Author: TheStateLine

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Shimron Hetmyer blasts fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in T20 WC

Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS) West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer put on a dazzling display of power-hitting, racing to a record fastest half-century for a Caribbean batter in the T20 World Cup in their Super 8 Group 1 clash against Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.Asked to bat first, Hetmyer reached the milestone in 19 balls, hitting four boundaries and five maximums in the process, improving on his own record for the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.Hetmyer had earlier blasted a half-century in 22 balls against Scotland in the opening match of this World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, breaking the previous record of fifty in 23 balls by Chris Gayle at the Oval in 2009.Hetmyer came in to bat after the fall of Brandon King in the third ov...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Rajasthan JJM scam: Retired IAS officer’s lawyer withdraws, petition to quash FIR put on hold

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Jaipur, Feb 23 (IANS) Retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal's lawyer, facing allegations in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam case, has received another jolt as his lawyer Deepak Chauhan has withdrawn from the case just days after filing a petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).Chauhan filed the petition on February 19 on behalf of Agarwal, but submitted an application on February 21 to withdraw his power of attorney. The petition was expected to be heard this week, but with the lawyer stepping away, the case will now be listed only after a new counsel files a fresh power of attorney.Earlier, on February 18, a lookout notice was issued against Subodh Agarwal to prevent him from leaving the country.The ACB is currently sea...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Delhi CM announces Rs 25,000 reward for persons saving road accident victims

INDIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Monday, announced that her government has decided to implement the Central government's 'Rah-Veer' scheme that offers a prize of Rs 25,000 to those who save lives of road accident victims."Under this scheme, citizens who assist seriously injured road accident victims will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 25,000 along with a certificate of appreciation," an official statement said.If a person saves one or more seriously injured victims in the same accident, the maximum reward payable will remain Rs 25,000.Additionally, 10 of the most outstanding Rah-Veers selected annually will receive a special national award of Rs 1 lakh each. Every award will be accompanied by a certificate of appreciation.The Chief Minister said that the Centr...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Balochistan on edge as water crisis deepens: Report

Only BJP can ensure real development in tribal areas: Tripura CM

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Agartala, Feb 23 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday claimed that a massive “reign of loot” is taking place in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the current administration. Since 2021, the BJP’s junior partner, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), has been governing the politically significant 30-member TTAADC, which covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 12.16 lakh people, around 84 per cent of whom belong to indigenous communities. Addressing a public meeting organised by the BJP at Manubankul in South Tripura district, the Chief Minister said that the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Tripura genuinely aims to work for the welfare of the tribal people, who constitute one-third of Tripura's...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Ranji Trophy: Formidable Karnataka chase ninth title against first-time finalists J&K

SPORTS

Hubbali, Feb 23 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir will attempt to write the most unlikely chapter in Indian domestic cricket history when they take on a formidable eight-time champions Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final starting on Tuesday.While Paras Dogra-captained J&K have a maiden title up for grabs, Devdutt Padikkal-led Karnataka are chasing their first crown in well over a decade. J&K’s only defeat in this season came in a 35-run loss to Mumbai in October, and they have not looked back since then.Having defeated Delhi in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh in Indore and Bengal in Kalyani to reach this title clash, J&K have all the tools in their arsenal to have a strong crack at winning the title and change the trajectory of cricket in their state.Karnataka, meanwhile, enter as resounding favo...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

‘Ready to face ED, I-T, CBI’: Stalin accuses BJP of ‘political hunting’ ahead of 2026 polls

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Chennai, Feb 23 (IANS) DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Monday asserted that his party was fully prepared to face any action by central investigating agencies, accusing the BJP of misusing institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax (I-T) Department, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political purposes. In his address at a programme here, Stalin said the BJP was indulging in "political hunting" by deploying investigative agencies against opposition parties. "If the BJP brings in its forces in the form of the ED, I-T, and CBI, we are very well prepared to face them," he said, adding that such tactics reflected political desperation. The Chief Minister alleged that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was "an alliance for...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

116 TN fishermen in Sri Lankan custody; CM Stalin urges Centre’s urgent intervention

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Chennai, Feb 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, amid continuing tensions in the Palk Strait.In a letter to EAM Jaishankar, CM Stalin expressed concern over the latest detention of 12 fishermen from the state and said the recurring arrests have caused severe distress to coastal communities dependent on fishing for their livelihood.The Chief Minister pointed out that with the latest incident, the total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen currently in Sri Lankan custody has risen to 116.He also noted that 259 fishing boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain impounded by Sri Lankan authorities, describing th...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Delhi Minister reviews introduction of system-driven auto-appeal mechanism under RTS Act

INDIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Delhi Information Technology (IT) Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, on Monday, discussed with experts the scope for introduction and strengthening of a system-driven Auto-Appeal Mechanism under the Delhi (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound Delivery of Services) Act, 2011, an official said.Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said, "Our objective is to build a proactive and citizen-centric governance system where accountability is automatic and transparent.""The Auto-Appeal Mechanism will ensure that delays are addressed by the system itself, without placing the burden on citizens. We will carefully study best practices from other states to develop a strong and sustainable framework for Delhi," he added.The Delhi government remains committed to strengthening transparency, accounta...

Feb232026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

MP govt will take all steps to boost agricultural growth: CM Mohan Yadav

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Bhopal/Gwalior, Feb 23 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday said the state government will take all necessary steps to accelerate agricultural growth and enhance farmers’ prosperity, including promoting employment-oriented and agro-processing industries across the state.Noting that 2026 is being observed as ‘Krishak Kalyan Varsh’ in Madhya Pradesh, CM Yadav said the initiative aims to strengthen and integrate the entire agricultural value chain, “from farm to factory and from orchard to market”, into a comprehensive and unified framework.The Chief Minister made these remarks while virtually addressing the ‘Krishi Manthan and Agricultural Technology Fair 2026’ organised at the agricultural university campus in Gwalior on Monday.Referring to ongoing river-linking projec...