The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has set a new benchmark by becoming the most-watched edition of the tournament ever, with viewership crossing an impressive 500 million in India alone. This remarkable milestone was confirmed by ICC chairman Jay Shah on March 4, 2026. The tournament’s digital reach has also been staggering, with JioHotstar registering a peak of 60.5 million concurrent viewers, marking a significant surge in streaming numbers. Jay Shah, in a social media post, exp

PV Sindhu, India's two-time Olympic medalist, has safely returned to Bengaluru after a tense and uncertain ordeal in Dubai. Sindhu was stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which led to the closing of airspace in the Gulf region following the US bombing of Iran. Sindhu, who was en route to the All England Championships, had been stuck in Dubai since February 28, 2026. Upon her return, Sindhu expressed gratitude toward the ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport

Chicago residents purchasing alcohol from local liquor stores will see a new tax added to their bills starting Sunday, as the city implements a revised taxation system on retail liquor sales. The Chicago Department of Finance confirmed that a 1.5 percent liquor tax will officially take effect after a two-month delay that was granted to allow retailers additional time to update billing systems and prepare for the change. The new Chicago liquor tax replaces the previous structure that

India on Saturday, February 28, called on all parties involved in the escalating military confrontation across West Asia to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation, stressing that the safety of civilians must remain the highest priority. The Ministry of External Affairs said dialogue and diplomacy were essential to reduce tensions following the rapid spread of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The ministry stated that sovereignty and territorial integrity of al

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign on February 28, aimed at preventing cervical cancer in India. The campaign will provide free vaccinations to 14-year-old girls at government health centres, a significant step towards reducing the burden of cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in India. The launch event will take place at 11:30 AM from Ajmer, with the participation of Chief Ministers, admini

India has made two significant changes to their squad ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe. With a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, the Men in Blue have included Sanju Samson and Axar Patel in the playing XI, replacing Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar. Samson will take on wicketkeeping duties for India, while Axar Patel will bring his all-round capabilities to the side. India’s entry into the Super 8 was marred by a defeat to South Africa on Sunday

San Jose officials are calling on state regulators to withdraw newly approved gambling regulations that they say could significantly disrupt the city’s finances and threaten more than 1,000 local jobs. In a letter dated Feb. 19 and addressed to Attorney General Rob Bonta, city leaders warned that the new rules governing California’s card rooms would dramatically reduce tax revenue generated by the city’s two licensed casinos, Casino M8trix and Bay 101. According to city offici

India's T20 World Cup 2026 journey has hit a rough patch after a heavy 76-run loss to South Africa in their Super 8 opener. While the team’s future in the tournament remains uncertain, their coach, Gautam Gambhir, is now under intense scrutiny for his handling of key decisions. Critics, including 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth, have raised concerns about Gambhir's strategies, particularly his team selection choices. Srikkanth expressed doubts over Gambhir’s role,

Team India’s path to the T20 World Cup semifinals is now entirely dependent on their ability to turn around their Net Run Rate (NRR) following a crushing defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener. With India sitting in third place in Group 1 and a dismal NRR of -3.800, the equation for qualification has become clear: India must beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs or more when the two teams meet in Chennai on February 26. After a strong start to the tournament, including an impressive v

India's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has hit a major roadblock after West Indies secured a dominating 107-run win against Zimbabwe in their Super 8 clash in Mumbai. The victory not only boosted West Indies' chances of advancing but also dealt a heavy blow to India's semifinal aspirations. India, who are grouped alongside West Indies and Zimbabwe, must now win both of their remaining Super 8 matches by substantial margins to keep their Net Run Rate (NRR) competitive. With the pressure mounting

Salaried employees often claim House Rent Allowance (HRA) for rent paid to family members, such as parents or spouses, under the current tax regime. However, under the proposed draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, such arrangements may soon undergo closer scrutiny, especially if the rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh in a financial year. The new rules, if implemented, would require taxpayers to disclose their relationship with the landlord along with other details like the landlord’s name, address, and PAN nu

Ohio lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would allow residents to claim state income tax deductions for qualifying church donations, arguing the move would bring Ohio policy in line with federal tax law while strengthening faith-based services across local communities. House Bill 444, also known as the Tithing Protection Act, was introduced last fall by Republican Rep. Josh Williams of Sylvania Township and Democratic Rep. Dontavius Jarrells of Columbus. The measure received its first he

Eligible U.S. taxpayers will be able to deduct up to $10,000 in auto loan interest for the 2025 tax year under a temporary tax provision created through President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but financial analysts say the actual benefit for most car buyers will be far smaller than the headline figure suggests. While the deduction may appear generous at first glance, typical loan structures and interest payments mean that most borrowers are unlikely to approach the maximum all

Many taxpayers are facing a frustrating wait for their tax refunds as nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year 2025–26 have been pending for more than 90 days. According to the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, as of February 4, 2026, out of 8.79 crore ITRs filed, approximately 24.64 lakh were yet to be processed, leaving millions of individuals waiting for their refunds. The large backlog has triggered concerns, especially for senior citizen

The Indian government has issued a new directive requiring the six-stanza version of Vande Mataram to be sung or played at all official ceremonies and state functions. The rendition, lasting approximately three minutes and ten seconds, will now be mandatory during significant events, including the unfurling of the Tricolour, the arrival of the President at formal gatherings, and before and after their speeches. The government’s decision aims to ensure uniformity and consi

Several schools in the national capital were placed on high alert on Monday after bomb threat emails were sent to their official email IDs, triggering swift action from security agencies. According to officials, at least ten schools across different parts of Delhi received the threatening emails within a short time window, prompting immediate deployment of police teams, fire services, and bomb disposal squads to conduct thorough security checks on school premises. As per the informa

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175-run spectacle in the U19 World Cup final has now become one of the most remarkable performances in cricket history. On February 6, 2026, at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, the young Indian cricketer turned heads with his explosive batting against England. The left-handed batsman reached his century in just 58 balls, making him the fastest to score a ton in a U19 World Cup final. As the match progressed, Sooryavanshi continued to dominate, eventually smashing 175

In a significant legal blow to actor Vijay, the Madras High Court has upheld a Rs 1.5 crore tax penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department and dismissed his appeal challenging the levy. The penalty is linked to the alleged non-disclosure of additional income derived from the 2015 film Puli. According to the Income Tax Department, during tax searches conducted in 2015, it was revealed that of Vijay’s total remuneration of around Rs 15 crore, nearly Rs 5 crore was paid in cash and