Current Affairs

T20 World Cup: Rashid Khan becomes first bowler to reach 700 T20 wickets

Rashid Khan is still only 27 years of age, but the Afghan leg-spinner has already reached where no bowler has gone before, becoming the first player to get to 700 T20 wickets.

The first global cricketing superstar to emerge from his country, Rashid reached the milestone in the ICC T20 World Cup game against the UAE in Delhi on Monday, Muhammad Arfan becoming the victim when the batsman hit his own stumps while going for a fancy reverse sweep.

Rashid had taken his 698th and 699th wicket in the heartbreaking loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad last week – a topsy-turvy match that went into two Super Overs. He had to wait till his final over on Monday, the 16th of the UAE innings.



Sadhguru launches 'Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award' at Mahashivaratri; Rajnath Singh honours achievers across key fields

Spiritual leader and Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has launched the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award to honour the achievements of individuals across national security, business, arts and entertainment, sports, community welfare, science and technology, and literature and academia.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was the chief guest of the Mahashivaratri celebrations on Sunday, honoured various people from different fields on the occasion.

N Rajam, who was awarded the honour, described the achievement as fantastic, noting that she has been connected with the Isha Foundation for years. "It is fantastic to go get an award from Sadhguru ji. It is a big blessing and I have been connected with this ashram for many years. I have played in the Mahashivaratri festival for many years, I've played with my daughters and granddaughters," she told ANI.



AIIMS doctors conduct remote ultrasound scan on man in Antarctica

Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Monday remotely conducted an ultrasound scan on a person stationed more than 12,000km away at Maitri, India’s research base in Antarctica.

AIIMS officials said the scan — focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) — was carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of a tele-robotic ultrasound system that could potentially be deployed in rural and remote areas, disaster zones, war settings and extreme weather conditions to enable early diagnosis and timely medical intervention.



Union Cabinet clears ‘Urban Challenge Fund’ for cities

The Union Cabinet on Friday (February 13, 2026) approved the launch of the ‘Urban Challenge Fund’ (UCF), a new Centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, with a total Central assistance of ₹1 lakh crore.

It aims to support transformative and bankable urban projects through competitive “challenge-mode” as urban infrastructure cannot be funded by public finance alone. Central assistance will cover 25% of project costs, subject to raising a minimum of 50% of the project cost from the market, including municipal bonds, bank loans, and public-private partnerships leading to an expected total investment of ₹4 lakh crore in the urban sector in the next five years.

The UCF marks a paradigm shift in India’s urban development approach from grant-based financing to market-linked, reform-driven and outcome-oriented infrastructure creation, a statement by the government said.



C-DOT Signs Quantum Security Deal to Detect Future Crypto Threats Across Defence & Banking

In a major push to secure India’s digital infrastructure against future quantum computing threats, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed an agreement with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to jointly develop an automated tool for identifying quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms.

The initiative aims to help organizations proactively assess their cybersecurity posture and transition toward quantum-safe cryptography.



Veteran Kannada Filmmaker Joe Simon Dies At 80

Veteran Kannada film director and actor Joe Simon passed away on Friday following a heart attack, industry sources said. He was 80.

Simon suffered a cardiac arrest at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce in Bengaluru, where he had attended a meeting this afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead at around 4.30 pm, sources added.

The filmmaker had directed several popular Kannada films, including Sahasa Simha, Snehada Kadalalli, Simha Jodi, and Mr Vasu.



Vast Space signs order with NASA for private astronaut mission to Space Station

Vast Space, a privately-held American aerospace company, has signed an order with NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida.

It will be Vast’s first private astronaut mission to the space station in partnership with NASA.

Max Haot, CEO, Vast said leveraging the remaining life of the International Space Station with science and research-led commercial crewed missions is a critical part of the transition to commercial space stations and fully unlocking the orbital economy.



PM Modi inaugurates Brahmaputra bridge, Northeast’s first highway emergency landing facility in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a series of major infrastructure projects in Assam, including the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati and the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway in Dibrugarh district.

The projects are part of a broader development push in the region, with the Prime Minister set to inaugurate and flag off initiatives worth over ₹5,450 crore aimed at boosting connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education and urban mobility.

Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu to Transform Guwahati Connectivity

At around 1 pm, the Prime Minister inspected and inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a 2.86-km-long, six-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge built at a cost of approximately ₹3,030 crore.



Meet the 3-foot-tall ‘monkey-eating’ bird: The World’s largest Eagle on the verge of extinction

High above the rainforests of the Philippines, a towering raptor with piercing blue green eyes continues to command awe while facing an uncertain future. The Philippine eagle, one of the largest birds of prey on Earth, remains both a national symbol and a species on the brink.

The Philippine eagle stands about three feet tall. Its wingspan stretches beyond six feet wide. It ranks among the longest eagles worldwide. In wing surface, it surpasses many rivals. However, it weighs less than some species. Harpy and Steller’s eagles are heavier birds. Even so, adults can reach 18 pounds.

The bird’s back shows long brown plumage. Its underside appears bright white in contrast. The face blends brown and white tones. Between sharp eyes sits a curved beak. The beak carries a blue grey shade. Strong talons help secure struggling prey. These features make it formidable hunter.



President Droupadi Murmu Addresses nationwide campaign on Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat in New Delhi

President Droupadi Murmu today said that the building of a developed nation requires not only political stability and a strong economy, but also healthy, educated, and responsible citizens.

Addressing the nationwide campaign on Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat in New Delhi, the President said that achieving any national goal is difficult without the active participation of the people.

President Murmu noted that for balanced and holistic development, progress must be integrated with morality and spirituality.

The president further added that economic growth brings prosperity, and technological advancement promotes innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness and together they lay the foundation of a prosperous nation.

The president urged citizens to focus on work with sincerity and dedication, leaving the results aside.