trophy Final 2026

In a game defined by grit, Nabi’s departure will go down as one of the most bizarre sights in domestic cricket history. Facing the 163rd over of the innings, Nabi seemed mentally prepared for a short-ball barrage from the towering Krishna. As Krishna hit the crease for his sixth delivery of the over, Nabi pre-emptively committed to a duck, dropping his head and shoulders to avoid a bouncer that never came.

Instead, Krishna outsmarted the batter with a full-length delivery. Because Nabi had already crouched down, his bat was left dangled awkwardly in the air like a periscope. The ball skidded off the surface, kissed the edge of the static blade, and flew straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna. Despite a difficult outing behind the stumps previously, Kruthik made no mistake in pouching the chance. Nabi stood frozen for a second, realizing he had effectively defended a full ball by trying to duck it, before trudging back to the pavilion for 2 (9). This wicket marked a turning point, providing Karnataka the opening they desperately needed to wrap up the tail.

Here’s the video:

A hard-fought fifer in a high-quality contest! ✋

The moment Prasidh Krishna secured his well-deserved 5️⃣-wicket haul!

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/G0ytZLEyNB#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @prasidh43 pic.twitter.com/9tYzlBAk18

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 26, 2026

Also READ: Ranji Trophy Final: 5 players to watch out for in Karnataka vs Jammu and Kashmir showdown

Prasidh Krishna’s fifer halts J&K’s marathon innings

While the unusual dismissal grabbed the headlines, the statistical highlight was Krishna’s five-wicket haul. J&K’s first innings was a testament to endurance, spanning 173.1 overs and yielding a massive total of 584. The foundation was laid by Yawer Hassan (88) and a brilliant century from Shubham Pundir (121), while veteran Paras Dogra contributed a steady 70 despite a temporary retirement from the crease.

Krishna’s figures of 5/96 in 34.1 overs were the result of pure toil on a surface that offered little assistance by the third day. His victims included the top-order threat of Qamran Iqbal (63) and the dangerous Abdul Samad (61). By removing Abid Mushtaq and then Nabi in quick succession, Krishna ensured that J&K didn’t push the score beyond the 600-run mark.

At Lunch on Day 3, Karnataka faced a daunting task, reaching 35/1 in 13 overs. The hosts lost the crucial wicket of Rahul (13), trapped by Nabi, who found some redemption with the ball, after a successful DRS challenge by J&K. With Mayank Agarwal (16) and Devdutt Padikkal (4) at the crease, Karnataka trails by 549 runs, setting the stage for a massive uphill battle in the remaining sessions of this Ranji Trophy Final.

Also WATCH: J&K captain Paras Dogra headbutts Karnataka fielder, Mayank Agarwal steps in to defuse tense moment

South Africa vs West Indies Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: Two of the most in-form teams in the tournament, South Africa and West Indies, will face off in a crucial Super 8 encounter with a semifinal spot firmly in sight. Both teams have been dominant so far, with South Africa registering an emphatic 76-run win over India in Ahmedabad and West Indies crushing Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their previous outing.

T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table

West Indies’ batting has been their biggest weapon, with multiple power-hitters capable of accelerating at any stage. Their aggressive approach has overwhelmed opponents, but the Proteas present a different challenge with a disciplined and varied bowling attack. Rabada’s pace, Jansen’s bounce, Ngidi’s variations and Maharaj’s control have combined effectively to trouble even the strongest line-ups.

South Africa’s batting has also delivered when needed, particularly through David Miller, whose composure under pressure helped rescue the team after early setbacks against India. His experience will be crucial again, especially against West Indies’ spin options such as Akeal Hosein.

The afternoon timing of the match may create balanced conditions, with no dew factor and a surface expected to slow down as the game progresses. This could bring spinners more into play and force batters to adapt rather than rely purely on power.

Having played extensively at the venue, South Africa will feel confident about their understanding of the conditions. The match also carries major implications for India, as a West Indies win would tighten the group and leave the hosts needing big victories in their remaining matches to stay in contention for the semifinals.

SQUADS

West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Johnson Charles, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, and Jayden Seales.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde, Jason Smith.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nicolas-maduros-lawyer-barry-pollack-claims-team-trump-blocking-venezuela-from-paying-fees-11138893” on this server.

Reference #18.c7f5d217.1772093014.4dd3e585

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.c7f5d217.1772093014.4dd3e585