Times of India

Ahead of the high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam shared a touching moment, highlighting sportsmanship. Pakistan opted to bat first with Imam-ul-Haq replacing Fakhar Zaman. Team India aims to secure their semi-final spot, while Pakistan face immense pressure after their recent heavy defeat.

India's batting line-up and young spinners have dominated recent matches against Pakistan, creating intimidation among Pakistan fans. With Pakistan's depleting bowling reserves and inconsistent batters, an upset win against India in their Champions Trophy match appears unlikely unless Pakistan can perform exceptionally well.

Punjabi singer-actor Guru Randhawa injured himself while performing his first stunt during the shoot of 'Shaunki Sardar'. He shared a picture from the hospital, assuring fans his spirit remains unbroken. Many fans and industry friends shared their well-wishes and encouragement.

Hindustani Bhau, a social media celebrity, has demanded a public apology from choreographer-director Farah Khan within two weeks for calling Holi the 'Festival of chapris.' Bhau emphasized that her comments insulted Sanatan Dharma and depicted Hindu practices as negative. He also mentioned filing a police complaint to initiate legal action against her.

Jasprit Bumrah will miss India's crucial Champions Trophy match against Pakistan due to a back injury, impacting India's bowling attack. His replacement, Harshit Rana, joins the team as India aims for a semi-final berth. Pakistan faces must-win pressure after a defeat to New Zealand. Despite Bumrah's absence, an exciting contest is expected.

Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal addresses the abolition of the Department of Administrative Reforms, emphasizing the focus on Punjab's welfare. CM Bhagwant Mann clarifies the decision to merge departments for streamlined governance and addresses BJP's criticisms of poor administration.

Pakistan's new Gwadar airport, funded by China, remains unused since its completion in October 2024. Despite being the largest in Pakistan and part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the airport has no scheduled flights and has not benefited the local population, raising concerns about its utility.

Akhilesh Yadav questions the BJP government's $5 trillion economy claim while hinting at foreign influence in India's governance. Simultaneously, Donald Trump alleges USAID funding to India to boost voter turnout, raising concerns from India's Ministry of External Affairs and criticism from Congress against PM Modi's US relations.

BJP will present the CAG report in the Delhi assembly on February 25, exposing alleged AAP corruption in excise, education, and renovation policies. The session starts on February 24 with MLAs' oath-taking and Speaker election. AAP's Priyanka Kakkar criticized BJP for not focusing on their promises, particularly the Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women.

Former PCB chief Ramiz Raja believes Pakistan's underdog status against India in the upcoming Champions Trophy match could be advantageous. He highlighted India's top-order vulnerabilities and Pakistan's need for sharper bowling strategies. Raja emphasised staying calm under pressure and the motivation of playing against a large Indian fanbase as key factors for Pakistan's potential victory.

Prime Minister Modi celebrated India's space achievements during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, highlighting ISRO's 100th rocket launch and other milestones. He also announced that inspiring women will take over his social media accounts on National Women's Day and encouraged celebrating National Science Day by visiting research labs.

Elon Musk criticized former X CEO Parag Agrawal for lack of productivity, leading to his dismissal after Musk's acquisition. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency ordered federal employees to justify their work weekly, sparking backlash and union opposition, emphasizing the tension with the Trump administration.

US President Donald Trump has declared the intention to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries, including India and China, to create fair trade conditions. This move follows Trump's discussions with India's PM Modi, and aims to replicate the tariff policies of US trading partners to establish a balanced trade environment.

Andrew Wilkinson questioned the high pricing of DocuSign, sparking responses about bloated SaaS costs. Zoho's Sridhar Vembu criticized DocuSign for overpricing and suggested evaluating vendors' sales versus R&D expenses as a cost-saving measure, asserting that enterprises won't always pay high brand premiums.

Harbhajan Singh expressed disappointment over the current state of Pakistan cricket, noting a lack of unity and match-winners compared to their teams before 2011-12. Shahid Afridi agreed, stating a need for consistent performers. Both discussed this ahead of the India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Champions Trophy, highlighting India's superiority.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his partner, Oliver Mulherin, welcomed their first child, a baby boy, who is currently in the NICU. Altman reflected on the emotional experience of fatherhood and received congratulations from notable figures like Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella.

Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 120 as Australia chased down 352, the highest in Champions Trophy history, to beat England. Inglis hit the winning six, securing victory in 47.3 overs. Ben Duckett's record-breaking 165 powered England to 351/8. India and Pakistan face off in a crucial match in Dubai on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump disclosed that Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to shift manufacturing from Mexico to the US and will invest hundreds of millions of dollars. He mentioned that Cook will soon announce details, partly to avoid tariffs as a result of the US-China trade dispute.

Connor McDavid's game-winning goal secured Canada’s victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the USA. Despite Auston Matthews' strong performance with three points, the USA couldn't eclipse Canada. The match showcased intense competition, with both teams demonstrating near-equal skill levels.