Pakistan batter Babar Azam has created by becoming the fastest to reach 10,000 T20 runs, going past former West Indies batter Chris Gayle and India's Virat Kohli in the list. Babar achieved the feat in ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 on Wednesday (Feb 21) while playing for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings in Lahore. Babar has reached the 10K-run mark in his 271st innings while Gayle had done so in 285th innings and Kohli in 299th.

Babar scored 72 off 51 balls during the match as his team set a target of 154 for Kings to chase. Karachi's Kieron Pollard led the way for his team with an unbeaten 21-ball 49 as Kings won the match by seven wickets. Babar is in prime form this season, scoring two fifties in two games and leads the run chart with 140 runs.

In a significant move towards enhancing the safety of women across the nation, the Union Cabinet has given its nod to the ministry of home affairs' proposal for the continuation of the Umbrella Scheme on 'Safety of Women.' The scheme is set to be implemented at a total cost of Rs 1179.72 crore during the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Out of the total project outlay, Rs 885.49 crore will be allocated from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) budget, while Rs 294.23 crore will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.

Government of Japan has today committed Official Development Assistance loan of an amount of about 232.2 billion Japanese Yen for nine projects in various sectors in India. Department of Economic Affairs, Additional Secretary Vikas Sheel and Ambassador of Japan to India, Suzuki Hiroshi exchanged notes on the agreement today.

Delineating on the projects, Ministry of Finance said that the road network connectivity projects aim to improve infrastructure development in India’s North East region, while the Chennai peripheral ring road project aims to alleviate traffic congestion and strengthen connections to the southern part of the state. The project in Nagaland will help develop tertiary level medical service delivery by developing a Medical College Hospital contributing towards universal health coverage.

High Commission of India in Bangladesh on Tuesday hosted a Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment - SIDE 2024 in Dhaka.

High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, Lt. Gen. M.R. Shameem addressed the Seminar.

Speaking on the occasion Pranay Verma highlighted the advances made by the Indian defence industry over the last decade driven by Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Make in India” and “Make for the World”, which has spurred unprecedented investments into the Indian defence manufacturing sector and has led to rising Indian defence exports.

Malta became the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The ISA is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries that aims to reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels.

Permanent Secretary at the Maltese Foreign Ministry, Christopher Cutajar signed the ISA Framework Agreement on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Head of Depository and Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) Abhishek Singh in the national capital.

India has pledged $1 million to the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund established by India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA). The contribution, announced on Monday by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, underscores India's commitment to fostering cooperation and development among nations of the Global South.

Kamboj highlighted India's dedication to supporting the IBSA Fund, noting its transformative impact on millions of lives and its role in bolstering the ethos of South-South cooperation.

Established jointly in March 2004 and operational since 2006, the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) aims to identify and implement replicable and scalable projects in developing countries, tailored to meet their national priorities while aligning with internationally agreed development goals.

India is making a remarkable presence at Gulfood 2024 in Dubai, UAE, as over 350 Indian companies gathered to showcase their diverse array of products.

This unprecedented turnout underscores India's burgeoning role as a global leader in the food supply industry. For years, India has been a trusted supplier of various food items to the United Arab Emirates, including grains, cereals, pulses, and more. Now, with such a massive presence at Gulfood, India is not just showcasing its culinary prowess but also exploring new avenues for trade in the UAE and beyond.

At the heart of India's representation is the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, whose pavilion boasts over 70 exhibitors, from startups to MSMEs, offering a glimpse into India's diverse culinary landscape. The UAE has become India's third-largest trading partner, thanks to the surge in food exports, fuelled by recent agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which has boosted trade by 16% in just one year. From fragrant spices to wholesome grains, India's offerings cater to a wide range of tastes in the UAE, paving the way for further growth in the domestic food industry.

In a ground-breaking moment for Indian science, Prof. Aditi Sen De has been awarded the prestigious G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research for the year 2023.

The award, established in 1991, recognises exceptional scientific research conducted by Indian scientists below the age of 50.

Prof. Aditi Sen De, a distinguished physicist from the Harish-Chandra Research Institute in Prayagraj, has been honoured for her outstanding contributions to the field of Physics. Notably, she is the first female scientist to receive this esteemed award, marking a historic milestone in the award's illustrious history.

Born in Kolkata in 1974, Prof. Aditi Sen De earned her PhD in physics from the University of Gdansk, Poland. Her research, focused on the manipulation of quantum states and their nonclassical applications, has made significant strides in the development of quantum technologies.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday inaugurated the country's first Skill India Centre (SIC) here. Speaking on the occasion, he said the nation requires a skilled and competent workforce to propel its development journey forward in the 21st century.

He said the new-age and future skills are available at considerably higher cost in global markets.

Realizing this, the Centre has decided to democratize access to quality education and establish a level playing field for the aspiring youth, the Union minister said while addressing the youth at the inauguration of India's first Skill India Centre (SIC) here.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was conferred France’s highest civilian honour, the Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur France, at an intimate ceremony in the French embassy in the national capital.

Mr. Tharoor was awarded the honour in August 2022, but formal conferring took place on Tuesday.

The Congress leader said that his relationship with France began during his stint in the United Nations and that he has always “nurtured a sense or profound respect for French democracy” as the land where “the people” first replaced “the king” as the nucleus of the nation.